Gynaecological Solutions :

• Heavy bleeding
  
  
• Pelvic infections
  
  
• Endometriosis
  
  
• Ovarian cyst
  
  
• Fibroid uterus
  
  
• Uterine cancer
  
  
• Cervical cancer
  
  
• Irregular Periods

Finding the right treatment for your endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition that affects women, where the endometrium or the tissue lining the inside of the uterus, also starts growing on the outside. It is greatly painful and may affect everyday life largely. Here is a look at how the condition is diagnosed and how it can be treated.

Diagnosis of Endometriosis
Diagnosing the disorder can involve a few tests. Patients who visit the doctor, usually complain about the pain experienced during sexual intercourse or urination. The doctor will ask you a few questions regarding the symptoms that you experience and the general area where you feel the pain.

1. Pelvic Exam- This is the first test that the doctor may perform to determine the cause of the problem. The doctor will manually look for cysts and other abnormalities in the pelvic region. However, this examination is often inconclusive.
2. Ultrasound- High frequency sound waves are used to detect any abnormalities during this test. However, an ultrasound is only capable of revealing cysts, in the absence of which endometriosis cannot be confirmed through this test.
3. Laparoscopy- In this slightly invasive procedure, the doctor will use a specialized equipment to look inside the uterus. However, the condition is generally medically managed, before a laparoscopy is ordered, as the procedure involves some risks.

Treating Endometriosis
Endometriosis treatment relies on both medication and surgery. Since the symptoms and intensity of the problem differs from one woman to the next, finding the right drug to use may be challenging. Here is a detailed look at the treatment options for Endometriosis.

1. Pain medications- Over-the-counter pain medications can help deal with some of the discomfort that accompanies endometriosis. However, since the intensity of pain varies from one patient to the next, the correct dosage for medications may be difficult to determine. Patients will need to report whether the current dosage of medicine is working or whether a higher dosage may be required.
2. Hormone therapy- Supplementing certain hormones in the body may provide relief from the pain in some cases. Hormonal contraceptives, progestin therapy and hormone altering drugs are used.
3. Hysterectomy- In case of severe Endometriosis, women who do not want to conceive can consider surgically removing their uterus. This is usually the last resort.

Ensure that you find a doctor whom you trust completely when you are diagnosed with the condition. Treatment becomes much simpler under the care of such a Gynaecologist.

PCOS: Why ongoing treatment is necessary to manage the condition?

PCOS or Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition where a woman’s body produces excessive male sex hormones. This leads to an imbalance in the body, adversely affecting the chances of a successful pregnancy. Additionally, women who suffer from the disorder may have excess facial hair growth or baldness.

Treatment for PCOS
Even though there is no permanent cure for the PCOS, the treatment can help manage the symptoms. Here is a look at some treatments used.

1. Birth Control- Regularly ingesting birth control pills can help regulate the female hormone levels in the body. These drugs contain estrogen and progestin hormones, which restores the normal hormonal balance.
2. Type 2 diabetes medication- These drugs increase the insulin levels in the body. This not only helps deal with PCOS, but also restores the normalcy of the menstrual cycles.
3. Fertility Drugs- These medications are used to induce ovulation. However, the usage of such drugs may lead to multiple births in some cases.
4. Hair removal treatment- The excess hair growth can be stopped or prevented with the help of medications. Additionally, laser hair removal procedures may also be used to get rid of the unwanted hair from the body.
5. Surgery- If all other treatments fail to prodcue with the desired results, surgery may be considered to restore normal ovulation.

Ongoing Care For Patients

Since this condition is incurable, patients need to stick to the treatment throughout their life. Along with medications, certain lifestyle and diet restrictions must also be maintained.

1. Losing excess body weight
2. Follow a health diet. Consult a doctor before you start a particular diet, but generally try to limit carbohydrate intake if you have PCOS.
3. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day for three days a week

It is crucial to understand that PCOS is treatable, even though there is no cure. If you follow the directives of the physician, you can lead a relatively normal life, even when you suffer from this condition.

A complete guide to managing irregular periods

With the advent of the 21st century and the accompanying sedentary lifestyle, women’s period cycles have increasingly started becoming irregular. If you think you are included in the list, this is the place to get a few facts cleared up.

Periods are deemed ‘irregular’ when the cycle stretches to more than 35 days instead of the normal 28, or bleeding occurs before 28 days. The scientific name of irregular periods is ‘Oligomenorrhea’. Read on to find out causes, symptoms and cures.

Causes:

Periods become irregular due to a lot of factors, like:

1. Changes in contraceptive methods: A switch in contraception, like say using a combination of progestin and estrogen pills in place of progestin pills alone.
2. Hormonal imbalances: During or slightly after/before menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone decline in the female body leading to irregular periods.
3. Endurance exercises and aerobics: These exercises, built to increase your heart rate, can put pressure on lower-body parts like the stomach and uterus and lead to irregular periods.

Symptoms:

Following are the symptoms which will help you detect if you have irregular periods:

1. Appearance of clots more than 2.5 cm in diameter.
2. Change in rates of blood flow, with flow being heavy or fast some days and slow and light other days of the cycle.
3. Less than 11 or more than 13 periods per year.

Treatment:

Irregular periods are treated in any of the many ways listed below:

1. Weight loss: Weight loss, either by gymming or surgically, cures irregular periods by reducing the amount of testosterone the body needs to produce, facilitating ovulation.
2. Thyroid treatment: Radioactive iodine therapy, surgery and/or medication are used to treat thyroid disorders that sometimes are underlying causes of irregular periods.
3. Psychological counseling: Periods often become irregular due to stress, emotional trauma and depression. Counseling treats these, and helps treat irregular periods in the process.

Periods become irregular due to whole gamut of both lifestyle as well as physical and emotional reasons, and help is always at hand. Check out the symptoms you have and their meaning, and quickly book an appointment with your doctor.