Other than your missed period, what were the first major symptoms that you experienced before you got a positive pregnancy test?

Ok I know this is going to sounds wierd! With all three of my kids I had dreams about being pregnant or I would see a positive pregnancy test. (Has this happened to anyone else?) For exampleI am 7 weeks pregnant and before i missed my period I had a dream where i was pregnant. I saw my stomach big and all. Right before taking the pregnancy test I had a dream and saw the pregnancy test results which were positive. I know wierd but this is how I knew.

I experienced cramps so never thought i was pregnant until i missed my period and tested. I usually have cramps before i take my period so i thought no different. I was told that the cramps were my womb stretching for my growing twins… all very normal in case you have cramps as long as you don't experience any bleeding along with them!! good luck!! xx

I experienced slight cramping (which at the time I thought were period cramps- but was implantation)
Other than that, none really, but I swear the day after I found out, I had the worst morning sickness for next couple of months!

Dang "Pregnancy Patch" on my forehead -

This was a dead giveaway for everyone of my pregnancies -

Dark brown patches -

My breasts were really sore. I usually get tender breasts before my period, but this was way more painful.

With my first child I was sick all the time and with the other two not one sign until later in pregnancy.

I was really warm and I'm usually a cold person, my temp said high for days xxx

Having to pee.. A LOT

January 2011 has been declared Cervical Cancer Awareness Month worldwide in a bid to raise awareness of the disease and its causes. In accord with the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) new cases of cervical cancer are seen as a result of the Human papiolloma virus (HPV) – caused tumours; which can be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. the good news is; with regular screening and follow-ups is the key direction to prevent cervical cancer. SBCN theme; take the initiative; visit your nearest clinic for a cervical cancer screening, annually/at least once in two years. “do not wait for flowers to be brought to you, plant your own Garden”.   What is Cervical Cancer?                                                                                                          Cervical cancer begins in the cervix. the cervix is part of the reproductive system and located at the lower part of the womb, called the uterus. the uterus is where a baby grows during pregnancy. the cervix connects to the vagina which leads to the outside of a woman’s body. the cervix is located in the area of the pelvic bone.                               What causes cervical cancer?unfortunately, there is no known straight cause of cancer, however, the finest explanation is; Cancer occurs when unhealthy cells grow on the mouth of the cervix. When unhealthy [precancerous] cells are left untreated, they may turn malignant [cancerous]. Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that show strains caused by the well-known Human Papillomavirus (HPV). there are many different types of HPV’s. so far it has been found that at least 30 of them can cause different types of cancers.Cervical cancer usually takes many years to develop. A majority of abnormal cells found in the cervix occur as a result of being exposed (infected by) any one of the many high risk including the human papillomaviruses (HPV) that exist in almost every human body. Once infected, these abnormal [precancerous] cells can be usually be detected by a Pap test.                            Humman Papilomavirus [HPV]HPV is a family of very common viruses’ that exist in anyone’s body and it is highly transmitted through skin to skin contact during sexual intercourse. HPV is also found contributing to most cervical cancers, plus a variety of other problems like common warts, genital warts and plantar warts. HPV also causes cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and cancers of the head and neck. HPV can infect a woman’s cervix when she had sexual intercourse with a partner who has the HPV virus in which (it can be found in men and women). it is not possible to know when or from whom you got HPV, especially if one has multiple sexual concurrent partners. Focusing your energy on getting regular cervical tests can help ‘beat the cancer’.do condoms prevent the spread of HPV?Recent studies suggest that regular condom use provides some protection against the HPV infection. however, since condoms do not cover all areas that can be the source of the spread of HPV, they do not offer complete protection. Also, occasional use of condoms was not shown to offer any protection from HPV. however, condoms do reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted disease when used all the time and in the right way.

Who can get cervical cancer and who should be screened? every sexually active woman can get cervical cancer from untreated virus infections; therefore, a need for every sexually active women to put into practice annual cervical screening. Currently women at their 20s and 30s are diagnosed of cervical cancer. Women who had not been involved in sexual intercourse should be screened at age 21. Cervical cancer screening?                                                                                        A Pap test is a painless and non time consuming procedure that needs to be done at least annually. Before a pap test; at least it must be a week after your menstrual cycle, avoid sexual intercourse three days before screening, and avoid spermicidal/vaginal treatment and douching. 

What are warning signs of cervical cancer?                                                           Remember that cervical cancer symptoms/warning signs take time [several years] to show however with regular screening precancerous cells can be detected early. Moreover, when the following symptoms appear rush to your nearest screening clinic;? Abnormal vaginal bleeding – during or after sexual intercourse -  bleeding between periods [each week of the month]? Discomfort during sexual intercourse ? Smelly vaginal discharge? Vaginal bleeding after menopause? often pelvic painWhile the following can put one at risk of having cervical cancer? Exposure to Human Papillomavirus and other STIs? Early exposure to sexual intercourse? Multiple sex partners? If you or your partner have been treated for Genital Warts  ? High number of pregnancies? Poor diet and lack of exercise? Smoking and alcohol? Family history of cancers.Up to 80% of women worldwide get Genital Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections; however that is not the cause of cervical cancer. STIs are curable, regular visit your nearest clinic/ health centre get a cure. Keeping STIs untreated is giving them chance to mastitis or change to cancer. STIs do not cause cancer. Part of this information is courtesy of americancancerassociation, cancercontrol.com“Visit your nearest health centre, screen your cervix, then bring your results to…”

The SBCN breast Clinics:• Tuesdays from 9am-1pm at the Manzini Municipal Council.• Thursdays from 9am- 1pm at the Mbabane Government Hospital Room 4 in the Out Patient Department (OPD).For more information please contact the Swaziland Breast Cancer Network during office hours at 404 9270 or 551 4476. Email; sbcn@realnet.co.sz or pro.sbcn@realnet.co.sz

Patrick Sharrock’s first broken bone occurred in the womb.

In all, Patrick, 9, has sustained more than 50 breaks in his young life. He and his family are the recipients of an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” at their Rossville home, primarily to help him cope with the disease.

“I have lost count” of all the breaks Patrick has sustained because of his brittle-bone disease, his pediatrician, Dr. Thomas Ho of Ringgold, Ga., said at a news conference Wednesday at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital.

Sometimes the breaks require a trip to the ER; other times Patrick’s parents can treat him, applying splints at home, Ho said.

But thanks to infusions of medicines to strengthen his bones, and Patrick’s experience at how to avoid hurting himself, there have been fewer breaks over time, Ho said.

The news conference offered more detail on Patrick’s prognosis and background on his genetic condition, which affects between 1 in 15,000 and 1 in 20,000 people.

While Patrick is at Disney World with his family, cast members from the ABC-TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” along with thousands of local volunteers, are building a house with strong floors and rounded corners that will help keep Patrick safe.

Weighing only 36 pounds, Patrick has Type 3 osteogenesis imperfecta, Ho said. Type 3 cases typically are severe and its patients usually have somewhat shortened lifespans, his doctors said.

Dr. Wendell Moses, pediatric orthopedic surgeon at T.C. Thompson, said he is treating eight young patients with the condition.

BRITTLE BONE DISEASE

Type I, or mild OI, is the most common form. those with this type can live a normal lifespan.

Type II is a severe form that usually leads to death in the first year.

Type III is also called severe OI. Patients have many fractures starting early in life and can have severe bone deformities. Many must use wheelchairs and usually have a shorter life expectancy.

Type IV, or moderately severe OI, is similar to type I, although patients often need braces or crutches to walk. Life expectancy is normal or near normal.

Source: National Institutes of Health

“In terms of genetic diseases, it’s common,” said Dr. Cathy Stevens, pediatric geneticist at T.C. Thompson, who has also treated Patrick.

The affected gene disrupts the body’s production of collagen, which is “the glue that holds us together,” in our bones, blood vessels and other connective tissues, Stevens said.

Although there is no cure, Patrick’s symptoms have been mitigated by interventions, including physical and swimming therapy, which can build bone mass and strengthen bones, his doctors said.

Ho said he advised the Sharrock family to be careful in Disney World.

“Definitely no roller coasters, but he can watch the parades and go on slow-motion rides,” he said.

Contact staff writer Emily Bregel at ebregel@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6467.

Like the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates all day long.

It may sound surprising that a simple touch or a massage can ease certain illnesses, but it’s essentially true.

For countless generations of people, a loving touch or a massage has been utilised as a traditional healing method by many different cultures because it is safe, efficient, cost-effective, and has no side effects.

Santi Juntawan, an occupational therapist at Manarom Hospital, said that touch is one of the five basic senses every human possesses – the other four senses are vision, hearing, taste, and smell.

“Touch is the first sense to develop since we’re in the womb, and the last sense that we use before dying. It is essential to health and the well being of every human’s emotions, as well as physical and mental development,” he added.

WHAT ABOUT HEARING?

According to Santi, touch therapy massage deploys human hands for the healthy healing of the body as it has been proved that all living creatures need tender touch to thrive and grow.

Numerous studies have also confirmed how much touch can influence people. Students who received supportive touch on the back or arm from a teacher were nearly twice as likely to volunteer in class compared to those who were not. And a sympathetic touch from a doctor left patients with the impression that their visit lasted twice as long, compared with those who were not touched. Besides, getting a massage from a loved one has been proven to not only ease pain but also reduce depression and strengthen the relationship.

There are many forms of touch, including a warm hand on the shoulder or a gentle touch on the arm. For babies, hugging, caressing and even breastfeeding serve to pass warmth from the parent to the offspring.

A massage, which is also a natural touch therapy, helps infants to grow and develop. Toddlers who have been deprived of the human touch will show a lack of development and their metabolism rate will be badly affected. Apart from these benefits, touch therapy can also relieve other illnesses like infections, diabetes and heart failure, as it helps enhance the immune function.

“What I’ve mentioned here is not a common touch or a touch for the purpose of medical examination, but a touch where a therapist passes love, care and concern to the patients sincerely and willingly,” he said.

WHAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS TOUCH THERAPIES?

According to Santi, touch therapies involve three main methods as follows:

1. Touch refers to the use of a hand or finger to gently make contact or lightly tap a person’s body, such as holding hands, giving a back rub or touching the shoulder, as well as hugging or putting your arms around someone.

2. Pressure involves the use of hands to press down on troubled spots on the body.

3. Deep stroke is a combination of pressure and massage stroke on a patient’s body, sometimes with the use of oils, lotions or creams to reduce friction and provide maximum glide. Therapy massage should always be given gently and not in a hurried manner. Santi also explained that therapeutic touch therapy massage helps to invoke relaxation, reduce stress, boost blood circulation and ease muscle pain.

“When being massaged, your body will relax and release endorphins – which are hormones that help to relieve pain,” he said.

WHO BENEFITS FROM TOUCH THERAPY?

According to Santi, touch therapies can efficiently benefit the following groups of people:

Studies show that newborn infants who are given massages will gain weight crucial for survival and appear more cheerful. Their stress hormone will decrease and the infant will cry less, become more active and show considerable improvement in cognitive, physical and social development.

Not only massages, but hugs, caressing them or gentle strikes to certain parts of the body can also help to stop babies from crying, particularly when they can feel the warmth of the parents’ chests.

The changes are clearly observed, especially in prematurely born babies, as they will have increased weight, and improved muscle skills after getting massages. most importantly, it shortens the time that infants have to stay in the hospital.

PHOTOS: YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK

- Children with asthma

Children suffering from asthma who were given proper massages will show less anxiety, and be in a more cheerful mood. most importantly, their symptoms also seem to improve – and they can breathe more easily with a decreased level of the stress hormone, cortisol.

- Psychiatric patients

Mentally ill patients is another group that evidently benefit from touch or a massage. Patients who are regularly given this type of therapy will show a reduction in stress hormones, such as cortisol and noradrenaline. As a result, the patients will feel relaxed and calmer.

- Those with infected wounds

Gentle pressure or massaging around the infected area will help stimulate blood circulation and boost the function of white blood cells, thus help the wound to gradually recover.

Santi also noted that touch will stimulate the nerves that control the function of muscles or tissues, and the change in hormones produced by the pituitary gland, which help boost the immune function, will boost a person’s immunity. the release of endorphins, for example, will ease stress levels that may appear while patients are ill. when stress is decreased, the body will be able to gradually recover the immunity system to a normal level.

“Apart from physical effects, touch also offers emotional and psychological benefits as the care and attention given to the patients will make them feel better,” he said.

Touch therapy can help ease stress and worry of the elderly. For those with certain kinds of illnesses, the therapy helps them to quickly recover both physically and mentally. the ageing persons will feel better and more comforted as we pass on our love and care through our gentle touch.

- the carers themselves

Touching is mutually beneficial for both the giver and the recipient. the Touch Research Institute in the US reported in a study that in 20 children with leukaemia who were given daily massages by their parents improved their condition. after one month, the parents’ depressed mood decreased and the children’s white blood cells increased.

In another study of elderly volunteers who were trained to give massages to infants, the seniors reported to experience improved mood with less anxiety, and decreased levels of stress hormones after three weeks.

Within the family, an exchange of touch between family members or couples can improve domestic relationships. Sharing of hug, or giving a loved one a back rub serves as a passage for people to show their love and care for each other. It can also result in a more satisfying relationship, as well as result in a warm, relaxing feeling that leads to greater trust between two people.

WHAT KINDS OF TOUCH THERAPIES FIT DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PATIENTS?

Santi said patients respond differently to different kinds of touch therapies. Some respond better to gentle touch, while others only significantly recover after receiving deep, long strokes during a massage.

“Some of the patients don’t like to be touched. So holding hands would be more appropriate for them. however, for some who prefer a hard massage with a lot of pressure, a deep stroke would then be applied,” said Santi.

He also noted that some children suffering from attention deficit disorder may not particularly like being touched or given a massage.

“The treatment for this group should start with a gentle strike, until they become familiar with the touch, then we may spend longer time on skin contact, before developing into a closer form of touch, such as hugging,” he said.

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The five-year randomized clinical trial will compare two treatments for fibroids – benign growths in the womb sometimes causing swelling of the stomach, severe discomfort and heavy menstrual bleeding.

Fibroids can grow if left untreated and can reduce the chances of a woman becoming pregnant. Hysterectomy is the most complete solution but means women can no longer conceive. Most women resist such radical and irreversible surgery.

Professor Klim McPherson of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is leading the study. He said: “Increasingly, women are delaying starting their families to an age when fibroids are more common.

“Women with fibroids are caught in the dilemma of needing the growths treated but possibly wanting to have children in the future and certainly not wanting to foreclose the opportunity by having a hysterectomy. So for a long time doctors and researchers have been trying to find ways of getting rid of fibroids while retaining a woman’s fertility.”

The study will compare the quality of life for women undergoing two different treatments; one removes the fibroids surgically – a myomectomy – the other blocks the blood supply to the growth by embolization – the insertion of a harmless substance which blocks the fibroid’s blood supply. ‘Women with fibroids want to know which of these procedures will provide the best chance of subsequently allowing pregnancy.”

About 80% of women aged 45-50 have fibroids but more than half of those women will not suffer symptoms. the growths are caused by changes to hormones as women age and can grow to ‘the size of a baby,’ Professor McPherson said. ‘Expelling a fibroid after embolization is sometimes as bad as having a baby and is much less pleasant.”

The £2m trial, funded by the NHS’s Health Technology Assessment Program, will study a sample of 800 women with fibroids who do not want hysterectomies. Half will be allocated randomly to one treatment and half to the other. the will be studied by gynaecologists and radiologists in around 15 centres across the UK.

The study is due to start this spring and will involve experts from Oxford, the universities of Glasgow and Birmingham, St. George’s Hospital, London and the charity Fibroid Network.

“No-one knows which treatment is best for quality of life or fertility but the treatments are very different and this trial should provide the answer. Women want to know which will give them the highest chance of conceiving a normal baby afterwards,’ Professor McPherson added.

Sitting in the bathroom, I am looking apprehensively towards the pregnancy test on the bench. My heart is pounding as I reach out to turn it over. Then I let out a huge sigh of relief: I’m not pregnant.

But, of course, I shouldn’t be. That’s because I’ve had the contraceptive implant Implanon in my arm for more than a year.

This matchstick-sized rod is designed to release hormones that prevent pregnancy. Licensed in 1999, it has become a ?popular form of ?contraception, with around 800,000 women using it, according to Department of Health estimates.

Implanon: The matchstick-sized rod is implanted in the arm to release hormones that simulate pregnancy (posed by models)

After a local anaesthetic, the implant is inserted into your upper arm through a tiny cut — you can just feel it under your skin.

It works by gradually releasing the ?synthetic ?hormone etonogestrel into the bloodstream, which fools the body into believing it’s pregnant. This stops eggs maturing in the ovaries and the womb becomes a hostile environment to sperm.

Implanon is designed for women who don’t want any more children, but don’t want to be sterilised, or who want long-lasting contraception (the device lasts for three years, when you then ?simply have it replaced).

And there are lots of plus points. Unlike the Pill, very few medicines affect Implanon (St John’s Wort is one that does). Nor do you have to worry about Implanon if you have a stomach bug (unlike with an oral contraceptive).

You also don’t have to ?remember to take it. No wonder so many women like the idea of it.

But last week it emerged that hundreds of women have been permanently scarred or become pregnant after their implant ?apparently failed — 584 have reported unwanted pregnancies and 1,607 ?complained about the implant going wrong.

As well as these side effects, the National ?Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) states that almost half of women will have infrequent, ?frequent or prolonged bleeding. Up to 43 per cent stop using it within three years — 33 per cent because of irregular ?bleeding.

That’s a lot of dissatisfied customers. I am one of them. for me, Implanon has been a nightmare from day one, starting with almost ?constant heavy bleeding for the first five months, which ?inexplicably stopped suddenly.

I then had all the ?symptoms of pregnancy — sore breasts, exhaustion, going off ?certain food. This was the reason I took the pregnancy test. it was to be the first of three such scares.

It really was terrifying because I nearly ?haemorrhaged to death after giving birth to my third child (I have a son aged two, and daughters who are four and six). I’m 38, and my husband and I have no ?intention of having any more children; we’re lucky to have three who still have a mother.

Health issues aside, we simply can’t afford another child. when I first went to my GP, just a couple of months after my son Ben’s birth, Implanon seemed like the only viable option (I can’t take the Pill because, with a history of migraines, it puts you at risk of stroke).

It sounded brilliant. Quite apart from the convenience, statistically, there is no question that Implanon performs extremely well.

‘though the Pill and Implanon are quoted as being over 99 per cent effective, that’s with ?correct usage,’ says Dr Alyson ?Elliman, vice-president of the ?Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

‘The actual failure rate is more like 0.05 per cent in Implanon and 8 per cent with the Pill in real-life situations.’

Personal choice: Implanon is more convenient than taking a daily pill but can have adverse side effects (posed by model)

But there are those adverse effects. ‘Bleeding patterns may be affected,’ says Dr Elliman.

This is because the membranes ?lining the uterus can be affected. ‘but any method of ?contraception that targets egg release may cause erratic bleeding,’ she says.

Skin problems such as acne may also be ?exacerbated and you might ?experience breast tenderness.

A week after my first pregnancy scare, the bleeding started again. I was sufficiently concerned about it to return to the private gynaecologist who looked after me following the traumatic birth of my son.

He conducted various ?investigations — ultrasounds and even a biopsy — to ascertain whether something more sinister going on, but concluded that the Implanon was at fault.

He suggested that I find an ?alternative method of contraception — advice I foolishly ignored.

A few months later, I returned to my GP. The almost incessant ?bleeding was starting to affect our family life and holidays. but my GP was reluctant to remove the implant (another option, the Mirena coil, can also cause bleeding or spotting for the first six months).

My second pregnancy scare was highly traumatic and occurred a couple of months after the first. I was suffering all the symptoms, but despite taking test after test over a week, the results were all negative. but the symptoms were so strong I assumed I didn’t have sufficient ?levels of pregnancy hormones in my body to show up on the tests.

One evening I sat my ?husband down and, in floods of tears, asked him what we’d do. The thought of abortion is hideous at any time; if you have children, I think it an ?especially hard choice.

Throughout all this stress was the frustrating fact that I’d thought I was thoroughly protected.

I returned to my GP. it was time to consider other options.

‘just sit it out,’ he said, without looking up from my patient notes. ‘I’m sure it’ll all die down in time.’

‘I want to talk about sterilisation,’ I said firmly. He started and put his pen down.

‘That’s a very long and onerous process. You have to undergo all sorts of psychological assessments. You’re much better off as you are.’

I don’t believe I am. I know I don’t want any more children and I’m sure the stress of this is far worse than any of the assessments.

Of course, my experience with Implanon pales in comparison to those who actually got pregnant or badly scarred on their arms.

‘Statistically, it may be unlikely you suffer problems,’ says ?Jennifer ?Emerson of the law firm Irwin ?Mitchell, which represents a number of women affected by Implanon. ‘but if you’re one of the few who does have scarring or an unwanted ?pregnancy, it’s incredibly traumatic.’

One theory about those unwanted pregnancies is that the device wasn’t inserted properly; sometimes it is not released from the applicator.

Scarring may be caused if the device is inserted too deeply. Implanon can’t be detected by X-rays, so there is no way of ?finding it without an operation under general ?anaesthetic.

In one case handled by Irwin Mitchell, the device was inserted so deeply it couldn’t be found by the nurse.

‘The poor woman went through the ordeal of a nurse cutting deeper and deeper into the tissue before she realised that it had been wrongly inserted into the muscle in her arm,’ says Jennifer Emerson.

‘In these cases, the patient may need to have surgery under ?general anaesthetic to remove the implant, which carries risks and leaves scarring.’

Dr Elliman puts such problems down to a lack of training rather than the implant itself and is calling for a nationally recognised standard of training.

Yet not all medical professionals are convinced by Implanon. a ?leading gynaecologist, Dickinson Cowan from the Portland Hospital, says he has ‘reservations’.

‘I don’t use it myself, but have removed one from a patient who suffered incessant and heavy bleeding.’

He points out that if Implanon suits the patient then fine, but ?suggests there are superior ?alternatives.

‘I don’t understand why women wouldn’t simply opt for the Mirena coil — which releases progesterone locally in the lining of the womb — rather than having something which affects your whole body.’

Dr Elliman suggests that last week’s news reports about adverse effects of Implanon are unhelpful: ‘Women who were perfectly happy with their ?contraception will be ?worrying and those considering ?contraception might decide against it.’

Yet many women have been ?traumatised by its use. Who knows how many have suffered severe side-effects or pregnancies and not reported them?

As all the doctors concur, contraception is a ?personal choice. for me, Implanon was the wrong one.

Though I believe mine was ?correctly inserted, it has caused an awful lot of trouble and pain. and, 18 months later, I am going to have it removed. Sterilisation seems the easier option.

The following post on Endometriosis was originally published in November 2010. We had a very positive response to the content and thought it was worth repeating:

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Endometriosis gets its name from endometrium, the lining of the womb. when a woman menstruates, her body is getting rid of the lining of the uterus.  If you have a condition called endometriosis, this lining tissue grows outside of your uterus and can be deposited on your ovaries, bladder, or bowel.  Also, it can grow to develop into cysts that are filled with old blood and can be found in the ovaries or around the pelvic cavity.  These blood-filled cysts are called endometriomas. The endometriosis tissue found in and around your pelvis behaves differently than the normal endometrium found in your uterus. Endometriosis tissue can shed and bleed during a woman’s period, which can cause irritation of her pelvic organs. also, endometriosis can cause adhesions (scar tissue) that can form on the reproductive organs.

Sometimes, endometriosis exhibits no symptoms. However, many women who have endometriosis experience painful periods and/or pain during sex. Uncommonly, endometriosis can attach to and damage surrounding organs like the bowel, bladder, and ureter (the tube that goes from the kidney to the bladder), which can cause pain with bowel movements and/or urination.  If an office ultrasound demonstrates no potential cause of pelvic pain, your doctor can determine if endometriosis is present by performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopy.  The physician will look inside the pelvic cavity (belly) with a laparoscope (telescope attached to a camera), which is inserted through small incisions.

So, does endometriosis cause infertility? If you have endometriosis, it may be more difficult for you to become pregnant. Doctors are not entirely sure why this is.   At the time of surgery, your doctor may evaluate the amount, location, and depth of endometriosis and give you a “score”.  This score determines whether your endometriosis is considered minimal, mild, moderate, or severe. The presence of scar tissue will worsen this score.

Women with moderate or severe endometriosis can have pelvic adhesions (scar tissue) or endometriomas.  Doctors are certain that adhesions that block the fallopian tubes will prevent an egg from traveling normally from the ovary to the uterus.  This makes it difficult for the egg and sperm to meet.  Minimal or mild endometriosis may only cause minimal amounts of adhesions, but becoming pregnant may still be difficult.

It is only through laparoscopy that your doctor can definitively diagnose endometriosis.  If endometriosis is seen at the time of surgery, your doctor will surgically burn or laser the endometriosis and cut  or remove the scar tissue. this treatment will allow your reproductive organs to function more normally. your chances of becoming pregnant are improved after surgical treatment, especially if your endometriosis is in the moderate or severe range.

Endometriosis needs the female hormone estrogen to develop and grow. Birth control pills and other drugs that lower or block estrogen can help symptoms, such as pelvic pain, painful periods, and pain during sex.  For patients who want to become pregnant, medical therapy with birth control pills or medications that cause a short-term, menopausal state may be considered prior to attempts at conception.  Medical therapy may help decrease the pain associated with endometriosis but the treatment itself usually does not improve pregnancy rates.

The physicians at Reproductive Resource Center recommend an infertility evaluation (even prior to one year of infertility) for patients over the age of 35, and for those with irregular menstrual periods, tubal ligation or vasectomy, endometriosis or recurrent pregnancy loss.

*Information appears courtesy of The American Society of Reproductive Medicine and The Society of Reproductive Surgeons, 2008.

*Image courtesy of ilovebutter / creative commons

Tagged as: adhesions, endometriomas, endometriosis, endometrium, estrogen, infertility, irregular menstrual periods, laparoscopy, painful periods, reproductive resource center

By Gwendolyn Ng

ENDOMETRIAL cancer, or cancer of the womb, is on the rise among older Singaporean women. it is now the top gynaecological cancer in Singapore.

According to the latest report from the National Registry of Diseases Office, endometrial cancer has risen by almost 60 per cent from 1998 to 2008.

In the period 1998 to 2002, there were 904 cases of endometrial cancer. that number rose to 1,434 in the period 2004 to 2008.

The numbers were revealed at a media briefing held at National University Hospital (NUH) to raise awareness and to encourage women to seek early treatment for the cancer.

Speaking at the event, Dr Joseph Ng, a consultant with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, stressed that if one seeks early treatment, “this can be treated entirely and cured very effectively”.

It was such prompt action that endometrial-cancer survivors Wong Lee Pheng, 52, and Koh Siew Jeong, 55, took, which contributed to their fast recovery.

They were both present at the briefing.

Madam Wong, a co-owner of a recycling-technology company, experienced two days of severe vaginal bleeding.

“At first I was going to brush it aside, but my family thought I’d better see a doctor,” she recalled.

She was diagnosed with the disease in September last year.

In October, she underwent surgery.

Her recovery has been rapid: Last month, she even spent Christmas and new Year in Yunnan, China, and went on a two-day mountain trek.

The energetic woman said jokingly: “Now, I even have to remind the people around me that I (once) had cancer.”

Endometrial cancer is most common among women in their 50s. NUH sees about 60 women who suffer from endometrial cancer annually. More than 90 per cent are above the age of 40.

Though the actual cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, obese women face a higher risk of contracting it, while women who have not given birth, or who have had few births, would face increased risk.

Those with a family history of uterine, ovarian and related cancers are also at higher risk.

Symptoms of the cancer include abnormal menstrual bleeding, such as bleeding more than once a month, and spotting throughout the month.

Vaginal bleeding after menopause may also be a symptom of the cancer.

Read more: Pop a pill, save your life New findings on the birth control pill include the fact that it prevents endometriosis (womb) cancer, besides ovarian cancer.

For more my paper stories click here.

11 January 2011 last updated at 06:49 ET Share this page An ectopic pregnancy is when an embryo implants outside the womb in the Fallopian tube

Women who have had chlamydia are at greater risk of an ectopic pregnancy because of a lasting effect of the infection, according to new research.

A study by Edinburgh University experts has shown for the first time of how the sexually-transmitted infection can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

An ectopic pregnancy is when an embryo implants in the Fallopian tube.

Women who have had chlamydia are more likely to produce a protein in their Fallopian tubes, the study said.

Increased production of this protein, known as PROKR2, makes a pregnancy more likely to implant outside of the womb.

Sexually transmitted

The study follows on from research, also at Edinburgh University, which showed that production of a similar protein increased the likelihood of smokers having an ectopic pregnancy.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It can be treated but often goes undiagnosed because it can occur without symptoms.

The infection is known to cause infertility as it can lead to scarring and blockages in the Fallopian tube.

The research shows, however, that chlamydial infection linked to ectopic pregnancy causes "much more subtle changes" in the Fallopian tube, without evidence of severe scarring.

The study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, was funded by the Wellbeing of Women and the Medical Research Council.

Dr Andrew Horne, of Edinburgh University's centre for reproductive biology, said: "we know that chlamydia is a major risk factor for ectopic pregnancy but until now we were unsure how the infection led to implantation of a pregnancy in the Fallopian tube.

"we hope that this new information allows health care providers to give women accurate information about risks following chlamydial infection and to support public health messages about the importance of safer sex and chlamydia testing."

Has anyone had uterine polyps or fibroids. My doctor is thinking this is what I might have. I am just waiting to go have an ultrasound done in early January. what were your symptoms? I have spotting a week after my period, slight, slight cramping, frequent urination and a feeling of fullness in my abdomen. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks

yer my mum has exactly the same symptoms and she has 7 fibroids . fibroids are caused by the innactivity of the womb