Women's Health and Pregnancy

Our society reinforces women’s role as caregivers, time and again. It’s time this changed to help women focus on their own health, says this post. Think about the time when your grandfather/father(-in-law)/husband/son(-in-law) was sick/unwell/indisposed. It could be something major, like an operation, or something minor, like a fever. Can you recall who was there with him? Who nursed him back to health? Who fussed over him? Who ensured he had healthy food? Who gave him timely…

What’s going on down under? Dr Shital Raval has all the answers on vaginal health - from vaginal discharge to vaginal infections and yeast infections. Is all vaginal discharge bad? NO, a clear, or watery discharge anytime during the month is normal. Around the ovulation period, this discharge or cervical mucus may become thicker and stickier. This is normal and aids as a lubricant during sexual intercourse. Coloured discharge or abnormal looking discharge accompanied by foul odor is…

India and South-east Asia has high incidence of anaemia. Family practitioner Dr Gita Mathai tells you all you need to know about this often-silent threat that can pose many complications.  What is anaemia? Anaemia (or Anemia) is a generic term for low haemoglobin in the blood from any cause. It is not a disease by itself. It can occur in different forms and be caused by many factors.  Anaemia is diagnosed when the haemoglobin value checked in the laboratory is…

Dr Shital Patel answers all your questions on fertility – from upping your chance of natural conception to treatment options. 1. What can I do to improve my chances of getting pregnant naturally? Before planning to conceive, it’s important to make sure you are healthy and start on daily prenatal vitamins. Also avoiding stress, smoking, alcohol, substance abuse, certain medications etc will all help improve your chance of conceiving.  2. What is the fertile window period? The…

In a study that followed more than 2,200 obese women during pregnancy, scientists found that some simple interventions can help prevent high birth weights in newborns. This is important because previous studies have shown that infants with a high birth weight have a greater risk of becoming obese as children or adults. Professor Jodie Dodd summarizes the results: "Infants born to women who received lifestyle advice were 18% less likely to have a high birth weight compared to infants born to…

Women with arthritis can get pregnant. It is better for them to discuss with both their treating rheumatologist or endocrinologist and their OB-GYN and plan their pregnancy. Find out how pregnancy affects your arthritic symptoms and how you can deal with them. Women with arthritis who are pregnant are affected in different ways. In arthritis, joints are inflammed and painful. For some pregnant women, the added weight of pregnancy may increase pain and discomfort. But 70-80% of women…

Planning a pregnancy? Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Chandan Dubey tells you what you need to do before you conceive. A woman’s good health prior to and during pregnancy is vital for optimal outcomes for her and the baby. You should consult a general physician or gynaecologist for preconception care and counselling. In the meantime, here’s what you should be aware of:  Lose weight (if you are overweight): Obesity is a serious problem in pregnancy. It increases the…

Hypertension is the most common medical issue encountered during pregnancy, complicating over 10-15% of pregnancies. Read more to understand how to prevent and manage high blood pressure during pregnancy, especially pre-eclampsia. Hypertension or high blood pressure refers to the amount of force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. A person's blood pressure is considered high when the readings are greater than 140 mm Hg systolic (the top number in the…

Menopause refers to the end of a woman’s monthly periods or menstruation. It correlates with the end of a woman’s reproductive ability. The word ‘menopause’ is derived from the Greek word menopausis. Menos means month and pausis is cessation or stop. A woman is said to have menopause only if she has not had her periods for a year (and there are no other health reasons for this). Women go through different symptoms during peri-menopause and menopause phases of their…

With inputs from Dr. Chandan Dubey What is it If you have 2 or more of the following symptoms, you should get yourself checked by a gynaecologist to confirm or rule out Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS):  • Multiple small cysts in the ovaries • Infrequent (more than 35 days) or absent periods due to eggs not releasing every month  • High androgen features (facial and body hair, acne, abdominal fat, frontal balding) PCOS and its impact  PCOS may lead to acne,…