Cervical Cancer

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer can often be successfully treated when it's found early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.

What causes cervical cancer?

Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.
Most adults have been infected with HPV at some time. An infection may go away on its own. But sometimes it can cause genital warts or lead to cervical cancer. That's why it's important for women to have regular Pap tests. A Pap test can find changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you treat these cell changes, you may prevent cervical cancer.

What are the symptoms?

Abnormal cervical cell changes rarely cause symptoms. But you may have symptoms if those cell changes grow into cervical cancer. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

• Bleeding from the vagina that is not normal, such as bleeding between menstrual periods, after sex, or after menopause.
• Pain in the lower belly or pelvis.
• Pain during sex.
• Vaginal discharge that isn't normal.

 

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

As part of a pelvic exam, you should have a Pap test. During a Pap test, the doctor scrapes a small sample of cells from the surface of the cervix to look for cell changes. If a Pap test shows abnormal cell changes, the doctor may do other tests to look for precancerous or cancer cells on your cervix.

 

Can cervical cancer be prevented?

The Pap test is the best way to find cervical cell changes that can lead to cervical cancer. Regular Pap tests almost always show these cell changes before they turn into cancer. It's important to follow up with your doctor after any abnormal Pap test result so you can treat abnormal cell changes. This may help prevent cervical cancer.
If you are age 26 or younger, you can get the HPV vaccine, which protects against types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer.
The virus that causes cervical cancer is spread through sexual contact. The best way to avoid getting a sexually transmitted infection is to not have sex. If you do have sex, practice safer sex, such as using condoms and limiting the number of sex partners you have.

Why the need for more investments in family planning and contraceptives

CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT

The implant is a form of long-acting reversible contraception for women. An Implant is a small, flexible plastic tube containing hormones that doctors or nurses insert just under the skin, usually around the upper arm. The hormones delivered in this way can help protect against pregnancy for up to 5 years.

How Does It Work?

The implanted tube slowly releases low levels of the hormone progestin to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle). If a girl doesn't ovulate, she cannot become pregnant because there is no egg to be fertilized.

The progestin released by the device also thickens the mucus around the cervix. This helps prevent sperm from entering the uterus. The progestin also thins the lining of the uterus so that if the egg is fertilized, it may be less likely to attach to the wall of the uterus.

 

How Well Does It Work?

Implantable contraception is a very effective method of birth control. Over the course of 1 year, fewer than 1 out of 100 typical couples using the implant will have an accidental pregnancy meaning implants are more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

 

What will I notice?

Your periods are likely to change. A few women have no periods, a few women have their normal periods, but most women have a change in bleeding pattern. This may be infrequent bleeding, frequent bleeding, light bleeding or heavy bleeding.
This is safe for your body and there are pills to treat this if it happens. Research has shown that about one woman in every seven who gets an implant has it removed because of bleeding problems.

 

Can I become pregnant after the implant is removed?

Your natural fertility will return as soon as you have the implant removed. If you get pregnant with the implant in place, and decide to continue with your pregnancy, the chance of having an abnormal baby is not increased. You will need to have the implant removed.

 

Who can have an implant inserted?

Almost every woman can have an implant inserted whatever her age. It is suitable for women who may forget pills, appointments for injections or who may have a medical reason that stops her using the combined pill.

 

Does it protect you from STDs?

Implantable contraception does not protect against STDs. Couples having sex must always use condoms along with implantable contraception to protect against STDs.

Do you know that Hepatitis B is also a sexually transmitted infection?

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a virus that affects the liver.

How do you get Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is found in certain bodily fluids of someone who has hepatitis B: semen (cum), vaginal fluid and blood.

You can get Hepatitis B if you have unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex with someone who has Hepatitis B.

CHLAMYDIA

What is chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It can affect the cervix (the opening to the uterus), penis, rectum (inside your butt) and throat.

How do you get chlamydia?

1. Chlamydia is found in certain bodily fluids of someone who has chlamydia: semen (cum), vaginal fluid, and anal fluid.

2. You can get chlamydia from having unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex with someone who already has it.

3. You can get chlamydia if you share sex toys with someone who already has it and you don’t disinfect the toys or put a new condom on them each time a new person uses the toys.

4. A pregnant person with chlamydia can pass it on to their baby during vaginal delivery.

The Genesis of Pregnancy

We have had countless calls and messages from our cherished visitors requesting us to write on processes leading to pregnancy. Pregnancy, the process of procreation,the very process that had made it possible for us to communicate today. Sometimes I wonder, if not for pregnancy, the earth would have surely be a vacuum like outer space.

PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID)

What Is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?

You may have heard of pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, but many people are not sure what it is. PID is a serious infection that harms a woman's reproductive organs. It develops when an infection spreads up from the vagina and cervix into the fallopien tubes, uterus and ovaries. It is usually caused by untreated chlamydia or gonorrhea. But it may be caused by other infections.

Pelvic inflammatory disease is common among women within child bearing age.