23 May

FAQS ABOUT MENOPAUSE

Posted by yourhealthcheck111 in FAQs, FAQs about menopause. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

What is premenopause?

This is defined as the years between when menstruation starts (puberty) and menopause.

What is perimenopause?

This literally means around menopause. It is a menopause transition phase where the physical signs of menopause begin to manifest before the final menstruation. This may last up to 6 years or more  before the  final menstruation and end a year after.

What is menopause?,

This is defined as the final menstrual period. It is a normal process that occurs around age 51 and is usually confirmed when a woman misses her period for 12 consecutive months in the absence of other obvious causes. Menopause is usually caused by reduced function in ovaries due to aging. This in turn results in a lower levels of estrogen and other hormones. Menopause marks the permanent end of fertility.

What is induced menopause?

It is the period between the first and the last period when menstruation stops. This can occur at any age and it is usually due to medical processes like ovary removal or cancer treatment.

I had a hysterectomy. Will I still go through menopause?

If you had a hysterectomy due to a medical condition and both your uterus and ovaries were removed, you will experience immediate onset of menopause. This is called induced or surgical menopause.  However if your ovaries are kept intact during a hysterectomy, you will not experience menopause because your ovaries will still produce hormones. Although you will not have any more periods, the hormones produced by your ovaries will still make your body cycle and hence you may experience pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). Some women with intact ovaries after a hysterectomy may have occasional hot flashes due to disturbance in blood flow resulting from the procedure. However, it is important to note that a hysterectomy may cause you to have an earlier menopause than you would have otherwise.

When is menopause considered early or premature?

Any kind of menopause whether natural or induced that occur at age 40 years and below is considered premature. This is usually genetic or due to medical intervention as a result of  a medical condition.

What are the causes of menopause?

It is a natural process that occurs with aging but in some cases medical intervention, cancer treatment and rare ovarian conditions may be the cause.

What are the signs and symptoms of menopause?

Signs and symptoms of menopause include:

  • irregular menstrual cycle
  • vaginal dryness
  • hot flashes
  • mood swing
  • increased fat around the waist
  • restlessness

How is menopause confirmed?

In most cases women know they are approaching menopause because they start to experience the signs and symptoms. If you have missed your period for 12 consecutive months without any of the obvious causes like pregnancy , then that is confirmation that you have reached menopause. Your doctor will  confirm this by conducting blood tests to check the levels of your Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and estrogen levels. Your FSH level increases and estrogen level drops during menopause.

 

Will menopause cause my voice to change?

Usually menopause does not cause a woman’s voice to change but in some rare cases women loose their upper register voice.

Do I still have to use birth control now that menopause has begun?

You have to confirm you have menopause before you stop using birth control. To confirm, make sure you have missed your period for a entire year and have the necessary blood work done to check your hormone levels. It is advisable to practice safe sex techniques using latex condoms during menopause to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

What should I know about hot flashes?

Hot flashes are very common in perimenopause, but not all women experience them. Intensity is different for every woman – ranging from mild ones such as a light brush to intense night sweats that could wake you up from a deep sleep. Hot flashes last from 30 seconds to  5 minutes and may last a few years after menopause. However, a few percentage of women may experience it for years.

How can I treat my hot flashes?

Menopausal hormone therapy will relieve hot flashes for many women but there are  some drug therapies that may also offer relief. These include prescription therapies (hormones like Provera and Megace and medicines like Bellargal-S , Catapres and antidepressants like Zoloft , Paxil and Effexor) and over -the -counter medicines like ibuprofen, vitamin E, vitamin B complex and soy protein found in food.

What are the side effects of menopausal hormone therapy?

As with all medicines there are various side effects. Estrogen alone increases the risk of breast cancer. A type of menopausal hormone therapy, Prempro , increases the risk of blood clots and stroke. It may also slightly increase your chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

How will menopause affect my sex life?

Many women experience painful sex due to dryness caused by low estrogen levels. Use vaginal creams and estrogen treatment creams and tablets to minimize dryness. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations.

What are the complications associated with menopause?

Common complications of menopause include:

osteoporosis

heart disease

urinary problems

weight gain

What is post menopause?

It is all the years beyond menopause.

 

 

 

23 May

Placenta previa

Posted by yourhealthcheck111 in Pregnancy and baby center. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Placenta previa is when you placenta is lying low in your uterus next to or covering your cervix- the doorway between the uterus and the vagina.  The placenta is usually located near the top of the uterus.. It supplies the fetus with nutrients through the umbilical cord and removes its waste.Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding before or during delivery.When found early placenta previa is usually not considered to be a problem because as the uterus grows, the placenta usually moves higher in the uterus, away from the cervix. But later in pregnancy if the placenta is still covering the cervix , then it becomes a problem.You may be restricted to bed rest for a portion of your pregnancy. If you have placenta previa at the time of delivery, you will need a c- section.

The placenta may lie near the cervix and not cover it and this is low-lying placenta. It usually moves up as pregnancy progresses. Placenta may also partially cover the cervix as in partial previa or fully cover and block the cervical opening as in the case of complete previa.

 

CAUSES

The actual cause of placenta previa in unknown. The placenta grows wherever the embryo implants itself in the uterus. If the embryo implants itself  in the lower portion of the uterus, the placenta will grow there and might cover the cervix. Placenta previa is usually diagnosed during the second trimester ultrasound. Other conditions like abnormally shaped uterus, scars in the lining of the uterus and a large placenta can also cause placenta previa.

 

RISK FACTORS

Certain factors that can put a woman at risk of getting placenta previa include

  • having had a previous placenta previa in previous pregnancy
  • had some uterine surgery (such as a D&C or fibroid removal).
  • pregnant with multiples
  • a previous c – section
  • older than 35 years
  • cigarette smoker
  • asian

 

SYMPTOMS

The main symptoms of placenta previa is bright red vaginal bleeding which is usually painless during the second trimester. The bleeding may be light or heavy and may resolve on its own without any medication. Bleeding may however recur days or weeks later. Other women may also experience contractions.

 

TEST AND DIAGNOSIS

An ultrasound is usually used to diagnose placenta previa.  An abdominal and vaginal ultrasound will reveal placenta previa. Rarely a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to determine the location of the placenta.

 

TREATMENT

Treatment for placenta previa may depend on the individual’s condition such as how far along you are in pregnancy, amount of bleeding, position of placenta, your health and baby’s health.

If you have little or no bleeding, you may be put on bed rest for the rest of your pregnancy . Standing for long periods and physical exercise is off limits.You may also be told to avoid sex. For partial previa , you may be allowed to attempt vaginal delivery but if heavy bleeding occur, you will need an emergency c C-section.

In the case of heavy bleeding, you may need hospitalization. You will be put on bed rest, get blood transfusion to replace lost blood and medication to avoid premature labor may be administered. The latest you will deliver will be 37 weeks but may be earlier if necessary.

If bleeding however doesn’t stop and your baby is in distress, you will be given delivered through emergency c section even if baby is premature.

 

COMPLICATIONS

Placenta previa may present  complications such as

  • bleeding
  • preterm birth

 

 

22 May

PRETERM LABOR

Posted by yourhealthcheck111 in Pregnancy and baby center. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Preterm labor or premature labor is when you start having true labor 20 weeks into your pregnancy or before 37 weeks. This type of labor starts to open up your cervix. If preterm labor is not stopped, your baby will be born early. The earlier your baby is born , the greater the health risks. Nearly half a million babies are born prematurely every year in the united states. Going into preterm labor does not mean you will have a premature birth. Nearly half of all women who go into premature labor eventually have their babies  at 37 weeks or later. The specific cause of preterm labor is unknown, however certain factors can increase your risk of having premature labor.

 

RISK FACTORS

Factors that can increase your chances of having preterm labor include the following :

Being pregnant with multiples ( twins, triplets and so on ).

Previous preterm labor or premature birth.

Having problems with your uterus or cervix in the past or now. Placental issues may also cause preterm labor.

Certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.

Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia.

Certain infection during pregnancy such as vaginal infection, urinary infection and sexually transmitted diseases.

Presence of fetal birth defect like congenital heart defect or spina bifida.

Getting  pregnant too soon after having a baby.

Too much amniotic fluid.

Multiple miscarriages.

Being under or over weight during or before pregnancy.

Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs.

Stressful life events like death.

Younger than 17 or older than 35 years of age

Having moderate to severe anemia during early pregnancy.

No or late prenatal care

 

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of preterm labor include the following :

  • a change in vaginal discharge
  • mild abdominal cramps
  • diarrhea
  • contractions that make your belly tighten every 10 minutes or more
  • leaking fluid from your vagina
  • low dull backache
  • mild abdominal cramp
  • vaginal spotting or bleeding
  • pelvic pressure

 

TEST AND DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will check your signs and symptoms to help diagnose preterm labor. Regular, painful contraction that thin and soften your cervix before 37 weeks is likely to be preterm labor. Other test include

Pelvic exam : Your pelvis will be checked to determine if it  has begun to open and thin out. It will also be checked to see the position of the baby.

Ultrasound : This is done to measure the baby’s   size, age, weight and position in your uterus. It is also used to measure the size of your uterus. It is used to monitor changes in your cervix.

Fetal monitoring : It records baby’s heart beat and check for baby’s well-being . It detects drops in heart rate and baby being stressed out.

Uterine monitoring : This is also used to check the spacing and frequency of contractions.

Amniocentesis : If your pregnancy  is at least 32 weeks, amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus and test for your baby’s lungs maturity. This procedure also detects infection in the amniotic fluid.

Lab test : A vaginal swab is done to check for the presence of certain infections and fetal fibronectin. Fetal fibronectin acts like  a glue between the fetal sac and the lining of the uterus. It is discharged during labor.

 

TREATMENT

Cervical cerclage : This is a surgical procedure in which  the cervix is stitched closed with strong sutures. The sutures are typically removed when the baby is full term at 37 weeks or earlier when necessary.  Cervical cerclage is necessary when you are less than 24 weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound shows your cervix is opening and when you have a history of premature birth. It is however not recommended for active labor.

If you are less than 34 weeks and in active labor, the following may be done

Corticosteroids : This injection is recommended if you are between 24 and 34 weeks pregnant. It is an  injection of potent steroids in the form of betamethasone (Celestone) or dexamethasone to speed your baby’s lung maturity. At 34 weeks baby lungs may be developed enough and not need this injection.

Tocolytics  : This medication is given to temporarily halt your contractions. Tocolytics cannot halt your labor for more than 2 to 7 days but may buy you enough time to get corticosteroids to help your baby’s lungs mature. It can be given orally or through an injection. If one type of tocolytics does not work, your doctor may give you another type.

 

PREVENTION

Taking these precautions can help prevent preterm labor.

Eat health diet.

Get plenty of rest.

Start prenatal care early and seek your doctor regularly.

Gain weight wisely.   A weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds is recommended if you have a healthy weight before pregnancy.

Avoid smoking, illicit drugs and alcohol.

Space your pregnancy.

Restrict sexual activities if you have history of preterm labor.

Manage chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Limit physical exercise.

Progesterone compound called Makena (17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate, or 17P for short) is recommended for people with history of premature rapture of membrane or preterm labor. This is an injection given weekly starting from the second trimester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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