Bacterial Vaginosis - A Problem Of Balance

Bacterial Vaginosis is one of the most common and least understood diagnoses that women coming into Parkmed Physicians are presented with. Is it a sexually transmitted disease / infection? How did I get BV? What can be done? What does it mean for my health? Since many women, especially young women, have never even heard of BV these are all important issues to address.

What is Bacterial Vaginosis?

BV is an imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria which every woman has in her vagina. Usually we have more good bacteria and a limited number of bad bacteria as a normal part of our systems. When the problem bacteria start to take over BV is the result. This imbalance can be caused by many things. Yes, sex can cause this imbalance, however it is not the only culprit. Even women who are not sexually active can contract this problem. Douching seems like it would be a way to remain fresh and clean, however this practice has a tendency to cause imbalances that lead to BV. Although not everything is known about BV medical experts, including the Center for Disease Control, state that you are not able to contract BV from toilet seats or swimming.

How do I know I have BV?

Many women dont know they have BV because it can occur without any symptoms. Having a regular GYN exam including a vaginal swab normally done at the time of the PAP Smear screening is one way to find out. However there are outward symptoms women may have which signal that you may want treatment. Some women with BV will have a white or gray vaginal discharge. This can often be mistaken for a yeast infection which is why it is important to see your GYN if over the counter yeast medications do not help. Also women with BV may find that they have an unpleasant fishy odor after intercourse. Some women also report irritation when urinating and itching around the vulva however this is less common.

What are the effects of BV?

The major problem with Bacterial Vaginosis, besides the possible symptoms experienced, is that it makes women more susceptible to other sexually transmitted infections. According to the CDC women who have BV are more likely to contract HIV, Herpes (HSV), Gonorrhea and Chlamydia if exposed. They are also prone to more post operative infections after surgery such as hysterectomy or abortion. BV can also cause complications for pregnancy including a higher risk of lower birth weight and early labor. Untreated BV can escalate infecting the uterus and fallopian tubes causing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This condition can lead to infertility and permanent damage to the reproductive system.

What are the Treatments?

Women should see their OBGYN for treatment. Your doctor will proscribe antibiotics such as Metronidazole or Clindamycin to knock out the harmful bacteria and restore balance. The best ways to prevent BV are abstaining or limiting sexual partners since multipal sex partners seems to be linked to developing Bacterial Vaginosis. Also avoid douching which causes bacterial imbalances. It is also important to take all medicines prescribed for BV even if the symptoms subside otherwise the treatment will be incomplete and BV may return.

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Good In Women's Healthcare

Parkmed Physicians is a leader in womens health care offering free pregnancy test, abortions, and full OBGYN services. This Blog is sponsored by Parkmed Physicians however it does not seek to give medical advice for medical services you should consult your medical professional or call our office and make an appointment to meet with one of our doctors.

I am Heather MacGibbon, Ph.D. in Cinema Studies from NYC and author of Screening Choice: The Abortion Issue in American Film 1900-2000 (VDM Verlang 2009). I have been a counselor for womens health clinics in the New York area for the past 12 years and a critic and scholar on the abortion issue in the US media for even longer. In this blog I will be keeping you updated on the current state of reproductive rights and advances in womens health care.

As I am sure you are well aware reproductive rights in the United States has come under heavy attack in recent months. It is hard to know where to start in looking at how things have gotten more contentious and complicated over the last year. What I can say definitively is that we are seeing as continuation of a three prong assault on the abortion rights: The Cultural War, The Legal Battle and Control of Access.

The hottest place in this battle currently is the control over access to safe and legal abortion care which has spilled over into an attack on general reproductive health care for women. This includes both legal limitations on when a woman and her partner can choose to have abortion as well as limiting access through cutting funding.

Recent attacks on the legal front have come based on the argument that abortions beyond 20 weeks should be banned do to possible pain of the fetus. The most recent of these came last week in Iowa where a bill was passed by the largely republican senate to limit abortions in that state to less then 20 weeks into the pregnancy. This bill modeled after similar bills being considered in 15 states, one of which passed into law in Nebraska last year. A similar bill recently passed the Kansas legislature and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback. Supporters state that these laws are based on research which notes that a fetus of 20 weeks or more has nerves and presumably could feel pain during the procedure.

These laws contradicts current scientific knowledge as pointed out by Mark Rosen of the University of California, San Francisco, and co-author of a seminal 2005 review on fetal pain:

The first brain pathways associated with pain perception "are not complete before approximately 29 weeks of gestation", so although fetuses develop brain wiring from about 23 weeks onwards, the connections are not there to enable them to experience pain. As pointed out there are very few instances when this comes up and is part of a larger attack on all abortions bring allowed. (Coghlan, Andy Breifing: New Law Claims New Scientist April 16, 2010)

Despite the contradictions with accepted science lawmakers have forged ahead with these restrictions. This nullifies the complex issues facing women and their families. It also takes away from other more pressing prenatal issues according to opponents.

Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic, a Waterloo Democrat, questioned why the body is debating an issue that has affected so few families compared to other maternity issues. Kajtazovic said just six abortions were performed in the state last year after 20 weeks of pregnancy, compared to 700 Iowa families that have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth in the past year. "What's sad is that we have members in this body politicizing what is such a personal and difficult decision," Kajtazovic said.(Henderson, Kay Reuters on line Fri April 1, 2011 6:32 EDT)

Similar bills are also being passed in Oklahoma.

The 94-28 vote Tuesday ( March 29, 2011) by which the Kansas House approved a bill imposing tighter restrictions on abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy based on disputed claims that fetuses can feel pain. The House's vote was to accept the Senate's version of the bill and sent the measure to Gov. Sam Brownback .(Associated Press 03/29/11 1:58 PM)

These legal skirmishes come on the heels of several bills being passed and signed, or expected to be signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer which limit both which medical providers can perform abortion, but also the reasons that abortions can be provided.

The law makes it a felony to knowingly perform or provide financing for an abortion sought because of the race or sex of the fetus or a parents race. The maximum punishment if convicted is 3.5 years in prison. Supporters said they wanted Arizona to prevent discrimination-based abortions, and they disagreed with opponents over whether there was evidence that race and sex selection-based agendas were actually occurring in Arizona. Critics said there was no evidence that selective abortions occur in Arizona, and doctors could face jail time if they lose a newly required affidavit that an abortion is not for selection purposes. This law creates a highly unusual requirement that women state publicly their reason for choosing to terminate a pregnancy a private decision they already made with their physician, partner and family, Bryan Howard, chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Arizona, said in a statement. (AP in New York Times March 31, 2011, on page A14 of the New York edition.)

These few legal attacks on abortion rights need to be seen in the larger context of the de funding of Planned Parenthood by the federal government which will severely limit not just abortion access but access to cancer screening and general OB / GYN care provided by this organization. This and the other local and national legal limitations of different kinds are popping up encouraged by current anti choice environment of our current political scene.

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Bacterial Vaginosis Home Remedy Treatments - Proven Methods

Bacterial vaginosis can be a real nightmare of a problem. It's itchy, uncomfortable and extremely embarrassing. It can ruin your sex life and even your social life because of the bad smell and itchiness emanating from your lower regions. So, if you have BV then finding a bacterial vaginosis home remedy treatment should be a top priority.

Avoid Or Supplement Medication For BV:

The traditional way to treat bacterial vaginosis is with antibiotic medication. However, antibiotics are not going to permanently get rid of BV and they could actually harm your body in the process of trying to get rid of it. That's because the job of antibiotics is to kill bacteria, whether that bacteria is good or bad.

The vagina naturally contains a lot of perfectly good bacteria, you see. It's only when bad bacteria overwhelm the good kind that BV and other conditions can strike. So, it's important to keep your good bacteria levels balanced. You can't do that on antibiotics, which is why you may want to use herbs, vitamins and minerals to supplement or replace antibiotic treatments.

Relieving The Itchiness:

The itchiness that comes with BV is one of the most annoying symptoms that a woman can have. So, one of your first priorities is probably going to be reducing the itchiness in order to focus on the main problem. There are several ways to do that, beginning with applying either Aloe Vera gel or just a cold compress to the outside of your vagina. Aloe Vera has both soothing and healing properties.

Cramping And Bloating:

Relieving the cramping, bloating and other symptoms of BV might take a bit more action on your part. For example, you should try to get more niacin in your diet. You should also increase the amount of omega-6 fatty acids you are eating. Both of those things can reduce pain and cramping.

Restore Vaginal Health:

Another thing you can do to restore vaginal health is to get some cranberry into your diet, whether by drinking cranberry juice or taking a cranberry supplement pill. Cranberry is known for reducing urinary tract infection risks. However, most people don't realize that it can also help to relieve BV by keeping bad bacteria from attaching to the walls of the vagina. That means that it can be a huge help in restoring vaginal health.

Many Treatments For BV:

One of the important things to understand about BV is that it can't always be treated by a single method. You may find that using many natural treatments for BV is the best. In fact, you can find many great guides and treatment systems that are meant to help you relieve your BV symptoms and get rid of it forever.

Bacterial vaginosis home remedy treatment should meant to help you treat the rood cause of your BV for good without using the harmful conventional medications and drugs, it's all about finding your true body's natural balance (pH level).

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What Is Breast Enlargement

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Tags: Cheap Christian Louboutin, Louboutin Sale, Christian Louboutin Sale Bacterial Vaginosis - A Problem Of Balance By: Heather MacGibbon | Aug 31st 2011 - Bacterial Vaginosis is one of the most common and least understood diagnoses that women coming into Parkmed Physicians are presented with. Is it a sexually transmitted disease / infection? How did I get BV? What can be done?Tags: abortion, abortions, abortion pill, parkmed Abortion Pill - Is This For Me? By: Heather MacGibbon | Aug 31st 2011 - The abortion pill, also known as the medical abortion, is one option available to terminate pregnancy between 5 and 8 weeks. Unfortunately, many people have little or no information about the abortion pill so when offered this choice they feel confused. Many questions often spring to ... Tags: abortion, abortion pills, abortion, parkmed Good In Women's Healthcare By: Heather MacGibbon | Aug 31st 2011 - Parkmed Physicians is a leader in womens health care offering free pregnancy test, abortions, and full OBGYN services. This Blog is sponsored by Parkmed Physicians however it does not seek to give medical advice for medical services you should consult your medical professional or ... Tags: abortion, abortion, parkmed, abortion pill Baby Eczema Treatment - Cure Your Baby By Using These Effective Tips By: Lance Carpenter | Aug 30th 2011 - If you would like to learn a little about baby eczema and how it can be treated naturally, then this article should provide you with some good basic information.

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Tummy Tuck - Full Mini And The Affordable Options

People around the world are getting more and more figure-conscious. A loose and sagging abdomen, particularly after pregnancies, can hurt your body image and persona. You have every right to revive your figure and give a fresh lease to your life. Unfortunately, dieting and exercising are not sufficient enough to tighten your sagging abdominal skin or to tone up your abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck cosmetic surgery can help you to revive your figure. This article is dedicated to tummy tuck cosmetic surgery, its variations, and means that can make the operation affordable to you.

What Is a Tummy Tuck Operation?

In a nutshell, a tummy tuck operation (medically termed as Abdominoplasty) surgically removes redundant skin and excess fat from your abdominal region. Muscles of the abdominal wall are also tightened during the process. The outcome of a tummy tuck operation is a tighter and flatter abdomen.

There is a warning though. Those of you, who are planning future pregnancies, should not undergo tummy tuck operation.

Tummy Tuck operation - Options available

Depending on the circumstances, a cosmetic surgeon might opt for a traditional or full-scale version of the tummy tuck operation; or she might also opt for a "mini" version of the operation.

A full-scale abdominoplasty operation can take you up to five hours to finish. It is an intensive approach. You will be requiring full anesthesia for that. An incision is made from hip bone to hip bone along the public space of the abdominal region. The stretch of the incision varies from individual to individual. Usually, the surgeon tries to make the incision as small as required for easy healing during the post-operative stage. Another incision is also required around the navel. The sagging skin (including the portion that contains stretch marks as a result of pregnancies) is pulled away. The damaged muscles are tightened by using multiple sutures. As a byproduct of the surgery, you may ask your cosmetic surgeon to reposition your navel so that it appeals to the eye. The results of the full-scale tummy tuck operation are dramatic and it gives you a fresh, eye-catching look.

Some people also wish to undergo the mini version of the tummy tuck operation. Here, a smaller incision is made. The scope of excess fat and muscle tightening is obviously less than the full-scale version. You might wonder why people might be interested to undergo the mini abdominoplasty operation then. The recovery time for this type of tummy tuck operation is significantly less. The potential risks involved are also less. The scarring as a result of operation is easier to heal. For those of you who would like to correct a minor belly bulge, the mini abdominoplasty operation would be helpful. Most importantly, it is less costly too.

Affordability remains a Big Question

One thing that often prevents people from thinking in favor of a tummy tuck operation is the expenses involved. Not many among us can spend five to ten thousand USD for this kind of elective surgery. However, there are some avenues that you can try.

One option is to try and convince your health insurance provider to cover at least some amount involved. There is a distinct possibility on the part of your insurer to comply with your request if you are suffering from medical complications on account of sagging skin. Again, if it can be proved that Abdominoplasty can be a remedy for lacerations and skin infections, the chances of your insurer covering the operation becomes brighter.

For most people, medical insurance might not work because it becomes difficult to prove that excess skin can cause medical complications. In those cases, you need to find out a surgeon (through Internet research or from your friends and relatives) who might charge you less. Some plastic surgery clinics have affordable financing and payment facilities too. To avail those facilities, you need to have a good credit record and a dependable source of income.

Lastly, if you live in a big city, reach out to smaller towns for the surgery. A cosmetic surgeon in a smaller town might charge you less than counterparts in a big city without compromising on quality.

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Simple Home Treatments For Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is a fancy name for a simple issue. It happens when bad bacteria invade your vagina and begin to outnumber the good bacteria, which are supposed to live there. The results can be an itchy red rash on the outside of your vagina, a bad smell coming from it, disgusting discolored discharge and other embarrassing symptoms. While some people are more prone to such infections than others, everyone could benefit from home treatments for bacterial vaginosis.

What Causes It:

You see, BV is most often caused by a lack of hygiene or some sort of invading element. So, for example, an unclean sex toy or unprotected sex could introduce bad bacteria to your body. That's why it's important to always practice safe sex. Also, it's a good idea not to have sex at all when you are trying to treat an existing bout of BV.

The acidity levels in your vagina also play a role in how prone you will be to a case of BV. So, you can often reduce your chances of getting BV by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. It can also sometimes help to introduce either apple cider vinegar or yogurt directly to your vaginal region or to your daily diet because they can cleanse the area and replenish good bacteria.

Treatment With Vitamins And Minerals:

One of the most helpful substances for treating BV is vitamin K-1. That's because it helps to promote blood clotting. You see, BV can often cause bleeding that can be managed by a clotting agent like K-1. However, you have to make sure that you get K-1 in the proper amounts. Broccoli, grapes and other fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of K-1.

If you want to relieve cramping, bloating, aches and pains, you may also need to eat more B vitamins. Eggs, green vegetables and turkey are all good sources of B vitamins. However, you can also get them in supplement pill form.

Calcium is also a key component in natural BV treatment. It can settle your stomach, reduce cramps and bloating and even get rid of nausea, which can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis. Not only that, but calcium has other benefits, such as being good for bone health.

Personal Hygiene Tips:

In addition to eating properly and taking a multivitamin or supplement, you also need to have the proper hygiene, if you want to avoid BV. So, for example, you should always wipe from front to back after you go to the bathroom. You should also wear only cotton underwear and change underwear frequently.

Another good tip is not to spend too long in wet clothes. So, for example, dry off well before you get dressed after a shower. Also, never stay in a swimsuit too long after you get out of the water. Remember that moisture breeds bacteria and most of those bacteria are bad.

As you can see, there are many preventative measures and home treatments for bacterial vaginosis. These are just a small sampling of the options that are available to you. If you want a more complete list of options and tips, you should try a complete BV treatment program, such as Instant Bacterial Vaginosis Relief. You can use the tips in such a program to completely change your lifestyle and hopefully prevent a BV relapse.

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How To Help Your Period Problems Naturally Posted By: Jennah Smith

As a woman, you know that getting your period is no picnic. It isn't easy to go through the motions of your daily activities when you are in pain. So, how do so many women deal with it every month? What secrets do they know? If you want to know how to help your period problems, you need to find out.

Look At History:

If you're looking for knowledge about treating period problems, you need to look at history. Remember that women have had periods ever since there have been women. Yet, modern pain reliever medications haven't existed for that long. The only things that have existed for that long are remedies that are all natural.

Why Natural Remedies Are Great:

Natural remedies are great because they can treat you as a person, not just one or two of your period symptoms. In fact, you can even combine vitamins, minerals, herbs and a proper diet for best results. Combining man-made medications to treat each symptom, on the other hand, can wind up being quite dangerous. Even in the best of situations you could wind up with a lot of side effects and problems, as a result.

How Natural Remedies Can Help:

If you're wondering exactly how natural remedies can help, you need to understand that most of your period problems are a result of hormonal changes. Also, the bleeding associated with your period can cause a lot of vitamin and mineral loss. That all has to be replaces, especially if you want to minimize uncomfortable symptoms, such as:

Light Headed Or Dizzy Feelings
Paleness
Shakiness
Headaches
Nausea
Cramps
Bloating
General Aches And Pains

Iron is one great example of that. Your body needs more iron in order to make up for that which is lost in the bleeding process. Without iron, you are likely to become anemic and develop other problems, as a result. So, it's great if you can get more iron in your diet during your period. Even if you can't fit it into the foods that you are eating, though, you can take an iron supplement pill. Other vitamins and minerals that you should be getting include:

Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

Herbs:

As for the best herbs to treat period problems, there are quite a few of them. First of all, there's damiana, which can help to regulate your hormone levels. Additionally, damiana has the power to control your anxiety levels and even increase your libido. SO, it can completely change the way that you view your period times.

Of course, there are certain symptoms that damiana can't help with. So, it's also handy to include some other herbs in your period treatment plan. For example, white willow bark is a natural pain reliever that can relieve your aches and pains just like an aspirin would, except without the side effects. Also, black cohosh is a great period relief herb because it can reduce headaches, cut back on nausea and reduce bloating.

The best place to get all of those vitamins and herbs is in one single supplement pill. That way, all of the work is done for you. For example, Period Vitamin is an all natural herbal supplement that contains all of those elements and more. Not only that, but the makers of Period Vitamin have already balanced it so that it has just the right amounts of each element. So, if you really want to know how to help your period, it may be as simple as taking a natural supplement pill.

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