Body Care Facts & Health Tips

A woman’s life is full of health issues which require her to take a lot of care. Ovarian cysts are a common problem, during the years when a woman is capable of childbirth. These cysts are basically fluid filled sacs, not too different from blisters, which form on either side of the uterus. Thankfully though, most types of ovarian cysts are pretty harmless and fade away on their own.

Having said this, you should also know the various categories into which ovarian cysts have been classified. They are:

• Functional cysts, which are naturally formed during the process of ovulation. They tend to shrink in size and gradually disappear within three menstrual cycles. Menopausal women cannot suffer from functional cysts because ovulation does not happen in them.
• Dermoid cysts are those that are filled with different types of tissues and sometimes even skin and hair.
• Cystadenoma cysts develop on the outer surface of ovaries.
• Endometrioma cysts are related to endometriosis and form when tissue attaches to the ovaries.
• Polycystic ovarian disease is a result of the buildup of follicles. The ovaries enlarge and become thicker from the outside. This can prevent ovulation and thus cause fertility issues.

But what it is that causes ovarian cysts? Well, formation of cysts is a part of the monthly process of ovulation (production of the egg cell) within a woman’s body. A follicle is formed within the ovary when this process occurs. From the follicle a structure called the corpus luteum is formed, which normally gets dissolved if the egg cell is not fertilized.

However, at times, the dissolution does not take place and cysts are formed. The more serious types of cysts, such as those in the polycystic ovarian disease usually occur as a result of hormonal imbalance.

This brings us to the symptoms of ovarian cyst or how you can know whether you have a problem. Well, unfortunately cysts do not produce any symptoms. What they do however, in some cases, is cause a dull pain in the abdomen.

This pain may be heightened during intercourse. You can treat this as a warning sign that the cyst may have burst or is bleeding. The pain may also be caused due to twisting of the cyst, which prevents the flow of blood.

Occasionally you may also have extremely painful or delayed periods and must consult your doctor immediately, to make sure that it is not a cyst.

And what if it is a cyst? Well, fret not because ovarian cysts can be treated. However, the success of the treatment depends on the size and type of the cyst, your age and your pregnancy plans. Here are a few ways in which doctors treat these cysts:

• If it is a functional cyst, you are asked to wait for two or three months, to allow it to disappear on its own.
• In case this does not work, you may be prescribed oral contraceptives or hormonal injections to help reduce the size of the cysts.
• When the above step fails, surgery may be required. If the cysts are discovered early the surgery is less invasive. Delayed surgery may require the removal of the ovary to remove a potential threat to life.

Well, that’s everything you need to know about ovarian cysts.

Since the seventies the available variety of contraception has exploded. The explosion hasn’t been completely without risk. There are many benefits to the widespread availability of birth control but there are some risks to it as well. This is a basic guide to the main types of birth control available along with the risks and benefits associated with each.

The Birth Control Pill

There are a variety of different birth control pills on the market today. Some like Yaz offer extra benefits like help with PMS. Others like the minipill are better for mothers who breastfeed because of the low dose of hormones that they offer.

There are some birth control pills now that allow women to have fewer periods throughout the year. For most birth control pills the system works by providing three continuous weeks of a hormone based pill and one week of placebo. During the placebo week the user will experience something like a period.  Some women skip the placebo week in order to continuously avoid having a period.  This should not be done for more than three consecutive months however.

Benefits

The birth control pill is about 99% effective with perfect use. Average use is probably closer to 95%. Even with average use the birth control pill is far more effective than simply using a condom to prevent pregnancy.

Risks

Most birth control pills come with an increased risk of pulmonary embolism which can be fatal. This risk is especially high in women who smoke. The same goes for cardiovascular disease. Women over 35 and women who smoke appear to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease while using birth control pills.

Birth control pills that are used for long periods of time have also been linked to cancers such as cancer of the cervix, though the link is not entirely clear.

Birth control pills may cause a rise in blood pressure and for this reason they should be avoided by some women who already have issues with high blood pressure.

Condoms

Condoms are one of the oldest forms of birth control and they should be used in conjunction with birth control among those who are in non-monogamous relationships since other forms of birth control do not offer protection against HIV or other STDs. Condoms are generally made of latex though there are some condoms that are made out of other materials like lambskin and plastic for people who are allergic to latex.

Benefits

One benefit of the condom is that this highly effective against STDs. Condoms are pretty much the only form of birth control that offers protection against major STDs. They are also cheap, easy to find, and hormone free.

Condoms give men the opportunity to take part in the prevention of pregnancy. There are no side effects to condoms except when they are used by people who have latex allergies.

Disadvantages

Though they are relatively effective against STDs and pregnancy prevention through perfect use, most people do not use them perfectly.  Some people feel that condoms dull the sensation of sex, though there are a variety of different styles of condom to help with this issue.

Natural Family Planning

Natural family planning goes by a lot of names. Natural family planning, the rhythm method, and fertility awareness are some of the names that are used for natural family planning. This method is used for religious and political reasons.

Benefits

No hormones are chemicals are necessary for natural family planning. If used properly it can be very effective, average use is about 75-88% effective.

Disadvantages

There are several disadvantages to natural family planning. For one it will not work to prevent STDs and should only be used by committed couples. Also, NFP requires couples to abstain from sex around 10 days each month.

Participants must keep up with their natural fertility methods on a daily basis, which can be difficult for many. If you do not have a regular menstrual cycle it may not be possible for you to track your fertility properly.

References:  MayoClinic and Planned Parenthood.