Women's Health and Pregnancy

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…

Feb 24,2015 American women are increasingly opting for longer-lasting and highly effective forms of birth control, according to new federal data released on Tuesday. Women are choosing long-lasting reversible contraceptives (LARC) like the intrauterine device (IUD) and the implant more than they have in the past. According to the numbers, IUD use increased 83% from 2006–2010 to 2011–2013 and implants tripled in use during the same time period. Both methods are approximately 99% effective…

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 Raval 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…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to Ibrance (palbociclib) to treat advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. Breast cancer in women is one of the three common cancers in most countries.  The drug, whose chemical name is palbociclib, was approved for previously untreated postmenopausal women whose cancer cells have receptors to the female hormone estrogen and who do not have mutations in the HER2 gene that can contribute to uncontrolled growth of breast…

Girls who frequently consume sugary drinks tend to start their menstrual periods earlier than girls who do not, according to new research published online Jan 28 in Human Reproduction. This effect was independent of the girls' body mass index (BMI), height, total food intake and other lifestyle factors such as physical activity. The findings are important not only because of the growing problem of childhood obesity in a number of developed countries, but also because starting periods earlier is…

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 Raval answers all your questions – 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 fertile…