Dr. Anamika Kawatra

There is a prevalent misconception that gynecologists are for women what urologists are for men. But urologists also deal with certain women-related health issues. These include overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence.

Following are the 5 points which every female should know:

1. Women sometimes pee in their pants too: A majority of the female population between 40 and 60 suffer from either stress incontinence (when you cough, sneeze or laugh) or urgency incontinence (leaking when you want to go badly). Urologists want you to know that there are less invasive options and medications available to treat this problem.
2. Recognize pelvic organ prolapse: This condition is defined by a bit of bladder, rectal, or uterine tissue bulging into your vagina. An urologist can provide non invasive options to deal with this.
3. Age related factors affect both men and women: Right around the time when menopause and andropause strike, changing hormone levels affect the pelvic floor, bladder, urethra and vagina in women causing problems like urinary tract infection and incontinence. These conditions are effectively treated by an urologist who can also probe for underlying conditions like kidney stone, polyp, or tumor in severe cases.
4. An overactive bladder is more common than you think: Around 40% women have to hit the bathroom every hour or so owing to this. Simple lifestyle changes like lowering the intake of caffeine and alcohol, in combination with pelvic floor exercises can solve the problem.
5. Pelvic pain: If it is not gynecology then it is urology. A general pain in the pelvic region triggers a visit to the gynecologist first for most women.From menstrual cramps to ovarian cysts, all of this may well be taken care of by your gynecologist too. But when the usual culprits are not the cause for your discomfort, it's time you get the urology aspect examined thoroughly too.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Bankart's lesion is condition of the shoulder joint, which is characterized by the tearing of the labrum (cartilage) from the shoulder socket called the glenoid fossa. In order to understand this, you need to understand the anatomy of the shoulder joint.

The glenohumeral joint is the portion of the shoulder where the tip of the upper arm (humerus) attaches itself to the scapula. The specific area of the scapula where the humerus is attached is known as the glenoid cavity. The labrum is a soft tissue that runs along the glenoid, its function being to stabilize the ball of the joint in the shoulder socket. It facilitates movement of the arm by ensuring congruence between the glenoid and the humerus bone.

The symptoms of Bankart's lesion are:

1. You may experience popping or clicking sounds in the shoulder joint
2. Any overhead movement may cause pain
3. You may experience sudden pain during the night
4. Decreases range of motions, leading to impaired functioning of the arm
5. Unstable shoulders
6. The shoulders may become weak

The causes which may lead to a Bankart's lesion:

1. If your arms are outstretched during a fall
2. In case you experience a direct blow on your shoulder
3. Lifting heavy objects or a sudden pull
4. Performing overhead activities repetitively such as fast bowling with a straight arm action in cricket

Treatment for Bankart's lesion: 
The condition is treated after the doctor performs a thorough diagnosis of the symptoms. Once the symptoms are diagnosed, anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed for pain relief. Hot or cold compresses may also be applied on the affected area to ease the pain. In severe cases, arthroscopic surgery is done to treat the condition.

Rehabilitation involves performing various external rotation exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff joint. Various stretches may be prescribed as well to improve the mobility and flexibility of the shoulder joint. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!