Health and Beauty » Women’s Health

Taking Care of Business: Having a Pap Smear

GuestPoster — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:56:42 +0000

While the modern (and sexually active) woman has no difficulty setting up appointments with her gynaecologist for her yearly pap smear, there are still others who neglect this essential procedure for lack of adequate information. Read on for information you have always wanted to know about pap smears, but never quite got the courage to ask.

A pap smear involves the collection of cells from your cervix and examining it under a microscope for any abnormalities. It is called a pap smear for two reasons. First, pap is actually short for Papanikolaou as in Georgius Papanikolaou, a prominent Greek doctor who invented the process. Second, it is called a smear because the cell sample from your cervix is smeared on a glass slide so that it can easily be processed and examined under a microscope. A pap smear is an invaluable diagnostic tool. It is particularly helpful in detecting pre-cancer or cancerous growths as well as other infections in the cervix.

Schedule a pap smear about three years after you first become sexually active. There is no medical value in doing pap smears for women who have never had any sexual experiences. Women’s health experts recommend having a pap smear once a year; if a woman has three consecutive yearly pap smears with normal results, she can have them done every other year.

A pap smear is done on an outpatient basis right in your gynecologist’s office. You will be asked to remove your underwear and lie back, with your feet placed in stirrups. After wearing gloves, the doctor will gently insert a lubricated speculum in your vagina: it is an instrument that looks like a duck’s bill. When the ‘duck bill’ is opened, it will allow the doctor to see your cervix. She will then collect a few cells by gently scraping your cervix with a cotton swab and smear the swab on a glass slide that will be sent into a medical laboratory for analysis. The procedure only takes about a minute and is only mildly uncomfortable rather than painful.

A pap smear should be scheduled about 10 to 20 days after your period, because blood interferes with the results of the smear. If you are taking any medication or suspect that you might be pregnant, you have to inform your doctor before the procedure. Avoid intercourse, douching, antibiotics, tampons, tub baths and suppositories 48 hours before your appointment.

This post was written by Joana Chrystal Ventura-Moises, registered nurse and resident plumbing and shower screen expert.

What Are Some Ovulation Signs To Watch For?

GuestPoster — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:43:34 +0000

Studies have suggested that if women conceive days prior to ovulation, it increases the chances of getting pregnant. It is imperative that women be made aware of the different signs ovulation is taking place. Below are the main signs ovulation is taking place that a woman needs to observe:

Changes in Cervical Mucus
In a woman’s cycle, changes should be observed and recorded as to the amount, appearance, and texture of the cervical fluid or cervical mucus.

Non Fertile cervical mucus: cervical mucus is scant or not present at all, if present, it is more likely sticky, firm and will break if stretched between the fingertips and will appear opaque, and may be white or yellow in color.
Fertile cervical mucus: cervical mucus is abundant in quantity. It is more likely thin and stretchy between the fingertips and will appear transparent.

Rise in Body Temperature
After ovulation, a woman’s body temperature can increase as detected by a basal thermometer. The woman is most fertile 2-3 days prior to her body’s rise in temperature. That’s why it is important for women to chart their temperature spikes as to know their fertile and safe days for conception. You can also use an ovulation predictor kits such as the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor to get more accurate results.
Lower Abdominal Discomfort
Mild aches or severe pain similar to cramping may be felt by the woman during the time of ovulation. This cramping during ovulation is called Mittelschmerz.
Changes in Cervical Position
In the same way that the cervical mucus changes, so does the woman’s cervix. During the fertile stages, the position of the cervix shifts higher, becomes softer, and almost open.

Aside from the above mentioned, there are other subtler signs of ovulation is taking place:

Increased sexual desire – Many women get aroused at this time as to the various changes happening in their body. Hormonal changes may be attributed to this increased sexual boost, as well.
Breast tenderness – Hormones also play a role in this change that women experience. Specifically, the surge of the progesterone hormones increases the nipples’ sensitivity. This may go away after the woman’s period.
Increase in appetite – Since the body is preparing for a baby, the appetite is stimulated as to accommodate the future needs of the mother-to-be. Hormones also play a role in this change.

These signs may all be experienced by women in general. But overall, it is the woman who knows her body more than the signs presented. It is important for women to be keen with said changes as to know the right time for conceiving a child.

Reversing the Effects of Tubal Ligation

GuestPoster — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:33:06 +0000

Tubal ligation was touted as one of the most effective forms of contraception. If a woman did not wanted to become pregnant anymore t was recommended that she undergo tubal ligation. It was very effective since the fallopian tube would be severed and the ends tied to prevent conception from taking place. Unfortunately the nature of the procedure also meant that there was no way to reverse it.

Tubal ligation was supposed to be a permanent. That is why it was mostly recommended to women who have given birth already and those who just wanted to prevent the possibility of having even more children. Many women who would have wanted to try tubal ligation, but who wanted to still have the chance of becoming pregnant when they wanted to did not undergo the procedure because of this fact. Can you untie your tubes, was not even a question that entered their minds.

Through the advances in medical science today tubal ligation can now be reversed. The procedure that was supposed to be permanent then can now be reversed and so a woman who have undergone tubal ligation can still conceive and give birth. The fallopian tubes will be untied and reconnected making sure that the cells of the severed ends will heal back. It is a relatively simple medical procedure. There are more and more doctors and clinics right now offering this service.

Though the usual charge for this kind of procedure can be a little prohibitive because it is still quite expensive some clinics are now specializing in this kind of procedure which allows them to bring down the cost significantly, so you can actually get cheap tubal reversal surgery. If you want to find out more about this procedure get in touch with your doctor or your local clinic.

A Simple Overview of the BMI Calculator for Females

Admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:59:51 +0000

BMI or Body Mass Index may perhaps be very confusing and puzzling for most women. But that is not true since BMI computations are very easy to understand by anyone. A very fine example to this is through an online BMI calculator where you will need to provide your weight and height so that they can calculate your BMI. And some even provides you with basic interpretations on the given output like being obese or malnourished based on a provided chart. This is where confusion starts because most women don’t really know how these websites came up with these results.

In essence, Body Mass Index is a measurement of the mass of your body. It is a very easy way to know if one has a weight problem or not. BMI does not actually mean it is equal to body fat percentage, but it is a good way of estimating the exact number. A BMI may indicate a bad interpretation but further analysis is required before any medical action should be taken.

In terms of women taking up athletic activities, BMI may not give precise interpretations since muscles weigh a lot more than fats. But on the other hand, most typical women can have good analysis on terms of reading BMI results.

BMI calculator for female is more or less the same as being used in males, which is why most people question how valid the results are for anyone using it beyond the age of twenty. Nevertheless, the body mass index is a very good technique if you want to have a broad summary of your health and wellness.

Let’s use the metric system so it will be much easier. First get your height which will be interpreted in terms of meters and them multiply the number by itself. Then get your weight which will also be interpreted in terms of kilograms and divide it by the product of the first equation. The quotient will be your BMI.

A healthy and fit BMI will range at about twenty to twenty-five points. Nineteen points and under are believed to fall in the underweight area. And a BMI of about twenty-five to thirty points would be considered overweight. A body mass index of more that thirty will certainly put you in the obese group.

These calculations don’t necessarily reflect 100% of your real health status since the body mass index cannot consider the weight of muscles and fat. There is a possibility that you can get a high BMI but you are not overweight or obese since muscles weigh a lot more than fats.

The BMI calculator for female is not that precise in verifying the general percentage of fats inside the body and was made as an easy method to determine how much body fat your body possesses. If you want very precise reading, consulting a health professional is the best way to do so.

Common Causes of Yeast Infections

GuestPoster — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 02:24:05 +0000

Yeast infections most commonly occur in women in the vagina. The mouth and the skin are two other areas where yeast infections can be found. Yeast infection treatment offers many different options. Yeast infection creams and suppositories are now available over the counter without a prescription. Monistat offers a one day, three day and seven day treatment package. Some packages also include a separate small tube of ointment which be used on the outside of the vagina to help reduce itching and irritation.

Keep in mind that well these products are available over the counter and without a doctor’s examine, that they are not recommended for first time yeast infection suffers. You need to make sure you have a yeast infection before you start treating one. In these cases, it is necessary to visit a doctor to have a proper diagnosis first before being treatment. Doctors can prescribe medications for yeast infections. In addition to lotions and suppositories, there are pills that can be prescribed. The most common of which is Diflucan. (The generic of which is Fluconazole.) This is also a proven treatment of yeast infections.

Thrush is the name given to yeast infections in the mouth. They are common among nursing babies and can be difficult to get rid of. Often times the infection is passed between the nursing mother and the baby. It is often recommended that lactating mothers discontinue nursing the baby until the infection clears. Some women pump and give the baby breast milk in a bottle.

Some people embrace the concept of performing a regular body cleanse to aid the treatment of yeast infections and seek other natural remedies. Garlic and Yogurt are two of the most popular homeopathic forms of treatment. No matter which form of treatment you chose, be careful to make sure that the entire infection is gone. Untreated yeast infections can cause serious symptoms and lead to further health complications. Be sure to confirm that your method of choice is eliminating the infection.

Non Surgical Breast Enhancements: The Science Behind the Breakthrough

GuestPoster — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:04:07 +0000

We have seen medical breakthroughs that made us believe that there’s indeed miracle in science. Today, another medical advancement utilizing a seemingly old yet proven technique is creating waves of different reactions from people around the world. We are referring to non surgical breast enhancements processes that aren’t only well-researched but are also clinically tested. In fact, some of these products/brands have been developed for a decade or so before it penetrated the market.

It is a sensational phenomenon since the principle of cell growing by expanding the tissue has been studied by so many medical institutions for centuries. Now that they have proven that they can really make it work, they used it for aesthetics’ sake by enhancing a woman’s breast without suffering from the pain of surgery. It is a science that has been publicized as enduring, safe and effective. Thus, it was approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (DFA) as a harmless system for growing breast tissue.

The system is largely based on the notion that through mild, consistent, and harmonized application of tension on a specific body part, the tissue will cultivate and produce new and natural tissue. This tension or extension has been found to be beneficial to the skin cells because it is the same mechanism behind the natural growth and regeneration of human tissue. With this new system, this regeneration of tissue can now be achieved artificially either through an implanted or an externally fixed device. The idea is to encourage the growth of breast tissue by placing the device inside the breast area wherein it will create a series of tension that will promote tissue growth.

It can never be denied that this development has made so many women happy. Why not? A non surgical breast lift without going under the needle? It sounds rather appealing! The downside is that, because of its many advantages, this process can be much more expensive than the existing surgical breast enhancement processes. But then again, women will surely get their money’s worth so it may still be chosen over the other breast enhancement methods.

Eating Quickly Make Risky Fat and Obesity

Admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:47:56 +0000

It’s not just fast food that makes a fat, but eating too quickly can make a person fatter. The study of eating habits is to justify saying parents who say that one should chew at least 20 times before swallowing.

Studies show that people who swallowed quickly tend to consume more food than people who eat with ease. Researchers believe that eating quickly will stop the production of the hormone peptide YY and glucagon-peptide in the gut that act as a drag on the brain’s appetite.

Hormones that should inform the brain that food in the stomach is full to not work. As a result, a person will not feel full and eat into transmissivity.

Professor Stephen Bloom of Imperial College, London said that the trend to eat a typical fast-collar workers or people who are busy will trigger the risk of obesity. “Eat quickly while doing the work in front of the computer will speed up the risk of obesity,” Stephen said as quoted from Dailymail, Thursday (5/11/2009).

For that, Stephen suggested that a person does not eat quickly. “Nothing wrong with eating slowly and controlled. That way a person can actually slimmer,” explained Stephen.

In his study, researchers tried to compare the effects of eating fast and slow at the participants of the levels of glucose, insulin and fat. Each participant was fed 300 ml of ice-cream and instructed to eat with a speed different.

In addition to measuring blood sugar levels, researchers also measured levels of the hormone peptide YY and glucagon-peptide that functions send signals to the brain to stop eating.

The result is participants who ate ice cream in 30 minutes to have hormone levels higher in the blood and felt it was fed than those who ate hurriedly. That means that participants who ate in a hurry to have a hormone peptide YY and glucagon-peptide less in his body.

This study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. “A lot of people who already know that eating fast can lead to excessive consumption and obesity. Some previous studies had already proved it. But still many people are hard to stop that bad habit,” said Dr. Alexander Kokkinos, of Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

High Fiber consumption hindering Pregnancy

Admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:40:07 +0000

Fiber is known to have great benefits for the body. But recent research shows that consumption of too much fiber can reduce levels of estrogen and some other reproductive hormones.

Researchers discovered the 250 women aged 18 to 44 years, found women who consume excess fiber has several levels of estrogen and other reproductive hormones such as progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone lower.

High fiber intake, especially of fruits is also associated with higher risk of having anovulatori menstrual cycle, where the ovaries fail to release eggs. These findings have been reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This result does not mean it’s bad to consume fiber, but the amount that must be considered.

Eating high fiber foods do have many benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer. The experts recommend for adults in order to get as much fiber, 20 to 35 grams per day, but this amount of calorie intake depends on each person.

Anovulatori can be caused by several things, including excessive exercise, too little or a lot of body fat, thyroid gland dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder is a common cause of infertility. Women who do not ovulate regularly usually have irregular menstrual periods or none at all.

All the women who participated in this study are in good health and have regular menstrual periods. However, have reported that fiber intake is higher than what is recommended and is more likely to have at least one anovulatory cycle more than two months. The researchers measured anovulation by measuring the female reproductive-hormone levels more than two menstrual periods.

When the researchers take into account other factors that can affect ovulation include weight loss, race, level of exercise and calorie intake. Obtained a high fiber intake is connected about 10 times higher risk anovulatori.

“High fiber diet will reduce the activity of certain enzymes that cause the milk just a little estrogen hormone reabsorbed by the colon. In addition, fiber is also making more estrogen is wasted through the feces,” said J. Gaskins from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Rockville, Maryland, was quoted as saying by Reuters on Wednesday (4/11/2009).

But before you make a general recommendation, to do some more research so that there is much evidence that shows this.

Coffee, Tea and Wine Prevent Urinary Tract Infection

Admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:31:50 +0000

Good news for people who like to drink coffee, tea and wine. Health experts say that the drink can prevent urinary tract infections. While the apple juice is not good for urine.

Lucky also for men, because the prostate gland located at the genitals is a stronghold of the entry of bacteria in the urinary tract.

This was stated by Dr. dr. Parlindungan Siregar SpPD.KGH, in the seminar ‘Beware of Dehydration Effect On Health at Hotel Akmani, Jakarta, Kemis (22/10/2009).

“Coffee, wine, tea, and drink tea or citrus juice can increase the excretion of (expenditure) urine. And the high excretion may prevent urinary tract infections,” said Parlindungan.

According to him, the coffee can prevent and reduce bladder stones as much as 10 percent, 14 percent of tea and wine 39 per cent.

Parlindungan explained, when the excretion increases, osmotic regulation in the body also will increase. The hormone ADH (Anti Diuretics) and will decrease and make the volume of urine increased.

“When the volume of urine increases, the ability of a urinary tract antibacterial increased, and bladder stone disease can be prevented,” he explained.

Described, good urine is yellow, almost translucent white, pH neutral and odorless. Should within 24 hours, urine in the body out as much as 2 liters.

“So, to remove as much urine, the body should drink more water than 2 liters,” said Parlindungan.

In addition to coffee, tea or wine, other beverages, according Parlindungan to prevent urinary tract infections is beer.

“Drinking beer is good, but there contraindication, namely increased uric acid,” explained a specialist in internal medicine at the RSCM.

There is a good drink, there should also be avoided. According to studies conducted Parlindungan, apple juice was not good for urine.

“Although the apple has a good vitamin, but it could increase the risk of stone up to 35 percent,” explained Parlindungan.

Another fact revealed Parlindungan is about the risk of kidney stones among men and women, who were more experienced women.

“The channel length of the urethra more men than women. Men also have a prostate gland, which was able to excrete an antibiotic to fight bacterial infections. The two differences that make men less urinary tract infections. Fortunately for a man,” explained Parlindungan.

Urinary tract infections can make kidney function decreases, pain when urinating as well as kidney stones.

“If women have no symptoms of illness after urinating, have to be examined. And if he’s also experienced, careful could be a sign of prostate cancer,” he said.

For that, get used to drinking 2-3 liters of water a day, or about 8-10 glasses (glass size 250 ml) each day can reduce the risk of bladder tract infections.

“But for older people is the opposite yes. Do not be too often drinking water, enough just 1.5 liters a day,” said Parlindungan.

Excess water in the elderly were able to make sodium in the body decreases and experiencing symptoms called Hiponatrium. When sodium is reduced, the body becomes limp and sleepy.

“Usually when people sleepy or weak, especially parents, easy to stumble and break bones can result,” he explained.

Tomato fruit to cure acne

Admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:26:16 +0000

Acne on the face often becomes a serious problem for women. Infection of the skin surface that can even make women’s stress and loss of confidence. Especially when the anti-acne products never heal.

Do not be overcome easily frustrated acne. Try the natural way to deal with acne with tomatoes. Lycopene content of tomatoes owned very efficacious for skin health.

Biological protein, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, vitamin A, B1, and C, also make good tomatoes to be applied as a mask. Not only can make acne dry, tomatoes are also nutritious black stain of acne scars.

How to make a mask of tomato:
- Destroy the two tomatoes in a blender
- Add lemon juice, mix well

How to use:
- Apply to the face and neck before bed
- Allow up to early morning
- Rinse with warm water

For routine care smooth the face, mask tomatoes can also be used on a regular basis. After the face and neck in the spread of tomato and lemon mixture, do gentle massage for 15 minutes. After that wash with warm AOR.