How To Treat Bacterial Vaginosis?

Do you want to know a step by step treatment plan for Bacterial Vaginosis?

• Do you want to know why you keep getting BV infections?

• Do you want to cure your BV infection once and for all?

• Do you want to eliminate the “fishy” odor and itching that often accompanies BV?

• Are you wondering if you have BV?

• Are you suffering from chronic yeast and/or urinary tract infections?

• Would you like to get your sex life back?

• Are you tired of feeling like you can never get clean down there?

• Is penetration ever painful during sex?

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Breast Cancer

Causes and Risk Factor of Breast Cancer

• Age and gender -- Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. Most advanced breast cancer cases are found in women over age 50
  
• Family history of breast cancer -- You may also have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have a close relative who has had breast, uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer
  
• Genes -- Some people have genes that make them more likely to develop breast cancer. The most common gene defects are found in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes normally produce proteins that protect you from cancer. If a parent passes you a defective gene, you have an increased risk for breast cancer
  
• Menstrual cycle -- Women who got their periods early (before age 12) or went through menopause late (after age 55) have an increased risk for breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Alcohol use
• Childbirth - Women who have never had children or who had them only after age 30 have an increased risk for breast cancer. Being pregnant more than once or becoming pregnant at an early age reduces your risk of breast cancer
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) -- You have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have received hormone replacement therapy with estrogen for several years or more
• Radiation -- If you received radiation therapy as a child or young adult to treat cancer of the chest area, you have a much higher risk for developing breast cancer. The younger you started such radiation and the higher the dose, the higher your risk

Symptoms

Early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt
• Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple -- for example, you may have redness, dimpling, or puckering that looks like the skin of an orange
• Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody, clear to yellow, green, and look like pus

Men can get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include breast lump and breast pain and tenderness.
Symptoms of advanced breast cancer may include:

• Bone pain
• Breast pain or discomfort
• Skin ulcers
• Swelling of one arm (next to the breast with cancer)
• Weight loss

Signs and Tests

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and risk factors. Then the doctor will perform a physical exam, which includes both breasts, armpits, and the neck and chest area.
Tests used to diagnose and monitor patients with breast cancer may include:

• Breast MRI to help better identify the breast lump or evaluate an abnormal change on a mammogram
• Breast ultrasound to show whether the lump is solid or fluid-filled
• Breast biopsy, using methods such as needle aspiration, ultrasound-guided, stereotactic, or open
• CT scan to see if the cancer has spread
• Mammography to screen for breast cancer or help identify the breast lump
• PET scan
• Sentinal lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer has spread

Treatment

• Chemotherapy medicines to kill cancer cells
• Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue
• Surgery to remove cancerous tissue -- a lumpectomy removes the breast lump; mastectomy removes all or part of the breast and possible nearby structures

Prevention

• Choose foods and portion sizes that promote a healthy weight
• Choose whole grains instead of refined grain products
• Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day
• Limit processed and red meat in the diet
• Limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day
  
  

Vaginal Itching

Although vaginal itching is the hallmark of yeast infections and other vaginal infections (including sexually transmitted diseases), itching in the vagina and vulvar areas has multiple causes. Vaginal itching can also arise due to chemical irritants that may be found in detergents or soaps, douches and vaginal creams, toilet paper, bath products, feminine hygiene products, and vaginal contraceptive products.

Women in the menopausal transition may experience vaginal itching due to fluctuations in estrogen levels. As estrogen levels decline in the perimenopause, the vaginal wall becomes thinner and drier, and itching may result.


How to prevent it

Now that you know what causes it, try these idea to help stop the itch:

1. Sleep without underwear so your vagina is exposed to the air and less likely to develop perspiration
2. Take showers instead of baths, and rinse your vagina with cool water
3. Avoid using scented soaps and perfumed powders in your vaginal area
4. Avoid Lycra/Spandex, polyester, lace, thongs, or anything else that causes your vagina to become warm and itchy
5. Wear cotton and other fabics that are 100% breathable
6. Opt for skirts instead of pants or shorts, but don’t wear tights
7. Wear cotton underpants, or no underpants at all
8.  Follow instructions on the package and use as indicated
9. Eat probiotic yogurt daily to combat the yeast from the inside your body
10. Drink a lot of water to flush the yeast infection out of your system
11. Don’t have sex for a few days. Sex with a yeast infection can make you itch even more
12. Immerse your vagina in a sitz bath with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
13.  Keep your legs spread wide apart so the water can flow freely around your vaginal area 

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Birth control pills, good or bad?

Birth control is a way for men and women to prevent pregnancy. There are many different methods of birth control, including hormonal contraception such as "the pill."
Women take the pill by mouth to prevent pregnancy and, when taken correctly, is up to 99.9% effective. However, the pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

Where Can I Get Birth Control Pills?

Birth control pills are only available with a doctor's prescription.

Are There Side Effects of Birth Control Pills?

Yes, there are side effects of birth control pills, although the majority are not serious. They include:

• Nausea
• Weight gain
• Sore or swollen breasts
• Small amount of blood, or spotting, between periods
• Lighter periods
• Mood changes

The following side effects, easily remembered by the word "ACHES," are less common but more serious. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to an emergency room or urgent care center for evaluation. These symptoms may indicate a serious disorder, such as liver disease, gallbladder disease, stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, or heart disease. They include:

• Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• Chest pain
• Headaches (severe)
• Eye problems (blurred vision)
• Swelling and/or aching in the legs and thighs

Also, the FDA is investigating birth control pills that contain drospirenone, including YAZ and Yasmin. The decision is based on two new studies that suggest an increased risk for blood clots in women taking pills containing drospirenone, a man-made version of the hormone progesterone. Other brands containing drospirenone include Beyaz, Safyral, Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Syeda, and Zarah.  

Can Any Woman Take Birth Control Pills?

Birth control pills can be taken safely by most women, but is not recommended for women who are over the age of 35 and smoke. If you don't smoke, you can use hormonal contraceptives until menopause. In addition, you should not take hormonal contraceptives if you have had:

• Blood clots in the arms, legs, or lungs
• Serious heart or liver disease
• Cancer of the breast or uterus

If you are not sure if you are affected by one of these conditions, ask your doctor. Also, inform your doctor if you have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, child) who has had blood clots in the legs or lungs.

Is it OK to Take Other Drugs While Taking Birth Control Pills?

Some drugs, including antibiotics, can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Tell your doctor about all of the medications and over-the-counter agents (including herbs) that you are taking.

Points to Keep in Mind When Taking Birth Control Pills

• Keep another form of birth control, like spermicidal foam and condoms, on hand in case you forget to take a pill.
• Carry your pills with you if you don't always sleep at the same place.
• Take your pill at the same time every day. If you are using the patch, replace your patch weekly on the same day. If you are using the vaginal ring, remove it after three weeks of use.
• Get your refills soon after you start the last prescription. Don't wait until the last minute to request refills.
• Birth control pills, patches, and vaginal rings are all medications. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist you are on the pill, patch, or vaginal ring if you see him or her for any reason.

 
 Source of reference: http://www.webmd.com

Painful Menstruation/ Cramps

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for the painful cramps that may occur immediately before or during the menstrual period. There are two types of dysmenorrhea: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea is another name for common menstrual cramps. Cramps usually begin one to two years after a woman starts getting her period. Pain usually is felt in the lower abdomen or back. They can be mild to severe. Common menstrual cramps often start shortly before or at the onset of the period and continue one to three days. They usually become less painful as a woman ages and may stop entirely after the woman has her first baby.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is pain caused by a disorder in the woman's reproductive organs. These cramps usually begin earlier in the menstrual cycle and last longer than common menstrual cramps.

What Are the Symptoms of Menstrual Cramps?

The symptoms of menstrual cramps include:

• Aching pain in the abdomen (Pain can be severe at times.)
• Feeling of pressure in the abdomen
• Pain in the hips, lower back, and inner thighs

When cramps are severe, symptoms may include:

• Upset stomach, sometimes with vomiting
• Loose stools

What Causes Common Menstrual Cramps?

Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus, which is a muscle. The uterus, the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows, contracts throughout a woman's menstrual cycle. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses its supply of oxygen.

How Can I Relieve Mild Menstrual Cramps?

To relieve mild menstrual cramps:

• Take aspirin or another pain reliever, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen). (Note: For best relief, you must take these medications as soon as bleeding or cramping starts.)
• Place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your lower back or abdomen. Taking a warm bath may also provide some relief.

To relieve menstrual cramps, you should also:

• Rest when needed.
• Avoid foods that contain caffeine and salt.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Massage your lower back and abdomen.

Women who exercise regularly often have less menstrual pain. To help prevent cramps, make exercise a part of your weekly routine.

If these steps do not relieve pain, your health care provider can order medications for you, including:

•  Prescription pain relievers
• Oral contraceptives (Women taking birth control pills have less menstrual pain.

Source of reference: http://women.webmd.com

Late period /missed period, should I be worried?

 Here are the 10 most common reasons that you missed your period:

1. Stress
   Stress can affect many things in our lives, including our periods. Sometimes we're so stressed out that our body decreases the amount of a hormone (GnRH), which causes us to not ovulate or menstruate. Working with your doctor or midwife can help you figure out what you need to do to relax and get back on schedule. This can sometimes take a few months or more to work itself out.
2. Illness
   A sudden, short illness or even a longer illness can cause your periods to be delayed. This is usually temporary. If you think this is the reason that your period is late, talk to your practitioner about when they expect your period to return.
3. Change in Schedules
   Changing schedules can really throw off your body clock. This is particularly true if you go from days to nights at work or vice versa. If you frequently change shifts and notice a problems with regular cycles, then see if it is possible to be put on a more permanent shift or at least a shift that only varies after a lengthier time period.
4. Change in Medications
   Perhaps you're trying a new medication and a delayed or absent period is the cause. Be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife about this side effect. It is very common with some methods of birth control. If you change medications, be sure to ask what effects this may have on your period. This is true, even if you don't think that there will be a big change.
5. Being Overweight
   Carrying around too much weight can hormonally shift your cycles and even stop them. Most women will see a return to normal cycles and fertility with the loss of some weight, even if they are still considered overweight.
6. Being Underweight
   If you do not have enough body fat you will not have regular periods, sometimes you can eve cause your periods to stop all together. This is called amenorrhea. Typically a weight gain will help you have your periods return. This is a frequent cause of a missed period in women who work out to an extreme or are professional athletes.
7. Miscalculation
   The menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. While we say that the average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, that is not true for everyone. Sometimes our period is believed to be late when in all actuality we have simply miscalculated. If you have irregular menstrual cycles, but know when you ovulate, look for your period about two weeks after you ovulate. That may help you keep an easier track of your periods.
8. Peri-Menopause
   Peri-menopause is the period of time where you are transitioning from reproductive age to a non-reproductive age. Your periods may be lighter, heavier, more frequent or less frequent - but mostly just not normal. If you do not wish to get pregnant, be sure to continue to use birth control because you are likely to still be fertile at least some of the time.
9. Menopause
   Menopause is when you have reached the point in your life where you will no longer ovulate or menstruate. Menopause can be a natural life event or may happen surgically through hysterectomy or through chemical such as various forms of chemotherapy.
10. Pregnancy
    Finally! Yes, your missed period might be because you're pregnant! A simple pregnancy test can usually help you determine if you have missed your period because you are pregnant. The urine pregnancy tests and blood pregnancy tests look for the hormone hCG.

If you have taken a pregnancy test and it is negative. Most tests advise you to wait another week and retest. If the second test is negative or if you have a good idea of why your period is missing, then you can and should call the doctor or midwife sooner for a physical exam. 



Source of reference: http://pregnancy.about.com

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection and inflammation of the female reproductive organs. Bacteria and other micro-organisms may pass from the vagina through neck of the womb (cervix), the womb (uterus) and up to the Fallopian tubes. The ovaries are sometimes also involved.

Most cases of PID are due to the bacteria that cause chlamydia and gonorrhea. These are sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

You might be at risk if you

• Are sexually active and younger than 25
• Have more than one sex partner
• Douche

Symptoms of PID:

• Fever (not always present)
• Pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, or sometimes the lower back
• Vaginal discharge with abnormal color, texture, or smell

Other symptoms that may occur with PID:

• Bleeding after intercourse
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Frequent or painful urination
• Increased menstrual cramping
• Irregular menstrual bleeding or spotting
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea, with or without vomiting
• No menstruation
• Painful sexual intercourse

If left untreated, it can cause serious problems, such as infertility.

Diagonosis of PID:

 Doctor will do a pelvic exam and will check for:

• Abnormal discharge from your vagina or cervix
• Lumps near your ovaries and tubes
• Pain in your pelvic organs

Your doctor will also test you for STIs and urinary tract infection, and if needed, pregnancy.  your doctor may do other tests.

• Ultrasound — a test that uses sound waves to take pictures of the pelvic area.
• Endometrial  biopsy — the doctor removes and tests a small piece of the endometrium (the inside lining of the womb)
• Laparoscopy  — the doctor inserts a small, lighted tube through your abdomen (stomach area) to look at your pelvic organs.

Treatment of PID:

•  Antibiotics will be prescribed
•  Hospitalization required if it is severe

Prevention of PID:

• Practice safer sex (use of condom)
• Don't douche ( it increases the risk of PID)
• Get tested regularly for sexually transmitted disease 
• See a doc right away if you are seeing some of the above-mentioned symptoms

Source of reference:http://women.webmd.com ; www.about.com; www.wikipedia.com