Female Diseases & Treatments

Because of their biological functions, because of their onus of procreation, women undergo more stress, discomforts and pain than men. Though stastically, women live longer than men ( 74.5 years - Men and 79.9 years - women) they have to bear more hardships. May be, that is why god has given them more resilience, endurance and patience.

Feminine care is a subject all women should know about, to keep them more fit and healthy.

Puberty

Puberty is the time at which the onset of sexual maturity occurs and reproductive organs become functional. Puberty usually starts between the age of 10 to 16. Every girl is different, so do not worry about when you start - your body will decide when it feels right.

Physical changes that occur during puberty are regulated by changes in the levels of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. This gland produces luteinizing hormone (hormone that stimulates ovulation) and follicle stimulating hormone (hormone that stimulates ripening of the follicles in the ovary). The increased levels of these sex hormones result in physical change - growth & maturation of breasts, ovaries, Uterus and vagina.

The first change in puberty is usually the breast development shortly after ward, pubic and under arm hair begin to grow. The interval from breast budding to the first menstrual period is usually about 21/2 years. There begins a change in the girl's body shape and the percentage of body fat increases. The growth spurt accompanying puberty may begin even before the breasts start to develop.

Menstruation:

Periods or menstruation is the shedding of the lining of Uterus (endometrium), accompanied by bleeding. It occurs in approximately monthly cycles except during pregnancy and after menopause.

Periods are natural part of every women's life and there is nothing to be worried or embarrassed about. A period is when a woman loses some fluid, including blood from vagina. Each month a soft lining thickens inside the uterus (womb). It the woman becomes pregnant, this lining is needed to look after and nourish the growing baby. If there is no pregnancy, the lining is not needed and most of if leaves the body through vagina. Menstruation is a sign of normal healthy body.

Some facts a woman should know

• Most girls start having periods between the ages of 10 and 16. There is no right time; your periods will start when your body is ready.

• Most women have a period each month. The average time between periods is about 28 days, but for some women it can be less and for some it can be more. Anywhere between 20 and 36 days is normal.

• A period normally lasts for a few days - usually somewhere between 3 days and 7 days. Unless you become pregnant this cycle will repeat itself every month until menopause - when menstruation ends completely

• A menstrual cycle is regulated by the complex interaction of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone which are produced by the

Pituitary gland and the female sex hormones estrogen and progestrone, which are produced by the ovaries.

• Around the time of ovulation normally some women feel a pain in one side of the lower abdomen. The precise cause of of the pain is unknown.

Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)

PMS is a group of physical and Psychological symptoms that occur before a menstrual period begins. A woman may experience the symptom 1 to 14 days before the period begins.

Physical symptoms:- Cramps, bloating, head ache, breast fullness and pain, Aches, Fatigue, Hot flashes etc.

Psychological symptoms:- Agitation, depression and mood swings. PMS affects 20 to 50% women. It may occur due to fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen levels. Also fatty foods and refined sugar may contribute to PMS, especially in obese women. Eating more fruits, vegetables, cereals and whole grains, drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, may help. One may not think so, but exercises do help. Exercise increases blood and oxygen circulation, easing cramps.

Gynecological disorders (stree Rog)

Amenorrhoea is the absence of menstrual periods Menstrual periods may not start at all or may start with scanty discharge, then stop.

Causes:-

1. Birth defect in which the Uterus and Fallopian tubes do not develop normally or by chromosomal disorder like Turner syndrome.

2. Anaemia or general ill health.

3. Serious illnesses like T.B. Bright’s disease or malaria of prolonged nature.

4. Disorders of the hypothalamus (a part of the brain)

5. Deficiency in the secretions of ovarian, Thyroid or Pituitary hormones

6. Mental disorders, depression

7. Thin women, with Anorexia Nervosa

8. Excessive stress, exercises, eating too little.

In primary Amenorrhoea, the menstrual periods fail to appear at puberty. In secondary amenorrhoea the periods start at puberty, and then stop.

Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation of which there are two forms. Primary (spasmodic) dysmenorrhea is characterized by lower abdominal pains starting just before or with the menstrual flow and continuing during menstruation. It is often associated with nausea, vomiting, head ache, faintness, constipation and diarrhea. Specific cause is not known but could be due to excessive prostaglandin production.

Secondary dysmenorrhea usually affects older patients causing congested ache with lower. Abdominal cramps, pelvic pain etc. The pain may start from a few days to up to 2 weeks before menstruation. Common causes for secondary dysmenorrhea are pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, Pre menstrual irritablity, nervousness, depression and abdominal bloating may persist during part or all of the menstrual period.

Menorrhagia and Metrorrhagia

Menorrhagia means abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation which may or may not be associated with abnormally long periods Hormonal imbalances, inflammation or fibroids in the pelvic cavity, anaemia and some other conditious may be the causes.

Metrorrhagia is bleeding from Uterus other than the normal menstrual period. It may indicate serious disease and should always be investigated.

According to Ayurveda, these conditions are due to imbalance of hormones, caused by aggravation of pitta in the body. Abnormal growths in the Uterus may also produce profuse bleeding. Heavy bleeding may cause giddiness, head ache, pain in the calves and restlessness.

Vaginal infections

Women are prone to several kinds of genital infection. Here is a list of some common infections

INFECTIONS SYMPTOMS

1. Vaginal candidiasis - Thick white, non smelling curd like vaginal discharge Itching in and around the vagina (the most common and distressing symptom), Irritation and burning sensation on Urination, Soreness which becomes worse with rubbing and scartching, Pain during sexual intercourse.
2. Bacterial Vaginosis - A thin white, grey or yellowish cloudy discharge with foul odour. The bad smell may increase after sexual interourse. Itching and Irritation.
3. Chlamydial infection - Chlamydia is a gram - negative bacteria, similar in size to vinruses. The symptoms are, Yellow, pus like discharge, frequent urge to Urinate, pain during urination, abnormal vaginal bleeding.
4. Trichomoniasis - Itching, pain on passing urine, Profuse foul - smelling Vaginalis: greenish yellow, frothy discharge (a genus of parasitic flagellate protozoans) Of these infections, most common is vaginal candidiasis.

Tips to help prevent vaginal candidiasis:

• Wear loose and comfortable clothing, preferably cotton.

• Practice good toilet hygiene

• Dry off the vaginal area quickly and thoroughly after bathing.

• Wipe from the front to the back after a bowel movement.

• Avoid perfumed soaps and bath additives.

• Try to reduce your stress levels - regular exercise may help.

Self - help for a person with vaginal candidiasis:

• Try not to scratch or rub, especially with long fingernails.

• Don't wash yourself too harshly or with hot water. Cool gentle rinsing is better.

• Don't rub yourself too hard with bath towels.

• Avoid sexual intercourse.

• Vaginal candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted disease. However, sexual intercourse may

- Worsen the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis

- Result in passing on the infection to your partner

• Hence, it is a good idea to avoid sexual intercourse during an attack.

Leucorrhoea

Leucorrhoea refers to whitish or yellowish discharge of mucus from the vaginal opening. It may occur normally at all times, the quantity increasing before or after menstruation. An abnormally large discharge may indicate infection of the lower reproductive tract by the protozoan " Trichomonas vaginalis"

Ayurveda considers that the cause for leucorrhoea is vitiation of 'kapha'. It affects weak, emaciated and anaemic women more. Inflammation of womb following child birth, displacement of Uterus or veneral diseases. Unhygienic conditions also may be some of the causes.

In addition to whitish discharge, there may be pain in the lumbar region, calves. Other symptoms are constipation, frequent head aches and intense itching.

Home remedies for Gynecological disorders

For menstrual problems

1. A piece of fresh ginger, should be pounded and boiled in a cup of water for a few minutes. This infusion sweetened with sugar should be used thrice daily after meals.

2. Banana flowers. The use of banana flowers in cases of excessive menstruation is well known and effective. One banana flower should be cooked and eaten with one cup of curd. The quantity of progesterone is increased, reducing the bleeding.

3. Sesame seeds. Half a teaspoon of powder of sesame seeds taken with hot water twice daily reduces spasmodic pain during menstruation in young, virgin anaemic girls. A warm hip bath containing a handful of crushed sesame seeds should be simultaneously taken along with this recipe.

4. Coriander seeds are also beneficial in treating excessive menstruation. Six grams of coriander seeds boiled in half a litre of water. The decoction should be taken off the fire when only half the water remains. Sugar candy should be added to it and the patient should drink it when it is still warm.

5. Seven tender leaves of pomegranate tree and seven grains of rice ground into paste and given to a patient for a month twice daily, act both as curative as well as a preventive medicine in cases of excessive / irregular menstruation.

Home Remedies

Puberty

1. For physically underdeveloped thin girls, 'laddoos' made with gingelly and jaggery are given daily at lunch time. This brings about puberty and also can regularise the menstrual flow. Gingelly decoction is also used, to bring about quick puberty. Gingelly - jaggery rolls can be given to young girls for menstrual regulation but NOT to pregnant woman - it may cause abortion.

2. A pinch of saffron, well crushed in a tablespoon of milk is another recipe for under developed girls.

3. Chutney made with coriander leaves, curry leaves, mint or Fenugreek leaves helps in full growth of the adolescent girls. Mint is a good uterine tonic. These greens help in checking anaemia.

Painful Periods

Mint chutney or mint decoction decreases mentrual pain & cramps.

For Leucorrhoea

1. Ladies Fingers - A decoction is made with boiling 100 grams of Ladies Finger in 1/2 litre of water for 20 minutes and then filtered. This decoction, sweetened and given in doses of 60 to 90 ml frequently is beneficial

2. Douches using fenugreek seeds, Guava leaves walnut leaves or even just warm water could reduce purulent discharge and clean the area. But douches may be used in consultation with a doctor.

Certain Important Ayurvedic herbs

Saraca Indica, Symplocos racemosa, Sida cordifolia, Tribulus terrestis, Asparagus race mosus, Vitis Vinifera, Boerhavia repens, Viburnam, Embelica officinalis, Aloe vera, Nigella sativa, Cissus quadrangularis, Sessamumindicum, Acacia arabica, Bombax pentandrum, Berberis aristata, Bryonia laciniosa, Ricinus communis, Hemidesmus indicus, Bryonia laciniosa etc.