April 15, 2011

All of a sudden, strange things start to happen to our young Miss as she begins to grow up.It can commence anywhere from nine years of age onwards. In recent years, for reasons unknown, it seems to be commencing at a younger and younger age in western lands. No doubt it is tied up with today’s sophisticated way of living, earlier psychological development and earlier mental stimulation, all of which play a potent part. It is referred to as puberty.Suddenly the system starts to develop potent chemicals, called sex hormones, and these have a rapid and far-reaching effect on many parts of the system.Suddenly breast development commences. The unnoticed, flat, pinkish nipples become more marked, rounded and protrude as they rapidly increase in size. This is most noticeable between the ages of 8 and 15. Pubic hair commences to grow, this becoming obvious in the 8-14 age group at any time. Underarm hair also makes an appearance.Menstrual periods make a tentative start, and anywhere from 10 to 161?2 years they will become more and more regular. There is usually a dramatic increase in height; this is called a ‘height spurt’ and takes place in the 9-141?2 age bracket.The skinny, school-age child is transformed within a few short years into a modern young woman of vastly different appearance and shape. Most tend to put on weight, but there is an alteration of the system’s fat deposits, giving the body the characteristic female curves which tend to remain for life. In brief, Nature has transformed her into an adult, with the physical and psychological issues that this involves.But although the ages quoted are ‘averages’, the range is enormous and varied. Many develop sexually at an early age. Others are late developers, and often they may reach the age of 18 or 20 before some of the typical secondary sexual characteristics (as the doctors say) have appeared. This is especially so in regard to breast development.

December 8, 2010

In the mid-1980s, a problem began to emerge that may have long-term effects on babies born to women who use cocaine. Because cocaine rapidly crosses the placenta (as virtually all drugs do), the fetus is vulnerable when a pregnant woman snorts, freebases, or shoots up. It is estimated that between 2.4 and 3.5 percent of pregnant women between the ages of 12 and 34 abuse cocaine. It is difficult to gauge how many newborns have been exposed to cocaine because pregnant women who are users are often reluctant to discuss their drug habit with health care providers for fear of prosecution. The most threatening problem during pregnancy is the increased risk of a miscarriage.
Fetuses exposed to cocaine or crack in the womb are more likely to suffer a small head, premature delivery, reduced birth-weight, increased irritability, and subtle learning and cognitive deficits. It was once thought that babies who had been exposed to crack or cocaine as fetuses could suffer a number of physical and emotional problems, including permanent malformation of the brain, strokes, sudden in death syndrome (SIDS), permanent learning disabilities, and behavioral disorders. However, recent research has refuted some of these findings and suggests that a significant number of these children develop problems with learning and language skills that require remedial attention. It is critical these children are identified early and receive immediate intervention. For both financial and humane reasons, developing prenatal care and education programs for mothers at risk should be a priority for state and local government.
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May 8, 2009

Excisional surgery for endometriosis means cutting and removing or destroying endometriosis tissue wherever it lies in the pelvis. The surgery can be performed in a traditional manner through a large, open abdominal incision about 13 cm wide (open excisional surgery at laparotomy) or during a laparoscope in which the inside of the pelvis is viewed through a laparoscope, a tubular instrument with a light at one end and an eyepiece at the other, which is used to ‘spotlight’ internal organs.

If surgery is to be performed in the latter manner, a woman is anaesthetised for laparoscopy (usually a general anaesthetic) and then several small incisions (up to 1 cm each) are made in her abdominal wall. A needle inserted through one of these incisions is used to introduce carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide gas into the abdomen. The gas separates the organs from each other so that the doctor can gain a clear view. The gas also expands the abdomen, making the woman look about six months pregnant — but only until the end of the procedure when she regains her normal shape. Meanwhile, the laparoscope and any other instruments needed to cut out endometriosis tissue are introduced through the other incisions. For instance, a laser (for laser vaporisation) or an electrocoagulation device (for diathermy) may be inserted. After laparoscopic excision of endometriosis tissue, the laparoscope and other instruments are removed, the gas is allowed to escape and all incisions are closed with a suture or two. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists rates electrocoagulation and laser treatment as equally good options for destroying endometriosis at laparoscope.

Long-term information about the efficacy of surgical approaches in removing endometriosis and reducing its symptoms suggests that they may be about twice as effective as drug therapies. Success rates are around 80% with surgery and about 40% with drug treatments. Whichever technique is under consideration, women should be aware of the risks of these procedures. General anaesthesia can cause nausea, vomiting and impaired concentration for some time after surgery. The potential complications of excisional surgery with or without laparoscopy include bleeding, infection, damage to internal organs and the resultant need for another operation to repair any damage. Following laparoscopy, some discomfort is normal for a few days. Pain in the shoulders, neck or abdomen may occur if the gas used within the abdominal cavity is not removed completely. Very occasionally, a life-threatening air embolism occurs, in which a bubble of air enters the bloodstream and produces an obstruction in the heart or elsewhere.

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April 23, 2009

Alongside the lifestyle and dietary changes you may find it helpful to try one or more complementary approaches, such as herbal medicine, homeopathy or acupuncture.

Herbs are the oldest form of medicine and have been used for healing all over the world. Reproduction and the rites surrounding it have always had a central role in traditional cultures so it is not surprising that herbal medicine is particularly rich in effective remedies for fertility problems.

Herbs are in fact the foundation of numerous pharmaceutical drugs. For instance, aspirin is based on an extract from willow, originally used for pain relief by Native Americans. Up to 70 per cent of drugs in use today have their origins in plants. But modern drug companies only use the active ingredient of the plant or herb, while ancient peoples always used (and still use) the whole plant. The advantage of using the whole plant is that the side-effects are absent or minimal. That is the big difference between modern and herbal medicine.

In traditional times, for instance, the foxglove plant (digitalis purpurea) was used for heart problems. In modern times, scientists have isolated the main active ingredient of the foxglove (digoxin) and put it into tablet form but in so doing have created a real risk of side-effects. By using the whole plant, the active ingredient interacts with all the other constituents of the plant which naturally include ‘buffer’ ingredients that counteract any side-effect. Herbalists believe this is the proper way to use the healing powers of herbs and plants.

The easiest and most effective way of taking herbs is in tincture form, using approximately 5ml (1 teaspoon) three times daily in a little water. Try to get tinctures made from organically grown herbs. In the liquid form the herbs are already dissolved. They are therefore absorbed faster so their action is quicker. In the dry form, the tablets or capsules have to be digested and the benefit of the herbs is only as good as your own digestive and absorption processes. Herbs are not like drugs. If drugs are stopped, the symptoms can return and you are back where you started. The herbs stop the symptoms but they are also addressing the cause at the same time, so the symptoms are being alleviated because the body is becoming more balanced.

The particular herbs listed below have proved very effective in balancing hormones and boosting both male and female fertility and conception rates.

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