Women's Health and Pregnancy

Dr. Kalyani Nityanandan, 85-year-old cardiologist, has extensive knowledge and deep understanding of a gamut of health issues. Here, she delves into issues of infertility and childlessness and potential medical treatment in her breezy style. A couple who have been married for a year or two go to a family function. Till a couple of decades ago, some elderly female relative was bound to ask the wife: What, no news? Irritating, but perhaps inevitable. Today, the question hangs in the air, unvoiced…

We know that stroke is a leading cause of disability. Dr. Nitin Sampat, Consulting Neurologist and Clinical Neurophysiologist highlights how stroke affects women differently, the risk factors for stroke in women and the preventive measures that can be taken. In India, the incidence of stroke is 84-260 lakh annually and the stroke rate in people > 70 years is 1.5% per year. It is the 4th leading cause of death and it still accounts for 1.3% of all causes of death in the world. However, it is…

डॉ। जयंती मणि कोकिलाबेन धीरूभाई अंबानी अस्पताल में न्यूरोलॉजी कंसलटेंट हैं, और इस लेख में एपिलेप्सी वाली महिलाओं के बच्चे नहीं हो सकते हैं और उनके बच्चे को स्तनपान नहीं करा सकते हैं, ऐसी चिंताओं को संबोधित करती हैं। वह कहती हैं कि दवा संबंधी सही सलाह, पूर्व नियोजित गर्भावस्था और उचित निगरानी हो तो मिर्गी रोग वाली ज्यादातर महिलाओं की गर्भावस्था ठीक गुज़र सकती है और वे स्वस्थ बच्चे पैदा कर सकती हैं। क्या एपिलेप्सी वाली महिलाओं के लिए गर्भवती होना सुरक्षित है? एपिलेप्सी के उपचारों में प्रगति…

Looking for information on emergency contraceptive pills and don’t know whom to ask or how to ask. Dr. Ranjana Dhanu, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Hinduja Hospital answers these questions. Emergency Contraception pills are used when a woman has had unprotected sex. This pill is commonly called the "morning-after pill”.  As per World Health Organization1, Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) can prevent over 95% of pregnancies when taken within the stipulated time- five…

Havovi Bharucha, 53 neglected her symptoms and her health while grieving the loss of her husband and being a caregiver to her mother and an aged pet. By the time she sought help, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Endometrial Cancer. She is a reminder to each one of us to be vigilant about our health. For almost a year, I would get spotting between my periods. I dismissed it thinking it was due to approaching menopause. A year ago, I had lost my husband to liver cancer. Since then I had been…

Balaka Basu, founder of Interstitial Cystitis India, shares the story of her journey of being diagnosed with this chronic and debilitating condition to being the founder of a support group that has helped many in a similar situation.  “Changing poison into medicine”- Daisaku Ikeda When I started suffering from the debilitating disease called Interstitial Cystitis, I thought it was the end of everything in my life. I had little knowledge that it was actually the beginning of a great journey…

Mona Choudhuri considers herself very lucky to have been diagnosed in the early stages of ovarian cancer. Here she shares her experience to help raise awareness of the importance of routine physical examinations and screenings for women. She also highlights the issue of lymphedema of the leg.  Ovarian cancer was never on my radar of health concerns. It was fibroids in my uterus that had been my constant worry since my mid-30s. I would have discomfort, bloating and frequent abdominal pain.…

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Chandan Dubey, addresses some of the common questions on endometriosis, its association with PCOD and Obesity and how it affects fertility. How common is Endometriosis? What factors increase a woman’s risk of getting endometriosis? Endometriosis affects 2-10 % women in the reproductive age group globally. Risk factors of Endometriosis may be: Pregnancy and childbirth after 30 years. First degree relatives with this condition. Structural abnormalities of…

Dr Raka Kaushal, a senior nephrologist focused on various women’s issues amongst patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in a webinar with PatientsEngage in English and Hindi. The questions raised from pregnancy complications, to hair loss, abnormal periods, menopause, oral contraceptives and more.  Here is a synopsis of the key questions addressed. Link to recording on youtube below. Each question is marked with the time stamp. 1:43 Are women with CKD more likely to have…

Dr. Uma Ram, Director and OBGYN Seethapathy clinic and Hospital, Chennai shares tips for pregnant women to follow to ensure good sugar control, especially in times of Covid-19 lockdown which has restricted movement and is stressful. One in five pregnant women we see have gestational diabetes or high sugars in pregnancy. A lock down can cause problems for them because they may not be able to exercise, get enough veggies or access blood tests. Here are a few tips to ensure good sugar control…