Experiencing Pain During Intercourse

Dr. Sushruta Mokadam - Best Gynaecologist near me

Author: Dr. Sushruta Mokadam, MBBS, MD

Senior Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharadi

Many women go through painful intercourse at some point in their lives which could be because of various issues, from structural problems to psychological concerns. The medical term for this condition is dyspareunia, which is defined as recurrent or persistent genital pain that can be experienced before, during or after intercourse. Get in touch with your doctor for dyspareunia treatment if you’re facing the same. The treatment includes finding the cause and eliminating to counter the problem.

Symptoms

In case of painful intercourse, women may experience these symptoms:

Pain only during penetration
Pain during each penetration (including putting in a tampon)
Severe pain during thrusting
Burning or aching pain
Throbbing pain that may last hours after intercourse

Causes

From experiencing pain during penetration to the pain with deep thrusting, different women may face different physical causes of intercourse pain. In some cases, even the emotional factors might be associated with the pain.

Pain during penetration

Entry pain might be associated with various factors, such as:

Absence of required lubrication: not indulging in enough foreplay may often result in the absence of lubrication. Additionally, a drop in estrogen levels post-menopause or childbirth or during breastfeeding is another potential cause. There are medications available in the market such as birth control pills, high blood pressure medication, antihistamines and sedatives that hampers the sexual desire or arousal in the woman which reduce the lubrication causing painful sex.
Irritation, Injury or Trauma: Any injury or irritation due to an accident, female circumcision, pelvic surgery or cut made during baby delivery to enlarge the episiotomy at best gynaecologist obstetricians in Bangalore.
Skin disorder, inflammation or infection: Infection in the urinary tract or genital area can lead to painful intercourse. Along with this, skin problems such as eczema or more can also pose trouble.
Vaginismus: the involuntary spasms of the vaginal wall muscles make penetration painful for women.
Congenital abnormality: Problem that exists since birth such as the development of a membrane that blocks the vaginal opening or the absence of a fully formed vagina can result in dyspareunia.

Deep Pain

Various illnesses or conditions: deep pain can be caused because of illnesses or conditions such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis, haemorrhoids, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, uterine prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, retroverted uterus, irritable bowel syndrome, cystitis and uterine fibroids.
Medical treatments or any surgery: any damage from pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy can result in painful intercourse. Additionally, medical treatments for cancer which includes radiation and chemotherapy contributes to making your sex experience painful.

Emotional factors

Psychological issues: worrying about self-appearance, constant depression or anxiety or stressing on relationship or lack of physical intimacy can result in low-level arousal along with discomfort or pain.
Stress: high level of stress in your life can cause your pelvic floor muscles to tighten up which contributes to painful intercourse.
Sexual abuse history: this is not a mandate cause but if a woman has been abused sexually in the past then it may play a role.

Stop suffering in Silence

Painful sex is not something to be ashamed about, it has a cause that can be treated once identified. If you have been avoiding sex because of the pain then it’s time to see visit Motherhood Hospital and see the best gynaecologist to accurately diagnose the cause of the pain. We have an excellent team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure who will answer your problems with utmost care and attention.

We have the expertise to handle complex deliveries, gynaecological, and various other surgeries. Do take an appointment at a centre closest to you and our doctors will make the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we deliver exceptional healthcare services to women and children with highest standard of care and competence.

Book your Appointment with Dr. Sushruta Mokadam, for all the Gynaecological issues.

Motherhood Hospitals bags CII Award for Customer Obsession 2021

Exceptional Healthcare: CII Award Recipient 2021 - Motherhood Hospital India

The hospital has been recognised for excellence in Customer Centricity

January 2022, India: Motherhood Women & Children’s Hospital has won the recognition for “Excellence in Customer Centricity” by Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Award for Customer Obsession 2021. The awards aims at recognising Customer Centric organisations where the customer is at the core of all that they do and consistently deliver a superior experience.

The CII honours organisations under three levels i.e, Customer Engagement, Customer Centricity and Customer Obsession. This year Motherhood Hospitals has been awarded for its excellence in Costumer Centricity. Previously in the year 2019, they had won the award for Customer Engagement.

The assessment of the awards is done based on the Baldrige Framework which evaluates an organisation ’s practices, management, leadership, customer focused strategies, products and services, knowledge management, technology, ability to innovate etc. The jury consisted of members from reputed organisations across different industries.

Speaking about the award Mr. Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO, Motherhood Hospitals said “We are honored to receive the most coveted recognition by CII for excellence in customer-centricity. As an integrated & comprehensive provider of women and child health, rigor and commitment are at the heart of everything we do. All our processes are designed keeping the customer in mind. We are incredibly proud to have a highly motivated & purpose-driven team who goes beyond their call of duty to demonstrate ownership, integrity, and customer focus. We humbly accept this recognition that reiterates our commitment to customer obsession.”

About Motherhood Hospitals:

Motherhood Women & Children’s Hospital network is India’s leading single-specialty chain with 16 hospitals across 8 cities. The network has more than 1000 specialist doctors associated with it who provide clinical services in Gynaecology, Obstetrics, IVF, Neonatology, and Paediatrics. More than 25000 healthy babies have been born in the Motherhood network and 5000 babies have graduated hail & hearty from the 150 specialized Neonatal Intensive Care beds (NICU) of the network. Each hospital has a state of art Operating rooms to provide Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Gynaecology surgeries. All the hospitals of the network follow NABH quality and safety accreditation standards. In addition, every hospital is supported by a full spectrum of Radiology services for women & children. More than 10000 women and children visit our OPD services each month. Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stands as India’s best and known as a referral centre for handling most complex preterm births. 24×7 Emergency services are provided at each hospital. Motherhood is the proud recipient of “FICCI Healthcare Excellence Award for Best Patient Safety Care 2019”.

Understanding Your Baby Crying

Most of you would agree that apart from sleeping and feeding, crying is the most common behaviour seen in newborn babies. No matter what part of the day or night, mothers have the in-built alarm that rings, when the child cries. When the infant reaches the stage of 6-8 weeks, crying is at its summit. Do not worry, as this phase is temporary and this too shall pass! Most important is understanding the messages your child conveys through his/her crying. Have you been having a difficult time understanding the meaning behind your little one’s crying?

Do you know that infants cry for approximately three hours a day? Have you observed that most of this crying and sulking happens during late afternoons and sometimes evenings as well? However, this doesn’t apply to all babies alike, as there could be exceptions. Some babies are unusually calm and it is always good to seek medical help in these cases too.

Babies communicate through their crying and when you respond on time consistently, they feel reassured and safe. This sense of safety helps in promoting the overall development of the child. Some babies cry incessantly and with no apparent reason which can be described as colic. We have in detail explained about colic in another feature of the ??Happy Kids series. Please feel free to reach out to us if you want to have an e-copy of the same.

Babies cry primarily for reasons such as, when they feel hungry, irritated, lonely, etc. It is good when you feed your baby on time and when you feed your baby immediately after he/she cries, the baby will also feel a sense of reassurance and safety. In some cases, the crying decreases as the needs are taken care of. Here are some quick tips and precautions:

Sometimes the baby might need a nappy change or just a cuddle or a gentle hug. Holding the baby will help to comfort the baby soon.
You can also try singing a soft tune to your baby.
Gently rhythmically pat your baby and this works like magic for most babies.
A little bit of movement can help divert the attention of your baby when he/she starts crying. Take your baby for a little walk and see the change.
On this note, please don??t carry your baby to noisy public places such as cinema theatres, auditoriums, etc. The huge sounds can cause distress for your baby and also hurt their gentle ears.

While it is important to calm your baby down and comfort with cuddles and cooing, it is equally crucial for you to take care of your well-being. The constant crying and sometimes your inability to soothe your baby into calmness might be a stressful experience for you. In case you are unable to take the strain, please talk to your spouse and family members and seek help in taking care of the child. In case you want to speak to someone for professional advice, do consult your doctor if needed.

The key is to quickly respond to the baby’s cries and you will see a difference for yourself. Babies need attention and every parent/caretaker is required to give that care always. For more information on baby crying and related topics, talk to our experts.

Importance Of Diapers In Baby Care Routine

For any mother, the toothless baby smiles would mean the world to her. One of the important keys to your child’s happiness is clean and dry diapers. It might sound like a trivial matter but for your baby to have a pleasant day with less irritability, diapers play a major role. This is not only related to your child’s happiness but also very crucial for upkeeping the health of your child along with hygiene factors. Along with food, diapers also form a major component of a baby’s well-being.

By now, you must be aware that your baby requires frequent diaper changes, especially in the early stages. Approximately, 6-10 diapers are required to be changed daily. This will reduce over a period when the child reaches the toddler stage and learns a bit of toilet training. You can avoid any discomfort your baby might have to undergo by frequently checking the diapers. It is important to check the diapers after you feed your little one.

Do you know that if you don’t change the diapers when required, your baby has the risk of developing diaper rash, infections, and other health issues? Let us look at some important aspects of diapers and their importance in baby health and happiness.

Though there are many brands available in the market, check out the ones that have greater absorption capacity and which are cottony soft on your baby’s skin.

Browse through the brands that will give great comfort and proven history of fewer rashes. You must be wondering how you would know which brand is good for your baby? For this query, you can always check with your doctor and some friendly advice from other mothers in your peer group could be helpful.

Going by this approach, you can avoid the woes of using a not-so-friendly diaper product. Look for diapers that the baby is comfortable wearing as well as equally less-cumbersome for you to pull down the same without causing much irritation to the baby.

You must be aware of diapers that can be worn like underwear with a band. Purchasing such diapers could help serve the purpose of a hassle-free experience for your child and you.

Here are some points to remember for your baby’s diaper change routine:

Always keep some warm water, cotton, and baby wipes handy before you start changing the diapers.
Have some recommended lotions or creams that could prevent a rash on the baby’s skin.
Always use separate wipes for different parts of the urinary area to avoid any spread of infections.
Remember to wipe from the front to the back and ensure to clean the entire area gently.
After wiping, don’t forget to pat dry your baby.

Hope that the details related to the diaper change routine and its importance have been useful to you. For more information on diapers and everything connected, talk to our experts.

Baby Care and breastfeeding when you have COVID-19

Breastfeeding in a pandemic: An overview:

COVID-19 is disrupting various routines worldwide. Every front of human life is under dispute and disharmony. The pandemic warrants quick actions under clinical observations. When a breakthrough becomes available, it may require subsequent guidelines to establish proper care. Breastfeeding is essential to optimize neonatal health. The health and growth benefits of breastmilk are undisputed and demonstrated. To establish secure breastfeeding in a pandemic like COVID-19, we should thoroughly understand the effects of the pandemic on maternal and neonatal health.

First of all, we should understand how the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 apply to breastfeeding. We should even understand the protective properties of breastfeeding. The tenets of neonatal healthcare may even include the importance of skin-to-skin care. The evidence available till today suggests that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 via breastmilk is very low. Breastfeeding is known for its irreplaceable health benefits both for the mother and the baby. Infection control strategies should be in place with stiff adherence to them.

How to uphold care and caution while breastfeeding during the pandemics like COVID-19?

World Health Organization (WHO) rules that mothers with COVID-19 or suspected to carry the virus may opt to breastfeed their babies provided they follow every safety protocol. Breastfeeding is likened to promote anti-inflammatory responses along with antimicrobial properties and healthy immune responses. The components in breastmilk may also help prevent the incidence of respiratory tract infections. Breastmilk is loaded with an irreplaceable nutritional value contributing to the healthy growth of infants.

Even breastfeeding from women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection can benefit the infants. Breastmilk constitutes a primordial form of health and development in infants. Breastfeeding establishes itself as the ideal food for kids during the first 6 months. With an irreplaceable nutritive value, it betters the immune response of kids strengthening the defense mechanisms against common and opportunistic infections. Regular and frequent breastfeeding also associates itself with a decrease in neonatal morbidity and mortality.

How does the risk of COVID-19 endanger pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Current evidence is unclear about the vertical transmission of COVID-19 from the mother to her foetus through the placenta in pregnancy. Studies found no traces of the virus in amniotic fluid, placental tissue or umbilical cord blood. As stated above, the traces of novel coronavirus weren’t found in the breastmilk. Precautions are necessary to ensure a low risk of COVID-19 in babies and mothers who are breastfeeding. Mother-infant proximity is a healthy practice even amid the pandemics provided every safety protocol is in place. Healthcare professionals may extend their support to mothers who are unable to breastfeed in the wake of serious complications of COVID-19.

The women who are unable to breastfeed their baby may avail themselves of alternative methods. They may seek help from certified donor milk bank services or other centres dedicated to uplifting breastmilk supply. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the babies during the first 6 months of life. Even after including solid food in the diet of a child, mothers may continue breastfeeding their kids for 6 additional months. They may uphold this practice till the child reaches the age of 2. Mothers with COVID-19 must realize the importance of breastfeeding and opt for the same under stiff obstetric supervision.

Why do people worry about the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy and breastfeeding women?

Pregnant women aren’t more likely to fall prey to the COVID-19 infection than the nonpregnant counterparts. However, pregnancy itself involves many physiological changes including changes in the immune system and its response to the virulent microorganisms including COVID-19. Therefore, the incidence of COVID-19 in pregnancy may often relate to more severe symptoms of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pneumonia cases reported to date include mild to moderate symptoms and carry fair rates of recovery.

Pregnant women with other conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or high body mass index may develop complications following exposure to COVID-19. The pandemic itself may raise the risk of prenatal depression and anxiety in women. It may be important to extend proper obstetric care to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

How to regularize breastfeeding and postnatal care in the pandemics like COVID-19?

More studies are needed to confirm whether the high-risk newborn babies are at a raised risk of complications or not. Infection of COVID-19 following any contact with virulent respiratory secretion may be a cause of concern. The healthcare staff and facilities may consider temporary separation in the event of maternal COVID-19 infection.

Please follow the guidelines below if you find that temporary separation is mandatory:

The healthcare team should assess the risks and benefits of temporary separation and communicate the same to the mother.
The infants should be availed of a separate isolation room.
In the event of the clinical obligations for colocation (rooming-in), of the baby and his/her sick mother in the same facility, facilities should consider every important aspect to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 from mother to child.
The staff at the healthcare facility might consider using physical barriers to maintain safe distances between the mother and her child.?
If there’s nobody to look after the new-born baby except the mother (COVID-19 infected or suspected) herself, the mother should maintain hygiene and practice hand sanitization under obstetric guidance. These standards should continue as long as the mother is under observation for the possibility of vertical transmission.

Breastfeeding:

Mothers willing to breastfeed their babies even under temporary separation should consider expressing their milk.
Expressing milk offers various health benefits both to the mother and her baby including establishment and maintenance of the proper milk supply.
Mothers can use dedicated breast pumps for seamless milk extraction.
Mothers should accustom themselves to safety protocols and hand hygiene as they start expressing breastmilk.
After each session of milk extraction, every part of the pump should be sanitized and disinfected as directed by the manufacturer/medical official.
Healthcare teams should include a healthy caregiver to ensure proper distribution and consumption of the expressed breastmilk.
The mother and baby in colocation should be under proper clinical observation.
The mother willing to feed the baby at the breast should always wear the facemask alongside the appropriate standards of hand hygiene before and after each feed.

COVID-19, its prevention, vaccination and breastfeeding your child

COVID-19 infection went ahead to infect millions worldwide. WHO identified COVID-19 as a pandemic and a threat to the global economy. Pregnant women with COVID-19 are 5 times more prone to get admission in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or end up on a ventilator than the nonpregnant counterparts. Though preterm birth may be a risk in pregnant women with severe COVID-19 complications, other obstetric complications like stillbirth or neonatal mortality aren’t evident. Some pregnant women may develop severe illness from COVID-19 infection in various scenarios. They may include factors such as advanced maternal age, risky body mass index, pre-existing conditions like hypertension, diabetes or other pregnancy-specific conditions.??

What are the facts about taking a COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy?

Your obstetrician will guide you about the benefits and potential risks (if any) based on your overall medical history.?

A pregnant lady who had received vaccination previously and is up to taking the next or second dose in pregnancy should take the second dose of the same vaccine. It’s recommended specifically if the vaccine didn’t create any disruptions or side effects.?
COVID-19 vaccine is capable of preventing 95% of COVID-19 infections.
COVID-19 vaccine will allow you to stay healthy avoiding the infection and keep the people around you from contracting the virus.
COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t contain any constituents rendered harmful for maternal or foetal health.
No serious contraindications or side effects are seen as yet. However, a few people may develop mild to moderate side effects such as:

A. Fever. B. Joint pain C. Chills D. Headache E. Fatigue F. Reactions on the site of infection including pain and soreness. G. Doldrums

High fever is one of the possibilities in about 1% of the people who take the vaccine.
Persistent high fever may create health issues in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Owing to the serious complications of COVID-19, some pregnant women may be at the risk of spontaneous miscarriage or congenital malformations.?
If your obstetrician says that you may be at risk, you may consider deferring the vaccine until after the first trimester.?
You should try to update yourself about COVID-19 and its vaccine.

Are there any contraindications associated with the COVID-19 vaccine?

Every vaccine has its impacts. If you develop an allergic response to the vaccine or any of its constituents, avoid the vaccine. However, you should stay in touch with the latest developments. No evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines may induce side effects harmful to conception. Your obstetrician may guide you about how to start your preparations for pregnancy based on your medical history. If you have a history of vigorously reacting to any vaccine, you may discuss the same with your obstetrician.?

Is it right to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine only owing to the fear of birth defects?

The outset of every pregnancy marks a 3-5% chance of sustaining birth defects. The phenomenon is known as background risk. According to various analyses worldwide, a COVID-19 vaccine may not raise the risk of birth defects. If your obstetrician recommends the vaccine based on the benefits that outweigh the risks of COVID-19, take the vaccine.?

Who is at a mild to moderate risk of severe COVID-19 illness?

People with a mismanaged or dysregulated blood pressure
Immunodeficient people.
People with various chronic inflammations and under treatment for inflammatory conditions
People with neurological issues including dementia or stroke
People who are obese
People who are suffering from a chronic liver disease
People grappling with diabetes
People with a non-haematological cancer
People with a respiratory illness including chronic lung diseases
People with renal issues or chronic renal diseases
People suffering from myocardial infarction or with a history

Who is at severe risk of COVID-19 infection?

People undergoing intense therapy session including Chemotherapy or radiotherapy
People with haematological cancers diagnosed within the last 5 years including lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, leukaemia?
People undergoing immunosuppression for illnesses such as Graft versus host disease
People who underwent a bone marrow transplant in the last 2 years
People who underwent organ transplant?
People who are undergoing immunosuppression after an organ transplant?

You may have to consider various factors if you think you are vulnerable to side effects:

If you have health conditions making you prone to severe complications after your exposure to COVID-19.
If you can adopt work-from-home culture or have already adopted towards the reduction of COVID-19 risk.
Try studying your health based on your medical history.
Discuss with your obstetrician about your comfort level.
Tell your obstetrician when you are more comfortable taking the vaccine.
If you think you are comfortable taking the vaccine in the first trimester, make sure your obstetrician approves of your decision.
If you are afraid of developing complications after taking the vaccine in the first trimester, tell so your obstetrician.
If you defer taking the vaccine, make sure you take it as planned in the second trimester.
Even if you prefer to defer the vaccination until after childbirth, make sure your obstetrician is aware of it.
And even if you go ahead to defer the vaccine, your decision won’t affect the quantum of care you receive from your obstetrician or healthcare provider.

Possible effects of receiving COVID-19 vaccine after another vaccine:

Your obstetrician may highlight the importance of various vaccines. Tdap and Flu shot are generally recommended in pregnancy. If you prefer to take the vaccine during pregnancy or postnatal phase, you should schedule it at least 14 days before or after another vaccination.?

Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine during breastfeeding:

The vaccine will be available for all who wish to take it. The data available currently about the impacts of the COVID-19 vaccine taken by mothers on their babies is unclear. The constituents of any vaccine entering int the breastmilk may be dissolved quickly after the milk gets digested. Apart from everything else, your immune response may get transferred to the baby after you take the vaccine.?

What about the women who discover that they are pregnant during or after vaccination?

Those who discover that they are pregnant during vaccination or after being vaccinated shouldn’t be advised to terminate their pregnancy. If a lady discovers that she is pregnant during the vaccine drive (after the first dose, and ahead of the second one), the decision should depend on the analysis of the potential risks.?Motherhood hospital takes sincere efforts to ensure stress-free childbirth.

Covid Vaccines and Menses: Is it Safe?

COVID-19 vaccine does not meddle with the menstrual cycle, say, Motherhood doctors

As more people come forward to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus, it is important to get some myths around the vaccine and women??s health out of the way.

When 40-year-old Snehal was going through the stream of messages circulating in her friends?? groups on social media platforms, she was surprised to notice a concerning status about periods and vaccination. This forwarded message, which has gone viral, said that women should not take the COVID-19 vaccine five days prior and five days after they get their periods as it would affect their immunity and result in irregular periods.

She had just taken her jab a few days earlier while she was menstruating, so she was perplexed by this information. ??I was on the third day of my periods when I took the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and I do not seem to have any issues. Of course, I felt a little tired and had a mild fever, but I was already told that these are common reactions to the vaccine that would subside soon?.

As the Indian Government has opened vaccinations above the age of 18 years from May 1 onwards, there are a lot of myths flying around on the effect of the vaccines on menstruating, pregnant, and lactating women. Social media is full of such posts warning such groups of women to refrain from taking the jab. As the vaccinations are available to all adults now, this has resulted in confusion. Many women who have seen the message, are concerned whether the vaccine have an adverse affect on their menstrual cycle. But doctors at Motherhood Hospital have reiterated that the claims being circulated have no basis in the truth and that it is completely safe for women to get inoculated before, during, and after the menstruation cycle.

With the COVID vaccine bringing hope for all adults in India to get protection against the deadly virus, it is important to bust any myths around vaccines in relation to women??s reproductive health. According to Dr. Manju Gupta, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital, Noida, it is a myth that women??s immunity is weakened during the menstrual cycle and that taking the jab at such a time will result in heavy or irregular periods.

??COVID vaccinations are for increasing your body??s immunity to fight against the virus. So, how can it have an adverse impact on the body? There is no scientific data available to prove that taking the COVID vaccine before, during, or after menstruation will meddle with our periods. Women should stay away from such claims. Generally, our periods last for five days, and during this time, we shed our endometrium (the lining or inner membrane of the uterus). During the menstrual cycle, the endometrium grows into a thick, blood vessel-rich, glandular tissue layer, and this tissue is shed, which results in bleeding. So, the body??s immunity is intact and does not get weakened,? explains Dr. Gupta.

She added that many of the women doctors have taken their vaccine during periods and did not have any problems. ??Vaccination is essential even if you get COVID after taking the jab, it protects you from getting your condition worsened. Women should not believe such myths. If you are unsure, contact your physician or gynaecologist to get an expert opinion. But, get yourself vaccinated and follow COVID appropriate behavior,? said Dr. Gupta.

Following social media posts about menstruation and the COVID-19 vaccine, various medical and women??s health organizations have come forward to dispel such invalid posts. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both released statements assuring that the COVID-19 vaccine does not adversely affect a woman??s menstrual cycle and that it is safe to take the vaccine during periods.

In fact, both agencies have reiterated that early data regarding the vaccine reveals that it is safe for pregnant and lactating mothers to administer the vaccine and that it may not cause any harm to mother and baby. Here, the Indian Government responding to the fake news has appealed to the people to ignore such messages and take the initiative to get themselves and all family members above 18 years of age, vaccinated.

How can I become more fertile?

Pregnancy care remains one of the most important subjects when a happy couple prepares for happy parenthood. Fertility issues tend to affect about 15% of the global population. The doorway to effective parentage can sometimes be full of hurdles and challenges. Fertility issues may differ from person to person based on various parameters. Thankfully, there are natural ways to increase your fertility. Lifestyle changes and food choices play a crucial role in boosting your fertility. The quest for parenthood starts with taking prenatal vitamins and passes through various significant phases. A conceiving diet is the diet that balances all the nutritional contents.

Start with removing the burden of free radicals:

Antioxidants are turbocharged conceiving foods with high nutritional value. Antioxidants such as zinc and folate improve fertility in both men and women. An increase in folate consumption may improve the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth. Men may improve their healthy sperm parameters with foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. The studies are still on to confirm how antioxidants improve fertility. But studies favour the fact that antioxidants have the potential to enhance sperm quality. Conceiving foods like vegetables, nuts, grains and fruits help improve fertility in both men and women. Beta Carotene, lutein, folate, vitamins C and E offer the right reproductive health.

Make sure you maintain an ideal weight:

Both male and female partners in a couple strive for the ”perfect weight”. But the perfect weight may not always be a healthy or ideal weight for fertility. People struggling to cope with weight loss or weight gain find it difficult to conceive. Weight is one of the important parameters influencing overall fertility. Weight may affect hormonal regulation and ovulation. Women with PCOS may grapple with weight issues. Healthy weight in women, on the contrary, helps regulate normal ovulation and improve the chances of conception.

Ensure the optimum sperm quality:

The importance of having sperm with optimum quality parameters is the key to healthy parenthood. Sperm motility, concentration, structure and volume are the key determinants affecting reproductive health. Men can go on to establish an exercise routine and a standard dietary regimen. Men may also have to adopt certain lifestyle changes. Avoid smoking, maintain a healthy diet, manage stress and address free radicals with antioxidants. Treat infections and safeguard yourself from occupational exposures to toxins. Some andrologists suggest that a healthy male partner should keep the area around the scrotum cool. It’s under research as to how a cool scrotal area betters male fertility. Men should avoid wearing tight underwear that may affect their scrotal region. Men should even avoid hot tubs or saunas. Some studies recommend that men should keep laptops and cell phones away from the scrotum.

Avoid recreational drugs:

Studies denote that recreational drugs may interfere with the creation of a healthy progeny. Recreational drugs are linked to the risk of birth defects in the child and medical problems in the mother.

Avoid caffeine:

Caffein in large doses may increase the risk of miscarriage. Caffeine is present today in various disguises apart from our regular coffee. Restrict your coffee consumption. Even colas and energy drinks contain caffeine. You likely end up consuming more caffeine than you think. Caffeine may associate itself with boosting sperm motility. Nonetheless, above 300mg of caffeine every day may end up damaging the sperm DNA. When caffeine influences your lifestyle in combination with smoking and alcohol, it may result in low-quality sperm.

Manage your stress and control it effectively:

The overall process of trying for conception includes various steps and prerequisites. Stress is known to interfere with our life in various ways. Studies link stress to the increased production of prolactin in women. Prolactin may interfere with regular ovulation. Stressed men may encounter various reproductive health issues. Enjoy spending time in the activities like yoga and aerobics.

Enjoy a jumbo breakfast:

Enjoying a mega breakfast may help you include a healthy lifestyle habit. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is known to be one of the major causes of infertility. Studies show that mega breakfast every day may improve the hormonal effects of PCOS. If Women having PCOS with moderate weight consume most of their calories at breakfast, it balances two of their hormones. Regular and heavy breakfast may reduce insulin levels by 8 per cent and testosterone levels by 50 per cent. Both these hormones are known to interfere with healthy fertility. However, it’s important to downsize the dinner when breakfast is heavy.?

Include a fibrous diet:

Fibre intake is known to benefit your health in various ways. Fibre helps us get rid of excess hormones and keep blood sugar under control. Certain dietary practices that include fibre may help remove excess oestrogen by binding to it in the intestines. It further helps the overall process by removing the oestrogen from the body as waste. Avocados, fruits and sweet potatoes may help lower the oestrogen and progesterone. The most significant fibre that helps remove excess oestrogen is the soluble fibre from fruits. Always consult your obstetrician/dietician to ascertain a healthy level of fibre in your diet.

Check and address your protein sources:

Animal proteins like fish, meat and eggs are harmful to some people. Replace the animal proteins with healthy proteins to obtain from nuts, seeds or beans. Some animal proteins may interfere with overall fertility in women. It may help decrease ovulatory infertility by more than 50 per cent if women replace animal proteins with vegetable proteins.

Enjoy 30 minutes or an hour of regular exercise:

Exercise comes with a lot of fun and a few irreplaceable packs of excitement. It has various health benefits. A rise in moderate physical activity helps maintain finer levels of fertility in both men and women. Men should regularise various fronts of their daily plan. Men should get involved in every physical activity that helps them maintain a healthy BMI. Men may consider including a diet with lean proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s important to remember that spermatogenesis is a process occurring at slightly below body temperature. Exercise in a good space and avoid overheating yourself. Stop excessive exercise as it may interfere with your reproductive health. When it comes to women, rigorous or strenuous exercise may counteract ovulation and the hormone progesterone. Everyone has his or her own dietary and fitness expectations. Therefore, always ask your obstetrician and dietician about various suitable dietary regimens and exercise techniques.

Pap smear tests: At what age and how often

Explore the importance of pap smear tests for cervical health - Motherhood Hospital India

By Dr Manisha Tomar, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Noida

Being the second most common cancer in women between the age group of 15 and 44 years of age, the awareness towards cervical cancer and its screening are miniscule in our country. Cervical cancer is a completely preventable disease because of its well defined, long pre-malignant phase and it can be detected easily by regular screening tests and follow up. Unfortunately, the females in India are unaware about the screening process for the cervical cancer care. With the vaccination, screening and treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently aimed to reduce more than 40% of new cases and 5 million related deaths of cervical cancer by 2050.

What??s Pap smear test?

It??s crucial that we should also learn about Pap smear test. It??s a screening test used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal. The doctor takes out a cluster of cells from a person??s cervix using a spatula-like instrument to look for changes in the cervix??s cells. A pap smear helps in diagnosing cellular changes resulting from cancer, precancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), inflammation, or an infection.

At what age one can go for Pap smear?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend, all women who fall between the age group of 21 and 65 years should get their Pap smears tests at regular interval. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that girls below 21-year-old should be refrained from pap smears. At the same time, they also suggest that women over 65-year-old shouldn??t get a Pap smear except under certain circumstances, such as abnormal results or increased risk factors for cancer.

However, both menopausal and postmenopausal, should continue to have Pap or HPV tests. Women who have had a total hysterectomy for a noncancerous condition and have not had a previous history of precancerous Pap tests may be able to stop Pap screening depending on their medical history and risk of contracting human papilloma virus (HPV).

One should not forget that testing is the best tool to detect pre-cancerous conditions that may lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be cured if detected on time.

How often one should go for Pap smear based on age?

Here are the following recommended testing schedules based on a person??s age:

From 21??29 years

The ideal age for having Pap smear is 21-year-old. If the result is negative then the next test would be done after the gap of three years.

From 30??65 years

In this age, the person can either have a Pap test, or a combined Pap and HPV test after consulting with the doctor. In case of single Pap test, then the doctor would ask to come after three years if the tests are normal. When the person opt for the combined test, and both results are normal, the doctor would ask to wait for 5 years for the next screening test.

If a person is having her periods at the time of their scheduled appointment, they should check with their clinician whether they should go ahead with the test. In most of the cases, the test happens if you??re menstruating.

Doctors can suggest a person to avoid only the following before a Pap smear:

Having sex
Douching the vagina
Using tampons or vaginal lubrication
Vaginal creams, suppositories, or medications
Using birth control foam, cream, or jelly

Cervical Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment

Dr Madhushree Vijayakumar, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Hebbal.

1 . What is cervical cancer and what are some of the major causes?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer where cells change in women??s cervix, which connects their uterus with vagina. Causes of cervical cancer is the beginning of unusual changes in the tissue of the cervix. Most cases of cervical cancer are linked to infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is common and for most people there is less chances of virus developing into cancer. This means other factors ?? such as your lifestyle choices or environment factors?? also determine whether you’ll develop cervical cancer.

2 . What are some signs and symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for?

There are no symptoms or sign in early stage cervical cancer but for more advanced level cancer spread it includes signs as:

Unusual vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
Bloody or watery vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odour.
Pelvic pain or pain during sex

3 . How do the symptoms vary in different stages of cervical cancer?

There are 4 stages to cervical cancer:

Stage 0: Precancerous cells are present. At this stage there are none or zero symptoms.
Stage 1: In this stage cancer cells have grown from the surface into deeper tissues of the cervix, and possibly into the uterus and to nearby lymph nodes. Symptoms at this stage are less.
Stage 2: In this stage cancer has now moved beyond the cervix and uterus, but not as far as the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina. It may or may not affect nearby lymph nodes and have symptoms like pelvic pain during intercourse, vaginal discharge.
Stage 3: This is an advanced stage where cancer cells are present in the lower part of the vagina or the walls of the pelvis, and it may be blocking the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the bladder. It may or may not affect nearby lymph nodes and may have symptoms like trouble peeing, swollen legs and bone pain among with stage 2 symptoms.
Stage 4: This is the last stage where cancer affects the bladder or rectum and is growing out of the pelvis. It may or may not affect the lymph nodes. Later in stage 4, it will spread to distant organs, including the liver, bones, lungs, and lymph nodes. Symptoms spreads to whole body resulting in Weight loss and lack of appetite, fatigue, kidney failure, pelvic pain.

4 . How does cervical cancer affect your body?

Generally cervical cancer does not have an opportunity to affect the rest of the body, mainly because it is often diagnosed in its earliest stages. But if not diagnosed at early stage in can spread to other parts of their body (metastasize), often the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina, and rectum.

5 . Who is most at risk of developing cervical cancer?

Risk is a factor that increases the chances of getting a disease to a person and for cervical cancer these factors may raise a woman’s risk of developing one.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection- HPV is themost important risk factor, though there are less chances of it developing into cancer but cervical cancer is frequently associated with HPV16, HPV18. People who are infected with high risk of HPV types are people who have sex at an earlier age or have multiple sexual partners.
Immune system deficiency- women with low immune systems have higher chances of developing cervical cancer.
Herpes and Oral contraceptives- women who have genital herpes and who takes birth control pills, may be associated with an increase in the risk of cervical cancer.
Smoking and age- there are more chances for women to develop cervical cancer who smokes twice a daily compared to non-smokers. Women with the age group of above 20 to mid-30??s are exposed to this risk more.

6 . Is cervical cancer curable? Can cervical cancer spread quickly?

Cervical cancer is often curable if diagnosed at early stage. For early cervical cancer doctors recommend surgery to remove the cervix and some or all of the womb, or radiotherapy, or a combination of both. For advanced level radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, and surgery is also sometimes used.

Cervical cancer cells are slow in growth, once cells in the cervix begin to undergo abnormal changes, it can take several years for the cells to grow into invasive cervical cancer. So there are many opportunities for early detection and treatment before the cancer has progressed to later stages.

7 . How do STIs increase your chances of cervical cancer? What is HPV and how does it affect your chances of getting cancer?

STI??s like HPV increases your chance of cervical cancer. HPV is Human Papillomavirus Infection it is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. It??s related to a group of 150 viruses. Low risk HPV causes warts on or around the female and male genital organs and in the anal area. High risk HPV causes cancers, including cancer of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women, penile cancer in men, and cancers of the anus, mouth, and throat in both men and women. It is a common virus and in most people the body can clear the infection by itself.

8 . What are some preventive measures that can lower your chances of cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a slow and deadly disease whose symptoms cannot be predicted at early stages. However some prevention can reduce the risk of cervical cancer such as regular screening or pap smear test to detect and prevent precancers, getting HPV vaccine, delaying first sexual intercourse until late teens or older, limit the number of sex partners and practice safe sex by using condom, avoid sexual intercourse with people who had many sexual partners or are infected with genital warts or show other symptoms, quit smoking.

9 . What are the different treatment options for cervical cancer? How long can each one last?

Cervical cancer if detected at earliest stage can be cured if not then various treatments are prescribed by the doctors for different stages such as surgery if cancer cells has not spread from the cervix, this is the most common treatment. Radiation therapy if doctors feel the cancer cells are present inside the body. In advanced stages radiation and chemotherapy is recommended. In later stages palliative therapy is provided to relieve symptoms and improve the patient??s quality of life and living.

Treatment for cervical cancer is a long process and takes a plenty amount of time of years.

10 . How long does it take to recover from cervical cancer treatments?

After the treatment it takes about 8 weeks for side effects to resolve although in some cases it can be permanent. There??s also a possibility that side effects can occur after years or months of treatment.

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