This is the commonest psychiatric condition following childbirth. It is estimated that up to 50% of women experience maternity blues. Maternity blues is an affective psychiatric disorder that does not usually develop into frank psychiatric disorders such as puerperal psychosis and major postnatal depression. Clinical features and presentation: It usually presents with sudden onset of [...]

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For many women pregnancy is an emotionally distressing experience, even though there is a general belief that significant psychiatric disorders and specifically suicide is rare during pregnancy. Factors contributing to psychiatric disorders in pregnancy include: i) Hormonal changes in pregnancy. ii) Changes in body image. iii) Activation of unconscious psychological process specific to pregnancy. iv) [...]

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Due to the numerous changes in the body of a woman such as puberty,menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, there are enormous physical and psychological challenges throughout her life. The ability to adapt to these changes is very important. Failure to adapt to these changes can affect her sense of well being. The World Health Organization (W.H.O) [...]

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Incidence and prevalence Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. There were 524,000 new cases (incidence) in 1995 alone. 80% of the cases of cancer of the cervix are in the developing countries. Western Europe, North America and the Eastern Mediterranean have the lowest rates ,while Latin America, Sub- [...]

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Clinical signs and symptoms of cancer of the cervix The important aspects of the diagnosis of cancer of the cervix are: i) Abnormal uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge ii)Presence of a cervical lesion on inspection as a tumour or ulceration. iii)Vaginal cytology is usually positive. However it must be confirmed by biopsy. The most common [...]

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Dysmenorrhoea Dysmenorrhoea is defined as the presence of severe pain during menstruation that interferes with the day to day activities of the patient. Dysmenorrhoea can be categorized into two, primary dysmenorrhoea (spasmodic dysmenorrhoea) and secondary dysmenorrhoea (also known as congestive dysmenorrhoea). Primary Dysmenorrhoea (spasmodic dysmenorrhoea) This is the commonest type of dysmenorrhoea ,which mainly affects [...]

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Only surgical emergency operations should be carried out in pregnancy eg Appendicitis and carcinoma of the breast. Elective major surgery should be avoided during pregnancy. Normal uncomplicated pregnancy may interfere with the diagnosis of abdominal surgical disorders. What is the optimal time for operative intervention in pregnancy? Surgical operations should ideally be done during the [...]

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1) Identify the patient’s normal menstrual pattern -Age of menarche (Her age when she first had her first menses) -The frequency of the cycle. -For how long does she have the bleeding in each cycle. (how many days?) -estimated quantity of bleeding (No. of pads used) -Is there associated pain during the menses?How severe is [...]

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Drugs can be harmful for the fetus at any time during the pregnancy. One should always have this at the back of their mind when prescribing for a women of childbearing age. Drugs may produce congenital malformations (teretogenesis). The most risky period is from the 3rd to the 11th week of pregnancy. The growth and [...]

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An Introduction to menstrual irregularities  PART 1: 1)Menorrhagia What is the definition of Menorrhagia? Menorrhagia is defined as abnormally excessive bleeding (>80ml) during menstruation. The menstrual cycle is regular, but the bleeding may be excessive, either in quantity or duration or both. Since the frequency of the menstrual cycle remains unchanges ,the function of the [...]

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