Posted in Category : Women's Health | November 16, 2011

Nosebleeds During Pregnancy

Although a nosebleed can occur to any normal person, nosebleeds during pregnancy are also a very common phenomenon. This happens because of the increased blood flow and enhanced estrogen hormone levels. You may wonder why at all a nosebleed should occur without any injury and how are nosebleeds and pregnancy related to each other. To understand this, you should be aware of the structure of the nose. The fact is that a number of thin capillaries run below the delicate lining inside the nose. These capillaries are so delicate that they get easily ruptured when there is abnormally high blood flow through them. Some other causes of nosebleeds during pregnancy include lack of fluid intake and if you suffer from cold during pregnancy. During colds, the nasal lining becomes very dry and may result in rupturing of the nasal capillaries.The usual symptoms of nosebleeds are as listed below:

  • Blood coming out through nostrils is the most common and visible symptom.
  • Blood clots seen in mucous while coughing out.
  • Vomiting due to swallowing of blood when it happens to flow down your throat.
  • If the blood is get swallowed when the nosebleed takes place while sleeping, you are likely to find that color of your stools becomes reddish or dark brown.This happens because the blood reaches the stomach through your throat.

In most cases, the nosebleeds do not pose any serious health concerns and can easily be treated at home. Some home remedies for nosebleeds are mentioned hereunder, and you can safely use these at home:

  • The first and the foremost thing to do is to use a cold compress. For this soak a butter cloth in ice cold water and press on the sides of your nose. You may also apply ice cubes on and around the nose. It helps in contracting the ruptured capillaries and thus stops bleeding.
  • Take a freshly cut piece of onion and smell it placing it close to your nostrils.
  • Take some soil and add some water in, bring it close to your nose and smell it. This is also a very good home remedy for a nosebleed.
  • Using saline water is also very helpful in stopping nose bleeds. For this, you must use the sterilized saline solution. For preparing the saline solution, mix 1 to 2 pinches of common kitchen salt in one cup of boiled and cooled water. Drop 1 to 2 drops of this solution in your nostrils. It greatly helps in stopping the nosebleeds.

First aid for Nosebleeds During Pregnancy

Usually, treating nosebleeds is not very difficult. First aid for nosebleed during pregnancy is same as that in a normal case. The first aid for stopping nose bleeds involves the following steps:

  • Calmly sit down on a chair.
  • Bend yourself a little forward. This is necessary in order to prevent flow of blood to your throat.
  • Gently pinch your nose in between your forefingers. Keep it pressed for 10 to 15 minutes. To ensure the time, you may keep a watch in front of you. After this much period, you will find that bleeding has completely stopped.

This is the best and most commonly applied first aid for nosebleed. If you happen to experience frequent nose bleeds during pregnancy and a heavy loss of blood. You must consult your health care provider for proper medical help as it might be due to high blood pressure or any other medical reasons. Also, despite the above-mentioned remedies, it always best to consult a doctor during pregnancy; this is because during pregnancy, the body reacts differently to remedies and treatments that would otherwise seem normal.

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Posted in Category : Women's Health | September 20, 2011

Problems During Puberty

Human beings tend to achieve sexual maturity through their teenage years. For boys, this involves the development of the sex organs as well as the sex drive. For girls, the changes are more intense. The process of menstruation will begin at this stage as the girl’s body prepares to become ready to reproduce. The girl will also experience the growth of her breasts as well as the widening of her hips. Menstruation will begin at this stage of her life. Initially, menstruation will be irregular as the body gets itself into a rhythm. However, this will sort itself out as the girl grows into womanhood.

Parents need to look out for the early signs of puberty in girls so that they can plan what needs to be done in terms of changes occurring in the life of their girl child. In some cases, early signs of puberty in girls may occur before they even hit the age of ten. Initially, there will be small physical changes in the body as the breasts begin to slowly grow. The early signs of puberty in girls will also include the first menstruation. This may happen as early as at the age of 8. However, most girls tend to experience this change by the time they are in their early teens. Many girls experience problems during puberty. These problems may occur due to hormonal imbalances that are typical of this stage in the girl’s life.

Some of the common problems during puberty include the development of pimples as well as the slow and often inconsistent development of sexual characteristics. Girls will also suffer from problems during puberty associated with their menstrual cycles. Menstruation may be irregular and painful at this stage as the body gets used to dealing with the sudden supply of reproductive hormones. There are many stages of puberty in girls. Initially, there will be small changes. As the girl grows, her breasts will become fuller and more rounded. The girl will also develop wider hips that allow her to provide a womb for a baby. Pubic hair will develop around the groin area. Initially, this will be straight but the hair tends to thicken and become curly as the girl reaches the middle or end of puberty.

Growth During Puberty

One of the most obvious changes in the girl’s body is the growth during puberty. Girls tend to hit puberty before boys which is why they will go through their period of sudden height increase at this stage. As the girl’s hormone levels change, her body will respond by growing rapidly. This is why most girls appear to look like women even as early as at the age of 18. Boys, on the other hand, need another couple of years before they begin to look like adults. The growth during puberty is very inconsistent amongst girls. Some girls experience these changes at the early stage of teenage years whereas others may not develop completely until there are into their 20’s. There are also some obvious psychological effects of puberty. Most girls have body image issues at this stage of their lives as other girls may develop faster and in different ways.

Complexes regarding menstruation, height and breast size will cause psychological effects on the girl. However, proper help and support from her close friends and family will allow her to avoid worrying about such issues. The various physical changes for girls in puberty allow them to become capable of reproduction. These changes also give the girl the characteristics that define an adult woman. While this may be the case, most girls will grow into their late 20’s before they contemplate the process of reproduction.

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Posted in Category : Women's Health |

Definition, Causes, and Symptoms of Oligomenorrhea

The female reproductive system in humans features a menstrual cycle where the woman goes through a period of fertility during every month. The cycle is typically 28 days long although it may vary from time to time. During the cycle, the lining of the uterus becomes thick in anticipation of a fertilized egg implanting itself. This egg is released from the ovaries and will be fertilized if there are sperm present in the woman’s body as a result of sexual intercourse. When this does not happen, the woman will undergo her next menstruation followed by the repetition of this cycle once again.

The definition of oligomenorrhea states that it is a condition where the woman experiences infrequent and irregular menstrual periods. Normally, each woman falls into a pattern of menstruation where the duration between cycles is fairly accurately fixed. A simple definition  of oligomenorrhea could be made using the word scanty or infrequent as the woman will go through days, possibly weeks, before she menstruates normally again. The symptoms of oligomenorrhea include this abnormal gap between menstrual cycles. Other symptoms include heavy bleeding during menstruation, pain and discomfort, a feeling of heaviness in between menstrual cycles and infertility which results from the woman having an unpredictable menstrual cycle.

There are basically two main causes for oligomenorrhea. Amongst the most common causes of oligomenorrhea is the problem of hormonal imbalance. The hormones that control the female reproductive system like estrogen and progesterone may not be present in the right quantities in the body. While this may be linked to a number of other medical conditions, it is this abnormality that is blamed for oligomenorrhea. A woman who experiences symptoms of oligomenorrhea can seek various options for treating this condition. The second set of causes of oligomenorrhea is related to oral contraceptives. These are also based on hormonal changes that occur in the body. When the body is suffering from abnormal hormonal levels it will not be able to control the normal functioning of the menstrual cycle.

Treatment for Oligomenorrhea

As most cases of oligomenorrhea are related to hormonal issues, the treatment for oligomenorrhea will also be associated with the hormones in the woman’s body. The treatment for oligomenorrhea involves the consumption of oral medications that will help to balance out the woman’s hormone levels. Once these levels are balanced out, there is no reason why her menstrual cycle should not correct itself over a period of a couple of months. Some doctors may actually prescribe birth control pills to be used as treatment for oligomenorrhea. These pills contain synthetic hormones that help to control the functioning of the woman’s reproductive system. Once this control is achieved, it will become possible to ensure that the menstrual cycle returns to normal once the course of birth control pills has been completed.

Normally, this treatment for oligomenorrhea can be used to cure oligomenorrhea completely. Once the woman’s cycle returns to normal, her body should manage itself and return to a normal menstrual cycle. Factors such as excess weight, excessively low weight, poor health and lack of exercise can compound the problem. However, if these are taken care of, then the woman will be able to successfully cure oligomenorrhea without much medical intervention. In some rare cases, the cure for oligomenorrhea may involve surgery or therapy to deal with some gland that is malfunctioning, thus throwing off the balance of hormones in the woman’s body. The relationship between oligomenorrhea and pregnancy is such that the woman will have a reduced chance of getting pregnant. This is not necessarily because she does not have the suitable conditions present in her body. However, the abnormal duration of the menstrual cycle will make it more difficult to plan conception.

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Posted in Category : Women's Health |

Causes and Symptoms of Endometriosis

The female reproductive system in humans is one that follows a monthly menstrual cycle. During this time, the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, thickens in anticipation of a fertilized egg implanting itself. Once this thickening happens, the woman will be ready to get pregnant. However, during most cycles, there is no impregnation and the thickened endometrium passes out of the body during the subsequent menstrual cycle. This is why bleeding occurs when the woman menstruates. Endometriosis is a condition where there is an abnormal formation of tissue on other parts of the pelvic region. This tissue is identical to the tissue that one would find in the uterus. However, due to its abnormal location, the tissue may cause serious problems and complications with the woman’s health. When examining the causes and symptoms of endometriosis, we can understand what to do about the condition.

There are a number of different causes and symptoms of endometriosis that can occur. The causes are not yet completely understood. There is evidence that points to genetic factors involved in the development of endometriosis. There is also evidence to suggest that hormonal imbalance issues tend to raise the risk of endometriosis. Girls who have undergone early puberty followed by frequent menstrual cycles are more likely to develop endometriosis. It is also important to understand that girls with a blocked reproductive tract are more likely to develop endometriosis. This blockage occurs because the hymen is not sufficiently open to allow the normal menstrual flow to occur. Some of the symptoms of the condition include excess pain during menstruation, pelvic cramping and pain in various parts of the pelvis and abdomen. Heavy bleeding during menstruation is also common of women who suffer from endometriosis. While the causes and symptoms of endometriosis are usually identified later in a woman’s life, it is common for the condition to begin at the onset of puberty.

The process of diagnosing endometriosis involves a number of different tests and physical examinations. A pelvic examination can help with the process of diagnosing endometriosis. This is the primary test used to determine if the woman is suffering from the condition. During the diagnosis of endometriosis, the doctor will also look for signs of endometriosis cancer. This may occur as a result of the cells developing abnormally once they have covered other organs of the pelvic region of the woman’s body.

Treatment Options for Endometriosis

There are various treatment options for endometriosis. These treatment options for endometriosis include treatments to help reduce the pain, treatments to help reduce the spread of endometriosis and treatments to resolve the condition permanently. Women who have serious endometriosis and those who do not wish to reproduce may have their uterus removed along with the removal of the ovaries. This will eliminate the condition of endometriosis as there will be no development of the endometrium anymore. One may also seek herbal treatments for endometriosis as well as natural cures for endometriosis. These are perfectly applicable as long as they work to improve the hormonal balance of the woman. One must not consume any medication that could hamper this hormonal balance as the chances of the woman’s condition worsening will be increased.

Some natural treatments for endometriosis are based on general health guidelines. Women who are healthy and who exercise regularly tend to have fewer problems associated with endometriosis as well as with other hormone related problems that affect their reproductive systems. It is best to discuss the treatment options for endometriosis with one’s doctor who will be able to prescribe the right course of action to be taken to ensure that the long term health of the woman isn’t jeopardized.

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