Women’s Health, Wellness, and Reproductive Medicine

Gynecology is the branch of medicine that focuses on womens bodies and their reproductive health. It includes the diagnosis, treatment, and care of womens reproductive system. This includes vagina, uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. This branch of medicine also includes screening and treating issues associated with womens breasts. A gynecologist may also treat related problems in the bowel, bladder and urinary system since these are closely related to female reproductive organs. Gynecology represents most of the reproductive care you’ll receive during your lifetime but after getting pregnancy, one should go to an obstetrician.

Obstetrics deals with the care of the pregnant women, the unborn baby, labor and delivery and the immediate period following childbirth. The obstetrician ensures that mother and child get the best prenatal care to ensure labor and delivery is accomplished without complications and that should intervention be needed, it is done quickly and safely. This includes pregnancy, labor, childbirth, the postpartum period.

Midwifery is the health science and health profession that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. A midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor, delivery, and after the birth of their babies. They may deliver babies at birthing centers or at home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital. Women who choose midwives usually want very little medical intervention and have had no complications during their pregnancy. It includes measures aimed at preventing health problems in pregnancy, the detection of abnormal conditions, the procurement of medical assistance when necessary, and the execution of emergency measures in the absence of medical help.

Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.

Reproductive health generally refers to the diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the functioning of the male and female reproductive systems during all stages of life. Planning and having a healthy pregnancy is essential to the health of women, infants, and families and is especially important in preventing teen pregnancy and childbearing. To maintain Reproductive and Sexual Health, people must know the accurate information and the safe, effective, and acceptable contraception method of their choice.

Pregnancy, also known as gestation, is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman. A multiple pregnancies involve more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy can occur by sexual intercourse or assisted reproductive technology. Childbirth typically occurs around 40 weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP) this is just over nine months, where each month averages 31 days. When measured from fertilization it is about 38 weeks. An embryo is the developing offspring during the first eight weeks following fertilization, after which, the term fetus is used until birth. Symptoms of early pregnancy may include missed periods, tender breasts, nausea and vomiting, hunger, and frequent urination. Pregnancy may be confirmed with a pregnancy test.

Infertility can be described as a woman who is unable to conceive as well as being unable to carry a pregnancy to full term. The use of infertility services is not random and roughly about 50% of the women evaluated for infertility progressed to  treatment, and in which only a small proportion were treated with additional advanced assisted reproductive technologies essentially in-vitro fertilization. Obesity in reproductive health will centralize on two important areas which are infertility and heavy menstrual bleeding. Women who are fertile will experience a natural period of fertility before and during ovulation, and they will be naturally infertile during the latter part of the menstrual cycle. Medical and surgical management of heavy menstrual bleeding is described including the many varied issues in hysterectomy of obese woman.

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  Infertility Evaluation and Treatment Among Women


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  Tubal Infertility and Ectopic Pregnancy


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  Obesity & Surgical Management of Infertility


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  Artificial Gametes and Ovarian Stimulation


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  Risk of Idiopathic Male Infertility


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  Infertility Evaluation and Management

Reproductive Medicine deals for prevention, diagnosis and management of the reproductive problems. The goals include improving or maintaining reproductive health and allowing people to have children at a time of their choice as discussed in many gynecologic studies worldwide. It is focused on knowledge of reproductive anatomy, physiology and endocrinology which also incorporates relevant aspects of molecular biology, biochemistry and pathology.  This emphasizes on process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore/establish normal function.

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for his or her height whereas Obesity is a therapeutic condition in which abundance muscle to fat ratio has collected to the degree that it might negatively affect health. Individuals are by and large thought to be hefty when their body mass index (BMI), an estimation got by isolating a man's weight by the square of the individual's stature, is more than 30 kg/m2, with the range 25– 30 kg/m2 characterized as overweight. The probability of getting different diseases is common in case of obese people most commonly cardiovascular diseases.

The critical step in the management of world population includes Contraception and Family planning measures. The world is distinguishing a huge vault over in the development of recent contraceptive technologies and assisted reproductive technologies such as achieving pregnancy in procedures like in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination and surrogacy to fight issues like infertility and its assessment. High-risk patients include patients with diseases like hypertension, Sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes and other complications and the advancing trends in contraception and technologies will render a crucial role in regulating a large number of Reproductive Health indicators.

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  Family Planning - Evaluation of Weight and Blood Pressure


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  Advanced Methods in Family Planning


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  Teenage Pregnancy


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  Post-Abortion Family Planning


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  Age at Menopause


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  Contraceptive vs. Family planning

Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. Breast milk is the perfect food for the baby. An early stage of nutrition for the infants starts from the mother’s milk. It protects the baby against gastroenteritis, diarrhea, ear and chest infections, allergies and diabetes. It reduces the risk of bleeding after the birth and provides immunity for the child. It also helps in managing weight of the mother eventually.

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the counteractive action, determination, and treatment of cancer. A therapeutic expert who rehearses oncology is an oncologist. The three parts which have enhanced survival in cancer are: Prevention - This is by lessening of hazard factors like tobacco and liquor utilization; Early analysis - Screening of common cancers and comprehensive diagnosis and staging.

Natural hormonal fluctuations can lead to depression or anxiety.  Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs commonly among women, while premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD) presents similar, but greatly intensified, symptoms. Shortly after birth, many mothers acquire a form of depression called the “baby blues,” but perinatal depression causes similar – but much stronger – concerns, emotional shifts, sadness, and tiredness. Perimenopause, the shift into menopause, can also cause depression. No matter how intense the symptoms, care providers can provide relief with   prescription or therapeutic treatments.

Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, and fluid coming from the nipple, a newly-inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin. It is the most widely recognized malignancy in women around the globe, with very nearly 1.8 million new cases in 2017 (second most customary disease when all is said in done). This addresses around 15% of all new cancers cases and 26% of all cancers in women. In 2018, a normal 266,000 new cases of an intrusive breast cancer are to be analyzed in women in the U.S., nearby 64,000 new occurrences of in situ breast cancer.

Ovarian cancer refers to any cancerous growth that begins in the ovary. This is the part of the female body that produces eggs. Ovarian cancer positions fifth in cancer death among women, representing a bigger number of deaths than some other cancers of the female reproductive system. A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer amid her lifetime is around 1 out of 80.

The menstrual cycle is the regular and natural change that occurs in the female reproductive system. This is a cycle of bodily changes controlled by the female hormones that cause a regular bleed, comes from the uterus. Regular menstrual periods in between the puberty and menopause are usually a sign that your body is working normally and healthy.  A cycle is counted from the first day of 1 period to the first day of the next period. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long. Cycles can range anywhere from 21 to 35 days in adults and from 21 to 45 days in young teens.

Menopause is a natural biological process in which when menstrual periods stop permanently. There are three phases to the transition, which include perimenopause (when a woman's body begins the transition); menopause (when you have experienced 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period); and postmenopause (generally 24 to 36 months after your last period, when your symptoms begin to subside). It typically occurs between 49 and 52 years of age. Medical professionals often define menopause as having occurred when a woman has not had any vaginal bleeding for a year. It may also be defined by a decrease in hormone production by the ovaries.

Osteoporosis resulted in weakening of bones and increases the risk of sudden or unexpected fractures. In Osteoporosis there are the loss of bone mass & strength resulting pours bones. The exact cause of Osteoporosis is unknown. It is common in woman at post menopause state and very common in women as compared to men.

There are two types of Osteoporosis:

Type I Osteoporosis: It is otherwise known as Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and happens after menopause at that time when estrogen levels decrease rapidly. During this, bone loss occurs in trabecular bones inside hard cortical bone.

Type II Osteoporosis: It is also called as senile osteoporosis. Most common at the age of 70, results in thinning of both the trabecular as well as cortical bone.

Taking drugs during pregnancy also increases the chance of birth defects, premature babies, underweight babies, and stillborn births. Exposure to drugs such as marijuana -- also called weed, ganja, dope, or pot -- and alcohol before birth has been proven to cause behavior problems in early childhood.

Each of the following drugs or drug groups may cause birth defects in a developing fetus:

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  ACE(Angiotensin Converting Enzyme)Inhibitors.


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  Angiotensin II antagonist.


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  Isotretinoin (an acne drug)


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  Alcohol.


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  Cocaine.


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  High doses of vitamin A.


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  Lithium.


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  Male hormones.

Abortion is removing an embryo or fetus from the uterus.

There are two types in Abortions: 1. Induced 2. Spontaneous

Induced: An abortion which is intentional is called as induced abortion and which occurs spontaneously is called as Miscarriage. It has negative impact on the womens health. Due to the induced abortion women faces problems like lower fertility, more vulnerable to Sexual Transmitted Diseases, breast Cancer and mental health. Unsafe abortion sometimes results in death and serious complications.

Spontaneous: Miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion, is the unintentional expulsion of an embryo or fetus before the 24th week of gestation. A pregnancy that ends before 37 weeks of gestation resulting in a live-born infant is a "premature birth" or a "preterm birth". When a fetus dies in utero after viability, or during delivery, it is usually termed "stillborn". Premature births and stillbirths are generally not considered to be miscarriages although usage of these terms can sometimes overlap.

The abortion is then performed using suction and instruments to remove the pregnancy. Your cervix opening may be widened a little, and then have a special device inserted. This device swells over several hours until the cervix is opened wide enough to allow the abortion to occur.

An STI is an infection passed from one person to another person through sexual contact. An infection is when a bacteria, virus, or parasite enters and grows in or on your body. STIs are also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. Some STIs can be cured and some STIs cannot be cured. An infection transmitted through sexual contact, caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Most common types

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  Human papillomavirus infection


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  Genital herpes


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  Chlamydia


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  Gonorrhea


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  HIV and AIDS


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  Syphilis

STIs are usually spread by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex. More than 9 million women in the United States are diagnosed with an STI each year. Women often have more serious health problems from STIs than men, including infertility.

In the womens reproduction system labor is the last phase of pregnancy. Childbirth is the process of delivering a baby and the placenta, membranes, and umbilical cord from the uterus to the vagina to the outside world. During the first stage of labor (which is called dilation), the cervix dilates fully to a diameter of about 10 cm (2 inches). Furthermore, it is of three phases that is the shortening and opening of the cervix plummet and birth of the infant, and the conveyance of the placenta.

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  Onset of labor


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  First stage: latent phase


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  First stage: active phase


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  Second stage: foetal expulsion


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  Third stage: placenta delivery


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  Fourth stage

An autoimmune disease is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. As this condition continues to escalate among the population, researchers remain baffled as to why the condition affects mostly women.

Examples of autoimmune diseases include:

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  Rheumatoid arthritis


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  Systemic lupus erythematosus


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  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).


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  Multiple sclerosis (MS)


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  Type 1 diabetes mellitus


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  Guillain-Barre syndrome


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  Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy


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  Psoriasis etc.,

The early symptoms of many autoimmune diseases are very similar, such as:

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  Fatigue.


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  Achy muscles.


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  Swelling and redness.


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  Low-grade fever.


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  Trouble concentrating.


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  Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.


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  Hair loss.


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  Skin rashes etc.,

Infectious Diseases are caused by pathogens. The most common cause of infectious diseases is pathogens called viruses and bacteria, but they can also be caused by fungi or protozoa. Many of the changes have benefited womens health, but some have had deleterious effects. Infectious diseases pose an especially formidable threat to women, claiming >15 million lives around the globe each year.

Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases

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  Wash your hands often.


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  Get vaccinated.


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  Use antibiotics sensibly.


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  Stay at home if you have signs and symptoms of an infection.


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  Be smart about food preparation.


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  Disinfect the 'hot zones' in your residence.


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  Practice safer sex.


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  Don't share personal items.

Unintended pregnancy is defined as pregnancy that occurs either when a woman wanted to become pregnant in the future but not at the time she became pregnant, or one that occurred when she did not want to become pregnant then or at any time in the future. Unintended pregnancy has been linked to numerous maternal and child poor health outcomes, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy. Efforts to decrease rates of unintended pregnancy have focused on improving access to effective contraception through improved counseling and removing barriers to contraception access.

Conversely, an "intended pregnancy" is one that is consciously desired at the time of conception or sooner. For research purposes, all pregnancies not explicitly categorized as "unintended" are combined, including those pregnancies where the pregnant person feels ambivalent or unsure about the pregnancy.

Endometriosis is the growth of tissues of the inner lines of the uterus to outside of uterus. In healthcare terms, lesions/nodules/implants are used to describes the endometrial patches. Most of the Endometriosis patches grow in the pelvic cavity and generally, on or over the two ovaries and ovaries, behind the uterus or tissues holding the uterus, and on the bowels or bladder. The major symptom is the pelvic pain very often linked with menstrual cycle, sometimes cramping during the period and the pain is worse than regular pains during the cycle. The main complication of Endometriosis is infertility. About 30-50% women suffering with Endometriosis face difficulties in their pregnancy. 

Urogynecology is a surgical sub-specialty of urology and gynecology. Urogynecologists are specially trained medical professionals who treat clinical problems related to dysfunction of the pelvic floor and bladder. Some of the disorders in pelvic floor include urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and faecal incontinence. Other conditions where Urogynecology is practiced are Cystocele, Enterocyte, Female Genital Prolapse, Lichen sclerosus, Overactive Bladder and Rectovaginal fistula. 

In modern times, Urogynecologists are responsible for the care of women who encounter trauma to the perineum during childbirth.  Some of the important treatments available in the sector include abdominal reconstruction, behavioral modification, Botulinum toxin injection, dietary modification, robotic reconstruction, sacral nerve stimulation and urethral injection, Urinary incontinence, Pelvic Organ Prolapse.