While signing the Tobacco Control Act into decree a year back, U.S. President Barack Obama accentuated the significance of quitting smoking among the populaces. Smoking has been proven to result in over 400000 fatalities every year in the U.S. due to cancers, emphysema and several respiration-related ailments, heart disease and unprompted abortion, stillbirth or miscarriage cases among pregnant women. In the U.S., there is a heightened risk of preterm delivery in the foetuses of expectant mothers in case the mom is a smoker. Other horrendous effects of smoking during pregnancy include: Lowered oxygen levels obtainable to the growing fetus as well as the mother. Rise in the fetal heart rate. Low birth weight babies. Fetal development retardation. Greater likelihood of the baby suffering from lung conditions or respiratory issues. Greater the number of cigarettes smoked daily, higher the risks of the baby developing several health conditions. There is nothing called as a  [...]

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the commonly experienced form of vaginal infection among females in their child bearing age. BV develops due to a combination of numerous bacterial forms that appear to show overgrowth in the similar manner as Candida does due to disrupted normal balance of bacteria in the vagina. BV is not contracted due to sexual contact yet it is prevalent among those females who are sexually active. Causes of Bacterial vaginosis: The precise cause for this form of excess growth is unknown. Factors like a new sex mate, polygamous relationships, expectant mothers, women with STDs or douching could increase the risk of developing BV. Also, BV is not contracted from toilet seat, beddings, swimming pool or due to contact with objects around. Women who are sexually abstemious could also be affected. Even post-menopause women could be affected with BV. Signs & Symptoms of Bacterial vaginosis: Females having bacterial vaginosis might experience an irregular discharge from  [...]

Menopause and Weight gain do seem to be going hand-in-hand particularly due to weight increase being so prevalent subsequent to menopause. Factually, almost thirty percent of females in the age band of fifty to fifty-nine years of age are not simply facing overweight issues but are also struggling with obesity. Menopause and Weight Gain – Probing Risks Several risks of weight increase are well-identified – hypertension, cardiovascular ailment and diabetes among several others. Surplus fats accumulating in the midriff further raises such risks. Regrettably, there is more likelihood of a woman developing a broader waist subsequent to entering menopause phase. In case a woman is presently having a waistline measuring over thirty-five inches then it is high time that proactive approaches be adopted for reversing this drift. Menopause and Weight Gain – Plausible Contributory Factors Menopause could make keeping off pounds quite a task possibly due to a merge of factors associated to  [...]

Greater number of HPV (human papilloma virus) cases can be identified when in-home testing kits were offered to females that failed in coming ahead to getting screened for cervical cancer. This was the astonishing outcome of a latest study available online. Despite the fact that in the West, cervical cancer screening programs has played a major role in decreasing the number of fatalities due to cervical cancer. One of the main downsides continues to be the reluctance of females in coming ahead for getting Pap smear tests. The online study printed in the British Medical Journal was conducted by investigators from Netherlands helmed by lead author Prof. Chris Meijer probed if in-home testing kits would bring about an improvement in HPV identification rates. Since long it has been ascertained that a number of HPV strains are present in majority of the cervical cancer cases, hence early detection is vital. During the course of the cervical cancer screening program in Netherlands,  [...]

Breast Milk is the superlative boost for a child’s overall growth raising immunity levels and bolstering IQ levels. Though breastfeeding is an innate process, numerous glitches do crop up that may adversely hinder the process. Many women experience sore, cracked nipples, inflammation, tenderness, surfacing of darkish red patches or balls on the breasts. Acute infections of the milk duct occurs leading to pus-filled lumps during Mastitis. The primeval healing method of Ayurveda advocates both the consumption and topical application of crushed garlic to cure red blotches on the breasts. Garlic accelerates the healing process by extracting puss and rooting out the germs. Topical application of powdered turmeric paste with water, bitter gourd and onion extract both external application and consumption assisted in quick recovery from puss formations. Engorgement of the breasts wherein there is a feeling of extreme fullness and pain along with a swollen areola can be effectively treated  [...]

Getting Pregnant Once you have tied the knot, you would agree that your priorities change. There are many important decisions that need to be made.  You need to adjust with a new partner in a new family. The decision of having babies and adding a new member to your family is a very important decision that is not to be taken easily. You would need a lot of delicate handling which many newly wed couples are not ready for. Before making this important decision in your life it is very important that the couple creates a good understanding among themselves. They need to tighten their relationship to the extent they do not move irrespective of whatever is thrown at them. Once the relationship has stabilized it is seen that many women still fears with the thought of pregnancy. If we look at these fears in detail we can dispel them easily. There are many women who are scared of losing their freedom and do not wish to be get tied up with responsibility.  In fact  if you look at it the  [...]

With a clutter of countless brands marketing their products to the hilt, one needs to get their perceptions clear to make informed decisions which will help woman lead side-effects free lives with zero risks from unprecedented health risks like sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy or last but not the least, a diminished sex life. Many vouch by the 100% effectiveness of the latex and polyurethane varieties of condoms. With its hassle-free reach across medicine counters, effortless storage, affordable prices and effectual safeguard against AIDS and wide range of STD, there are quite some loopholes to watch out for. Many factors like faulty use, wear and tear during use can cause abnormal genital lumps, herpes to site a few. There are others who disregard it use to due to deadened feeling, clumsiness or are simply sensitive to certain brands. One can optimise the effectiveness of condoms by combining the use of jelly-like, creams, easily insert able spermicides that increase  [...]

‘One who does not think and plan ahead will find trouble right at her door’ was what the great Confucious one stated and rightly so, being so relevant in the case of laying significant emphasis on antenatal health so that disease processes affecting the mother and the child can be diagnosed early enough to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with it. It is essentially mandatory to pay a visit to undergo medical surveillance to confirm normal pregnancy, detect abnormal cases like ectopic or missed abortion. It helps detect the exact date of conception for women not knowing the exact last menstrual period, which the key information in diagnosing and managing any growth retardations. These antenatal visits which also involve important laboratory tests and other investigations, help conjugate essential information. The Rh-factor is an important with Rh negative mothers who need essential counselling. These tests help monitor several factors like iron content, blood sugar, HIV  [...]

In submerged or underwater birth, the delivery of the child occurs while the mother is submerged in water. Many seem to be opting for this means of child birth, which has led to it gaining popularity and increased acceptability. In this method both the mother and the new born seem to be benefited. Though, at certain times this method can pose threat to the new born in the form of aspiration and water inhalation. This revolutionary method of child birth owes its origin to the obstetrician Igor, who did comprehensive research on the advantages and dangers. He successfully propagated this natural method in his delivery center at Pithiviers with countless women safely and easily giving birth by this aquatic technique. This method of birth is quite favorable for the child since the stressful exercise the child goes through during his passage through the birth canal is significantly eased as when the process takes place under water which is tepid, the transition of the baby from the birth  [...]

Life is all about making informed choices and with such a huge array of options available, one can get easily perplexed. Here’s how to get a head start. There are many inject able versions that contain either the sole hormone progestin as found in Depo-Provera or the duo-combo of progestin and oestrogen found in Cyclofem, Mesigyna, Lunelle, Noristerat all effectively avert ovulation by creating barricade for the sperms, with the miniscule failure rate of 1%, they have to be administered within 5 days of commencement of menstrual cycle. Depo-Provera or Depo-subQ Provera 104 shot offers protection from pregnancy for a period of 3 months while Lunelle offers protection for about a month, with fertility returning in two months time, at the rate of $30 a shot. Lunelle causes weight gain, vomiting and breast tenderness in many cases. Noristerat injection is effective for a period of two months, ideal for short-term contraception for women who have been immunized or whose partners have  [...]