The organ that connects the uterine to the vagina is the cervix. It appears like a narrow tubular passage that forms the lower end of the uterus. The cervix has several functions and purposes; some of them are to help in childbirth, menstrual cycle, and to allow the sperm to reach the uterus. This tiny 2-inches long organ has a vital role to play in a woman’s body. However, along with being an important organ, it is sensitive to conditions like chronic inflammation, dysplasia, polyps, and cancer. The cervix is vulnerable to cancer; however, unlike other types of cancer, the symptoms are seldom displayed in the case of cervical cancer. Therefore, to make people, especially women, around the world aware of cervical cancer and its inadequacy to send early signals, doctors and health organizations encourage women to get regular screening through Pap smear tests. Pap smear, also known as a Pap test, is a painless procedure that is used by gynecologists to check the occurrence of any abnormal or cancerous activity in the cervix. It can also be considered as a preventive measure. Pap smear, being one of the most trusted preventive diagnostic measures for cervical cancer, also has some guidelines, as mentioned here:

In normal cases, high prolactin levels are observed in nursing and pregnant women. Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland. This gland is a small structure located in the brain, and along with prolactin, it secretes other hormones as well. The primary function of the prolactin hormone is to enhance the development of the breasts and to initiate lactation or breastfeeding. A blood test to check for high prolactin levels is usually prescribed in the case of irregular menstrual periods, breast milk leakage (especially if the woman is not nursing a baby), and infertility. Read on to know more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of high prolactin levels. Causes High prolactin levels or hyperprolactinemia is caused by multiple factors, including disease of the hypothalamus, kidney disease, pituitary tumor, hypothyroidism, and Cushing’s disease. Additionally, certain medications can also lead to high prolactin levels in the body. Prolactin levels are regulated by dopamine. So, medications that affect dopamine levels can interfere with prolactin levels as well. Medications that are prescribed for gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders may lead to high prolactin levels. These medications include tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, blood pressure medication, metoclopramide, verapamil, acid blockers, estrogens, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, phenothiazines, risperidone, and anti-nausea medications.

Menstruation or periods start during puberty and go on until menopause occurs. A woman experiences irregular periods or oligomenorrhea when there is a hormonal imbalance, a change in the method of contraception she takes, when she takes up endurance exercises, or due to hormonal changes when she approaches menopause. Irregular menstruation is quite common during puberty and menopause. However, if it occurs during the reproductive years, it is important to seek medical care. Read on to know more about the symptoms, causes, and complications of irregular menstruation. Symptoms of irregular menstruation Usually, menstrual cycles last for around 28 days. However, in some cases, cycles can vary between 24 and 35 days. In most cases, women have 11 to 13 menstrual cycles in a year; each cycle lasts for around 5 days. However, in certain cases, the cycles can last for between 2 to 7 days. In the beginning, when menstruation starts during puberty, it usually takes about 2 years for a regular cycle to be established. For most women, menstruation becomes regular after puberty with the nearly the same length of time between two consecutive periods. Irregular periods occur when the length of time between consecutive cycles and the amount of blood shed varies a lot.

A commonly known condition, an overactive bladder leads to a sudden urge of passing urine. It is not a disease but rather a term that denotes different urinary symptoms. An overactive bladder makes it difficult for one to control the activity of urine passage and this leads to an involuntary loss of urine. An individual who is afflicted with this condition, may feel embarrassed and even isolate themselves in places such as work or school. A major problem associated with overactive bladder is that a large number of people do not seek help even after experiencing symptoms. This is because of the stigma and or the belief that overactive bladder does not have an effective treatment. An overactive bladder can undoubtedly make it extremely difficult to lead a normal lifestyle. However, without treatment, one may find it further difficult to get through the day due to the constant need to visit the washroom. In case of symptoms such as an urgent urge to urinate, difficulty in controlling the urge, and involuntary urine loss, it is important to visit the doctor immediately and work on a treatment plan. Here are some self-care and treatment methods that are most likely to be used for this bladder condition:

Candidiasis, also known as yeast infection, is a common condition caused by the Candida albicans yeast. Most of the times, this type of yeast lives in the areas like the mouth, belly and the skin, without causing any issue. However, when it multiplies and grows uncontrollably, it leads to the formation of an infection called candidiasis. Candidiasis or yeast infection often leads to the development of red and itchy rashes on the skin. They may resemble folds, and with time, can spread over other areas of the skin too. The symptoms of this condition are not very threatening; however, they are quite bothersome. It is easy to prevent candidiasis by adopting some lifestyle changes. These preventive measures are also quite helpful for people who experience chronic yeast infections. Picking the right fabric for clothing Several types of clothing fabrics can encourage the growth of yeast on the skin. These include materials such as nylon and synthetic fabrics that retain moisture on the skin, leading to allergic reactions and hypersensitivity. Thus, it is essential to stay away from innerwear made of such fabrics. In the case of gym wear or sportswear, one must change into fresh clothing after a workout session.

Menopause is a natural process of aging in which a woman ceases to be fertile after a certain age. This age tends to vary from person-to-person as it is based on a number of factors. While perimenopause is a stage that is also known as “pre menopause” it happens before menopause and hence, is known as the transitional phase. Even though both may sound similar, there are differences observed between them in terms of symptoms and treatment. Let’s take a look at the difference between the symptoms and treatment of perimenopause and menopause: Signs of perimenopause During the period of perimenopause, the body process less and less of the hormones that control a woman’s periods namely, estrogen and progesterone. The symptoms of perimenopause usually include: Periods heavier or lighter than usual Tenderness of breasts Having an irregular menstrual cycle PMS being worse than usual Increase in heartbeat Gaining weight Changes in hair Difficulty in concentration Having severe headaches Loss of sex drive Having pain in muscles Forgetfulness Urinary tract infections Issues in fertility for women who are trying to conceive Symptoms of menopause As estrogen levels further drop in menopause, along with the symptoms of perimenopause, there are also some other symptoms one might experience.

Menopause is a normal part of aging. It simply means the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Medically speaking, it is the time when a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs for reproduction. As a result, there is a decline in the progesterone and estrogen hormones. Menopause usually occurs in a woman’s late 40’s to early 50’s. Women in our country have an average age of 52 years. There are three stages of menopause: Perimenopause The period of 12 months before menopause is termed as perimenopause. It is the time when a woman can still become pregnant even with erratic periods. Hence, it is advised to use a form of birth control until one year after the last period. Menopause As mentioned above, most women experience menopause at the age of 51 to 52. Menopause is usually confirmed after the woman has missed her periods for 12 straight months without experiencing pregnancy. The transition from perimenopause through menopause to post-menopause can take at least three years. Postmenopause It starts after one year has passed since the last menstrual cycle. Other symptoms such as elevated heart rate and insomnia might become common symptoms. Due to a decrease in estrogen, there is an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and osteopenia.

Different types of treatments used for vaginal atrophy Atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy is a condition in which the walls of the vagina turn dry, thin, and are inflamed. Approximately 10% to 40% of women experience this condition. This usually happens after menopause, when the estrogen levels in a woman’s body fall drastically. However, it can also affect women after childbirth or while they are on anti-estrogen medications. Vaginal atrophy is characterized by symptoms such as vaginal dryness, runny discharge that is gray or yellow, thinning of the labia, pale labia, pain during sexual intercourse, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Treating vaginal atrophy To diagnose atrophic vaginitis, the gynecologist will order for a pelvic exam, a urine, and an acid balance test. If the test results are positive for atrophic vaginitis, the doctor will recommend the following treatments. One will be prescribed the following over-the-counter solutions at the beginning of the treatment. Water-based lubricants For reducing pain and discomfort while having intercourse, the woman can use a water-based lubricant. One should ideally pick products that don’t have glycerin as it can cause burning and tenderness. Likewise, women should avoid using petroleum-based products such as petroleum jelly if they are also using condoms.

Debunking 4 myths about birth control When it comes to avoiding unwanted pregnancy, there are several birth control methods that women opt for. Some of the most common ones include the use of a condom, birth control pills, the ring, intrauterine devices (IUD), and injections that are effective for three months. When it comes to the birth control options, irrespective of how safe they are deemed to be, people continue to harbor several misconceptions about them. These myths often interfere with women practicing safe birth control methods, which is why it becomes essential to debunk the myths and get acquainted with the reality of these birth control methods. Read on to learn about the various myths related to birth control methods. Myth 1: The pill causes weight gain The birth control pills are considered to be one of the safest birth control methods. However, there’s a common misconception which is often fuelled by erroneous information on the Internet, and one of these myths is that the birth control pill causes weight gain. The truth about birth control pills is that this depends entirely on the prescription. The pill contains estrogen and this can cause women to feel bloated, but this goes away on its own.

Even though the world has progressed tremendously in the field of medical science and other technologies, there are certain health ailments that continue to increase the mortality rate. One such life-threatening ailment is cancer, and it can affect any part of the body. As cancer progresses, it affects the individual physically and psychologically. The patient has to suffer the physical and mental consequences of cancer. One such form of cancer that is known to affect millions of women every year is breast cancer, which is second only to skin cancer. Breast cancer usually occurs in the lobules or the ducts of the breasts and can spread to the adjacent tissues. Also, there are several types of breast cancer which are divided into two main categories: invasive and noninvasive or in situ. Like every other form of cancer, breast cancer can be treated only when it is detected in its initial stages. As cancer progresses and it affects the nearby tissues and organs, the treatment aims to reduce the symptoms of the condition and prevent cancer from causing more damages. The different options for treating breast cancer are as follows: Surgery Surgery is the most-opted for treatment for breast cancer in its initial stages.