Women's Health

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Article

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder which is believed to affect around 1 in 10 women in the US although this may be an underestimate. Symptoms typically begin in the late teens or early 20s and it is a condition where at least two (and often all three) of the following occur: Multiple tiny cysts (follicles) in the ovaries. An altered balance of body hormones so your ovaries make more male hormone testosterone than normal. A lack of ovulation each month causing irregular or absent periods. There may also be other symptoms such as acne, unwanted body hair, weight gain, depression or low mood and thinning of the hair on the scalp. In later life it can be linked with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels in a collection of conditions comprising metabolic syndrome. The cause of PCOS is unknown but early diagnosis and treatment is needed to help manage the symptoms.

Missed pill advice for Yaz
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Missed pill advice for Yaz

Yaz is a combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP). The pills contain estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (drospirenone) hormones. It is an everyday COCP. Each pack contains 24 active pills followed by four inactive pills. It is a monophasic COCP, which means all active pills have the same amount of hormones. You should try to take your pills at the same time each day. If you do not take your pill within 12 hours of your regular pill-taking time, it is classed as a missed pill. If you miss any of the four inactive (white) pills at the end of the pack, you can just disregard these pills. You will still be protected against pregnancy.

Missed pill advice for Natazia
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Missed pill advice for Natazia

Natazia is a combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP). The pills contain estrogen (estradiol) and progestin (dienogest) hormones. It is an everyday COCP. Each pack contains 26 active pills, followed by two inactive pills. It is a multiphasic COCP, which means different pills contain different amounts of hormones. They should be taken in the order marked on the pack. You should try to take your pills at the same time each day. If you do not take your pill within 12 hours of your regular pill-taking time, then it is classed as a missed pill. If you miss any inactive (white) pills at the end of the pack, you can just disregard these pills. You will still be protected against pregnancy.

Missed Pill: Advice for the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COCP)
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Missed Pill: Advice for the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COCP)

Contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy. The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) is a type of contraception for women. The COCP is sometimes referred to as just the pill. It contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin. These hormones closely resemble the estrogen and progesterone hormones produced by a woman’s ovaries. There are lots of different COCPs available. Some COCPs contain 21 pills which are followed by a seven-day break. Other COCPs contain 28 pills, with seven inactive (dummy) pills at the end of the pack. You should try to take your tablets at the same time each day. If you do not take your pill within 12 hours of your regular pill-taking time, it is classed as a missed pill. Below we will look at steps you should take if you miss any pills. Remember, the advice only applies to missed active pills. If you miss any inactive pills, you can just disregard these pills.

Miscarriage: the most frequently asked questions
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Miscarriage: the most frequently asked questions

Doctors feel privileged to share in both the highs and lows of their patients’ lives. Miscarriage is one of the more frequent events and one of the saddest. One in every four to five pregnancies ends in miscarriage. This means the pregnancy has not progressed past the first trimester, and it brings a host of emotions and changes to your physical and psychological well-being. It’s not often talked about in public, but patients turn to doctors for answers. Let me take you through some of their most pressing questions.

Miscarriage (early pregnancy loss)
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Miscarriage (early pregnancy loss)

Miscarriage, or early pregnancy loss, is defined as the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation (time since conception). The majority of miscarriages occur before the 13th week of gestation. Sadly, miscarriage is far more common than people sometimes think. One in every ten pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Miscarriage is an incredibly difficult and emotional experience. There are physical, mental health, and social impacts from a miscarriage. If you have had a miscarriage, and are worried about it, we want you to be reassured that there isn’t anything you have done wrong, and there is nothing you could have done differently or better. A miscarriage, or even multiple miscarriages, does not mean that you are not going to be a parent. It is thought that most miscarriages are caused by faulty chromosomes in the developing baby, and this is nature’s way of stopping the pregnancy from continuing. Genetic problems can increase with increasing age and so miscarriage can be more common in older mothers as a result. Other risk factors include smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy, using recreational drugs, having poorly controlled diabetes or a history of fertility problems. If you have had multiple miscarriages, you should speak to your doctor, as there are some instances where medical causes lead to an increased chance of miscarriage.

Do I need a blood test to confirm menopause?
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Do I need a blood test to confirm menopause?

Women are told to expect any number of symptoms with menopause, and that it could come rather uncertainly between the ages of 45 and 55. So it can feel reassuring to think there’s a test that can say you are definitely in menopause, as this can help explain any particular symptoms and point to treatment options. But is a simple blood test that straightforward? It can be hard to interpret, and other factors can be more reliable to guide you on whether you are menopausal, such as your symptoms, your age, how regular your periods are, and even what age the women in your family experienced their menopause.

Fertility tracking
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Fertility tracking

Also known as “natural family planning”, fertility tracking is a natural and hormone-free method of contraception and fertility aid. By recording different ‘fertility signals’, a woman can identify days when she is fertile and likely to become pregnant. ‘Fertility signals’ that can be measured are the cycle length, body temperature changes and cervical mucus. This fertility aid informs us when conception is likely to take place.

Ovarian cyst
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Ovarian cyst

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on one or both of the ovaries. It's very common, they don't usually cause problems, and most disappear without treatment. Many women have simple cysts without ever knowing about them. They are usually present in women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Ovarian cysts become problematic when they burst or if their size affects the blood supply to the ovaries. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and you might feel a pain in the tummy or pelvic area, worsening pain during your period, or pain during sex. Some people feel bloated and feel full quickly after eating. Ovarian cysts can also be linked to changes in your periods such as becoming heavier or lighter, and in some cases more irregular. Very large ovarian cysts may affect your ability to open your bowels or may cause you to urinate often - although there are many more common causes of these symptoms. Cysts often develop when you are menstruating and go away by themselves without you knowing. Cysts are seen on an ultrasound scan, and these will be measured and analyzed to indicate if they correspond to symptoms or are of concern. In a very small number of cases, these may be concerning, especially for women who are post-menopausal.

Ovarian cancer
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Ovarian cancer

The ovaries are two small organs in the pelvis whose main function is to store and release eggs in the monthly cycle that can help pregnancy occur in women of child-bearing age. Because of this they have little use after menopause. Cancer can develop in an ovary and this type of cancer particularly affects women over 50 years old. Sadly, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, which means it carries a higher chance of death than some other cancers. It is the eleventh most common cancer in women in the US, occurring in about 1 in 87 women, and around half of these are over the age of 65. There are a number of types of ovarian cancer, distinguished from each other by the type of cell the cancer occurs in. These include epithelial ovarian cancer (that causes around 90% of cases), germ cell cancer that arises from the egg-making cells and stromal ovarian cancer which is rare.

Libido (sex drive): What is it & what affects it?
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Libido (sex drive): What is it & what affects it?

Libido refers to your sex drive. Normal levels of libido and sex drive are different for each person, there is no standard that anyone should be compared to. Loss of libido is a type of sexual dysfunction and means a drop in your normal sex drive (not just lower than another person's). It is a common thing for people to experience. It can be due to many different things, such as fatigue, stress, symptoms of mental health conditions like depression, difficult personal circumstances, relationship difficulties, physical health conditions, or side effects of certain medications.

Premenstrual syndrome
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Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclical worsening of mood and physical health due to hormones released during the menstrual cycle. Most women experience some symptoms of PMS, and about 1 in 20 women will have severe symptoms. Women normally experience PMS for approximately two weeks, around half of their menstrual cycle. Doctors describe menstrual cycle lengths by calling day 1 the first day of your period, and for women with an average cycle length (around 28 days), PMS tends to start around day 15, which is around the time of egg release (ovulation). The symptoms can last until the end of your period. Often women experience an easing of their symptoms once their period begins. PMS includes an extensive range of both physical and psychological symptoms. These physical and psychological symptoms can be severe enough to affect daily activities. They may impair school performance, interfere with work, and affect family life or relationships with others.

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