Women's Health and Pregnancy

Although an estimated 176 million women around the world suffer from the‘secret plague’, too few primary care doctors know how to diagnose it and the specialists to whom they are sent are ill-informed. Read here about Endometriosis The Guardian’s coverage struck a chord with sufferers who too often spent years searching for a diagnosis. Although women will often find themselves with a prescription for the contraceptive pill, far too many are sent away by a doctorwho tells them it’s all in…

Mark Zuckerberg spoke recently about the three miscarriages his wife suffered before their successful pregnancy. Most people prefer not to talk about it, but, as Dr Chandan Dubey, obstetrician and gynaecologist, says, it’s fairly common with one in five pregnancies ending in miscarriage. Loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks is called a miscarriage. It is a common occurrence. One in every five confirmed pregnancies ends in a miscarriage. For these women the result is emotional and mental stress,…

Are your heels sky-high and your bags oversized? You need to read this now. Don’t let your inner fashionista sabotage your health, says Dr Shital Raval. Skinny Jeans: Skinny jeans can compress the nerves and muscle of the groin area, aggravate acidity/reflux, abdominal discomfort and Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The Compartment syndrome, which is caused when the muscles become swollen and bruised, was recently seen in a case where a woman collapsed after squatting in…

Varicose veins affects more than 1 in 5 persons. Dr Shital Raval explains what varicose veins are, the causes and risk factors, the tests for diagnosis, the treatment and self management for varicose veins.  What are varicose veins? The venous system of the leg consists of 3 types of veins: 1. Superficial: long and short saphenous veins. These are principal veins near the surface of the legs. 2. Deep: veins that supply the muscles of the leg 3. Perforators: veins that connect the deep…

Which is the greater evil? How much fat is necessary in your diet? How to read food labels? Registered dietitian and diabetes educator Ujjwala Baxi has all the information.  The human diet is always evolving. And with each evolution comes strong and focused criticism of certain foods. Some decades ago, it was the fat in our diet that was demonised and 0% fat diets and recipes flourished on bookshelves and the dinner table. But very soon, it was realised that going nil…

The number of couples facing infertility is rising. Some risk factors are modifiable and preventable. Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Chandan Dubey shares 5 tips on conceiving naturally. This focusses on what women need to be aware of.  A couple who cannot conceive after one year of regular unprotected sex may have infertility. About 1 in 7 couples have this problem and need treatment. Many trends in the rapidly changing lifestyles of women and men may increase this problem in…

Chase away the monthly blues with food and lifestyle changes. By Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju. Infographic below. PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) is caused by hormonal fluctuations. It affects 85 per cent of menstruating women in varying degrees – from mild (just a bother) to severe (you have to take time off work or your relationships are affected).  PMS is associated with a host of symptoms. Among them are bloating, headaches, irritability, anxiety, depression, tiredness,…

Women's emotionality is a sign of health, not disease. Whether a woman needs medication should be a medical decision, not a response to peer pressure and consumerism.. Women are twice as likely as men to receive a diagnosis of anxiety disorder and depression than men are. For many women, these drugs greatly improve their lives, but for others its not necessary. In the days leading up to menstruation, emotional sensitivity is heightened , women may feel more irritable, less insulated. But that…

Women with endometriosis commonly experience very painful periods and painful sex which can lead to infertility - but there's a long and worrying delay in diagnosis. Women with endometriosis commonly experience very painful periods and painful sex. Some will also have pelvic pain which can last throughout the cycle. Bowel symptoms, such as bloating and diarrhoea, are common and are often put down to irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of bladder irritation are experienced by two-thirds of…

Dr Shital Patel answers all that you want to know about oral contraceptives, how they work, when you should use them, side effects, do they increase the risk of cancer? What are Oral Contraceptives? Oral contraceptives are hormonal preparations that may contain progesterone or combination of oestrogen and progestin. The combination drug prevents pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the hormones - luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary…