Tag: Women

How Hormonal Imbalance Impacts Women’s Health

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Hormones play a vital role in regulating numerous functions in your body, from mood to metabolism. When these hormones become imbalanced, it can disrupt your daily life, causing a range of physical and emotional issues. Understanding the effects of hormonal imbalance and how to address it can help restore balance and improve overall well-being.

What is Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance occurs when there is an excess or deficiency of hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to regulate various bodily functions. When their levels are out of balance, it can lead to a cascade of health problems.

Causes of Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalances in women can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:

  • Stress
  • Poor diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Hormonal contraceptives
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Underlying health conditions (e.g., PCOS, thyroid disorders)
  • Environmental factors and exposure to chemicals

Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Women

The symptoms can differ based on which hormones are affected. Additionally, many of these symptoms may be related to other conditions, not solely to hormonal imbalances. 

Common signs include:

  • Irregular periods or skipped cycles
  • Severe acne or oily skin
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
  • Low sex drive
  • Night sweats
  • Digestive issues
  • Pain in the abdomen or the back during menstruation
  • Diarrhoea or frequent bowel movements

These symptoms can be distressing and impact a woman’s quality of life, making it essential to seek appropriate treatment.

How Hormonal Imbalances Affect a Woman’s Body?

Hormonal imbalances can have widespread effects on your body because hormones control many vital functions. For example, hormones like estrogen and progesterone regulate the menstrual cycle, and when their levels are off, it can lead to irregular periods or even infertility. Beyond the reproductive system, imbalances in hormones like thyroid hormones or insulin can affect your metabolism, leading to unexplained weight gain or loss.

Hormones also play a significant role in mental health; imbalances in cortisol or serotonin can contribute to anxiety, depression, or mood swings. Additionally, hormones influence your skin health, sleep patterns, and energy levels. When these hormones are out of balance, it can result in symptoms such as acne, insomnia, fatigue, and more, affecting your overall well-being. Understanding these effects is crucial for seeking proper treatment and maintaining a healthy balance.

Critical Phases of Hormonal Shifts in a Woman’s Life

Women experience hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives, particularly during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Each of these stages can lead to temporary imbalances. However, chronic imbalance often indicates a need for medical intervention.

Hormonal Imbalance Treatment

Treating hormonal imbalances involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medical treatments, and sometimes natural remedies.

  • Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise, a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, stress management techniques like yoga and meditation, and adequate sleep are crucial. These changes can help regulate hormone levels and alleviate symptoms.
  • Medical Treatments: Depending on the cause of the imbalance, doctors may prescribe you medications such as hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, or thyroid medication. It’s important to follow a healthcare professional’s guidance when using these treatments.
  • Natural Remedies: Some women find relief through natural remedies such as herbal supplements, acupuncture, and essential oils. However, it is best to consult a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.

How to Cure Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Begin by consulting with a healthcare provider to identify the root cause of the imbalance. Treatment plans may include a combination of lifestyle changes, medical therapies, and possibly natural remedies. You may need regular monitoring and adjustments to find the most effective solution.

Conclusion

In summary, hormonal imbalances can significantly impact a woman’s health and well-being, but understanding the causes and symptoms is the first step toward effective treatment. With the right approach, including lifestyle changes and appropriate medical care, balance can be restored, leading to a healthier, happier life.

FAQs

  • What are the major signs of hormonal imbalance?

Major signs include irregular periods, acne, weight fluctuations, fatigue, mood swings, and digestive problems. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a doctor to confirm whether a hormonal imbalance is the cause and to receive proper treatment.

  • What can I drink to balance my hormones?

Drinks like herbal teas, green tea, and water with lemon may offer general support for hormonal balance by helping with digestion and stress reduction. However, the effectiveness of these beverages can vary depending on the specific hormone involved and your overall health. For targeted hormone regulation, a comprehensive approach that includes medical evaluation and personalised treatment is often necessary.

  • What foods balance female hormones?

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon and flaxseeds), fibre (such as fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (like avocados and nuts) can help maintain hormonal balance.

Understanding PCOS: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects millions of women around the world. If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS or are experiencing symptoms that make you wonder if you might have it, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Understanding PCOS, its causes, symptoms, and available treatments can empower you to take control of your health and well-being.

What is PCOS?

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. The term “polycystic” describes ovaries that are often larger and contain numerous small cysts (tiny, fluid-filled sacs). However, it’s important to note that not all women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries, and not all women with ovarian cysts have PCOS.

What Causes PCOS?

The exact cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but these factors are believed to contribute to its development:

  • Genetics: PCOS tends to run in families, so if your mother or sister has PCOS, you may be more likely to develop it yourself.
  • Insulin Resistance: Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance, meaning their bodies have difficulty using insulin effectively. This can lead to elevated insulin levels, which may increase androgen production and cause symptoms of PCOS.
  • Hormonal Imbalance: High levels of androgens (male hormones) and low levels of progesterone (a female hormone) are common in women with PCOS. This hormonal imbalance disrupts the normal ovulation process.

Symptoms of PCOS

PCOS can present a wide range of symptoms, and not every woman with PCOS will experience all of them. Some common symptoms include:

  • Irregular Periods: One of the most common signs of PCOS is irregular or absent menstrual periods. This occurs because the hormonal imbalance interferes with the normal ovulation process.
  • Excess Hair Growth: Known as hirsutism, many women with PCOS experience increased hair growth on the face, chest, back, or other areas where men typically grow hair.
  • Acne and Oily Skin: High androgen levels can lead to persistent acne and oily skin, especially on the face, chest, and upper back.
  • Weight Gain: Many women with PCOS struggle with weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. This can be linked to insulin resistance.
  • Thinning Hair: Some women with PCOS may experience thinning hair on the scalp, similar to male-pattern baldness.
  • Difficulty Conceiving: Due to irregular ovulation, women with PCOS may have difficulty getting pregnant.
  • Mood Changes: PCOS can also affect mental health, leading to symptoms of anxiety, depression, or mood swings.

How to Know If You Have PCOS

If you suspect you might have PCOS, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider who can evaluate your symptoms and run necessary tests. Diagnosis typically involves:

  • Medical History and Physical Examination: Your doctor will ask about your menstrual cycle, weight changes, and other symptoms. They may also check for physical signs of PCOS, such as excess hair growth or acne.
  • Blood Tests: Blood tests can measure hormone levels like FSH , LH ,including androgens, insulin, and glucose, to help diagnose PCOS.
  • Ultrasound: An ultrasound can be used to examine the ovaries for cysts and measure the thickness of the uterine lining.

PCOS Treatment Options

While there is no cure for PCOS, there are several treatment options available to manage its symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term complications. Treatment is often tailored to your specific symptoms and goals, such as regulating your menstrual cycle, managing symptoms like acne or excess hair growth, or improving fertility.

  • Lifestyle Changes: Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to manage PCOS symptoms. This includes maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress. Weight loss, even a small amount, can significantly improve symptoms for many women with PCOS.
  • Medications: Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medications to help regulate your menstrual cycle, manage insulin levels, or treat specific symptoms like excess hair growth or acne. Birth control pills are commonly prescribed to regulate periods and reduce androgen levels.
  • Fertility Treatments: If you’re trying to conceive, there are fertility treatments available that can help stimulate ovulation. These include procedures like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or Intrauterine insemination (IUI).
  • Hair Removal and Acne Treatment: For those struggling with hirsutism or acne, there are various cosmetic treatments available, including laser hair removal, electrolysis, and topical or oral acne medications.

Is It Possible to Cure PCOS Permanently?

Currently, there is no known cure for PCOS. However, with proper management, many women with PCOS can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Making lifestyle changes, taking prescribed medications, and staying in regular contact with your healthcare provider can help you manage your symptoms and reduce the risk of complications such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and endometrial cancer.

FAQs

  1. What is the root cause of PCOS?
    The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it’s often linked to genetics, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances.
  2. What habits cause PCOS?
    Poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress can contribute to the development or worsening of PCOS, especially if you’re already at risk.
  3. What is the basic treatment for PCOS?
    Basic treatment for PCOS includes lifestyle changes like healthy eating and exercise, along with medications to manage symptoms.
  4. What food to avoid in PCOS?
    It’s best to avoid sugary foods, processed snacks, and refined carbohydrates, as they can worsen insulin resistance and PCOS symptoms.

International Women’s Day: Celebrating and Embracing Inclusive Healthcare for Women

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Today is International Women’s Day. The time of the year when women’s achievements, contributions, and rights are brought to the limelight. It is the only day when women from the past are lauded for their initiatives and success in establishing equality for women. But these are not the sole purposes of this day.

Wones Day

International Women’s Day is a reminder that nudges us to continue the fight for women’s equality and equity every year. This year’s theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, Everyone deserves an opportunity to live a healthy life, and this is where health equity in women’s healthcare matters.

Healthcare equity implies that every woman receives a fair and just chance at quality healthcare services regardless of where they come from or how they look.

Are our women receiving quality, respectful, and impartial healthcare?

It is crucial to reflect on the progress made in the realms of reproductive, sexual, and maternal healthcare. Although we have come a long way, there is still more to achieve and implement in ensuring the best healthcare for women. We need to make sure that every woman, regardless of their background and circumstances, gets accessible healthcare services and can make informed choices about their body and life.

Women of every age have the right to receive accessible healthcare where all their needs are addressed. We can look at the healthcare needs of women by tracing them through different phases of their lives.

Adolescent Health

Adolescence is a crucial stage in a woman’s life where she goes through several physical and psychological changes. Comprehensive sex education and safe healthcare environments are inevitable in developing inclusive healthcare solutions.

Quality menstrual and reproductive healthcare can enable girls to have better health later in their lives. Menstrual health issues are often overlooked with shame and stigma in our society. Thus, only a few girls come forward to access healthcare services.

women

Inclusive, safe, and non-judgemental health screenings for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) like HIV and HPV are necessary. The healthcare providers should be trained to offer care without any bias. Early detection and prevention of prevalent reproductive health issues, including cervical and ovarian cancer, PCOD, PCOS, and endometriosis, is indispensable. This includes accessible HPV vaccinations and cervical cancer screenings at all levels of health centres.

Maternity Care

Maternity healthcare includes access to safe infertility treatments, counselling on contraception and family planning, respectful prenatal care, postnatal care, and nutrition. The lack of these basic services undermines and endangers the rights and well-being of women.

pregnant women

It is necessary to recognise and respect women’s autonomy and dignity while providing reproductive and maternal healthcare services. A woman-centred maternity care ensures that every mother-to-be makes informed choices and gets quality care irrespective of socio-economic differences.

Menopausal Healthcare

Towards the end of reproductive years, women go through another set of physical and psychological changes. A woman’s nutrition needs can change after and during menopause. The changes begin gradually with the perimenopausal phase. Women often fail to recognise the signs due to the lack of awareness. After menopause, many women become prone to health conditions like osteoporosis and are exposed to risks of cardiovascular diseases.

women

There is a need to spread awareness about perimenopause and postmenopausal health among women and health professionals. Women should be guided through this stage with the right nutrition and health treatments.

Providing healthcare equity for women does not end with focusing on one aspect. Instead, a comprehensive healthcare system needs to be developed where all health conditions are addressed and treated. Non-judgemental, safe, and inclusive spaces are what our women need. Reforming the design of the healthcare system to actively involve women and their health issues will not just serve women and girls in the present but also future generations.

Dr. Evita’s response on the article “Midwives back: Women opt for intimate home settings to give birth”

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Original Article “Midwives back: Women opt for intimate home settings to give birth” 

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Kolkata: When Meenakshi sensed the hormonal orchestra of labour inside her, she ambled into the kitchen, brought out her baking trays and started whipping up carrot muffins. As the surge arrived in waves she walked over to the windowsill, crouched on the bed and eventually leaned back against her midwife inside an inflatable wading pool in the living room until her baby floated out.

Read complete article at :  

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Midwives-back-Women-opt-for-intimate-home-settings-to-give-birth/articleshow/53250264.cms 

Dr. Evita’s response on the article “Midwives back: Women opt for intimate home settings to give birth”: 

Dr.Evita.jpgIn response to this article I agree that women should be given the opportunity to choose and have control in their birth journeys. There are several studies supporting continuity of care by midwives, which result in better outcomes for both mother and her newborn.

While home births offer women the much-wanted privacy, intimacy and comfort of personalized care, I strongly support the collaborative hospital model (especially for India) where midwives and obstetricians work together as a team – respecting each other’s roles. C Section if required can be performed without wasting time driving the laboring mother through narrow roads and horrendous traffic.

I am convinced of the vital role professional midwives play in a woman’s journey through pregnancy, labour, birthing of her baby and in the care of her newborn. It is time India promotes and supports Professional Midwifery.

All pregnant women who do not have medical/obstetric complications (otherwise termed as low risk) should be offered midwifery care. The midwife is trained for normality and works within a strict safety framework of rules. Stand alone birthing units in the UK is a good example where clear guidelines and defined protocols exist for midwifery led units. It is important that we in India focus on the quality of training to help produce a cadre of competent and confident midwives. It is equally important to define her role and responsibilities. Most importantly, is the attitude of the obstetric community – to accept, understand, respect and take delight in working with midwives as professional colleagues.

My own epiphany happened only a few years ago. Today as an enlightened obstetrician, I champion the cause of Professional Midwifery.

I am convinced that we obstetricians need to step back and stop interfering. We have medicalized and dehumanized birth. Our training focuses on making pregnancy a journey of complications and emergencies. Our own fears are often transferred to the woman. Most of us have a very poor understanding of “natural” birth and unfortunately an even poorer understanding of a woman’s needs during her labour and birth of her baby. We obstetricians need to get involved only when there is a medical or an obstetric complication, which demands our expertise.

At Fernandez Hospital we launched a two year in-house Professional Midwifery Education and Training Programme in August 2011. More than 4000 mothers have been supported through their labours and have enjoyed our professional midwives assisting them with their births. This journey has changed our own understanding of birthing issues and woman centered care. Our team of 40 ObsGyn doctors has had to unlearn a lot while simultaneously opening our minds to new thinking. It has been an enriching learning experience. PROMISE (Professional Midwifery Services) is the campaign we launched – out of conviction and belief that professional midwives are urgently needed. The campaign has four objectives.

  1. To make pregnancy safe
  2. Humanize birthing
  3. Train a workforce
  4. Promote midwifery by raising awareness among women and obstetricians

In India, where role models for professional midwifery exist, it is even more important that we encourage professional midwives (ensuring they are certified and have impeccable credentials) from countries that produce them i.e. UK, Australia, Sweden, Netherlands to register with the Indian Nursing Council. This will give them the license and medico legal protection to offer their services without fear. Besides, they could also partner with local hospitals/state Government in teaching and training a similar workforce for our country. The Indian Government and the Indian Nursing Council should open its doors to such well trained and competent professionals from other countries.

So while I STRONGLY support woman centered care, work towards reducing our interventions, help train a professional midwifery workforce, I do not (presently) support home births especially in a climate where there is no medico-legal protection for the professional midwife and with the Indian Government mandating institutional births.

I reiterate the fact that Professional Midwifery is the most urgent need of the hour. ALL laboring women MUST be offered midwifery support and care.