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3 PMDD Herbal Remedies

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Category : Womens Issues

PMDD herbal remedies can really help to make that last week of your menstrual cycle a lot more pleasant if you have Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Natural herbal treatments for PMDD are not only effective at alleviating the symptoms of this condition, many of them can help you begin to deal with the underlying root causes of it as well.

PMDD herbal remedies are also in high demand from many women who have been using PMDD medication such as anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, painkillers, or hormone pills that. This is because these mainstream medications might be fast acting, but come with many side effects that can simply provide you with more pain and misery. Not to mention the fact that most drugs only provide relief from symptoms and never anything longer than when you are taking them. This creates a dependency on drugs that can border on addiction, while it never actually cures your problems!

Natural PMDD herbal remedies on the other hand might act a little slower but do not come with side effects and work WITH your body to create some healing. These are not the only things that will eliminate PMDD from your life, but they do form a critical part of the whole process along with other lifestyle changes you must do.

As such, here are a few Herbal Remedies for PMDD that might come in handy!

1. Valerian Root – This herb does not smell all that great, but do not let this put you off its usage. It has many benefits that can be applied to reduce symptoms of PMDD. It has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety by reducing the hormones caused by stress and it relaxes you and boosts your mood at a brain chemical level as well. Many women have also noted that they experience better sleep while using valerian root too.

2. St. John’s Wort – This type of herb is very good if you are feeling down and depressed. It has compared very well against pharmaceutical grade anti-depressants, but it does not show the same side effects which is a bonus. This will help to buoy your mood and normalise them allowing you much reprieve from this particularly nasty symptoms of PMDD

3. Chasteberry – This particular herb which can also be found being called monks pepper can aid in getting rid of irritability, headaches, and mood swings. Exactly how this works in your body is not too well understood but it does make if a good PMDD herbal remedy.

Women’s Health News: March, 30

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Category : News

VA Governor Signs Bill to Restrict Abortion Clinics

Republican Governor Bob McDonnell signed a bill requiring that clinics that perform first trimester abortions meet the Board of Health regulations on hospitals, which are far more stringent than the regulations on physician’s offices. The Virginia Senate and House voted to pass the bill in February.

Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, stated, “This is a distressing day for the women of Virginia and their access to safe, affordable reproductive health care in the Commonwealth. Through a legally questionable and ethically indefensible political gimmick, Gov. McDonnell has pushed through legislation that may result in politically motivated regulations of first trimester abortion providers that have nothing to do with medicine and everything to do with the legislature and governor’s personal ideology.”

The new regulations may cause as many as 17 of the state’s 21 women’s health clinics that perform abortions and provide necessary women’s reproductive health services, such as STI testing, cancer screenings, and family planning, to shut down as a result of the cost to implement the required changes. These regulations will significantly and unnecessarily increase the cost of early abortions and will make it more difficult to get an abortion in Virginia. Reproductive rights groups, including the Feminist Majority, the National Organization for Women, and the American Civil Liberties Union oppose the law, which restricts women’s access to reproductive health services.

GOP turning off women voters

The Republican zeal for budget-cutting is masking a particularly insidious aspect of their zealotry, unrelated to deficit reduction — the GOP has declared war on women’s health, and heaven only knows why.

Overwhelming majorities of both women and men oppose these cuts, which will mean fewer cancer screenings, more unplanned pregnancies and more abortions while increasing government spending — hardly outcomes Republicans, or anyone else, really want to embrace. But the extreme, and now-dominant, wing of the GOP says it will brook no compromise.

House Republicans began by trying to defund Planned Parenthood, which is in fact a pretty popular organization. Despite being the subject of a dishonest demonization campaign, nearly 60 percent of voters view Planned Parenthood favorably, while only about a quarter harbor unfavorable views of the organization. It’s a strong brand — a lot more popular than, say, the Republican Party, which is viewed unfavorably by more voters than see it in a favorable light.

Planned Parenthood is well-regarded because it plays a vital role in delivering healthcare — over 90 percent of which is preventive. About a quarter of female voters have sought care at a Planned Parenthood health center.

Not content to stop with pillaging Planned Parenthood, Republicans voted to completely wipe out funding for family planning through Title X, zeroing out funds that provide 5 million women with pap smears, breast cancer tests, annual exams and treatment for STDs.

What happens if GOP extremists halt those cancer screenings, stop prevention of STDs and end affordable contraception? Republicans can’t believe defunding Planned Parenthood or Title X will put an end to cancer, or even to sex — it won’t. So the result will be more undetected cancers and more STDs, but also more unplanned pregnancies and more abortions.

Together, Title X and Planned Parenthood help prevent 1 million unwanted pregnancies a year, most of which would end in abortion. The social costs of the unwanted pregnancies carried to term would be enormous. The financial costs are clear. One study found that each dollar invested in family planning saves $3.74 in Medicaid costs later.

The choice is clear: Pay for family planning now, or pay much more later.

And since federal dollars cannot pay for abortions under current law, not one abortion would be stopped by defunding Planned Parenthood. But how much would the government save? Not a dime. In fact, switching all of Planned Parenthood’s clients to another provider would add nearly $300 million to the federal budget because Planned Parenthood is by far the most cost-effective in delivering those services.

If Republicans are increasing government spending and endangering women’s health, they must spy a political payoff, right? Quite the contrary — two different polls find majorities opposed to eliminating government funding for Planned Parenthood.
Viagra super active
National polling indicates some 70 percent of voters oppose ending family planning assistance more broadly. In Wisconsin, a survey we conducted found voters opposing an end to government funding for family planning by 65 percent to 28. Why? Because 38 percent believe it is at least very likely more women will die of cancer as a result. Because 43 percent believe it is at least very likely that there will be more unplanned pregnancies. Because 46 percent believe it is at least very likely that healthcare costs for the rest of us will increase. Because 56 percent believe it is at least very likely that fewer women will have access to preventive healthcare.

The Republican war on women’s health will increase, not reduce, government spending, while putting lives at risk.

President Clinton once famously opined that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” The Republican’s war on women’s health will make abortion unsafe, illegal and more common.

It’s time for thoughtful GOPers to call a truce before they do irreparable harm to women’s health and to themselves.

Attack on Planned Parenthood threatens women’s health

With deficit reduction as a pretext and abortion scapegoating as a goal, the U.S. House of Representatives wants to end funding for the nation’s family-planning program, Title X. A House-approved bill would prevent Planned Parenthood from getting money from any federal program, including Medicaid.

If this measure is enacted, it will have a devastating impact on women in the Toledo area. Planned Parenthood of Northwest Ohio is this area’s largest provider of reproductive health care for low- and moderate-income women. All of our services are preventive.

In our 11-county service area last year, we saw more than 5,000 patients who made over 10,000 visits. They got breast and annual examinations, life-saving cancer screenings, family-planning services, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

The Title X program paid for nearly 7,000 low- and no-cost gynecological visits in our service region in 2010. Since its creation in 1970 during the Nixon administration, Title X has provided preventive health care to millions of vulnerable women. Each year, Title X prevents nearly 1 million unintended pregnancies and more than 400,000 abortions nationwide.

Sixty percent of women who go to Planned Parenthood and similar health centers report that this is their only source of health care, of any kind. Gutting Planned Parenthood will force more women to go untested and untreated. This will increase their risk of diseases, including cancer.

Nationally, Planned Parenthood has provided medical care and family planning services to women for 95 years. We’ve been in northwest Ohio for 75 years. One in five American women gets care from Planned Parenthood during her lifetime. We are an essential health-care provider, trusted by millions of women and families.

The women who use Title X services are those who need health care the most but cannot afford it. They have been hit hard by the housing crisis and recession. They are in crisis or living in poverty.

They are in transition between school and work, or between jobs. Or they have a job, but not insurance coverage.

I see these women every day; so do you. They are your relatives, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Maybe you are one of them. Title X services provide a vital safety net for thousands of women in our community.

It’s hard to understand why opponents of abortion would do so much to undermine a program that helps prevent the need for it. Planned Parenthood does more than any other organization to provide family-planning education and services, including contraception, to avoid unintended pregnancy.

Family planning programs save taxpayers money. According to the Guttmacher Institute, every public dollar that is invested in family planning in Ohio saves taxpayers at least $4.13 in Medicaid costs associated with prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care for an unintended pregnancy.

Cutting off funding for Title X will do nothing to reduce the federal deficit or improve the economy. To the contrary, health professionals will lose their jobs and women will lose vital services.

Tellingly, House leaders have not explained how the millions of American women served by Title X at Planned Parenthood and other centers will get the health care they need if this dangerous provision becomes law.

The House bill is bad policy, bad politics, and bad medicine for the health of America’s women and families. If it becomes law, 5 million American women will lose their only source of health care. Among them are 3 million women who come to Planned Parenthood, including nearly 100,000 Ohio women who visit our 35 centers around the state.

Senators of both parties must continue to reject this extreme and punitive legislation that harms women and families.



What Characterizes A Yeast Infection?

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Category : Yeast Infections

Yeast infection is a disease brought about by a certain fungus. See we all have a little amount of yeast in our bodies but the danger comes when it is multiplied into such an alarming level which will later on develops into an infection. The yeast flourishes on areas that are generally warm and moist like the mouth and the vagina. Medical experts say all of us are likely to experience this infection at one point in our lives so you don’t have to worry if you have it especially that there are now many known cures and natural remedies. But as in all other diseases, it is important for you to know or be aware of the symptoms of this infection the soonest possible time so proper treatment plan can be made. Here are common signs to watch out for:

The first common symptom of the so-called yeast infection is the presence of what appears to be a yellowish discharge accompanied with an unpleasant odor. This is even more apparent among people who are suffering from arthritis and PMS where more pain can be expected. These discharges also later on cause irritation and itchiness and even severe urinary tract infection when left untreated. This discharge may also be experienced in the mouth along with painful and sore whitish lesions in the gums or the back of the tongue. In case of breastfeeding mothers, the lesions in the mouth that they have may also be passed on to the infant being breastfed. So during cases like this, the mothers are asked to stop breastfeeding their young until the symptoms of yeast infection disappear.

Another symptom of yeast infection is poor immune system in both men and women. This is characterized by fatigue, dizziness, weakness of the muscle, pains in the joints and even inflammation in some parts of the body. There are also studies that reveal low performance at work because of this condition. When not given the needed medical attention at the right time, the infection may become more aggressive and may make men impotent in the end. In cases of women on the other hand, there may be experiences of vaginal bleeding as well as difficulty during sexual activity.

Because all of these symptoms are never easy to deal with, it is just right that you treat vaginal yeast infection the soonest. Do not allow things to escalate into something worse. Try to work your way towards recovery while you still can. After all, help are widely available.

Vaginal Dryness

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Category : Womens Issues

Throughout and also right after the change of life some women discover that they are afflicted with a difficulty which isn’t serious but which is quite irritating and unpleasant. Vaginal dryness has an effect on in excess of 75 % of mature females in varying levels. It can be normally worse following menopause however it is a continuous process and can start to cause problems early on in the menopause as well. Vaginal dryness can be brought on by the decrease in estrogen which often takes place at this moment in the woman’s situation.

This substance is in charge of increasing the creation of the mucus which lubricates the vagina so that as it slowly and gradually goes away completely while in menopause it leads to numerous extremely troubling and awkward signs and symptoms. For some ladies, vaginal dryness is definitely such a predicament that it begins to affect day to day life therefore it may trigger substantial problems in a partnership particularly surrounding sexual intercourse and intimacy. A lot of women find that despite the fact that their sexual libido still continues to be high while in menopause, the prolonged itch and irritation simply puts them off intercourse and except in cases where they’re able to discuss this with their spouse and enable him to see the issue, the relationship could become resentful and challenging.

The treatment of vaginal dryness is just not hard although there is no cure. It may be treated using conventional medical care and this is usually by means of some form of bodily hormone replacement therapy. HRT is most often applied in patches attached to the skin however there can be sizeable dangers associated with Hrt and it also must only be utilized in strict consultation with a doctor. A lot of women will not be perfect prospects for hormonal replacement therapy and it is imperative that you be as complete as possible with your health-related history whenever discussing this approach with your health practitioner. Vaginal dryness is usually addressed with an estrogen ointment or pessary.

These are generally put into the vaginal canal or perhaps the lotion is applied around the genital region routinely, but again this type of treatment solution needs complete checking by a medical doctor or specialist menopause nurse. Furthermore, as soon as the lady quits using the cream or pessary the dryness will probably return and the discomfort will probably be just as bad as ever before so it’s not really an ideal long lasting answer

These days, a lot of ladies decide to handle their menopausal symptoms in a holistic manner, using eating and working out alongside herbal medicines and feminine ointments. An eating plan full of plant oestrogens or phyto estrogen carries a major effect on the seriousness of a number of menopause signs or symptoms and it is extremely effective specially in getting rid of nighttime sweats and vaginal dryness. Furthermore, by maintaining a healthy diet, rich in fresh fruit and veggies and also by drinking lots of water, nearly all women find that the other horrible menopausal indicator, putting on weight, continues to be in check and this is even more true if the lady takes some type of general exercise. Yet again, extra weight in the course of menopause is a result of fluctuating human hormones and a lot ladies refer to it as being a ‘thickening’ round the middle portion of the body as opposed to a true rise in bodyweight.

However you choose to address your menopause it’s important that this feels best for your needs. These days, women do not need to go through this tremendous change in life alone and in ignorance. At this time there is a large amount of knowledge out there and it is wise to do some research first. Then you can ensure that you genuinely have picked out what is most effective for you.

Women’s Health News: March, 25

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Category : News

Top Five Ways Health Reform Is Helping Women and Their Families

March 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and on March 24 advocates are celebrating the health care reform law’s advantages for women.

This past year, however, many of the law’s improvements in insurance coverage were overshadowed by attacks on the Affordable Care Act and on women’s reproductive health care coverage. The criticisms have left many women confused about what health reform means for them. Simply put, the law is working for women, our families, and our communities. But, the fight for women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health care in health reform is ongoing, and there are other important issues that still need our voices.

We hope to clear up the confusion by explaining the top five ways the Affordable Care Act is already helping women. This list is followed by three important issues that need attention as we move forward with implementing the law.
Top five ways health reform is helping women
Stopping the worst practices of the insurance industry

Insurance companies are prohibited from canceling the policies of people who get sick. Rescission, or the practice of dropping coverage when people develop illnesses, is now prohibited. That means women who develop heart disease or other serious illnesses are protected from losing their coverage at a time when they need health care the most. Insurers also can’t cancel a policy because someone makes an unintentional mistake on his or her paperwork. The only way a policy can be canceled now is if the insurance company can prove intentional fraud.

Insurance companies can no longer set lifetime limits or “unreasonable” annual limits on the amount of medical care they will cover under existing policies. The Affordable Care Act prevents insurance companies from setting lifetime limits on the dollar amount of health care they will cover and then ending coverage when someone hits that limit. These limits left women facing treatment for serious illnesses, such as ovarian cancer, with the added burden of major medical debt from paying the cost of treatment beyond the insurer’s limits.

Insurers must spend more of the money they collect on your medical care and less on CEO salaries, marketing, and overhead. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to send consumers rebates if they don’t spend at least 80 percent to 85 percent of the premium dollars they collect for policies on providing medical care. This went into effect on January 1, 2011, and the rebates will begin in 2012. The law also requires insurance companies to make information about how they spend premiums available to the public. This will make it easier for women shopping for health insurance for their families to choose the plan with the best value.
Keeping kids and young adults covered

The Affordable Care Act allows young adults to stay on their family policies until their 26th birthday. Young adults who cannot get insurance through an employer are eligible to stay on family policies even if they are no longer students, no longer live at home, are financially independent, or are married (though their spouse cannot be covered). This provision is especially important for young women who need affordable coverage for contraception, maternity care, abortions, and screening for or treatment of sexually transmitted infections, or STIs.

Children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage. Employer-based health plans and new individual plans are no longer allowed to deny or exclude coverage for children who are under age 19 and have a pre-existing condition and/or a disability.
Focusing on prevention

All new insurance plans are required to cover preventive health care without any cost-sharing such as co-payments or deductibles. The Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, released a list of covered preventive services including many important services for women, such as cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, and STI screenings.

Medicare now provides better access to primary and preventive care. Older women enrolled in Medicare can now get many preventive health services—such as vaccinations, colorectal cancer screenings, and mammograms—without paying charges such as co-payments or deductibles. They also can get a free annual wellness exam where their health provider will help them create a personalized prevention plan.
Keeping health care affordable

Adults with pre-existing conditions have new, more affordable coverage options through “high-risk” pools. HHS has worked with individual states to establish temporary high-risk pools, known as pre-existing condition insurance plans, or PCIPs, that provide health coverage to people who have been uninsured for at least six months, have been unable to get health coverage because of a health condition, and are U.S. citizens or are residing in the United States legally. Women face higher rates of chronic conditions and are more likely to be uninsured and underinsured than men. Access to PCIPs is thus very important for women. Unfortunately these plans do not include abortion coverage except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the woman’s life, even though women in PCIPs are more likely to need an abortion for health reasons.

The Medicare “donut hole” is being phased out. Women with high prescription drug expenses who are on Medicare Part D are getting discounts and rebates to decrease how much they have to pay out-of-pocket for previously unreimbursed drug expenses.
Helping small businesses do the right thing

Small employers with low-wage workers (under $50,000) are eligible for tax credits to help them buy health coverage for employees. If an employer has fewer than 25 employees it may qualify for a tax credit of up to 35 percent for small businesses and up to 25 percent for nonprofits to help with the costs of providing employee health insurance. This provision is especially important for women, many of whom work for small businesses or nonprofits.
Three areas in health reform that need attention

Despite these advances work remains to be done to make sure that health reform’s promise is realized for women, our families, and our communities. There are three important issues on which advocates and legislators need to work together as we move forward with implementation of the law at both the federal and state levels.
Contraception should be categorized as preventive care. The government is still deciding whether contraception will be included in the list of preventive care that will be available without cost-sharing. Ensuring that every woman has access to the contraceptive method that works best for her is crucial to reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and keeping women and children healthy.
Abortion should be included in health insurance plans without legal or administrative hurdles. Denying access to abortion coverage in health insurance affects women’s health and restricts their ability to plan and raise healthy families. Yet the Affordable Care Act imposes special rules on the purchase of plans that include abortion coverage. And many states have already moved to ban abortion coverage in private insurance policies to be sold in their insurance exchanges. These policies unfairly target women who receive federal subsidies for their health care and prevent them from having access to safe abortion care.
Immigrants should benefit from health reform. Immigrants—specifically undocumented immigrants, including women of reproductive health age—have been excluded from health reform. They are not eligible for Medicaid or federal subsidies to help them buy insurance, and they are even prohibited from using their own money to buy health insurance through the exchanges. Community health centers, where many low-income women and undocumented immigrant women receive primary and reproductive health care, were slated to receive $11 billion in new funding through the Affordable Care Act. But that funding has come under attack.

The Affordable Care Act’s many benefits are undeniable. But so are the upcoming challenges to make sure that health reform fulfills its promise to women. We must continue to raise our voices and take action in the next months and years to ensure that the health care needs of our families and communities are met.

Women’s lives matter

Last month, the U.S. House launched the most devastating legislative attack on women’s health care in American history. Under the guise of “deficit reduction,” the House voted to eliminate the national family-planning program (known as Title X) and to deny Planned Parenthood the federal funds it receives to provide affordable cancer screenings, birth control, HIV testing and counseling and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. Simply put, this dangerous ideological assault will cut off health care to millions of women who need it the most.

These measures must now be stopped in the Senate.

Title X is a popular and effective program that prevents unintended pregnancy and provides essential health services. Millions of women across the country are poised to lose access to basic primary and preventive health care, such as lifesaving cancer screenings, contraception, HIV testing and counseling and annual exams. Sixty percent of the women who are cared for by Planned Parenthood and similar health centers report that these centers are their only source of health care.

Gutting this program means that more women will go untreated and will discover too late that they have cancer.

North Carolina is home to nine Planned Parenthood health centers that provide services to more than 25,000 men and women every year. Most of those patients are uninsured or underinsured. More than 90 percent of the care Planned Parenthood health centers offer is preventive. Last year in North Carolina, Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses carried out 11,427 lifesaving screenings for breast and cervical cancer. They also dispensed more than 60,000 contraceptives and provided testing and treatment for more than 18,000 sexually transmitted infections.

When our nation is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, fiscal discipline and deficit reduction should be a priority. And family-planning programs like Title X save money. For every public dollar invested in family planning, taxpayers save nearly $4. Yet, in their ideological zeal to attack women’s health, the House leadership showed they do not care about the fiscal facts.

Now two new recent public polls show majority support for Planned Parenthood and clear opposition to efforts to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds for preventive health care such as lifesaving cancer screenings, breast exams, birth control and STD testing and treatment, including HIV testing.

A Quinnipiac University poll released March 7 found that a majority of voters (53 percent) opposed “cutting off federal government funding to Planned Parenthood.” The margin was 53 percent to 43 percent.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll also released March 7 found that 53 percent of Americans found it “mostly or totally unacceptable” to “eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive health services.”
Among women overall, 56 percent found it “mostly or totally unacceptable” to “eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive health services.”

Among women aged 18-49, 60 percent found it “mostly or totally unacceptable” to “eliminate funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive health services.”

Americans, especially women, have risen to Planned Parenthood’s defense in an incredible and overwhelming way.

The extreme proposals from the House are bad policy, bad politics and bad for the health of women. That’s why we urge Sen. Richard Burr to join Sen. Kay Hagan to reaffirm mainstream values and reject this dangerous assault on women’s health.

Breast cancer stress link misleading

Women with breast cancer often blame stress for their illness despite no scientific proof of a link.

And while many point to stress they also commonly overlook other lifestyle-related issues – such as smoking and obesity – where there is a clear link to the cancer.

These are the key findings of research which took in the views of almost 1500 Australian breast cancer survivors.

It found just over four in 10 (43.5 per cent) believed there was a factor which contributed to their cancer and, among these women, more than half (58.1 per cent) blamed stress.

The women also pointed to previous use of hormone therapy (17 per cent) and a family history of cancer (9.8 per cent).

Two per cent attributed their cancer to other lifestyle factors.

“It is concerning that only two per cent of the women in the study attributed their breast cancer to lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and alcohol consumption,” said Dr Christine Bennett, chair of the Bupa Health Foundation Steering Committee which part-funded the study.

“… There is scientific evidence that being overweight, smoking and excessive alcohol are risk factors.”

Women aged under 40 were more likely to believe there was a reason for their breast cancer.

Dr Bennett said that while the exact causes of breast cancer were unknown, studies into the effect of stress on the body and looking for potential triggers of breast cancer had did not reveal a link.

And despite commonly-held views to the contrary, there was “no scientific evidence that points to stress as a cause of breast cancer”.

The Bupa Health Foundation and Well-Being after Breast Cancer Study and was led by Professor Robin Bell, Deputy Director of the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University and Alfred Hospital.

Professor Bell said it showed women often responded to a breast cancer diagnosis with a new resolve to improve their overall health, usually through improved exercise.

This was beneficial, she said, although women should be wary of making changes which could be counter-productive in the fight against cancer – such as removing all dairy products from the diet.

“Cutting out dairy products may remove some fat from the diet but it could have a negative effect on the bone health of women who, due to some cancer treatments, are already at risk of osteoporosis,” Professor Bell said.

Of those who blamed stress, Professor Bell said, the women could also feel a sense of mistaken guilt that they should have acted sooner.

Provestra May Reduce Hot Flashes

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Category : Womens Issues

Did you know that 80% of women who are experiencing menopause experience hot flashes? That is a lot of women considering that every single one of us will go through menopause.

It has been said that some women are using anti depressants which their doctors gave the go ahead for them to use, to try and alleviate hot flashes.

Some of the drugs actually work such as Cipralex, there is a downside to this however. The fact is that these women are not depressed, they are just getting hot flashes. Taking these drugs that were designed for someone who is having depression symptoms exposes these women to these depressive symptoms, which they themselves are not suffering from.

In addition to that, these women may have trouble sleeping, experience dizziness or withdrawal symptoms, because that is what happens to people who take these kind of drugs.

In the past, hormone treatments were used and initially it looked like hot flashes would be eliminated with hormone treatments, until it was shown that women who use them are exposed to risks like breast cancer, strokes and heart attacks and they had to be shut down.

Just when everything seemed bleak and everyone thought that there is no treatment for it, an even better solution was found.

Provestra is the solution that was found to reduce hot flashes, best of all it does not come with insomnia, it does not come with increased risk of cancer or any other disease.

It contains only natural ingredients that are not harmful at all to your body or your health. One of the ingredients, ginseng is used to ease the effects of menopause for women, and that is why Provestra is effective in reducing hot flashes.

There are even more impressive benefits to using Provestra such as:

• Vaginal dryness is lessened
• Mood swings become less frequent
• Sexual desire is increased
• Sexual pleasure is increased

If you are suffering from menopause and you think there is no hope for you at all, there is because many woman who are experiencing menopause have found the benefits in using this product, and has altered their lives for the better.

There are three choices that you can make to get rid of your hot flashes:

1. Your doctor can give you an anti depressant, and you can expose yourself to the side effects that come with those
2. You can opt for hormone treatments and expose yourself to the risks of breast cancer and heart attacks
3. You can try Provestra and start enjoying your life without hot flashes. Not forgetting to mention the other benefits that it can bring to your sex life.

You do not have to continue being affected by hot flashes, it is possible to enjoy your life, even if you are menopausal.

Yeast Infections in Pregnancy

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Category : Yeast Infections

While yeast infections can occur at any time, they are particularly common during pregnancy. While they do not pose any serious risks to you or your baby, they can be very unpleasant and difficult to get under control. The risk factors for developing a yeast infection are the same for pregnant women as they are for women who are not pregnant but the changes that pregnancy causes in a woman’s body can both promote the growth of the infection and complicate the treatment of it.

What Causes Yeast infections
Yeast infections are the result of the overpopulation of a particular area of your body by the Candida bacteria. This is a type of bacteria that is normally present on your body (and on the bodies of just about every one you know). Usually the bacteria remain on the surface of your skin and cause no symptoms. But Candida, just like any other bacteria, is always looking for a bigger and better food supply.

Essentially Candida bacteria will feed off of the nutrients found in your blood and body tissues. However, they will not have access to these sources of nutrients unless they can find an area of skin that is thin and easily penetrated. Candida also prospers in warm, moist areas which makes it easy to see why the vaginal area is so prone to developing the infections.

The Pregnancy Factor
Pregnancy causes quite a few changes in your body chemistry and hormone levels. Particularly in the second trimester, these changes can make vaginal conditions even more hospitable to the Candida bacteria. For instance, an increase in the levels of sugar in your vaginal secretions, and an increase in those secretions in general, can create the kind of nutrient rich, moist and warm environment that is perfect for Candida bacteria to thrive.

Expert Advice
If you develop the symptoms of a yeast infection in pregnancy, you should go see your doctor immediately. These infections can be particularly difficult to treat and your doctor will know best how to go about it. They will also be able to confirm that you do in fact have this kind of problem and not another type of infection with a similar set of symptoms.

Preventative Measures
While you will have to use some form of treatment to get rid of your yeast infection, there are some other things you can do to help lessen the possibility of a recurrence. One common and effective way of preventing yeast infections is by shifting your diet away from processed or highly refined foods. These types of foods contain chemicals that Candida bacteria love, and the presence of these chemicals in your body can make developing this kind of problem more likely.

While you should always discuss changes in your diet with your doctor, cutting back on these types of foods can go a long way towards lessening your chances of developing a yeast infection. Also, staying away from foods with a high glycemic index is a good way to cut back on the nutrient supply for the Candida bacteria. Maintaining a strict regime of personal hygiene is very important as well.

While you can’t always eliminate the possibility that you will develop a yeast infection during your pregnancy, you can and should make sure you address the condition immediately and follow whatever treatments your doctor prescribes.

Bacterial Vaginosis Home Remedy Techniques

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Category : Womens Issues

Bacterial Vaginosis is a common condition that develops when there is an imbalance of good bacteria or lactobacilli present in the vagina. One third of women in North America have bacterial vaginosis. Although medical practitioners are not exactly aware of the main source of this infection, many of the symptoms occur after intercourse, excessive cigarette smoking or vaginal douching. There are fortunately many bacterial vaginosis home remedy approaches that will begin to heal this infection. Once the symptoms of this infection are recognized, home remedies can be used to alleviate these symptoms.

Although most women have very mild or virtually no symptoms at all, there are basic changes in the vaginal area one should be aware of. One of the symptoms is a thick greyish discharge that emits from the vagina. This discharge carries an unpleasant fishy odor, which will profoundly contrast the natural vaginal odor. These are similar to vaginal yeast infection symptoms.

The woman will feel an uncomfortable burning sensation, resulting in swellness of the vagina. One simple approach is to take a cloth and apply cold water to the infected area of the vagina to relieve swelling.

Diet plays an important role in adjusting the imbalance of bacteria. Garlic is known for it’s excellent antibacterial function. Garlic can be added to soups, salads or it can be taken as a capsule.

Garlic cloves can be inserted into the vagina every 4 hours to reduce the rapid growth of bacteria. Yogurt is a common antibacterial food and home remedy that can also decrease the symptoms of both swelling and itching. These natural methods have proved to be more effective. The Coneflower (Echinacea) has been used as a blood purifier and natural antibiotic, but should not be used for any long period of time or by individuals allergic to the sunflower family.

A hot bath with either cedar or tea tree oil is another option to alleviate the itching which can soothe the entire body. The main objective of these approaches is to rid the body of toxins and the reproduction of bad bacteria. This can be done by practicing basic healthy hygiene and following a balanced diet. It is also recommended that cotton underwear is worn and that clothing is not tight or made out of non-breathable materials.There are many people that have found the cure that is best for them and their cases.

Home Remedies For Yeast Infections

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Category : Yeast Infections

Home remedies for yeast infections will allow you to get relief at home starting today. Many women suffer from and will suffer from this vaginal infection at some point in time. The excessive discharge, the burning, itching, soreness, etc, are some of the symptoms of yeast infections and there are various home remedies to deal with these symptoms. Some women do not suffer from any symptoms at all.

What is a Yeast Infection?

Home remedies for yeast infections cannot be discussed without answering the question “What is a yeast infection?” Many organisms inhabit a healthy vagina and the vaginal area. A yeast infection that is also known as candidiasis signals an out of balance body and vaginal area that may be caused by various factors.

A fungus known as Candida Albicans is one of the main causes of candidiasis. This fungus is commonly found in many areas of the body. Fungi like warm and moist areas and the vagina is a suitable area for commonly occurring fungi. In a healthy body and healthy vaginal environment, Candida Albicans is kept in check by other organisms.

When the vaginal environment and pH is altered, Candida Albicans as well as other organisms may multiply leading to this vaginal infection. Many factors can lead to an imbalance such as antibiotic or steroid use, pregnancy, stress, diabetes, menstrual cycle, etc. This excessive growth of fungi can lead to the excessive vaginal discharge that may smell like beer or bread and look like cottage cheese. You may also experience itching, burning, soreness, redness of the labia and sometimes the upper thighs, etc.

If you are plagued by persistent candidiasis, this may also be a sign of an underlying health condition such as diabetes.

Home Remedies for Yeast Infections

Home remedies for yeast infections work just as well if not better than some of the many prescription and over the counter medications that may be recommended by your doctor. Home remedies for candidiasis are also inexpensive and do not cause any side effects that may be result from various yeast infection medications. Below are a few examples of the home remedies for this particular vaginal infection.

  • 1. Vinegar Douche
  • Although most women should not make a habit of using a vaginal douche especially if they do not have any health problems, a vinegar douche is one of the best home remedies for a yeast infection.

    Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar added to about two quarts (1.9 litres) of warm water. If you prefer not to use apple cider, you may opt for about 10 drops of tea tree essential oil. Make sure that it is genuine essential oil. Use a clean container to dispense the mixture. Lie in a bathtub with your legs apart and insert the nozzle of the dispenser into the vagina using a rotating motion until a resistance is felt at about two to four inches.

    Let the mixture flow slowly into the vagina and then close the vaginal lips using your fingers until a small amount of pressure builds up inside which means that the entire surface has been coated by the solution. The entire process should take about 10 minutes. Use once or twice per week.

  • 2. Garlic
  • Garlic is another of the effective home remedies for candidiasis. Take about two cloves of garlic and turn them into a paste. Apply this garlic paste to the vaginal area to help to limit the growth of excessive candida. The garlic smell may be a turn off though.

    Women’s Health News: March, 19

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    Category : News

    The fight for women’s health

    On January 7, 2011, Rep. Mike Pence re-introduced an amendment to Title X of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit family planning grants from being given to clinics that perform abortions.

    While currently in the first step of the legislative process, if this bill were to pass millions of women across America would be significantly effected.

    While on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Pence said, “let us rededicate ourselves to protecting the unborn and to protecting taxpayers on matters of conscience.”

    If Pence really wants to protect taxpayers, it is a matter of conscience to kill this bill, support Title X, and support women across America.

    According to Planned Parenthood’s website, “Title X serves over five million low-income individuals every year.” This could include many students on our campus.

    Last Tuesday, many people came out to Erie, not just to support, but to denounce Planned Parenthood as well.

    In an article written by David Bruce, former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave was reported saying at the rally, “Planned Parenthood is all about abortion. We, as taxpayers, should not fund these activities.”

    By law, family planning clinics under Title X can not use grant money toward abortion.

    Whether you are pro-choice or anti-choice, it does and should not matter that these clinics offer abortions as an option to an unplanned pregnancy.

    What Planned Parenthood is really all about, is providing women with contraception, STD testing, treatment for STDs, annual exams, and cancer screenings that have and can save the lives of many women.

    This is not another argument about whether abortion is moral or not. This is a battle over women’s health and the lives of millions. We must stand up.

    ‘Deficit gurus’ launch assault on women’s health

    March is Women’s History Month. But this year, for the vast majority of women in America, there is little to celebrate.

    Over the past months, “deficit gurus” in the U.S. House of Representatives have unleashed the most devastating assault on women’s health in our nation’s history. If legislation already passed in the House is approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Obama, women’s rights and health will be set back by decades.

    Many critical programs are on the chopping block, such as the Public Health Service Act or Title X, providing basic health services, including Pap smears, family planning services, and cancer screenings to more than 5 million low-income people, mainly women.

    Slashing Title X will lead to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Maternal and Child Health Block Grants, chiefly benefitting poor women and children, will be cut by $210 million. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be reduced by some $755 million, undermining many public health efforts such as confronting HIV/AIDS. Community health centers providing essential services to millions of women and families across the country will face a brutal $1.3 billion cut.

    This onslaught against women joins that against U.S. working people. Look, for example, at the assault on Medicaid, or the drive to cut wages, benefits and collective bargaining rights. Wisconsin is only the most flagrant example of a nationwide phenomenon.

    Or consider the chorus that, both from the right and from sectors of the “liberal” left, is calling for “saving” Social Security by reducing benefits, increasing eligibility age or privatizing the program. Yet Social Security is financially sound for at least another 27 years. Whatever problems it may have could be easily fixed by simply raising the cap on the taxable income of the very wealthy. And Medicare and other publicly financed health care programs, favorite targets of the budget cutters, pose a problem only because the U.S. health care system, pre- and post- the federal health law, is built upon a rotten foundation: for-profit health insurance.

    Despite subtle differences, both sides of the political aisle convey the same message: “We” must pay for “our excesses” that caused “the deficit” by giving up on our “generous benefits.”

    Notably, Wall Street excesses figure nowhere in these arguments, even if its benefits are clear. As President Obama noted candidly in his State of the Union address, “the stock market has come roaring back and corporate profits are up.”

    Meanwhile, our “benefits” don’t even include guaranteed access to basic health care, as is the norm in every other wealthy nation. The new federal law has “reformed” the system essentially by mandating us to purchase for-profit insurance increasingly under-insurance under penalty of a fine, and expanding coverage, not necessarily care, through an underfunded Medicaid program. Finally, it leaves at least 23 million people uninsured annually a decade from now.

    If this scenario is allowed to stand, women will suffer disproportionately. But in the spirit of International Women’s Day, women’s groups and others are fighting back, and championing the most just and cost-effective solution to our health care woes — single-payer national health insurance, an improved Medicare for All.

    As we commemorate those 15,000 brave women who back in 1908 marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights, American women and working Americans generally must demand no less.

    Wisconsin Hits Labor, Repro Rights in Single Blow

    Wisconsin’s passage last week of a law stripping public workers of their bargaining rights is another major attack on reproductive rights and women’s health care access, say family-planning advocates.

    “This law has undone four decades of progress in Wisconsin to ensure women’s reproductive health,” said Amanda Harrington, spokesperson of the Madison-based Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, in a telephone interview. “It has turned Wisconsin into ground zero in the national movement to make it more difficult for women to obtain and pay for birth control, breast cancer screenings and tests and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases.”

    Harrington’s organization serves over 73,000 patients in its 27 health centers each year.

    Public workers’ unions and their allies have been battling Gov. Scott Walker in three weeks of energetic protests that attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators to Madison.

    The unions initially resisted Walker’s demand that workers pay more towards their pensions and health benefits, but then in February agreed to pay 5.8 percent of their wages for pensions and 12.6 percent for health benefits, a combination that is equivalent to an 8 percent pay cut for the average worker who earns $48,348.

    That shifted the battle to collective bargaining rights, which unions in the past have used to insist, for instance, that their health plans cover women’s contraceptives. That in turn helped shift private insurance plans in the same direction.

    “Increasing the cost of health care benefits from 6 percent to 12 percent of wages hits women hard because they generally earn less than do men,” said Harrington. “This is bad enough, but the measure signed by Gov. Walker gives unprecedented powers to the state health department to revamp public health programs without the traditional protections of oversight by the legislature and input from the public.”
    Most Bargaining Rights Gone

    Most of the 175,000 state and local workers in Wisconsin–including the female-dominated ranks of nurses and teachers–will be prohibited from bargaining for wages beyond the rate of inflation, unless approved by a referendum.

    Male-dominated unions of firefighters and police who are part of that total are exempt, because Walker said he could not risk disruptions in public safety if these unions staged strikes.

    Walker, who introduced many anti-choice bills during his nearly nine years in the Wisconsin assembly, has launched an anti-birth control agenda, according to Lisa Subeck, executive director of the Madison-based NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, the political watchdog of the pro-choice movement.

    Subeck said that Walker has an eye on repealing Wisconsin’s Contraceptive Equity Law, which requires insurance plans that cover prescription drugs to also include coverage for prescription birth control.

    Initially proposed in 1999, the law has a rocky history; anti-choice activists and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison helped defeat it each time it was introduced. But family planning and public health groups finally got the legislature to pass the measure in 2009. It was included in the budget measure signed by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle in 2009 and took effect Jan. 1, 2010. Besides Wisconsin, 25 other states have contraceptive equity laws.

    “Under Walker’s plan, insurance companies could choose to cover Viagra but not prescription birth control, which would allow insurers to discriminate against women,” Subeck said in a press release. “Although Walker claims the elimination of family planning services is a cost-saving measure, it isn’t. A 2008 Guttmacher Institute study found that every $1 spent on birth control through the Medicaid program saves taxpayers $4.02.”

    Walker also wants to eliminate Title V, the only state-funded family planning health care program, Subeck said.

    Less weight gain found among African-American women in dense urban areas

    Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine’s (BUSM) Slone Epidemiology Center have found that African-American women who live in more densely populated urban areas gain less weight than those in more sprawling auto-oriented areas. The results, which appear in the current issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, were based on data collected in the Black Women’s Health Study, an ongoing study of the health of 59,000 African American women conducted by the researchers since 1995. While studies conducted at a single point in time have found higher levels of obesity among residents of sprawling areas compared to residents of more urban areas, there has been little information on this topic from studies that have followed residents over time.

    The researchers assessed the association of women’s residential environments with weight change and the incidence of obesity during a six year period of follow-up in the Black Women’s Health Study. They focused on nearly 18,000 women who lived in the New York, Chicago or Los Angeles metropolitan areas. The women’s residential neighborhoods were characterized by an “urbanicity score”— considered dense urban neighborhoods.

    They found that both six year weight gain and the incidence of obesity were lower among women who had high urbanicity scores as compared to those with low scores. Women who lived in suburban or rural neighborhoods were considered to have low urbanicity scores.

    According to the researchers, a previous study of these women, found those who lived in denser neighborhoods walked more than women in more sprawling areas. “Policies that encourage more dense and urban residential development may have a positive role to play in addressing the obesity epidemic,” said lead author Patricia Coogan, MPH, D Sc, a senior epidemiologist at the Slone Center and an associate professor of epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health.