September 12, 2011
Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal infection that occurs due to overgrowth of certain bacteria in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis primarily affects the vagina, urethra, bladder, and the skin in the genital area, and is more commonly seen in women of childbearing age. It is a painful inflammation of the vagina that may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and other serious complications, if left untreated. Especially in pregnant women, bacterial vaginosis symptoms can spread up in to the uterus and cause premature delivery or low birth weight in babies.
Bacterial vaginosis mainly occurs due to overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and the Gardnerella organism in the vagina. A healthy vagina contains small and balanced amounts of these bacteria and microorganisms. But when the vaginal balance is disrupted by their overgrowth due to internal infections, a protective bacterium, called lactobacilli that acts as a natural disinfectant and maintains the vaginal pH, is unable to maintain a healthy balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the vagina which eventually results in bacterial vaginosis. Moisture in the vaginal area, excessive use of antibiotics, tobacco smoking and poor hygiene are some other probable causes of bacterial vaginosis symptoms.
Although symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are so mild that most of the women are unaware of being infected by it, some of the common signs or symptoms indicative of this vaginal infection are: unusual vaginal discharge with an offensive odor, white or gray thin vaginal discharge, a strong fish-like odor after sexual intercourse, itchiness or soreness around the vagina and vulva, painful and burning sensation while urinating.
The doctor may ask patient a series of questions related to the infection, like presence of other symptoms such as fever, pelvic pain or history of any sexually transmitted infections. The doctor may perform a pelvic exam to analyze the vaginal lining and cervix. He may also perform a manual exam of the ovaries and uterus to evaluate the severity of the infection. To distinguish bacterial vaginosis from other vaginal infections, the doctor may examine vaginal discharge under microscope to detect presence of a vaginal cell called clue cell.
Categories: Women's Issues.
August 11, 2011
Uterus is the reproductive organ, positioned in the female pelvis between the bladder and rectum. The ovaries release egg that travel through the fallopian tubes, which when gets fertilized implants itself in the inner lining of the uterus. The foremost and prime function of the uterus is to feed the growing fetus prior to childbirth. After hearing the words inverted uterus, usually there is a subdue questioning that lingers in everyone’s mind. But let me tell you there’s nothing wrong having an inverted uterus, as it is just a different version of how the nature has created you.
An inverted uterus is a naturally occurring variance on how the uterus is positioned in the lower abdomen of a woman. Basically, the uterus instead of lying on top of the bladder, it is positioned to either side of it. An inverted uterus heads back towards the spinal column instead of belly button. The cervix (or the opening of the uterus) remains intact at the same place i.e. either at the top part or end of the vaginal canal, but the body (or fundus) of the uterus lies in an unusual position.
Medically termed as retroversion uterus, tipped uterus, and mal-position of the uterus, women with this abnormality usually have no problems regarding conception and childbirth. Hence, the myth that women having inverted uterus can not have children is totally false, as once they conceive, the uterus changes gradually back into its normal position until the baby is born and then will become inverted again.
Although there are no specific symptoms to detect inverted uterus, pain or uneasiness especially during sex and menstruation, which is also very rare, can be seen in women having inverted uterus. Besides this, a slight side effect of having inverted uterus is an extra discomfort, bleeding and shear pain during childbirth. Also, inverted uterus may cause additional complications in childbirth for teenage pregnancies.
A pelvic examination and an ultrasound examination are two tests that can help in inverted uterus diagnosis. Since, it doesn’t have any severe side effects, usually there’s no need to treat inverted uterus. However, treatment for inverted uterus is based on manual reduction in which the uterus is returned to its normal position by pushing up on the fundus. If the placenta is still attached, then the uterus has to be repositioned before the placenta is removed. Terbutaline 0.25 mg IV or nitroglycerin 50 μg IV, sedatives or a general anesthesia are sometimes needed to subside the discomfort and pain.
Categories: Women's Issues.
July 28, 2011
The sudden hair loss in young women has gotten to be a real issue and one that needs to be looked into and solutions found for, immediately. There could be a wide range of reasons that could lead to sudden hair loss in women. What are these reasons and causes that can lead to hair loss? Let’s study these in more detail.
A diet that is not balanced and does not provide for all the nutrients in the body leads to deficiencies and can cause hair loss. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin and thus when the body does not get a supply of this protein, it leads to hair loss. Other nutrients like vitamin A are also seen to be one of the main causes of hair loss in women.
Trauma and stress is known to be the root cause of several conditions in the human body, one of which is hair loss. When a person is stressed or there are traumatic experiences that make way, the body releases certain chemicals that hamper the normal functioning of the body and lead to hair loss. Medically, this term is known as telogen effluvium and is characterized by the high rate of hair shedding that takes place. Hair continues to fall at an alarming rate and can even lead to bald spots in women. Traumas like death, child birth or stress due to work or otherwise are something that needs to be looked into.
Testosterone is the main hormone that is responsible for producing hair in the body. When there is a hormonal imbalance in the body, it affects the production of testosterone and thereby leads to hair loss in women.
The female hair loss remedies will be determined according to the condition that is causing the sudden hair loss in young women. If it’s a nutrient deficiency, then eating the right kind of food will lead to the hair growing back normally. Similarly, the reasons for a women going into trauma or stress, if learned and solved can lead to normalizing of the situation. Hair massages are also known to help in improving the circulation of blood and lead to hair growth. Besides, several creams and medications for infections and diseases can be undertaken. Hair weaving and hair transplanting are also being looked into as very effective methods of treating hair loss.
Categories: Women's Issues.
July 22, 2011
Although it is a primarily female hormone, which means there should be no reason for its deficit in the female physiology, there are times when estrogen levels can hit an extraordinary low, throwing your complete sense of being off balance. We women look, act, emote and behave the way we do all thanks to the interactions of the twin hormones estrogen and progesterone with the rest of our physiological systems. Both these hormones are crucial to the health and well being of all members of the fair sex and yet, there come those times when they turn their backs on you.
Exposure to radiation, such as when undergoing chemotherapy, can disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine glands and may lead to radical hormonal imbalances. Decline in estrogen is often a result of exposure to radiation over long periods. Even after such an exposure has ceased, the body may take quite some time to get its hormonal balance restored. However, the recovery time differs from individual to individual.
Hysterectomy is the name of the surgery which is undertaken to remove the uterus, either totally or partially. In partial hysterectomy, the ovaries are left behind and only the uterus is removed. In total hysterectomy, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are also removed along with the uterus. This leads to a surgically induced menopausal state where the organs that produce estrogen are the ones that are surgically tampered with. Hysterectomy may be necessitated by medical conditions such as cancers or other malignant growths on the removed organs. Estrogen levels can be brought back close to normal by undergoing estrogen replacement therapy and by signing in for alternative therapies that stimulate the body to produce more estrogen to make up for the sudden deficit.
A lot of times, medical conditions affecting thyroid and pituitary glands have a detrimental effect on the production and levels of estrogen in the body. An ailing pituitary gland is unable to send across appropriate chemical signals to the ovaries to produce estrogen, and thyroid disorders affect the overall metabolic machinery of the body by stunting the growth, repair and functions of other glands in the body. Treating these conditions individually is the only way to restore normal estrogen levels in such cases.
Categories: Women's Issues.
July 12, 2011
One of the biggest problems that many women face is stretch marks. Stretch marks are visible lines on the skin that are usually a lighter shade of the skin, which makes them all the more visible. One of the most common places where you may see stretch marks is on the thighs.
If you wish to get rid of stretch marks on thighs fast, then you can simply rub some vitamin E oil on them. The use of vitamin E oil for stretch marks is not new, as the benefits of this vitamin as an antioxidant have been known since time immemorial. Vitamin E is said to promote elasticity of the skin and so, helps to diminish the appearance of stretch marks. You can also try using cocoa butter cream. When you wish to use cocoa butter for stretch marks, then you can take it in your palm and rub it in by massaging in into your skin. This is said to not only aid in moisturizing the skin but also helps to increase the blood circulation in that region.
Unfortunately those methods may not really provide very desirable results. Thereby, more often than not, we have to turn to more invasive procedures to deal with stretch marks. These procedures may not necessarily involve a knife and scalpel, but they are done in a clinical setting, by a certified dermatologist. One option, that is available, is using chemical peels. In this method, the superficial layers of skin are treated with acids, so that these layers exfoliate, revealing better skin. Also, due to the acid, there is a chemical reaction which prompts collagen remodeling. Another option is to go in for laser surgery for stretch marks. Although this is said to give excellent results, you may need repeated sessions to see worthwhile results from laser stretch mark removal procedures.
Each treatment options works with varying degrees of success with each person. In the end, you need to see what works best for you. Mostly, women who have tried all the stretch mark removal home remedies tend to resort to options like laser, and are said to be satisfied with its results. You need to see what works best for you, and if all fails, then it may be time to pay a visit to your nearest dermatologist, so that he may guide you correctly.
Categories: Women's Issues.