During your pregnancy, your physician will conduct various routine tests to identify any potential health issues that could pose a risk to you or your developing baby. Additionally, if you experience symptoms such as weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, night sweats, cough, or chest pain, your doctor may recommend testing for tuberculosis (TB) in addition to the routine tests. These symptoms will prevail only if you have active TB and it is crucial to get yourself tested in case you have these symptoms, as it might affect your pregnancy. On this World Tuberculosis Day, Dr Manisha Tomar, Senior Consultant, Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida, explains TB during pregnancy, its treatment and complications for expecting mothers and newborns.

According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, as many as one in three people will experience bleeding during their first three months of pregnancy, with the chances being higher during the first trimester. Agreeing, Dr Preethika Shetty, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Kharadi said, “Sometimes, it can be serious, and at other times not even a matter of concern. But you must always consult a doctor in case of bleeding during any trimester,” adding that women can experience slight brown spotting to bright red bleeding that may last from a day to weeks accompanied with cramping or low backache.

New Delhi: Women across age groups are mostly not aware of female genital TB (FGTB), as there are no symptoms; it is a silent disease sparing no age group but the majority of patients that are affected are of reproductive age. As per doctors, FGTB causes significant morbidity also a major reason for infertility. Experts inform that it is still an underestimated disease, which needs awareness and prompt attention and a high degree of evaluation by doctors for correct diagnosis and treatment. On the occasion of World TB Day, ETHealthworld spoke with doyens of fertility with diverse experience to gain a clear understanding of not only the severity of FGTB but also how it is frequently diagnosed at later stages, when the disease’s scope has widened and has the potential to have a devastating impact on women’s reproductive health. A study published in the Indian Journal of Tuberculosis suggests 25 per cent of the women who suffer from pulmonary TB in India also have silent genital tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (occasionally Mycobacterium bovis and/or atypical mycobacteria) is the primary causative agent of FGTB. It typically develops as a result of TB of the lungs or other organs and spreads by lymphatic, haematogenous, or direct dissemination from abdominal TB. Around 90 per cent of women with FGTB experience fallopian tube damage.

New Delhi: Women across age groups are mostly not aware of female genital TB (FGTB), as there are no symptoms; it is a silent disease sparing no age group but the majority of patients that are affected are of reproductive age. As per doctors, FGTB causes significant morbidity also a major reason for infertility. Experts inform that it is still an underestimated disease, which needs awareness and prompt attention and a high degree of evaluation by doctors for correct diagnosis and treatment. On the occasion of World TB Day, ETHealthworld spoke with doyens of fertility with diverse experience to gain a clear understanding of not only the severity of FGTB but also how it is frequently diagnosed at later stages, when the disease’s scope has widened and has the potential to have a devastating impact on women’s reproductive health. A study published in the Indian Journal of Tuberculosis suggests 25 per cent of the women who suffer from pulmonary TB in India also have silent genital tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (occasionally Mycobacterium bovis and/or atypical mycobacteria) is the primary causative agent of FGTB. It typically develops as a result of TB of the lungs or other organs and spreads by lymphatic, haematogenous, or direct dissemination from abdominal TB. Around 90 per cent of women with FGTB experience fallopian tube damage.

Birth control refers to the practice of using specific methods, medications, or surgical operations for both males and females to prevent conception. However, women have a wider variety of birth control methods to select from. Some methods of contraception are more effective than others. Your choice of birth control will be influenced by your health, desire to have children now or in the future, and need to avoid STIs. 

There is nothing improper or shameful about using birth control just to prevent conception. It’s also beneficial to know that a number of birth control options have other health advantages that are unrelated to preventing pregnancy.

5 Reasons Why A Gynaec Can Put You On Birth Control Besides Pregnancy Prevention

1. More Predictable Periods

Some surprises are wonderful. Menstrual bleeding surprises are not. You can programme your period according to a schedule by using the oestrogen and progesterone-containing combination birth control pill, also known as “the pill”. It usually operates as follows, even though some individuals use them to completely skip periods (which is safe). After taking sugar pills devoid of hormones for the first three weeks, you transition to active hormone-containing pills for the last week. You’ll be aware that the last week of each month is when you should anticipate getting your period. The ring and the patch, which employ the same hormones as the pill and are applied on a similar schedule, also control periods: The ring or patch is worn for three weeks before being taken off.

2. Lighter Flow

Fortunately, certain hormone treatments can reduce flow, including the pill, patch, ring, injection, hormonal IUDs, and in rare cases, the implant. In preparation for a prospective pregnancy, the uterus develops a thick lining of blood and tissue each month. (The lining gives the developing pregnancy the nourishment it needs.) But, if you don’t become pregnant, the lining is lost through the vagina and is known as a period. The uterine lining may thin because of the hormonal birth control treatments discussed above, resulting in lighter or even non-existent periods. Because of this, hormonal birth control can either treat anaemia brought on by heavy periods or simply make them more bearable.

On TikTok, many pregnant women seem to be sharing a bizarre experience — about a change in the size of their nose during the last trimester. According to reports, women have been posting before and after pictures with the hashtag ‘pregnancy nose’, with their noses visibly broader and puffier in the second set of images.

While it is being talked about now, turns out it is not anything new. A 2004 study published in National Center for Biotechnology Information noted that nasal physiological changes during pregnancy were seen in all the 18 subjects who were studied from their first trimester of pregnancy and followed through to the postpartum period to monitor the changes that occurred.

The study analysed measurements of the nasal airway including anterior rhinoscopy (AnR), peak inspiratory nasal flow, acoustic rhinometry, anterior rhinomanometry (ARM), and the saccharin test with rhinitis questionnaire scores providing a symptomatic measurement.

Though not a medical term, pregnancy nose is one of the “physiological changes seen in pregnancy due to hormonal surges”, said Dr Manju Gupta, senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Noida.

Is it something to be concerned about?

According to Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director, and IVF expert, Mother’s Lap IVF Centre, New Delhi and Vrindavan, hormones produce vascular dilation, which can lead to increased blood flow to specific parts, which is necessary for the uterus. “It isn’t always selective. Its just that your nose is one of the body parts with mucous membranes that experiences increased flow. It is mostly harmless and can be experienced just like any other pregnancy symptoms,” Dr Shobha told indianexpress.com.

So does the nose reverse to its original size?

Dr Manju mentioned that it takes time for the nose to reverse to its original size. “So while it is not evident immediately after the delivery, one can see the difference within 6-8 weeks difference as the hormones subside,” said Dr Manju.

In an era where health has taken the center stage, there is still much to be known about an essential ‘building block of life’- Protein. Protein intake from conception to two years of age may have lifelong implications.A major part of this crucial stage is spent in utero, hence in the prenatal and postnatal stages it is important to have good quality and quantity of protein intake.So the onus of bearing a healthy child falls mostly on pregnant women.

The Protein Paradox Study by Right to Protein found that an average of 85 mothers believe that protein leads to weight gain.They also agreed that they would prioritize the consumption of carbohydrates and vitamins rather than protein.This risk of inadequate dietary intake leads to poor birth outcomes and nutritional status.

Pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) causes inflammation of a woman’s reproductive organs, leading to scar formation between tissues and organs. This condition either stems from an untreated sexually transmitted infection or other gynecological infection. The pelvic inflammatory disease affects the lower reproductive system such as the uterus, the fallopian tubes or the ovaries. While many different types of bacteria can cause pelvic inflammatory diseases, can urinary tract infection (UTI) also lead to it? Let’s find out.

2. Fever

Fever indicates that the body is fighting an infection. If you have a fever lasting more than a few days along with pelvic pain or vaginal discharge, it could be UTI.

3. Pain during sexual intercourse

If you experience pain during intercourse, it can either be an indication of a bladder infection or yeast infection however if infections are left untreated it may result in pelvic inflammatory disease which may pose long-term health problems.

4. Unusual vaginal discharge

Vaginal discharge is normal. However, if there is an excessive amount of discharge accompanied by an unusual odour, it could be a symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease. If you experience this, it is important to start the treatment before it reaches other reproductive organs.

5. Frequent painful urination

Painful urination is a symptom of a urinary bladder infection. If left untreated, the bladder infection gets worse and may travel into the uterus or ovaries, causing pelvic inflammatory disease. During the treatment, be transparent about the pain level because extreme pain is more likely a symptom of pelvic inflammatory diseases that needs more attention and a stronger dose of antibiotics than a bladder infection.

6. Irregular menstruation

Extra-long periods, spotting, heavy bleeding, or cramps throughout the month is a symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease. Menstruation is accompanied by these, but if these symptoms are severe and hamper your daily activities, a proper check-up is required.

Acute menstrual headache occurs in a menstruation woman during the two days before her period and/or throughout the first three days…

Digital Desk: Where we see that period pains are frequent in every woman’s life, many can handle them while others suffer from them, one such condition is Menstrual headaches/ Migraine which happens before and during your periods.

It occurs in a menstruating woman either on the two days preceding a period and/or during the first three days of a period, as stated by Dr Bhagya Lakshmi S, Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Menstrual migraine causes, symptoms and prevention tips are mentioned in this article:

Menstrual migraine causes – Experts believe that these migraine attacks are caused by a drop in oestrogen during the menstrual cycle. “These shady headaches may be caused by low oestrogen levels immediately before your menstruation,” Dr Thamke, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar explained.

Additional causes include the use of oral contraceptive pills. “Women may feel headaches during the pill-free week as a result of a decline in oestrogen levels,” Dr Bhagya explained, adding that headaches typically intensify approaching menopause and during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

Sensitivity to lighting, noise, and smells

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common treatable cause of infertility in women, estimated to account for about 80 per cent of anovulatory infertility cases. It is a common hormonal disorder among women, affecting around 5-10 per cent of women of reproductive age. The syndrome is characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, weight gain, and acne. Not just fertility problems, PCOS can also lead to insulin resistance, and diabetes. Although the exact cause of PCOS is not known, certain lifestyle habits can help reduce its incidence in women.

Here, Dr Shweta Wazir, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Motherhood Hospital, Gurugram, shares some of the habits that can help reduce the incidence of PCOS in women.

Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is crucial in managing PCOS symptoms and reducing its incidence. Exercise helps to improve insulin sensitivity, increase metabolism, and regulate menstrual cycles. It also aids in weight loss, which is beneficial in reducing the severity of PCOS symptoms. A combination of aerobic and resistance training can be beneficial for women with PCOS. A study found that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise three times a week for 12 weeks significantly improved insulin sensitivity and menstrual regularity in women with PCOS.