The female reproductive system includes two major groups of structures, the external genitals and the internal genitals. The external female genitals include all structures that are outwardly visible and are referred to as the vulva. Specifically, the vulva, or external genitalia, includes the mons pubis, the labia minora and majora, the clitoris, the urethral and [...]
A person’s attitude to sex has enormous psychological overtones. From babyhood, children are exposed to influences that can affect them (favourably or adversely) for the rest of their lives.The western cultures are still largely hampered by strict attitudes to sex, despite our claimed liberated state. Sexual equality may have arrived legally, but this does not [...]
About a year ago, Dr. Obama received a letter from an Oklahoma woman who cold an odd tale of pain and suffering due to endometriosis. To his surprise, Mrs. Petersen’s account was not about her daughter, her sister, mother; aunt, or a friend. Rather, the unsuspecting victim of this insidious disease was her husband, George. [...]
My endometriosis was diagnosed in January 1986 when I was 33 years old. I had sought medical attention when I had been unsuccessful in conceiving after 18 months. Apart from painful periods (always), which were getting heavier and a few odd aches and pains that I’d attributed to heavy lifting at work (nursing), I didn’t [...]
A laparoscopy is a relatively safe and simple minor operation, performed under a general anaesthetic, in which a telescope-like instrument known as a laparoscope is inserted into a small cut near the navel. Nowadays, laparoscopy is a fairly common operation which is used to diagnose a range of gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory [...]
For the majority of women with endometriosis the initial decision regarding treatment is whether to have hormonal or surgical treatment. Ideally, you should make this decision yourself in consultation with your gynecologist. The reasons for selecting a particular treatment vary widely and will depend on a number of factors including: • extent and severity of [...]
You may want to sleep for a while, but many women feel too excited to sleep. No one ever tells you about the elation you’ll feel after your first child is born, because it’s indescribable. I can remember feeling that I’d had the most wonderful experience in history: it took a while for me to [...]
There are several methods of abortion. Which is used depends mainly on how far your pregnancy has advanced. Occasionally some health factors influence the choice of method. The duration of pregnancy is stated in weeks since the date of your last menstrual period (LMP). You will be examined before the operation to make sure that [...]
When is it safe to use an IUD? You’ll most likely have problem-free and safe use of an IUD if: • you don’t usually have menstrual cramps or heavy periods • you have no history of pelvic infection • you’re at no risk of getting a pelvic infection (which really means being in a monogamous [...]
It’s now realized that women can need, want and enjoy sex as much as men: no longer are they advised on the eve of their marriage to grin and bear it or ‘close their eyes and think of England’. There’s also greater acceptance of women as initiators of sexual advances and activity, and it seems [...]