Women Health - Menopause

During puberty, a girl’s body becomes capable of reproduction. This is because the process of menstruation begins. Menstruation indicates the beginning of a new menstrual cycle. During the cycle, the lining of the uterus sheds and passes out of the body. In the middle of every cycle, one of the ovaries releases a mature egg which passes into the uterus through the fallopian tubes.  When the woman engages in unprotected sex during this period, there is a chance that she may get pregnant. The fertilized egg will then travel to the uterus where it implants itself in the thickened lining. If implantation does not occur, the woman will undergo menstruation which initiates the start of the next cycle.

Menopause is the process by which the woman’s reproductive system stops functioning in this way. Ovulation will stop as will menstruation. The woman’s body will experience a lot of change as there is a strong effect between menopause and hormones. The question then arises: what age does menopause start. There is no definite answer for this question. However, it is usually accepted that the age between 40 and 50 is when the woman is most likely to go through menopause.

Many women experience hot flashes after menopause begins. There are other menopause symptoms such as mood swings and vaginal dryness that can affect the daily routine of the woman. Thus, she may seek natural remedies for menopause. The first thing to understand is that there is a direct relationship between the diet and menopause. Studies have shown that women can change or reduce their symptoms by following a healthy diet. The relationship between the diet and menopause is based on stimulating foods in general. Spicy foods and caffeine drinks tend to produce ‘heat’ in the body and are considered to be stimulants. These must be avoided as much as possible when the individual is going through menopause. The diet should also include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as these will help to nourish the body well and maintain the balance of hormones within the body. A special focus should be placed on calcium and vitamin D.

The relationship between menopause and hormones can be further improved if the woman engages in exercises. Exercises help to burn energy and also help to improve the efficiency with which the heart and the lungs function. This will also improve the efficiency of waste removal from the body. Improved circulation helps the body to manage its hormone levels more efficiently by improved production and distribution of the same. The use of diet moderation and exercise has proven to be the best method for natural menopause relief. One can use other methods as natural remedies for menopause. Studies have shown that women who wear loose and cool clothing tend to suffer from fewer symptoms, particularly those of hot flashes. Apart from these natural remedies for menopause, one may use hormone replacement therapy to help deal with the symptoms of menopause. Many women resist this form of intervention, choosing instead to either bear the symptoms or use natural remedies for menopause. However, the link between menopause and hormones means that a woman maybe advised to use medical intervention to help her deal with the symptoms that she is suffering from.

When dealing with menopause, it is important that the woman remain stress free. Family members should be advised to help maintain peace around the house so that the symptoms are not exaggerated by stress either emotional or mental. There is also evidence that conclusively proves that sexually active women tend to suffer from fewer symptoms when going through menopause.

Incontinence in Women

Urination and defecation are the two ways in which the body gets rid of waste products that are surplus to the requirement of the body. These waste products are also used to eliminate certain toxins and unwanted substances from the body. Incontinence refers to the condition where the body is unable to control the release of these waste products. In most cases, incontinence is used as a term to describe a lack of control of urination. Urine is held in the bladder by a sphincter muscle which is controllable. The same applies to the anus as well where the anal sphincter controls are affected whether an individual defecates or not. Incontinence refers to the situation where either or both of the sphincters fail to do their jobs.

Incontinence is something that is deeply embarrassing for the woman. Urinary incontinence occurs twice as often in women than it does in men. The reasons for this include the difference in the structure of the female urinary tract. Other reasons include pregnancy related problems and damage or temporary damage that occurs during child birth.

There are many different causes of incontinence in women. The most common causes of incontinence in women are childbirth, pregnancy, menopause, birth defects, strokes, nerve disorders and age related problems. It should be understood that urinary incontinence in women is a medical problem and not something that the woman must simply accept as a fact of life that is associated with aging. Therefore, medical help should be sought when it is found that the woman is suffering from this problem. Incontinence in elderly women is more common than in younger women although one must not accept this as a part of the ageing process.

For incontinence in women, treatment can be sought through different methods before one seeks a surgical option to cure the problem. Surgery should be the last option used after one has exhausted other options for incontinence in women treatment. The first thing that one can do, particularly for urinary incontinence, is to follow a timed schedule for urination. One should urinate regularly and maintain a record of how often this is occurring. It has been found in most cases that women tend to gradually regain control of their bladder through this method. Once this occurs, the timing between visits to the bathroom can be increased as the sphincter muscle becomes more cooperative to instructions.

Another way of dealing with urinary incontinence in women is through the use of kegel exercises. Kegel exercises are exercises used to strengthen the sphincter muscle and the bladder muscles. These exercises involve the voluntary contraction and release of the pelvic muscles. The key here is to ensure that one only targets the pelvic muscles and nothing else. By contracting other muscles, especially the stomach muscles, one might end up worsening the situation rather than helping with the condition. Kegel exercises can be performed for just five to ten minutes each day with the benefits being felt within weeks of beginning such a regime. These exercises should not be attempted while one is urinating, even if the urination is involuntary.

There is also a medical option for treating urinary incontinence in women. Medications can be used to help reduce the activity of an overactive bladder. An important thing to understand is that stress can also be a trigger for this problem. Medication is very often used as a treatment for stress incontinence. This tackles the underlying problem, which is stress, rather than the symptom of urinary problems. Once the person is in a more relaxed mode, the chances of her recovering from incontinence are higher.

Bladder Control Problems

Bladder control problems are very common in women and research shows that every one in five women will suffer with them. However, most women are either embarrassed or ashamed to talk about them. Keep in mind that bladder control problems in women are experienced by a majority of women at some point in their lifetime. Learning about bladder control problems and their various symptoms can help women to identify the problem and take steps to treat it. Women should not shy away from talking about bladder control problems as these problems can be easily rectified. Read on to find out more about female bladder problems.

The most common bladder control problems in women are listed below:-

• Urinary Incontinence: Urinary incontinence occurs when the pelvic muscles begin to weaken. These pelvic muscles comprise of the bladder muscle and the sphincter muscles which help to keep the urine in the urethra and prevent it from leaking involuntarily. Most women experience incontinence. Women can leak urine when they laugh, sneeze, cough or exercise. There are different types of urine incontinence. Urge incontinence occurs after a strong sudden urge to urinate. This can be due to nerve damage from diabetes, infection, a stroke and so on. Mixed incontinence is due to both urge and stress incontinence. Functional incontinence is due to mobility problems.

• Nerve Spasm: Nerves may sometimes get damaged due to accidents, radiation, surgery, or a herniated disc. This results in the nerves not sending correct messages to the brain and could also result in involuntary urination. This could cause a person to either urinate very often in small intervals or not urinate even though the bladder is full. The urine will then leak out as the person has not control over his/her bladder.

• Gall Bladder Problems: Gall bladder problems also contribute to bladder control problems in women. An infection in the gall bladder which is caused by gallstones will spread into the bladder and cause discomfort.

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): A urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria known as Escherichia coli. This bacterium infects the urinary tract. Symptoms of a UTI include skin pealing, itching, burning or pain during urination or foul smelling urine or vaginal area. UTI bladder infections in women affect women of all age groups. Symptoms should be recognized and diagnosed quickly so that treatment can be started.

• Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Prolapse: These are two more reasons for the occurrence of bladder control problems. Bladder prolapse causes the bladder to lean into the vaginal wall or sag. Most women say that they feel a ball has been placed in the vaginal canal. Interstitial Cystitis occurs when a woman is suffering from stomach ulcers.

• Bladder Control Problems After Pregnancy: Women can also experience urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy. Childbirth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles which then cause an overactive bladder. This is why many women experience this incontinence after pregnancy.

Now that we know all about bladder control problems in women, let us look at the ways in which these problems can be treated and cured. Natural bladder control treatment includes practicing bladder control exercises. These exercises, also known as Kegel exercises can be practiced at any time during the day. It is advised to practice the exercises at least three times a day for best results. To practice these Kegel exercises you need to keep your abdominal, buttocks and thigh muscles relaxed and tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor. Hold the muscles and count to 10. Then relax the muscles while counting to 10. Do at least 10 of these exercises daily. Women who practice these exercises see results within 4-6 weeks.

Fitness and Pregnancy

Fitness and pregnancy should go hand in hand. If you are pregnant you may be wondering if it is safe to exercise or continue exercising during this period. Rest assured it is safe and advisable to exercise during pregnancy. Safe pregnancy exercises include walking, swimming, cycling, and yoga and so on. Before we continue to talk about the various safe exercises during pregnancy, let us take a look at fitness during pregnancy and the reason why it is considered important. Remember that exercising during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby. Your body will undergo many changes while pregnant and exercising is one way of helping the body to cope with these changes. Doctors now recommend that women exercise when pregnant as it benefits them in a number of ways.

Research has shown that women who do safe exercises during pregnancy have a shorter labor and delivery period than women who do not. Studies have also shown that babies that are born to women who practice safe exercises during pregnancy have stronger heart rates. These babies also have a lesser chance of becoming overweight themselves. Regular practice of safe exercises during pregnancy also helps the muscles to be stretched and lengthened. This helps the body to prepare for the pain of pregnancy and also for childbirth. Safe pregnancy exercises can help to improve your posture and alleviate some of the common discomforts of pregnancy such as fatigue and backache. These exercises also help to strengthen the muscles of the thigh, buttocks and back which are under a great deal of stress due to the growing size of the uterus. The practice of safe exercises during pregnancy also improves the supply of blood to the growing fetus.

Pregnancy Fitness Plan

Keep these points in mind while formulating your pregnancy fitness plan. Firstly, and most importantly, check with your doctor before starting any exercise routine. Do not attempt to try any new or strenuous exercise if you have not been exercising before your pregnancy. Walking is a good exercise to initiate when you are pregnant. Exercises should be practiced for about 30 minutes daily or on most days. It is generally not advised to practice any form of exercise if you have a pregnancy related condition such as a low placenta, bleeding, a weak cervix, a history of early labor or previous premature births, threatened or recurrent miscarriage. Begin by warming up and stretching for at least five minutes. Ensure you include at least 15 minutes of cardiovascular exercises, followed by aerobic exercises and end with slower stretching exercises.

Exercises to do while pregnant are indoor stationery cycling, swimming, low impact aerobics (these should be practiced under the guidance of a certified trainer), step or elliptical machines and brisk walking. These are considered the best exercises for pregnant women as they benefit the entire body and carry little risk of injury. These safe exercises during pregnancy can also be continued right till childbirth. Pregnant women can also exercise on a fitness ball as this type of exercise helps to tone up the abdominal muscles. Deep breathing exercises should be practiced by sitting on the exercise ball. The different forms of yoga help pregnant women as well. Yoga exercises will result in good physical and mental health which is also important during pregnancy. Pilates for pregnant women is also recommended as these exercises help the body to become strong and flexible, which once again helps the body to cope with the changes it is going through.

It is advisable to stop exercising during pregnancy if you feel discomfort at any time. Do not overexert yourself during this period.