Almost every woman is often embarrassed about talking to their gynecologists. Some get scared and unsure of what to do next; while some others hesitate to consult the doctors when they experience any gynecological issues. In most of the cases, hesitation could cost women a lot causing irreparable damage to their reproductive health. So, one should never hesitate to talk to their gynecologists. Here are some frequently asked questions by most of the women which help others get aware of various gynec issues and explain how to approach their gynecologists for optimal reproductive health.
Many women might have queries about menstrual cycles as they are not aware of what is normal and what’s not. It's difficult to say what’s normal, as every woman will have a cycle that is unique to her.
In general, a normal menstrual cycle could be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days. The average period generally lasts for three to four days, but it can be shorter or longer, that ranges from one to seven days. In the same way, the length of a menstrual cycle will not be same for every woman. The length of cycle includes even the days when a woman has her period. For example, If a woman has a regular 28-day cycle, she would start her period every four weeks. If she has a 21-day cycle, she would start her period about every three weeks. It is better to keep track of menstrual cycles every time which helps to find irregularities if any.
When should One Consult a Gynecologist regarding Changes in Menstruation
As mentioned earlier, a menstrual cycle isn’t same for every woman. Women can experience many changes in their menstruation. Sometimes, the flow can be heavy or light. Periods can last for few days or a week; can return like clockwork or be less irregular. They could even be late or could be skipped. Some of these changes could be normal, while some could signal health issues. So, every woman has to be proactive and consult a gynecologist if she observes any changes in her menstruation. Some of the changes which need medical assistance include:
Missed Periods
The absence of menstruation can indicate many issues such as pregnancy, excess stress, hormonal imbalances, an underactive thyroid, PCOD, early menopause or other health problems. Women who miss their periods at least for three consecutive months should immediately consult a gynecologist. Getting medical help without delaying can help in the proper evaluation of the cause and treatment options to reverse the abnormal menstrual cycle.
Abnormal Bleeding
Some variations in the flow could be normal, but it's better to talk to your gynecologist if a woman experiences something which is abnormal. Heavy bleeding which seems to be beyond normal is usually caused by fluctuating hormone levels or fibroids or polyps; which can worsen the condition if delayed.
Painful Periods
Menstrual cramps are considered to be common among most of the women. They are caused due to the excess production of prostaglandins, the hormones which control the uterine contractions. But, some women may experience severe cramps which can even interfere with their daily activities. In such cases, women should consult a gynecologist for pain management and diagnosis of the underlying cause which can be either endometriosis or uterine fibroids or other issues.
When you are trying to conceive, making healthy changes in your lifestyle is really essential. It helps your body ready for the baby and reduces the risk of complications during and after the pregnancy as well.
Here’s what you should do when you start thinking about trying to conceive:
Get a Preconception Checkup
A preconception checkup is nothing but a medical check-up by your Ob-Gyn when you are planning for pregnancy, to make sure you are healthy before you get pregnant. During a preconception checkup, your doctor may question you about health history of your family, surgical and medical history, ongoing medications to evaluate possible risks during pregnancy. It also helps you to get aware of how existing or potential risks may affect your pregnancy and lets you get suggestions from the doctor to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
Pay attention to your diet
What you eat can play a vital role while trying to conceive. Good nutrition helps your body to prepare for the demands of pregnancy. So, boost your nutrient intake by incorporating lots of green leafy vegetables, lean proteins and fiber in your diet. Also, get aware of foods that have to be avoided, as some can hinder your fertility. In addition, make sure to get at least 1000 mg of calcium every day from the natural sources. Start cutting down on your caffeine intake, as it hinders the body’s ability to absorb minerals such as iron, calcium and affects fertility.
Get Prenatal Vitamins
To increase the chances of creating a healthy and nutritious environment in which your baby can develop, your Ob-Gyn suggests you take prenatal vitamins. A prenatal vitamin is a multivitamin which is specially formulated for pregnancy. It’s really important to get enough amounts of folic acid before and during pregnancy. Folic acid helps to prevent birth defects that usually arise during early months of pregnancy.
Stay away from Smokers
Smoking has been linked to infertility in both women and men. Even exposure to secondhand smoke can affect women's fertility and pose risks to a developing baby, including birth defects and low birth weight. It also increases the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. So, if you smoke, quit and stay away from smokers to avoid getting exposed to secondhand smoke as much as possible.
Get Screened
You need to get some screening tests for certain health conditions that may affect your pregnancy such as Hepatitis B and C, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), HIV and genetic disorders. Your doctor may also suggest you take blood tests to check for immunity to infections such as rubella and chickenpox.
Get your Health Problems Under Control
If you have any health problems that can affect your chances of conceiving or that can make your pregnancy more risky like diabetes and high blood pressure, it is important to get those under control. Since overweight has been also linked to pregnancy complications, talk to your doctor about how to maintain a healthy weight if you are carrying extra pounds.
We all know that mammograms are one of the most common methods for breast cancer diagnosis. They can detect the disease even before the onset of symptoms. Though a lot of breast cancer awareness programs are being held, still some women are not considering to get a mammogram. Here is a brief note about mammogram which lets you know why it is important.
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is a specific type of breast imaging that uses a low dose of X-rays. It can detect the breast cancer even if the woman doesn’t experience any symptoms. It is also used to look for changes in the breast tissue in women who do not appear to have any breast problems.
How do mammograms help?
Mammograms play an important role in the early detection of breast cancer. They can detect the disease in its earliest stages long before the woman or her doctor can feel a lump or a tumor. Mammograms help in finding the suspicious areas of the breast, which need to be taken a closer look to be safe. Since early detection improves the chances of survival, mammograms better the chances of beating the breast cancer.
When is the right time to start mammograms?
In general, women are suggested to start mammograms at age 40 and should be repeated every 1-2 years. If a woman has a family history of having breast cancer, she would be suggested to get mammogram more frequently when compared to other women. Since family history and lifestyle factors increase the risk of breast cancer, women should discuss their family history with the doctor at the earliest. This helps to determine when women should schedule their first mammogram and how often.
Here is how often women should get a mammogram according to their age:
- 40 - 44 years: optional annual mammograms
- 45 - 54 years: annual mammograms
- 55 years & older: if in good health, annually or alternate years
Who should get a mammogram?
Though every woman should get regular mammograms starting at age 40, some women should get mammograms at an early age, if they have
- A family history of breast cancer
- dense breasts, as they are an important predictor of risk for breast cancer
- Observed any changes in the breasts during self-exam
- Experience any symptoms such as pain, nipple discharge etc which are not normal
- Can feel the presence of any lumps
As most of us know, “Pap smear” or “Pap test” is a screening procedure for cervical cancer. It is a crucial test to detect the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix. Also, a pap smear helps to find other conditions of the cervix such as infections or inflammation.
Most of the women are so uncomfortable to get a pap smear that either they avoid it or delay it. But it is important for every woman to get a pap smear as a part of the annual checkup. A woman should start her pap smears once she turns 21. And how often a woman should get her pap smear depends on its results.
If a woman's pap smear result is normal, she will be asked to repeat it in 3 years. If the result is abnormal, she has to repeat Pap smear every year along with other investigations depending on the problem.
At the age of 30, a woman has an option to get an HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test along with the Pap smear. If she chooses to have both Pap smear and HPV test, she can wait five years between the tests in case of normal test results.
In case of a normal Pap smear with positive HPV test, a woman would be recommended to repeat a Pap smear once in a year to check if the HPV infection has cleared. If the HPV test is negative and the Pap smear is abnormal, then she would be recommended to undergo colposcopy; an examination of the cervix, vagina, and vulva.
Even if a woman has normal Pap smears, she may need to to be screened more frequently if she has any of the risk factors which can increase her risk of getting cervical cancer. This helps in the early detection of the infection at its initial stages and increases the chances of survival.
Some of the risk factors of cervical cancer other than HPV include:
- Weakened immune system
- Giving birth at a very young age
- Family history
- Smoking
- Long-term use of contraceptive pills
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Several pregnancies
Finally, women who are over 65 and has never had an abnormal Pap smear or those who had a complete hysterectomy no longer need Pap smears.