Dr. Teesta Banerjee

06/07/2024

01/07/2024

Small yet relevant questions about breastfeeding

10/04/2024

When to consult your doctor for va**nal discharge?

Anything that is different from the normal va**nal secretion pattern that I described in my earlier post.

* If you are having itching/ burning in va**na
* If you notice foul smelling va**nal discharge
* Yellowish/ curdy white/ bloodstained discharge
* Difficulty in in*******se in s*xually active women
* Vaginal bleeding following in*******se

Apart from this, I would also like to post few tips regarding va**nal hygiene.
1. Use plain water. No need for any fancy medicated solution or va**nal wash. No need for soap, Dettol, Savlon etc
2 It's okay to clean the l***a majora and minora only, no need to clean the inside of the va**na.
3. Wear cotton underwear, wash them regularly.
4. Change sanitary pads at regular intervals.
5. It is okay to use a menstrual cup during that time of the month.

07/03/2024

Vaginal discharge: debunking the myths

Vaginal discharge is something all women experience after reaching puberty, that is, onset of me**es. In India, va**nal fluid is surrounded by myths and wrong information. The "dhaath" or "leucorrhoea" is perceived by women as abnormal, and assumed to be draining away energy from the body. Many a times, women approach me to stop the va**nal discharge.

It's about time we understand the real purpose why nature gave us this va**nal fluid. The purpose is to provide lubrication of the va**nal passage during in*******se. Had there been no va**nal secretion, friction generated by thrusting the p***s inside va**na would cause extreme pain to both partners and s*x would no longer be enjoyable. Very often, elderly women who are past menopause, turn up with va**nal tears because of forced in*******se in a dry va**na.

So this va**nal fluid is secreted by some glands in the cervix in response to estrogen and progesterone. The appearance and consistency of the fluid varies according to different phases of the menstrual cycle, as shown in the picture below.

21/02/2024

Many a times, in my clinic , patients struggle to report what issue they are facing with their ge***alia. That is because societal norms have always prevented a proper exposure to s*x education. The only source of information are whispered into the ears from friends, relatives and neighbours. So, as we go on the journey of women's well being on my page, let me introduce you properly to the female ge***al parts, the v***a, the l***a majora and minora and the va**na.

16/05/2022

Polycystic ovaries - am I heading for Surgery?

Answer is no.
In polycystic ovaries, there is essentially a hormonal imbalance that disrupts the normal functioning of ovaries.

Like I described in my previous posts, the cyclical changes that happen inside the uterus during the menstrual cycle, a similar cyclical process goes on inside the ovaries.
From the birth, there are millions of dormant eggs in the ovaries. When a girl starts menstruating, the ovarian cycle starts functioning.
Every month, starting from the first day of me**es, an egg starts maturing in the o***y. As it grows, towards midcycle, say 14th to 16 th day, this mature egg reaches the surface of the o***y inside a follicle. Then this follicle ruptures, egg is released from the o***y, picked up by the fallopian tube and enters into the tube. In case in*******se happens around this time, sperms might swim up to the egg and fertilise it. If no fertilusation, the egg gets denatured on its own.
In case of polycystic ovaries, lack of proportion between different hormones leads to hamper the release of the egg from the o***y, i.e. ovulation does not happen.
So even if periods are happening in a woman with polycystic o***y, she is essentially having infertile cycles. To be more precise, if she tried to conceive, it would be difficult getting pregnant or would need some additional medications to help her conceive.

Will I never be a mother?

Please remember that there are multiple medicines that help promote ovulation in a woman with polycystic ovaries.
Moreover, women with PCOS essentially have a very good ovarian reserve i.e. larger number of dormant eggs. So in assisted reproductive procedures, like IUI and IVF, there are always more oocytes available for the procedures.
Lastly, spontaneous conception, though difficult, is never impossible.

11/05/2022

Healthy ovaries, happy woman

A key role in functioning of the female body is played by the go**ds, the ovaries, which prepare and produce different hormones. Ovaries also interact with the brain to maintain hormonal balance. Hormones produced by ovaries play important role in maintaining the menstrual cycle, fertility of a woman and pregnancy.

Diseased ovaries may lead to altered hormonal levels and hormonal imbalance.
The commonest problem encountered nowadays is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS.

What are these cysts?
Do they need to be operated?

02/05/2022

Chumming - why bother me?

That is the beginning of the menstrual periods, which signifies the onset of puberty. It is usually preceded by growth of coarse hair in armpits, and ge***al area, and also, gradual development of breasts.

Now, menstrual bleeding has always been a taboo in Indian society. I myself remember, in fourth standard, I was playing with my friends in the school playground when I saw one girl suddenly withdraw herself and started weeping. She would not say what was hurting her but repeatedly asked for the class teacher. The class teacher came and took her away and she was taken care of. But, we kids were left whispering possibilities, bits of unverified information, mostly picked up from eavesdropping adult conversations.

What is this monthly bleeding? It is normal female physiology.
Just like our clothes have an inner lining, uterus has a lining called endometrium.
Every month, starting from the end of the me**es, this endometrium starts growing in thickness. The thickness reaches an optimal value at the end of the month when it is shed, and we see it as the menstrual blood, and shreds of endometrium as clots.

So why does this growing and shedding happen every month?
Every month the uterus prepares itself for a pregnancy. If the fertilisation occurs and embryo is formed, it gets anchored to the endometrium. The endometrium supports and nourishes the embryo and thereafter there is no shedding, and thus, no menstrual bleeding. If no pregnancy appears, the cycle of shedding and renewing of endometrium continues.

Gone are the days when adults would look away when advertisements of Whisper flashed on tv screen. We women now have multiple of choices, different brands of sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups to fit into our busy schedules and our personal preferences.

Periods are no longer bad blood. Periods are not related to the myth of Indra's sins.
Periods are not impure. It is just a sign that we women are fertile. We are capable of bearing a child. So out and away with the fear and shame. It is part of life, that's all.

27/04/2022

Know your body

Every time a girl reaches her pre teen age, she meets with a series of changes in her body. With the onset of menstrual cycles, the female body becomes perplexing to the individual herself. Sometimes, adding to the challenge, she encounters irregular periods, painful periods, va**nal discharges, discomfort in breasts and so on. This page attempts to explain basic information about how human female physiology works and the impact of lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress on the functioning of the reproductive organs.