WOMEN Health Solutions -WHS

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Bitter Truth

10/06/2019

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Did you know that cranberries can be more than just another side dish on the dinner table? They actually contain compounds that can help prevent recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTI is the most common bacterial infection occurring in the kidney transplant recipient, particularly in the first few months post-transplant. The major risk factors for UTI in the kidney transplant recipient include bladder catheters, handling and trauma to the kidney and ureter during surgery, anatomic abnormalities of the native or transplanted kidneys and immunosuppression medication. But there are steps you can take to prevent and treat these infections. As part of a new educational partnership, the National Kidney Foundation and the Cranberry Marketing Committee have compiled a list of the top 10 most important facts about UTIs.

One in five women will have at least one UTI in their lifetime. Nearly 20 percent of these women will have another and 30 percent of those will have yet another. Of this last group, 80 percent will have recurrences.
Women are more likely to develop UTIs than men because women have a shorter urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
Those at increased risk for UTIs also include diabetics and men with enlarged prostate glands.
Common symptoms of UTIs include an urgent need to urinate, a burning feeling when urinating, an aching feeling, pressure or pain in the lower abdomen, cloudy or blood-tinged urine and a strong odor to your urine.
If not treated promptly, the infection can travel up to the kidneys and cause more serious problems.
To help prevent UTIs, you should drink plenty of fluids, avoid postponing going to the bathroom for extended amounts of time and empty your bladder completely before going to sleep.
Studies show that drinking a glass of cranberry juice each day may help prevent recurrent UTIs. New research also suggests a similar effect from other cranberry products, including dried cranberries and dietary supplements. Cranberries contain compounds that may stop certain bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract wall. For those with diabetes or at-risk for diabetes, low-sugar or sugar-free options are available.
Women, specifically, should wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom to prevent bacteria from the bowels from getting into the urinary tract. In addition, they should also cleanse the ge***al area every day and prior to having s*x.
To diagnose a UTI, your doctor will test a sample of your urine for bacteria and blood cells. This is called a urinalysis. It is important to get proper instruction on how to collect the urine specimen to avoid bacterial contamination.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics. It is important to take the antibiotics exactly as you are told. It may also help to drink lots of water and other fluids and to urinate often, emptying your bladder each time.
To learn more about urinary tract infections
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10/06/2019

Home Health Home Conditions and Diseases Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

A doctor speaks to a female patient in a hospital room.

HPV: 5 Things All Women Should Know
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Few people work with the goal of putting themselves out of business, but that’s exactly what Connie Trimble, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Cervical Dysplasia, aims to do.

woman looking dejected, with man in background
In addition to treating patients, Trimble researches vaccines to treat human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus is the most common s*xually transmitted infection, with more than 6 million Americans infected each year. You’ve probably seen television ads for the HPV vaccine. If you have kids, your pediatrician has probably recommended the vaccine to guard against some cancers that are linked to HPV. It can sound pretty scary: a common infection that causes cancer.

So should women worry about HPV? According to Trimble, the answer is no.

Three women of differing ages smiling
If You Feel Something, Say Something: Preventing and Detecting Gynecologic Cancers
Rebecca Stone, M.D., a Johns Hopkins gynecologic oncologist and surgeon, explains gynecologic cancer risks, the best forms of prevention for you and your loved ones, and possible signs and symptoms.

Read more
Trimble discusses five things she wants women to know about HPV, cancer risk and the importance of vaccines.
Women Don’t Need to Feel Ashamed About HPV
“Anyone who’s ever had s*x may have been exposed to HPV,” says Trimble, adding that she wishes she knew how to get rid of the unnecessary stigma associated with the disease.

“Raising awareness can give you choices, and knowing you have choices is empowering.”
Certain Types of HPV Are Linked with Cervical Disease
While more than 100 types of HPV exist, only about a dozen of them are associated with cervical disease. “Together, HPV 16 and HPV 18 account for 70 percent of all cervical disease,” says Trimble. Ge***al warts are a form of low-risk HPV, and they do not cause cancer.

Doctors monitor HPV with Pap tests that look for abnormal cervical cells called lesions. Low-grade lesions — where the changes are only mildly abnormal — often clear up on their own. These are not considered precancerous.

All cervical cancers arise from untreated, high-grade lesions, which do contain precancerous cells. If your immune system is healthy, it typically takes about 10 to 15 years for cervical cancer to develop from a high-grade lesion. But not all high-grade lesions become cancer — a person’s own immune system can eliminate them.
HPV Very Rarely Becomes Cervical Cancer
While HPV does cause cervical cancer, the risk of developing cervical cancer from the virus is still quite low.

For 90 percent of women with HPV, the condition will clear up on its own within two years. Only a small number of women who have one of the HPV strains that cause cervical cancer will ever actually develop the disease.

Cervical dysplasia, where cell changes occur in the cervix at the opening to the uterus, is a more common outcome from HPV infection.

“I have a huge group of patients with persistent HPV infection who have never had any reason to need treatment,” Trimble says. “So if you have HPV, you can put it on your nuisance list and take it off your worry list.”
HPV Causes Head and Neck Cancers Too
One of the biggest — but lesser-known — dangers of HPV involves the risk of head and neck cancer, with HPV spreading to the throat via oral s*x.

“The rate of cancers in the back of the throat is skyrocketing,” Trimble says. “Experts are using the word epidemic to describe it. It’s on track to outpace cervical cancer.”

While women can get these cancers, most of the people who get it are heteros*xual males. There is currently no way to screen for it, making it all the more important that parents get their children — including boys — vaccinated.
Vaccines Save Lives
Trimble thinks it’s sad that there’s so much controversy over the HPV vaccine, which has overwhelmingly been proven safe and can prevent devastating cancers linked with HPV. In fact, Trimble has dedicated her research to developing therapeutic vaccines capable of fighting HPV once someone has contracted the virus. (Preventive vaccines are given to healthy people to ward off infections; therapeutic vaccines are used to help people who already have a disease.) In a recent study using a therapeutic vaccine, she and her team were able to successfully treat half of patients who had high-grade lesions, and they’re working on raising that number.

“At least 20 percent of human cancers are caused by a specific infection,” says Trimble. “That implies it would be possible to prevent or treat disease by helping the immune system recognize infection. Once you’ve done that, you’ve won.”

Ultimately, Trimble says HPV is a wimpy infection, and she’s encouraged by the huge immune responses these therapeutic vaccines can trigger.

As she explained in a TED talk called “Kicking Cancer’s Butt,” Trimble says, “My goal is to cure cancer, and it’s beginning to look like that’s possible.”

23/02/2019

Fertility

Getting pregnant can be an exciting time. For some, getting pregnant seems to happen simply by talking about it. For others, getting pregnant takes patience and perhaps a bit of luck.

Understanding when you're most fertile can make getting pregnant easier. It's also important to consider simple do's and don'ts of conception. For example, maintain a healthy weight and have s*x regularly — especially near the time of ovulation. Don't smoke or drink alcohol. Of course, healthy s***m counts, too.
Healthy pregnancy
By Mayo Clinic Staff
When you learn that you're pregnant, you might begin planning your pregnancy week by week. Every day you might have more questions about a healthy pregnancy. What should you eat? Can you exercise? What type of prenatal tests should you consider?

If you're carrying twins or other multiples, you might have even more questions about your pregnancy week by week. How much weight should you gain? How can you prevent preterm labor? Will you need bed rest?

Whatever your questions, understanding your pregnancy week by week can help you make good decisions throughout your pregnancy. Learn nutrition do's and don'ts, and get the basics on other healthy pregnancy issues — from exercise to back pain and s*x. The more you know about your pregnancy week by week, the more prepared you'll be to face what lies ahead.

Labor and delivery
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Every woman's labor and delivery experience is unique. Still, understanding what's typical can help you know what to expect as your due date approaches.

Labor and delivery generally follows a pattern — the cervix softening and opening; the amniotic sac rupturing; the contractions getting stronger and closer together. Sometimes, however, labor and delivery takes surprising twists and turns. You might reconsider your wishes about pain medication, or you might need an unexpected C-section.

However your labor and delivery unfolds, remember that your health and your baby's health are what's most important. Discuss your labor and delivery preferences with your health care provider, including options for pain medication and thoughts about episiotomy and other procedures. Then look forward to welcoming your baby into the world.

Postpartum care

Postpartum care
By Mayo Clinic Staff
After months of anticipation and the rigors of labor and delivery, your attention shifts to caring for your new baby — but you also need to take care of yourself. Postpartum care might involve managing vaginal tears or a C-section wound, sore breasts, leaking milk, urination problems, and hair loss.

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And postpartum care isn't limited to your physical health. Postpartum care also includes your mental well-being, such as managing mood swings, irritability, sadness and anxiety.

For the smoothest recovery, share any concerns you might have about postpartum care with your health care provider. Chances are, what you're feeling or wondering about is entirely normal. Count on your health care provider for assurance as you handle postpartum care and adjust to life with a newborn.

Contact us for more information

23/02/2019

Women's Health

Women have unique health issues. And some of the health issues that affect both men and women can affect women differently.

Unique issues include pregnancy, menopause, and conditions of the female organs. Women can have a healthy pregnancy by getting early and regular prenatal care. They should also get recommended breast cancer, cervical cancer, and bone density screenings.

Women and men also have many of the same health problems. But these problems can affect women differently. For example,

Women are more likely to die following a heart attack than men
Women are more likely to show signs of depression and anxiety than men
The effects of s*xually transmitted diseases can be more serious in women
Osteoarthritis affects more women than men
Women are more likely to have urinary tract problems

23/02/2019

Women's Health

Women have unique health issues. And some of the health issues that affect both men and women can affect women differently.

Unique issues include:
1. pregnancy, menopause, and conditions of the female organs.
Women can have a healthy pregnancy by getting early and regular prenatal care. They should also get recommended
1. breast cancer, cervical cancer, and bone density screenings.

Women and men also have many of the same health problems. But these problems can affect women differently. For example,

Women are more likely to die following:
1. heart attack than men
2.Women are more likely to show signs of depression and anxiety than men
The effects of s*xually transmitted diseases can be more serious in women
Osteoarthritis affects more women than men
Women are more likely to have urinary tract problems

31/05/2018

What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy is a common, occasionally life-threatening condition that affects 1 in 80 pregnancies. Put very simply, it means “an out-of-place pregnancy”. It occurs when a woman’s o**m (egg), that has been fertilised, implants (gets stuck) outside the womb. The most common place for an ectopic pregnancy is the Fallopian tube but there are many other sites where an ectopic pregnancy can be located. It is, sadly, not possible to move an ectopic pregnancy into the womb to allow it to grow normally.
Each month, before a woman has her period, one of her ovaries produces an o**m that is drawn into one of the fine finger-like tubes called fimbriae at the end of the Fallopian tube. The o**m then makes its way along the Fallopian tube towards the womb. During the course of this journey it may encounter a man’s s***m, in which case it may be fertilised.
If it is fertilised, the o**m implants itself into the special lining of the womb (renewed each month) called the ‘endometrium’ and becomes a baby. If it is not fertilised, then both o**m and lining are discharged in the menstrual flow (period), a fresh lining is prepared and a new o**m begins to ripen within the o***y.
In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the fimbriae can fail to catch the o**m so the o**m becomes fertilised outside the reproductive system or, more commonly, the fertilised o**m becomes caught or delayed while progressing along the Fallopian tube. In this case, the pregnancy continues to grow inside the tube where it can cause the tube to burst or otherwise severely damage it. This can sometimes cause internal bleeding causing pain and requiring immediate medical attention.
The diagram shows where ectopic pregnancies are most likely to occur:

• 95% are in the Fallopian tube – either Ampullary (in the middle part of the Fallopian tube), Isthmic (in the upper part of the Fallopian tube close to the uterus) or Fimbrial (at the end of the tube)
• 3% are Interstitial (inside the part of the Fallopian tube that crosses into the uterus)
• < 1% are within a Caesarean section scar on the uterus
•

29/05/2018