THE FEMALE FACTOR
'WOMen'S PrOBLeMS' haVe Been SOMeThIng OF a STanDIng JOKe FOr yearS, BuT There'S nOThIng Funny aBOuT TheM! ThIS FeaTure TaKeS a LOOK aT SOMe OF The MOST cOMMOn heaLTh ISSueS exPerIenceD By WOMen…
Dysmenorrhea
Known more commonly as ‘period pains’, dysmenorrhea has been the bane of many women’s lives – sometimes from the first period to well into mid life. The condition causes severe and frequent cramps and pain during menstruation and can be either primary or secondary in nature.
Primary dysmenorrhea occurs when a girl first starts her period and often continues throughout life. It can cause severe and frequent menstrual cramping from severe and abnormal uterine contractions. This type of dysmenorrhea is caused by a chemical imbalance in the body.
Secondary dysmenorrhea, on the other hand, is due to some physical cause and usually starts later in life. This type of the condition may be caused by another medical issue, such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of dysmenorrhea include: • cramping/pain in the lower abdomen
• Low back pain • nausea/vomiting • Diarrhoea • Fatigue • Weakness • Fainting • headaches
Treatment
The best treatment for mild menstrual cramps is aspirin or other simple painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen. heat can also help. a heating pad or hot water bottle placed on the lower back or tummy can also be beneficial, while a warm bath may also provide some relief. In the event that cramping is unusual or lasts more than a few days, then the patient should see her gP to have
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the pain checked. If it turns out that her cramps aren’t due to her period, she might need other tests to find the right treatment.
Thrush
Thrush is a common yeast infection that is usually caused by a fungus called candida albicans. Many people have a small amount of the candida albicans fungus in their bodies and it usually doesn’t cause any problems. It’s estimated, however, that about three quarters of all women will experience an outbreak of thrush at some point in their lives and while it is totally harmless, thrush can, however, be very uncomfortable.
Symptoms
The main symptom of thrush is an intense itch, although it can also cause pain in the vagina during sex, a stinging sensation during urination and a vaginal discharge.
In more severe cases, those affected can experience a red and swollen vagina and vulva; cracked skin around the entrance to the vagina and sores in the surrounding area. This is rare, but it may indicate the presence of other conditions, such as genital herpes.
Treatment
In most cases, thrush can be easily treated with a tablet taken orally or inserted into the vagina. anti-thrush creams, which are applied to the skin around the vagina, can also help to ease soreness and itchiness. Most of the remedies for treating thrush are available over the counter in pharmacy, but some women, who are affected, can get a prescription from their gP or sexual health clinic.
Vaginal infections The presence or excess growth of yeast cells, bacteria, or viruses can cause a vaginal infection. This may occur when there is a change in
the normal balance of organisms in the vagina.
The three most common types of vaginal infection are: • candida vulvovaginitis (yeast infections).
• Bacterial infections (bacterial vaginosis).
• Parasitic infections (trichomoniasis). Symptoms
common symptoms of vaginal infection include: • Increase or change in the vaginal discharge, including a grey, green, or yellow discharge
• Vaginal redness, swelling, itching, or pain
• Vaginal odour • Burning during urination • Pain or bleeding with sex
Treatment
Treatment for vaginal infections will depend on what’s causing the infection. For example: • Metronidazole (tablets, cream or gel), or clindamycin cream or gel may be prescribed for a bacterial infection
• antifungal creams or suppositories may be prescribed for a yeast infection
• Metronidazole or tinidazole tablets may be prescribed for trichomoniasis
• estrogen creams or tablets may be prescribed for vaginal atrophy
If a patient is experiencing vaginal problems and is pregnant, then she should be signposted to the gP before considering any home treatment measures, since some home treatment measures may not be appropriate, depending on the cause of the vaginal infection. conditions such as bacterial vaginosis can affect a pregnancy.
Vaginal infections may also increase the risk of pelvic infections, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Cystitis
cystitis is inflammation of the bladder and is usually caused by a bladder infection. It’s a very common type of urinary tract infection (uTI) and is particularly prevalent in women, mainly because a woman’s anus (back passage) is closer to her urethra and the urethra itself is much shorter, which means bacteria may be able to get into the bladder more easily. as with thrush, cystitis is not a serious concern but it can be very uncomfortable.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of cystitis include: • pain, burning or stinging during urination
• frequent urination which is more urgent than normal
• urine that's dark, cloudy or strong smelling
• pain low down in the abdomen • a general feeling of being unwell, sick and tired
Treatment
Mild cases of cystitis will often get better without any treatment at all, but patients should be advised to take paracetamol or ibuprofen, drink plenty of water, avoid having sex, urinate frequently and gently wash around their genitals with a skin- sensitive soap.
While mild cases of the condition will generally get better by themselves within a few days, others will experience regular episodes of cystitis and may need regular or long- term treatment.
In severe cases of cystitis, which result in a woman visiting her gP, she will usually be prescribed a course of antibiotics to treat the infection and these should start to have an effect within a day or two.
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