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What is HPV?
HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. It is a very common infection and most women get it at some time in their life. In most cases it clears up by itself without the need for treatment. But in some women the virus persists, placing them at greater risk of developing cervical abnormalities (CIN) which may need treatment.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause a number of ailments, ranging from issues as benign as common warts to life threatening diseases such as cervical cancer.
How do people get HPV?
HPV is a very common infection among people who have been sexually active at some time in their life. It is easily transmitted during sex between men and women and between partners of the same sex. The virus shows no symptoms, so it is possible that
The HPV vaccine gives protection against the most high risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including ones which cause cervical, mouth and genital cancers.
Gardasil and Cervarix are the two HPV vaccines available, and both protect against the two most common high-risk types of the virus: 16 and 18. These strains are linked to over 70% of cervical cancers, and most anal, penile and mouth cancers. Gardasil vaccine which also protects against types 6 and 11 of the virus, which are responsible for around 90% of genital warts. Cervarix vaccine protects against the high-risk HPV strains linked to cancer.
It is important that women who have been vaccinated continue to take up the offer of cervical smear testing later in life, so that other kinds of cervical cancer can be picked up.
HPV vaccinations are recommended for all children of ages 9 to 15. The process requires 2 injections administered at least 6 months apart.
If the vaccination is administered when an individual is older (above 15 years) – 3 doses are required.
Both males and females can receive the vaccination until the age of 25.
Regardless of HPV vaccination status, cancer screening by Pap test, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and/or HPV testing are also recommended as vaccine does not prevent against all high risk HPV viruses.
The cervix is the lowermost part of the uterus – a slim, cylindrical neck of tissue that connects the uterus to the vagina. It allows menstrual blood to flow from the uterus to the vagina, and sperm must pass through it to reach and fertilize the egg following sexual intercourse.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer happens when cells in cervix grow in an uncontrolled way and build up to form a lump (also called a tumor).As the tumor grows, cells can eventually spread to other parts of the body and become life threatening.
In India, cervical cancer contributes to up to 29% of all cancers in women. The figures are alarmingly high, and without any government-sponsored screening programs, the responsibility to understand and screen for cervical cancer falls upon us.
What causes cervical cancer?
Nearly all cervical cancer is caused by HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, which is transmitted through skin to skin contact. There are several types of HPV, some more threatening than others. “Low-risk” types may cause genital warts, while “high-risk” types are linked to cancer.
In reality, HPV infections are extremely common, especially in women who have ever been sexually active. Usually, an HPV infection will clear on its own. It is only women with persistent HPV, the kind where the virus can’t be fought off by the immune system, that are at risk of cervical cancer.
What puts a woman at risk of cervical cancer?
The main risk of contracting cervical cancer lies in not getting regularly screened. Aside from this, those with weak immune systems or those suffering from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) will be more likely to contract cervical cancer.
The HPV Vaccine can be taken to prevent cervical cancer and is available at the CK Birla Hospital. Connect with Dr. Keerti Khetan, expert gynaecologist at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology to lean more.
Cervical cancer Specialists at the CK Birla Hospital highlights some important symptoms of cervical cancer one should keep an eye on.
Symptoms of Cervical Cancer include: –
• Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods
• Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual
• Bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Vaginal discharge of a different colour or smell
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Bleeding after menopause
Usually these symptoms don’t mean you have cervical cancer but you must seek the opinion of a gynaecologist and if needed, go for a screening as if you are found to have a cancer, getting it diagnosed and treated early can mean you are more likely to survive.
What do you mean by screening?
Cervical screening (which is also called a smear test) involves taking a small sample of cells from the surface of cervix. This is then sent to the laboratory to see if there are any abnormal cells which can turn into cancer if left untreated.
Cervical cancer screening is done with Pap testing (LBC- liquid base cytology) and/ or HPV testing.
Connect with one of our top gynecologists today to speak about scheduling a screening, receiving the HPV vaccination, or to discuss your symptoms. Book an appointment at the CK Birla Hospital now.
Having menstrual cramps is one of the most common annoying part of your period. These cramps can strike before or during your period.
Prevalence rates are as high as 90 percent. Initial presentation of primary dysmenorrhea typically occurs in adolescence.
It is a common cause of absenteeism and reduced quality of life in women. The problem is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea
Chances are, you know all too well how it feels. You may have:
Pain in hips, lower back, and inner thighs
When cramps are severe, symptoms may include:
Types of Dysmenorrhea
What Causes PRIMARY dysmenorrhea
Menstrual cramps happen because of contractions in the uterus, or womb, which is a muscle.
The uterine lining produces these hormone-like substances called prostaglandins at the time of shedding, that cause the muscles of uterus to contract. If it contracts too strongly during your menstrual cycle, it can press against nearby blood vessels. This briefly cuts off the supply of oxygen to the uterus. It’s this lack of oxygen causes your pain and cramping.
What Causes SECONDARY dysmenorrhea
Secondary dysmenorrhea can be caused by several different conditions. These include.
The treatment you need will depend on what’s causing your painful periods and how severe the pain and symptoms are. Many women never see their doctor about painful periods and manage the symptoms themselves at home.
SELF HELP METHODS
These well-known methods you can try at home to soothe the cramps:
1.Heat therapy -Hot compresses through hot water bottles and warm baths are a tried and tested method for pain relief. Some studies have shown to be as effective as NSAIDS and aspirin for menstrual cramp pain.
2.Ginger -It seems ginger may also be a effective as common painkillers, as some clinical trials suggest.
3.-Certain low stress workouts have been found to ease bloating, back and leg pain caused by menstruation, increasing blood circulation in the affected area while also strengthening it contributes greatly to pain relief.
4-life style changes -as to refrain from the use of drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. All these are known to increase inflammation and worsening of pain.
WHEN TO SEEK HELP
If you have primary dysmenorrhea, you may also be able to ease your symptoms with over-the-counter painkillers.
There are also treatments that your doctor can prescribe for you such as acupressure and TENS.
If you have secondary dysmenorrhea, your doctor will try and find out what condition is causing your symptoms and will discuss your treatment options with you. This might need certain investigations like USG to reach the diagnosis.
Menstrual cramps, whatever the cause, can be treated well so it’s important that you seek out treatment from an expert obstetrician or gynaecologist.
Often stiffness and shoulder pain is inappropriately given a blanket diagnosis of ‘Frozen Shoulder’. It is not enough to blindly undergo un-targeted physiotherapy without proper diagnosis of the underlying pathology. Rotator cuff pathologies are the most common cause of shoulder pain which could also present with difficulty in moving the arm, particularly above the shoulder level and behind the back.
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles around the shoulder generating a force couple to stabilise the otherwise unstable joint and allow efficient movement in all directions. Rotator cuff disorders could range from tendinitis (inflammation/swelling of the tendons) often leading to impingement to Partial and full thickness tears. Unattended these full thickness tears could progress leading to complete failure of the Bio-mechanics of the shoulder causing what is called as pseudo-paralysis (inability to move the shoulder). If not treated at the right time, secondary wear out of the joint can cause arthritis requiring a replacement surgery.
Timely and correct diagnosis is thus prudent in treating these conditions and avoiding further morbidity. Any shoulder pain lasting for more than a few months should not be neglected and specialist consultation must be taken to reach a proper diagnosis and timely management. Often patients come after several months/years of pain medicines and improper Physiotherapy only to learn that they have a tear in the rotator cuff at a relatively advanced stage. This can and must be prevented by a timely and proper diagnosis.
Watch the video here as Dr. Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay, Consultant, Orthopaedics at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon explains more about the ‘shoulder pain’ condition, its symptoms, causes and how it restricts the movement.
In case you are experiencing any kind of shoulder pain, then don’t wait. Connect with our expert orthopaedic surgeons, Dr. Debashish Chanda and Dr. Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay.
ALSO WATCH | Dr. Reetadyuti Mukhopadhyay Shoulder Pain Part 2 | How Shoulder Pain can affect a Patient’s Life.
What’s the most disheartening reaction to the meal you’ve spent ages preparing? Your child not giving even one look to it. And when the meal refusals happen repeatedly, a lot of desperate parents fall into the trap of only serving food they know their child will eat – which is most likely to feature unhealthy kiddie-favourites like pizza, fries, and burgers.
However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way and there is a vast scope for improvement.
While some studies say that if a standoff over vegetables at dinner is a daily struggle with your child, there is some relief for the parents as the fussy toddler is still likely to grow up to be of normal weight and height. The point to be noted as a general rule, these toddlers have strong preferences for particular foods and are reluctant to try unfamiliar foods. Sometimes your fussy toddler would even insist on having their food presented in a particular way and can be very slow about eating it.
The most common effect of picky eating or fussy eating is a source of anxiety and stress for many parents. The consistent battles at mealtimes, combined with worry about whether the child is getting the right nutrients to grow and develop normally, can be exhausting and disruptive to family life and relationships.
Here are a few tips to be considered important if your child is a fussy eater:-
Even though this behavior is common in preschool children, they tend to grow out of it in the early school years, perhaps as they mix with their peers and develop greater autonomy.
The main objective of getting your kids to eat anything is to turn the idea of normal food on its head: To gradually introduce variety and to keep that going day after day, week after week until the experience of discovering new flavours, textures, smells, shapes and colours on the plate is the new normal.
You can gradually start to encourage variety at mealtimes by introducing small elements of unfamiliar colour, flavour or texture to trusted family favourites.
And when the time is right, change them just enough to begin to break some early assumptions about what food should be like, and just enough to get all children excited about the journey ahead.
In the education phase, parents can try helping children grow their own herbs to help illustrate where food comes from, then get them involved in cooking a meal using those herbs.
Or even accept the challenge to build a plate based on the main food groups.
Parents should think about the recipes they are well aware of, and think creatively about how they can tweak them to make them fun with colour, patterns, shapes and even by stacking or layering food.
Help equip your kids with the skills and desire to make healthy choices for a lifetime. Get in touch with our team of expert child specialists at the Department of Neonatology & Paediatrics.
Vitamin D also known as sunshine vitamin helps in keeping your bones strong. Recent researches suggest that Vitamin D protects you from a lot of health problems. Vitamin D is produced by your body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. There are a few foods like fish, fish liver oils, egg yolks- fortifies dairy and grain products through which we can intake Vitamin D.
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency
Listed below are a few symptoms that can help you understand that you might have Vitamin D deficiency in your body
Causes of Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can occur in your bodies due to various reasons, listed below are few of them.
Who are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency?
The following are at risk for Vitamin D deficiency
Why is Vitamin D essential for our body?
Vitamin D is very important for our body as it keeps our bones healthy and strong. It is reported that people with low Vitamin D levels often face depression and fatigue, proper Vitamin D levels in your body keeps you away from such risks. Vitamin D contributes to your strong muscles and general health.
How can Vitamin D be diagnosed?
If you see any symptoms in you which are mentioned above or fall in the category of high risks, you should get your Vitamin D levels checked. Vitamin D levels can be measured with a Vitamin D blood test.
How can Vitamin D levels be boosted?
Vitamin D in your body can be boosted through a exposure to sunlight, proper diet and supplements.
Get in touch with our team of experts to get your Vitamin D levels checked.
When you’re on your period, things can be hard. Exercising, feeling positive, eating healthily-menstruation can make all these more challenging. States like fatigue, mood swings and cramps are faced by most women during periods, making it a dreaded time. And there is disturbed sleep, often caused by period pains in the abdomen, back and thighs.
Even though the symptoms of periods are different in different women, cramps are a common forerunner of that one special monthly phase. While some lucky ladies might just feel an achiness or slight tension in their backs or abdomen at the onset of their periods, other women can get shooting pains that disrupted their lives. Since your uterus is essentially one large, pear-shaped muscle, those pangs can radiate through the entire lower back and belly area and thighs. The pain may start before your period or when your period begins. Menstrual cramps last about 1 to 3 days.
What’s are the most important tips to be followed?
To help alleviate cramps further, you can follow certain yoga poses such as “Cobbler pose”, “Head to Knee pose”, ‘Seated Straddle pose”, “Seated forward bend” and “Supported Bridge pose”.
You could take mild painkillers to reduce the pain. You also can try using heating pads or taking a warm bath.
Menstrual cramps can thoroughly be a painful topic for most of us, we can pretty much expect how bad they’ll be most months. But there are a few things to be taken care of, If your cramps are so bad that you need to call in sick to work on a regular basis, or in case you experience menstrual cramps that are suddenly different from what you’re used to, or they’re accompanied by other symptoms like abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding or the painful periods started later in life, then it calls for doctor’s intervention.
Some months are more painful than others, it’s important to know what that could mean. Any changes to your monthly menstrual cycle is good to keep track of, and if you’re suddenly in a lot of pain, or a lot more pain than usual, don’t take the risk of turning a blind eye on it, especially if you’re suddenly bleeding more heavily than usual as well.
The wisest option to realize if your cramps might be pointing to an underlying health problem is to notice if they’re suddenly more intense, or if they’re different from what you usually experience during your period. If you don’t feel any difference after taking painkiller medicines for cramps, or if the pain is lingering well past the point where you’re bleeding has stopped especially when your period is over, but the pain isn’t resolving, immediately make an appointment to see your gynecologist.
Always learn that typical menstrual cramps, no matter how painful they get, should be somehow easy to treat. If the pain you’re experiencing isn’t getting better even after your usual medications or a heating pad, or if the pain is unusual and more severe than you’re used to, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor to realize what has changed. Your doctor will examine you to figure out any probable underlying conditions that could affect your health and fertility moving forward.
Your doctor may want to do a physical exam, pelvic exam, or tests. These can help diagnose or rule out the cause of your pain. An ultrasound test lets your doctor see if you have ovarian cysts. A laparoscopy can check for endometriosis. Learn more about endometriosis here. In this minor surgery, the doctor makes a small cut in your low stomach.
Over-the-counter medicines can reduce pain. If all is well, you may just need a stronger pain reliever. Your doctor may want you to try using birth control pills or a birth control shot. These can help make your periods less painful.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects about one in every ten women and is the most common cause of female infertility. It is typically characterized by ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles and high testosterone levels. A lot is spoken about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), infertility and pregnancy. It is believed that among the young urban female population PCOS is on the rise with almost 40 per cent of women falling prey to this condition. Of the numerous problems that women face due to PCOS – irregular, scanty periods, acne, weight gain– inability to conceive is also a major concern.
In PCOS, the ovaries are filled with numerous follicles that causes imbalance in secretion of the female reproductive hormones. In fact, women who suffer from PCOS have increased levels of testosterone that further leads to certain symptoms like facial hair, acne, breakouts, hair fall etc.
For women suffering from PCOS, it sometimes becomes difficult to get pregnant but is not impossible.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, low carbohydrate diet and reducing stress helps improve chances of pregnancy in PCOS. A few possible treatment options available that can help women with PCOS to get pregnant are listed below:
Post conception, PCOS can cause the following complications for expecting women:
However, if these risks can be controlled well if the mother talks to her doctor to control and monitor PCOS symptoms before the pregnancy itself and take extra care during pregnancy.
Women with PCOS are advised to screen for diabetes as soon as they become pregnant and then repeat the test when they are 24 to 28 weeks pregnant. While in common cases, there is a slight increase in miscarriages in women with PCOS, the risk is mainly in the first trimester.
Keeping track of baby movements is important. The movements may change if the baby is uncomfortable or mom has not eaten in a while which means they too are also hungry. When the baby is hungry, they tend to kick and move around more than what’s usual. They relax or settle down once the mom has changed her position or has had something to eat. There are moments when babies move their arms around to familiarize themselves with their limbs and the environment inside the womb. Babies also start punching inside the womb when they do not want to settle down — this is just their way of telling mom that they are not sleepy.
At times pregnant moms experience pressure on their lower abdomen or in their rib area. If a pregnant mom experiences pressure on her abdomen, then it might be a way for the baby to say he or she is ready to be born especially if the mother’s due date is close by. But there maybe times when the mom-to-be doesn’t feel any movement inside her. In that case, she must eat a snack or have some juice. After that, it is advised for her to lay down and count for the next 1 hour. If there are no 3 minimum movements, then she must contact her doctor. It doesn’t signify that something is wrong but to get it checked is a wise decision.
Pregnant women can feel their babies’ movements from the start of the 16th week; however, some women may experience them even before this, and will continue to feel them until they give birth. Baby movements are differently felt by different mothers and say a lot about the position and mood of the baby. The type of movement will also depend on the size of the baby and how far the pregnancy has reached. Some babies tend to be comparatively more active than others but moms-to-be need not worry about this. You should just be aware of any change in the movement pattern and consult your doctor for the same.
