Women's Health and Pregnancy

If you think you are having menopause (you have not had your period for 6 months), consult your doctor for confirmation of menopause diagnosis and to rule out other problems. Your doctor may suggest the following tests: pH tests: During there productive age, the pH of the vagina is 4.5. At menopause it raises to about 6. For this test, a vaginal swab is taken and tested for pH values.. Blood tests: This can check the Follicular Stimulating Hormone(FSH) and oestrogen levels. FSH levels increase…

Menopause and perimenopause affects women in different ways. They may have some of the following symptoms in the peridmenopause phase: Irregular periods: Periods become uncertain – sometimes heavier, sometimes lighter. The frequency may also change – coming more often or less.  Hot flashes: These are feelings of heat on your face and neck and sometimes all over your body accompanied by heavy sweating.  Trouble sleeping: Difficulty sleeping at night and with night time sweats. …

Stages of menopause Menopause does not happen abruptly. It is a gradual process consisting of perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Peri-menopause: This refers to a period 3-5 years before actual menopause starts, when the hormones being secreted by the ovaries start going down. Periods become irregular. You may still ovulate but not every month.   Menopause: This refers to the period when the ovaries stop producing the ova and oestrogen and progesterone are released at a low…

What causes menopause Menopause is a natural change that occurs in women during their 40s or early 50s. In Asian women, menopause usually occurs between the ages of 49-53. It happens when the ovaries stop functioning. The primary function of the ovaries is: To release the ova (egg) monthly To release hormones like oestrogen and progesterone that make preparatory changes in the uterine wall if the woman conceives For subsequent shedding of theuterine wall or lining if she does not conceive. As…

Since there is no known cause of uterine fibroids, there are no clear strategies to prevent fibroids. However, it is good to know if have a high risk as per the risk factors highlighted - if you are Asian, if have a hereditary risk or if you have had early onset of menstrual cycles. Keep your weight under control.  Avoid a red meat diet Limit alcohol consumption Its also important to do regular tests especially if you are in the high risk category so you can catch them early or before…

Apart from the medication mentioned in the treatment section, the following may help manage the symptoms: Diet Eat beans and legumes as these reduce oestrogen levels Grape seed extract, red raspberry, fish, like salmon, tuna, mackerel rich in omega-3 shrink fibroids Fibre rich foods promote oestrogen excretion, eg: Dark leafy greens Broccoli Ground flaxseed Whole grains like brown rice, millet, rye and oats. These regulate good oestrogen metabolism Avoid eating soya beans, other fermented…

The doctor may suggest some of the following: Medication: to reduce symptoms Tranexamic acid: Tranexamic acid helps in clotting of blood in the uterus, thus reducing bleeding.  Anti-inflammatory drugs : These drugs reduce the production of progesterone. Progestrone contributes to the heavy and abnormal menstrual bleeding. They don’t shrink the fibroids but they reduce the symptoms of fibroids.  LNG-IUS (Levonorgestrel intrauterine system): A plastic device is placed in the uterus…

Your doctor may suggest one or more ofthe following diagnostic tests: Blood test: Complete blood picture to check for anaemia Ultrasound: This is done when the patient has heavy bleeding or any of the other symptoms associated with fibroids.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Helps in identifying the location and size of fibroids.  Trans vaginal scan: A small scanner is inserted into the patient’s vagina to view the uterus. Hysteroscopy: A small telescope is introduced into the…

Depending on the location and type of fibroids, the sympoms may vary. Submucosal: cause heavfibroiy bleeding, long periods and irregular bleeding between the cycles. Subserosal: cause bulk symptoms, such as pain and pressure in the pelvis, abnormal and excessive menstrual bleeding, pressure on spinal cord.  Intramural: put pressure on the spinal cord, rectum and pelvis, but are asymptomatic unless they grow in size.  Pedunculated: puts pressure on the spinal cord, thus causing lower…

Types of Uterine Fibroids: Submucosal: These fibroids are located just underneath the lining of uterus, protruding into the uterus. They cause heavy bleeding, long periods and irregular bleeding between the cycles. Subserosal: These fibroids are located outside the uterus either in the muscle or hanging outside the uterine wall. They cause bulk symptoms, such as pain and pressure in the pelvis, abnormal and excessive menstrual bleeding, pressure on spinal cord. Intramural: These fibroids are…