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A Battle with Fibroid by Abena S Yeboah

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:56:47 +0100

A fibromyoma, or myoma, is a type of growth commonly found inside the womb, or uterus uterus, and is formed from fibrous tissue and muscle. Sometimes known as uterine fibroids, or simply fibroids, fibromyomas are not cancerous but are benign tumors, which are thought to affect at least two out of every five women and which can occur singly or in groups. Often, fibroids cause no symptoms, but heavier periods, abdominal pain and swelling, constipation, or a frequent need to urinate may occur. Even though fibromyomas are noncancerous tumors, if symptoms become serious, treatment may be necessary. Fibromyoma treatment may involve using drugs to shrink the tumors, or one of a range of surgical and non-surgical techniques may be employed to remove them.
Women who are in their 30s and 40s, and those who are overweight, are more likely to develop fibromyomas. The tumors vary in size, and can be too small to be visible or large enough to occupy all of the uterus. Although the cause of the tumors is not known, a fibromyoma is more likely to grow when estrogen levels are higher. For this reason, a fibromyoma may slowly enlarge while a woman is still having periods, but may shrink after menopause, when estrogen levels fall.
A fibromyoma of the uterus may develop inside the muscular walls of the womb, in which case it is called an intramural fibromyoma. Submucosal fibroids grow beneath the womb's inner lining, while what are known as subserous fibromyomas arise from the outside of the uterus and may become huge. Occasionally a pedunculated fibromyoma, a type of fibroid which grows on the end of a stalk, may develop from the outer uterus wall.
Fibromyoma of the Uterus Risk Factors
    pregnancyafter the age of 30
    •
    •    Age over 45
    •
Recently research has proven that fibromyoma can occur in young women  below the age of 30 years.
Fibromyoma of the Uterus Symptoms
Abnormal vaginal bleeding:

•Heavy menstrual periods
• Irregular menstrual periods
•
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
•
• Irregular vaginal bleeding:
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• Vaginal spotting
•
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
•
• Lower abdominal pain
•
• Pelvic pain
•
• Chronic pelvic pain
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• Abdominal tenderness:
•
• Right lower abdominal tenderness
•
• Left lower abdominal tenderness
•
• Lower abdominal tenderness
•
• Abdominal swelling
•
• Pain During Intercourse
•
• Painful menstrual periods
•
• Back pain:
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• Lower back pain
•
• Chronic back pain
•
• Difficulty urinating
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• Increased urinary frequency
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• Increased urinary urgency
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• Urinary incontinence
•
• Fatigue
•
• Constipation
•
• Malaise

Fibromyoma of the Uterus Evaluation

The evaluation of uterine fibroids begins with a history and physical exam, including a pelvic exam.

Physical findings in a woman with uterine fibroids may include:

    * Vaginal bleeding

    * Enlarged uterus during pelvic exam

    * Lower abdominal tenderness
Tests that may be used to evaluate uterine fibroids include:

    * Uterine biopsy

    * PAP smear

    * Pelvic ultrasound

    * CT scan of the pelvis

    * MRI scan of the pelvis

Less commonly performed tests that may be used to evaluate uterine fibroids include:

    * Pelvic angiogram

    * Laparoscopy

·         diagnosis of fibromyomas is usually made using an investigation such as an ultrasound scan. Fibromyoma treatment is only necessary if symptoms are troublesome. A drug known as GnRHa, or gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist, may help shrink the tumors, but it is not generally taken long term due to side effects such as osteoporosis, where bones become fragile.

Fibromyoma of the Uterus Treatment

Most women who have uterine fibroids have few if any symptoms. Small uterine fibroids may not require treatment if they do not cause symptoms. Treatment for large uterine fibroids may include hormone therapy, surgery to remove the fibroids, or hysterectomy. Fibroids that cause heavy vaginal bleeding can lead to significant anemia that may require treatment.

Treatment options for uterine fibroids include:

    * Hormone therapy for uterine fibroids:

          o Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists cause menstruation to stop, causing fibroids to shrink.

    * Androgens (Danazol):

          o Can relieve fibroid symptoms

          o Stops menstruation and can shrink fibroids

          o May cause side effects such as weight gain, depression, anxiety, acne, headaches, and excessive body hair.

    * Birth control pills and progestins:

          o May improve fibroid symptoms

    * Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD):

          o Can improve fibroid symptoms, but does not shrink them or make them go away.

    * Myomectomy for uterine fibroids:

          o Removal of the fibroids from the wall of the uterus

    * Hysterectomy for uterine fibroids:

          o Surgical removal of the uterus

Non-surgical procedures such as UAE, or uterine artery embolization, reduce the size of fibromyomas by removing their blood supply. Endometrial ablation removes the womb lining and cuts away fibroids close to the surface of the uterus. For large fibroids, an operation such as a hysterectomy may be required, where the whole womb is removed. If women wish to have children later, an alternative method called a myomectomy may be carried out, where fibroids are extracted through the cervix, or through an incision in the uterus, sometimes using keyhole surgery techniques.

Safe sex

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:52:34 +0100

    Reduces our risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
    * Using condoms makes vaginal or anal intercourse safer sex
    * Using condoms or other barriers makes oral sex safer sex
    * Having sex play without intercourse can be even safer sex
    * Safer sex can be very pleasurable and exciting

We all care about protecting ourselves and the ones we love. For sexually active people that means practicing safer sex. We can use it to reduce our risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It lets us protect ourselves — and our partners — while we enjoy sex play with them. Safer sex is for responsible people who care about their and their partners' pleasure and health.

How Can I Lower My Risk Using Safer Sex?

One way to have safer sex is to only have one partner who has no sexually transmitted infections and no other partners than you.

But, this isn't always the safest kind of safer sex. That's because most people don't know when they have infections. They are very likely to pass them on without knowing it.

Another other reason is that some people aren't as honest as they should be. In fact, about 1 out of 3 people will say they don't have an infection when they know they do, just to have sex. So most of us have to find other ways to practice safer sex.

Another way to practice safer sex is to only have sex play that has no risk — or a lower risk — of passing STDs. This means no vaginal or anal intercourse. Many of us find that great sex is about a lot more than a penis going in a vagina or anus. It is about exploring the many other ways you and your partner can turn each other on. Not only is it a way to discover new sexual pleasures, it's also safer.

No-risk safer sex play includes

    * masturbation
    * mutual masturbation
    * cybersex
    * phone sex
    * sharing fantasies

Low-risk safer sex play includes

    * kissing
    * fondling — manual stimulation of one another
    * body-to-body rubbing — frottage, "grinding," or "dry humping"
    * oral sex (even safer with a condom or other barrier)
    * playing with sex toys — alone or with a partner

The highest risk kinds of sex play are

    * vaginal intercourse
    * anal intercourse

source .plannedparenthood

Trichomoniasis

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:45:29 +0100

The infection often has no symptoms although women are more likely than men to get symptoms. You may notice an unusual genital discharge.

Without treatment, trichomoniasis can increase a person’s risk of acquiring HIV.
Pregnant women with trichomoniasis can deliver premature, low birth weight babies.

How common is trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis is considered the most common curable STD. In the United States, an estimated 3.7 million people have the infection, but only about 30% develop any symptoms of trichomoniasis. Infection is more common in women than in men, and older women are more likely than younger women to have been infected.

How do people get trichomoniasis?

The parasite is passed from an infected person to an uninfected person during sex. In women, the most commonly infected part of the body is the lower genital tract (vulva, vagina, or urethra), and in men, the most commonly infected body part is the inside of the penis (urethra). During sex, the parasite is usually transmitted from a penis to a vagina, or from a vagina to a penis, but it can also be passed from a vagina to another vagina. It is not common for the parasite to infect other body parts, like the hands, mouth, or anus. It is unclear why some people with the infection get symptoms while others do not, but it probably depends on factors like the person’s age and overall health. Infected people without symptoms can still pass the infection on to others.

What are the signs and symptoms of trichomoniasis?

About 70% of infected people do not have any signs or symptoms. When trichomoniasis does cause symptoms, they can range from mild irritation to severe inflammation. Some people with symptoms get them within 5 to 28 days after being infected, but others do not develop symptoms until much later. Symptoms can come and go.

Men with trichomoniasis may feel itching or irritation inside the penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or some discharge from the penis.

Women with trichomoniasis may notice itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, or a thin discharge with an unusual smell that can be clear, white, yellowish, or greenish.

Having trichomoniasis can make it feel unpleasant to have sex. Without treatment, the infection can last for months or even years.

What are the complications of trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis can increase the risk of getting or spreading other sexually transmitted infections. For example, trichomoniasis can cause genital inflammation that makes it easier to get infected with the HIV virus, or to pass the HIV virus on to a sex partner.

How does trichomoniasis affect a pregnant woman and her baby?

Pregnant women with trichomoniasis are more likely to have their babies too early (preterm delivery). Also, babies born to infected mothers are more likely to have an officially low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds).

How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?

It is not possible to diagnose trichomoniasis based on symptoms alone. For both men and women, your primary care doctor or another trusted health care provider must do a check and a laboratory test to diagnose trichomoniasis.

What is the treatment for trichomoniasis?

Trichomoniasis can be cured with a single dose of prescription antibiotic medication (either metronidazole or tinidazole), pills which can be taken by mouth. It is okay for pregnant women to take this medication. Some people who drink alcohol within 24 hours after taking this kind of antibiotic can have uncomfortable side effects.

People who have been treated for trichomoniasis can get it again. About 1 in 5 people get infected again within 3 months after treatment. To avoid getting reinfected, make sure that all of your sex partners get treated too, and wait to have sex again until all of your symptoms go away (about a week). Get checked again if your symptoms come back.

How can trichomoniasis be prevented?

Using latex condoms correctly every time you have sex will help reduce the risk of getting or spreading trichomoniasis. However, condoms don’t cover everything, and it is possible to get or spread this infection even when using a condom.

The only sure way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is to avoid having sex entirely. Another approach is to talk about these kinds of infections before you have sex with a new partner, so that you can make informed choices about the level of risk you are comfortable taking with your sex life.

If you or someone you know has questions about trichomoniasis or any other STD, especially with symptoms like unusual discharge, burning during urination, or a sore in the genital area, check in with a health care provider and get some answers.

reference CDC