In medical terms, the pelvic floor refers to a group of muscles in the pelvic area. These muscles provide support to the organs in the pelvic region, including the bladder, uterus (women), prostate (men), and rectum.

What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
This is a medical condition that is used to refer to a situation when you are unable to control the functioning of the pelvic floor. It means you fail to control the bowel movement. People suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction use these muscles to contract rather than to relax. It is for this reason that they cannot have a bowel movement. They often have an incomplete one.

What causes pelvic floor dysfunction?
In most of the cases, the exact reason behind this dysfunction is unknown. It is often believed that this condition is caused due to traumatic injuries to the pelvic area. This can happen after an accident and due to complications aroused after vaginal childbirth.

What are the symptoms?
There are several symptoms that are linked to this medical condition. You must visit your doctor if you come across the following signs:

The feel of having several bowel movements within a short period of time.
If you feel that you cannot complete a bowel movement.
When there is constipation pain linked with bowel movements.
A frequent urge to urinate.
Painful urination.
Pain in lower back.
Continuous pain in pelvic region, genitals, or rectum.
Pain during intercourse in women
How is pelvic floor dysfunction diagnosed?
It may be diagnosed through a physical examination by the doctor. You will ask several questions to know the case history and find out the cause. You may also be asked to take pelvic muscle control test by placing surface electrodes on the perineum or sacrum. A small device called a perineometer is also used for the same.

What are the best ways for treating pelvic floor dysfunction?
It can be treated without surgery. There are several techniques. Some of these are as follows:

Biofeedback: It is done with the help of a physical therapist.He uses special sensors to watch and monitor the muscles.
Medication: A low-dose muscle relaxant is prescribed to treat the same.
Relaxation techniques: Your therapist may ask you to take up techniques for relaxation such as warm baths, yoga, and exercises.
Surgery: If your physician finds out that the dysfunction is caused by a rectal prolapse or rectocele, he or she will take up surgery.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction results in Urinary Dysfunction. Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. It's a common problem thought to affect millions of people. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including:

Stress Incontinence   when urine leaks out at times when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when you cough or laugh
Urge Incontinence   when urine leaks as you feel a sudden, intense urge to pass urine, or soon afterwards
Overflow Incontinence (chronic urinary retention)   when you're unable to fully empty your bladder, which causes frequent leaking
Total Incontinence   when your bladder can't store any urine at all, which causes you to pass urine constantly or have frequent leaking
It's also possible to have a mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which structures such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or the vagina itself may begin to prolapse, or fall, out of their normal positions. Without medical treatment or surgery, these structures may eventually fall farther into the vagina or even through the vaginal opening if their supports weaken enough.


Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - What is the Best Way to Treat it?

Pregnancy is a blissful period, even with all the discomfort associated with it. And with proper awareness and caution, it is possible to keep pregnancy-related complications at bay to have a smooth sailing experience till you deliver the little bundle of joy.

Some women have health issues during pregnancy, while others suffer from disorders before pregnancy, leading to complications at the time of the pregnancy. It is very crucial for women to receive proper health care, both before and during pregnancy to reduce the risks of complications. Here are some common pregnancy complications that you should know about before you start planning a family.

Anemia: Anemia is a condition where you have lower than the desired number of healthy red blood cells. To deal with this condition, it is important to treat the underlying cause of anaemia. The most common symptom of this complication is feeling tired and weak even with the slightest physical exertions. You will have to eat a proper diet that consists of folic acid and iron supplements. Your healthcare provider will have to regularly monitor the iron levels during the time of pregnancy.
High blood pressure: Chronic high blood pressure before as well as during pregnancy puts the mother and the baby at risk. It is associated with increased maternal complications such as placental abruption, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. It puts you at risk of preterm delivery and even infant death. It is crucial to handle this condition before pregnancy to mitigate the complications.
Obesity: Recent studies suggest that the heavier a woman is before pregnancy, the greater are her chances of developing pregnancy complications. Research suggests that obesity during pregnancy is related to increased use of health care services along with longer hospital stay after the delivery. It may also cause complications like gestational diabetes and stillbirth.
Urinary tract infections or UTI: A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. The common symptoms of this disease include fever and shakiness, pain and burning sensation at the time of passing urine, a pressure in the lower belly, an urge to use the bathroom often along with reddish and cloudy urine. If you think you have this complication, you should consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor will most likely prescribe treatment for the same.
Placenta previa: Placenta previa occurs when a baby's placenta partially or totally covers the mother's cervix   the outlet for the uterus. Placenta previa can cause severe bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. You'll need a C-section to deliver your baby if the placenta previa doesn't resolve.
Talk to your gynaecologist if you think there is even the slightest chance of suffering from one of these complications to avoid the further dire consequences.

5 Pregnancy Complications That You Should Not Ignore!

Cancer is the abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells in a particular body part. With continued growth, pieces of this tissue travel through the blood to different body parts and continue to grow in the new area. This is known as metastases. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and affects about 1 in 8 women in the USA. Read on to know more details of breast cancer   breast anatomy, causes, symptoms, risk factors, detection, prevention, and of course treatment.

Anatomy: The main function of the breast is lactation through its milk-producing tissue that are connected to the nipple by narrow ducts. In addition, there is surrounding connective tissue, fibrous material, fat, nerves, blood vessels and lymphatic channels which complete the structure. This is essential to know as most breast cancers develop as small calcifications (hardened particles) in the ducts or as small lumps in the breast tissue which then continues to grow into cancer. The spread can happen through lymphatic or blood flow to other organs.

Warning signs/symptoms: The following are some symptoms that need to be watched out for if you have a predisposition to breast cancer.

    A lump in either of the breasts or armpits
    Change in size, shape, or contour of either breast
    Redness of your breast or nipple
    Discharge of clear or bloody fluid
    Thickening of breast tissue or skin that lasts through a period
    Altered look or feel of the skin on the breast or the nipple (dimpled, inflamed, scaly, or puckered)
    One area on the breast that looks very different from the other areas
    Hardened area under the breast skin

Either one or a combination of these should be an indication to get a detailed checkup done. Early diagnosis results in controlling the disease with minimal treatment and reduced complications.

Causes and risk factors: The exact cause for breast cancer is yet to be pinned down. However, risk factors are clearly identified, and women with risk factors need to watch out for warning signs.

    Family history: Of all the risk factors, the family history is the most important. Breast cancer runs in families, and if there is a first-degree relative with the breast cancer, the chances of developing it are almost double. Two genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the carriers of the disease, and this testing can be done in women to identify if they are at risk.
    Family history of other cancers: Even if there is no breast cancer, if there are other cancers that run in the family, watch out.
    Age: Women over 50 are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
    Race: Caucasian and Jewish women are at higher risk of breast cancer than African-American women.
    Hormones: Greater exposure to the female hormone estrogen increases the chances of developing breast cancer. Women who use birth control pills for contraception and hormone replacement after menopause are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
    Gynecologic milestones: Women who have abnormal menstrual milestones need to watch out. These include those who attain menarche before 12 years of age, get pregnant after 30, attain menopause after 55, and have menstrual cycles shorter than 26 days or longer than 29 days.
    Obesity and alcohol abuse are also likely to increase a woman s chances of developing breast cancer.

Stages: Starting from stage 0, higher stages indicate advanced disease.

    Stage 0: The growth which has begun in the milk-producing tissue or the ducts has remained there (in situ) and not spread to any other area, including the rest of the breast.
    Stage I: The tissue slowly becomes invasive and has begun to affect the surrounding healthy tissue. It could have spread to the fatty breast tissue and some breast tissue may be found in the nearby lymph nodes.
    Stage II: The cancer at this stage grows considerably or spreads to other parts. There are chances that cancer may grow and also spread.
    Stage III: It may have spread to the bones or other organs but small amounts are present in up to 9 to 10 of the lymph nodes in the armpits and collar bones which makes it is difficult to fight.
    Stage IV: The cancer is widespread to far-flung areas like the liver, lungs, bones, and even the brain.

Screening: This is one of the most effective ways to identify the disease in its early stages. This will help in controlling cancer from spreading with minimal treatment.

    Self-examination: A thorough self-examination to look for changes in terms of shape, size, colour, contour, and firmness should be learned by all women. Watch for any discharge, sores, rashes, or swelling in the breasts, surrounding skin, and nipple. Examine them while standing and when lying down.
    In most women, annual screening mammograms are advised after the age of 40. However, in women who have a strong family history or genetic makeup, it is advisable to have screening mammograms starting at age 20 every 3 years and then annually from the age of 40.
    Women in high-risk categories should have screening mammograms every year and typically start at an earlier age.
    Ultrasound screening can also be given in addition to mammograms.
    Breast MRI is another way to screen for breast cancer if the risk is greater.

Breast Cancer Prevention: Now that there is so much awareness about causes and risk factors, there are definitely ways to prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

    Exercise and a healthy diet with reduced amount of alcohol are definitely effective in minimising the chances of developing cancer.
    Tamoxifen is used in women who are at high risk for breast cancer.
    Evista (raloxifene) which is used to treat osteoporosis after menopause. It is also widely used in preventing breast cancer.
    In high-risk women, breasts are surgically removed to prevent the development of cancer (preventive mastectomy).

Treatment: As with all cancers, treatment would depend on the stage at which it is identified and include a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. As noted earlier, if you are at risk, look out for warning signs as early diagnosis is the key to maximum recovery.

Breast Cancer - Know More to Say 'No' More!

The post-partum period is the first few (usually six) weeks after delivering the baby. Sex might be the last thing you think of during this time. Sexual desires might decrease due to the following:

Healing from the incision (in case of a vaginal delivery)
Cesarean birth healing (abdominal incisions)
Fatigue caused by the whole birthing process and pregnancy
Stress caused by the newly born baby (especially more so in case of triplets or twins)
Shifts in the hormonal levels
Breastfeeding related breast sores
Emotional difficulties such as parenting anxiety, relationship problems with the baby s father
Postpartum blues
After the incision (if any) has fully healed along with the delicate vaginal tissues, it is generally safer to have intercourse. It might take a few weeks for the healing process to fully complete. The doctor will be able to give a more personal advice on when it is ok to start having sex again. Usually in case of a normal delivery, the waiting period is 6 weeks. The emotional readiness and physical comfort is extremely important as well. In a lot of cases it might take up to a year for normal sex life of the couple to resume again.

Also, there is a common misconception amongst many couples that during the postpartum period, having a baby again isn t possible. Condoms should be used if you aren t abstaining from sex in the postpartum period. This helps in avoiding an unplanned pregnancy and the complications that can arise from two successive deliveries.

The body goes through a lot of changes after giving birth. Low libido affects the sex drive. The body needs time to recuperate and might not be ready for sex immediately after giving birth as it switches itself to give care for the new born. A break is often necessary as the body and mind heal.

Vaginal dryness in the postpartum weeks is also very common. Lube and lots of it can help. The vagina, in the initial weeks, stretches out quite a bit. It slowly starts returning to its original contracted state as the muscles become tight again.

It s also important to remember that you can be intimate with your partner after you give birth to a baby, without having sex. Body contact and cuddles are ways of expressing your affection towards your partner. Love doesn t need to be dependent on sex!

How to Manage Sex After Pregnancy?

What is vaginitis?

Vaginitis refers to infections of the vagina. This condition results in inflammation of the muscular walls of the vagina due to contamination of bacteria, yeast or viruses and results in itching, soreness, reddening and pain of the vagina along with pungent odors and unusual discharge.

Vaginitis is a common medical condition that affects all women at some point in their lives. Most of the time, the problem is not severe and can be easily treated with simple remedies. But if the symptoms become chronic and remain persistent, it requires the immediate attention of a gynecologist.

What are the different types of vaginitis?

There are a number of different types of this condition, which have varying causes and symptoms. Some of the most common types of vaginitis are as follows:

1. Bacterial vaginosis

This is caused by the explosive growth of the bacteria that is usually present in small numbers in the vagina under normal conditions.

2. Yeast infection

A type of fungus is known as candida Albicans causes this type of infection.

3. Vaginal atrophy

This generally occurs after menopause and is caused by falling estrogen levels.

4. Trichomoniasis

This type of injection is sexually transmitted and caused by parasitic infestation.

What are the symptoms of vaginitis?

Common symptoms of vaginitis include the following:

- vaginal discharge with unusual colors or odors

- the occurrence of pain during urination

- the occurrence of pain during intercourse

- itching, swelling and irritation of the vagina

- vaginal bleeding and spotting

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'consult'.
Related Tip: All you need to know about infections of the Uterus, Vagina and Cervix

What Each Woman Must Know About Vaginitis

The most devastating period for any pregnant women is a miscarriage. This normally happens because of genetic abnormality noticed in the fetus caused due to tripling of a chromosome. This is also called  spontaneous abortion  because the body rejects the random genetic abnormality. Apart from this, there are many other reasons for miscarriage namely blood clotting, deshaped uterus, uterine fibroids, unhealthy cervix and so on. Now, this could lead you to the next question - What can we do to prevent miscarriage?

Time to meet the gynecologist:
When there is tripling of chromosomes or genetic mismatch, the body actually rejects the fetus, thereby preventing birth of an unhealthy baby. But, if the miscarriage repeats several times, then you have to meet your gynecologist for further tests and appropriate medical intervention.

Symptoms of miscarriage:
In the normal course, when miscarriage occurs, the women would experience back pain or vaginal bleeding or blood in the vaginal mucus or cramping or abdominal pain. Ironically, sometimes the miscarriage may happen without any of these symptoms. It would get noticed only during routine scanning. However, in the normal course, the chance of a miscarriage is highest before the 12th week. But if miscarriage happens after the 12th week and before the 24th week, then it is called spontaneous abortion. Thereafter, it is known as a  still born  baby.

However, there are some steps that can help women prevent a miscarriage. These steps are briefly explained here.

Nicotine retards growth of fetus and it is for this reason the couple should shun smoking, months before they plan pregnancy. This change in lifestyle has remarkable effects in preventing miscarriage. Similarly, caffeine can also be the cause of miscarriage. Therefore, women should regulate their intake of coffee as per the advice given by the gynaecologist.
Women suffering from chronic ailments like lupus, problems with thyroid, epilepsy and such other ailments are prone to a miscarriage. Similarly, it is also advisable that women should get tested for STD/HIV because these ailments can cause a miscarriage. Women suffering from such ailments should be under constant medical care.
In addition to these, the women should take food rich in vitamins, proteins, Omega-3 and fibres. Further, they should also do physical exercises as per the instructions given by the gynaecologist. One should drink enough water so as to keep oneself sufficiently hydrated. Women must practice meditation, which helps in reducing stress.
The causes of a miscarriage are many; women should discuss about the issues relating to a miscarriage with their gynaecologist. This helps them take appropriate preventive steps against this unwanted situation.

Miscarriage - Can You Prevent it?

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