Women's Health Problems

 

Description of Women's Health Problems 

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis is most likely to appear on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the external surfaces of the bladder and uterus, but has also been found outside the pelvic cavity, on lungs, kidneys, stomach, intestines, rectum, bladder, vagina, cervix, vulva, thigh and arm.

The ectopic endometrial tissue (on or in the fallopian tubes) bleed at the time of menstruation, and result in lesions that may prevent the ovaries from releasing the ova. This is one of the most common causes of female infertility.

Endometriosis may develop gradually, often without symptoms, for years. It eventually causes chronic or acute pelvic pain, which may be felt in the buttocks and perianal region. Endometriosis can also be the underlying cause of dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation). The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown.

Treatment: At the Reach for Health Centre, three major therapeutic approaches are available:

Related programs and therapies available at Reach for Health are our Natural Fertility program, Acupuncture IVF Support program, Naturopathy and Acupuncture.

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Infertility

Female infertility is diagnosed when there has been an inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, or the inability to maintain a pregnancy (repeated miscarriage).

Any hormonal imbalance or unusual anatomical structure is capable of causing infertility. In most cases, however, the cause is dysfunction of the ovaries resulting from blocked fallopian tubes or endometriosis. In the case of repeated miscarriages the cause may be unusual structure, a congenital condition. Age also is a factor, because as the female body ages it has a reduced ability to produce fertile eggs.

Most fertility problems respond well to natural therapies alone. Acupuncture can also significantly increase the success rate of medical procedures, such as IUI (Intra uterine insemination) and IVF (In vitro fertilisation).

At Reach for Health, our related treatment programs are: Natural Fertility, Acupuncture IVF Support and Acupuncture.

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Menopause

Is it causing you problems?

Menopause is a passage into a new phase of a women's life. Whilst for some women this transition time can be uncomfortable, distressing and even turbulent, we must remember menopause is not a disease; it is a normal, natural process of life. This is a time in a woman's life when the ovarian function and hormone production is changing and a woman stops having her periods. Around this time a woman's ovaries stop making oestrogen and progesterone, the hormones that prepare the body for pregnancy. The number of eggs in the ovary has been used up and the woman is not capable of becoming pregnant.

Periods may start to change at this time and become heavier with flooding, clotting, cramping, spotting  or they may become lighter, scattered throughout the month, occurring less frequently, occurring in shorter cycles until they finally stop altogether. Usually this happens gradually.

Symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some have no symptoms at all, some have only a few, and others experience a distressing time. There are a wide range of symptoms that women report including:

 

Physical Changes

Menstruation irregularities, infertility and the end of ovulation
Hot flushes and sweating
Dry and ageing skin due to the reduced collagen, sometimes with prickly itchy sensations
Low libido, vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity and discomfort with sexual activities
Headaches, hair loss and unwanted hair
Joint and muscle pain - loss of oestrogen results in less lubrication for the joints
Urgency and frequency of urination
Digestive disturbances, shortness of breath and palpitations

 

Emotional Changes

Mood swings,
Irritability, anxiety, fear, nervousness, insomnia
Depression, feeling down
Lack of concentration, poor memory,
Lack of confidence, lack of motivation

Our qualified team of health professionals can help you gain knowledge about what is happening in the body and what can be done to reduce your symptoms.

Call the Reach for Health Centre for further information about our Menopause Program.
Start to look good and feel great during menopause!

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Menstrual Problems

Dysmenorrhoea (menstrual pain) usually starts at the beginning of the menses and can last from a few hours to 2-3 days. A high percentage of the female population have experienced this cramping pain which often comes in waves and is caused by the periodic uterine contractions. It is often more common in puberty and early adulthood when fertility is at its peak but usually the frequency and intensity declines with age. The intensity of the pain can range from mild to debilitating and can also be a common trigger for migraines. It is the single highest cause for absenteeism from school or work.

Dysmenorrhoea can often be a manifestation of an underlying pathology such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infections, and pelvic inflammatory diseases. Various tests and examinations are available to uncover the possible underlying pathology.

Conventional medicine usually treats the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea with anti-inflammatory drugs or hormonal contraceptives.

Although the natural therapy approach to treating the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea may be slower than the conventional approach as it can provide you with a long term resolution to the problem without significant side effects. For more information please click on Naturopathy or Acupuncture.

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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome is a broad term used to describe a variety of mental, emotional and physical changes that occur during the last week of the menstrual cycle (Luteal phase).  These changes are signalled by an upsurge of progesterone and oestrogen levels which in turn may affect other hormones and cause a variety of physical and psychological signs and symptoms.

Approximately 75% of women may experience PMS to some degree. This can range form mild mood changes to severe disabling mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, tension, and persistent anger or irritability. They may also experience physical symptoms such as headaches, joint and muscle pain, lack of energy, bloating and breast tenderness.

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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by multiple cystic growths on the ovaries. It is associated with excessive testosterone production as a result of elevated insulin level. An elevated insulin level is also the most common cause of obesity, but not all women who have PCOS are obese.

PCOS is a common cause of oligomenorrhoea (reduced menstrual flow), and amenorrhoea (no menstruation), and it may also result in reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriage.

Natural medicine offers highly effective methods to increase insulin sensitivity with a combination of diet, dietary supplements and insulin sensitising herbs. Acupuncture is very effective at supporting hormonal balance, normalising menstruation and increasing the chance of conception.

At Reach for Health, our related programs are: Natural Fertility, Acupuncture IVF Support, Ketogenic Diet, Naturopathy and Acupuncture.

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Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tissue growth of the uterine muscles. They are the result of problems in oestrogen metabolism. The size of the growth can vary from microscopic to large palpable masses, sometimes the size of an orange. Fibroids that grow in the uterine wall inward towards the uterine cavity may bleed and interfere with pregnancy.

Uterine fibroids are sensitive to oestrogen. They may enlarge rapidly during pregnancy because of increased oestrogen levels, and regress during menopause because of the decline in oestrogen levels.Uterine fibroids may be the underlying cause of infertility, miscarriage, premature labour, and painful and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Conventional medicine often recommends hormonal therapy to reduce the oestrogen to progesterone ratio. In contrast, natural therapies focus on reducing the main triggers, including obesity, excessive consumption of red meat, and environmental toxicity.

Acupuncture and herbal medicine are very effective in supporting hormonal balance, and electro-acupuncture has shown significant effectiveness in reducing the size of the fibroids.

At Reach for Health, our related treatment programs are: Natural Fertility, Acupuncture IVF Support, Trim forever, Ketogenic Diet, Naturopathy and Acupuncture.

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Other Gynecological Concerns

Miscarriage

Miscarriage is the natural or accidental termination of a pregnancy occurring within the first 24 weeks, when the embryo or foetus is incapable of surviving. One in every seven pregnant women experience a miscarriage and these usually occur within the first 12 weeks of their pregnancy. A threatened miscarriage often starts with vaginal bleeding and may be accompanied by cramps and lumbar pain. Clinical experience suggests that pregnancies resulting from IVF or IUI procedures have a higher miscarriage rate.

Acupuncture has been shown to significantly reduce the chance of a miscarriage. It has been found to be particularly helpful for those women who have previously experienced repeated miscarriages.

At Reach for Health, our related treatment programs are: Natural Fertility, Acupuncture IVF Support and Acupuncture.

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