Month: June 2021

Ovarian Cysts – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Posted on June 29, 2021   by   - Blog

Women have two ovaries each present on either side of the uterus. These ovaries release eggs during the monthly cycles. Ovarian cysts are small sacs or pockets filled with fluid that develops on the ovaries. Most are harmless and goes away. But some which may or have ruptured can cause serious issues.

Symptoms of Ovarian cysts

  • Heaviness or bloating in the pelvic area.
  • Pain in the pelvic area (lower abdomen).

If you have severe pain or fever with pain do consult your doctor.

Factors causing Ovarian Cysts

  • Endometriosis
  • Hormonal issues
  • Previous presence of cysts
  • Infection

Types of Ovarian Cysts

The most common type of cyst is Functional cysts. They are of two types.

  • Follicle cysts –Inside the ovaries, the egg grows inside a sac called the follicle during the menstrual cycle. The follicle then breaks open to release the egg, but when this doesn’t happen, the fluid inside the follicle will continue to grow and form a cyst.
  • Corpus luteum cysts – After releasing the egg the follicle usually produces estrogen and progesterone. This follicle is known as Corpus luteum but when the fluid builds up inside the follicle, it begins to grow and is called Corpus luteum cysts

Both of these are harmless and usually go away in two or three menstrual cycles.

Few other cysts develop as not part of the normal menstrual cycle.

  • Dermoid – As they are formed from embryonic tissues they contain tissues of skin, hair or teeth.
  • Cystadenomas -They form on the surface of the ovary and are filled with mucous like substance. They are non-cancerous.
  • Endometriomas – They occur as a result of endometriosis where uterine endometriosis cells will grow on the outside of the uterus and attach to the ovaries resulting in a cyst.

Risk associated with cysts

  • Rarely some cysts are cancerous. Chances of cysts being cancerous increases if it has occurred after menopause. Hence it is important to have regular pelvic scans.
  • Ovarian torsion: Some of these cysts may move the ovary from the position and can cause twisting of the ovary which is painful. It can also affect the blood flow to the ovary.
  • Rupture: If a large cyst ruptures it can be very painful and cause internal bleeding. The risk factors increase with the size of the cyst.

Diagnosis

The ovarian cysts are diagnosed by a pelvic scan using one of the different imaging tools like Ct scan, Mri scan or ultrasound device. Treatment will be based on the size and whether it is fluid filled or solid. In most cases, the doctor may suggest waiting for few weeks to check if it may go by itself (regular scans have to be taken during this period) else they will recommend a treatment plan to be taken.

 

Treatment for Cysts

In some cases, Birth control pills will be given to stop ovulation and prevent more cysts from developing. If there are chances for the cysts to be cancerous they need to be surgically removed. They are of two types –

Laparoscopy – This is a keyhole surgery where a small cut is made in the tummy, the laparoscope is inserted through a small cut in the tummy via which the cyst is removed.

Laparotomy – If the cyst is large they may have to make a large incision to remove the cyst after which a biopsy will be taken of the cyst. If found cancerous they may suggest performing surgery for the removal of ovaries and uterus(hysterectomy).

Prevention

There is no method to prevent cysts but regular scans can help identify it at an early stage. Keep track of your monthly cycles and consult with your doctor in case of any irregularities in it.

Thyroid abnormalities in pregnancy

Posted on June 29, 2021   by   - Blog

thyroid abnormalities in pregnancy

Thyroid problems or thyroid abnormalities in pregnancy can cause serious conditions like premature birth, affecting the growth of the baby, miscarriage and stillbirth. If treated on time you can have a healthy pregnancy.

Some have existing thyroid problems before the pregnancy but some may develop it during pregnancy. The symptoms of thyroid abnormalities are very similar to that of pregnancy so one may not identify them easily unless tested. They are of two types

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the presence of too much thyroid hormone in the body. It is caused during pregnancy by an autoimmune disease called Graves’ disease, which creates antibodies TSI(thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin) that stimulates the thyroid to make excess thyroid hormone. Rarely, hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, is a side effect of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy. This can result in preterm birth and babies with very low birth weight. Another risk of hyperthyroidism is thyroid storm which can complicate the pregnancy by causing high fever, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat and shock or death if not treated on time.

Symptoms you may be having Hyperthyroidism

  • Severe Nausea
  • Hands shivering or having tremors
  • Increased nervousness, irregular heartbeat.
  • Severe weight loss.

Food to include in the diet for Hyperthyroidism

  • Have vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage which contain goitrogens that help to reduce the production of thyroid hormones.
  • Include food rich in protein in your diet which helps to load the Zinc into your body. Zinc usually gets depleted due to the overactive thyroid hormones.
  • Avoid red meat instead include rich lean meat.
  • Reduce or avoid Iodine rich food.

Hypothyroidism

The fetus requires thyroid hormone from the mother for proper development. If deprived, it can cause irreversible issues for the baby. Severe hypothyroidism can affect the brain development of the foetus. In patients having CLT (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis) – also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the body attacks the thyroid gland, resulting in decreased production for thyroid hormones which increases the risk for still birth and miscarriage. It can also cause congestive heart failure, pre-eclampsia, placental abnormalities, and postpartum hemorrhage. For women who had hypothyroidism even before pregnancy should always keep a check on the thyroid levels during the entire duration of pregnancy.

Symptoms you may be having Hypothyroidism

  • Constipation
  • Muscle cramps
  • Sensitive to cold

Diet to be followed for hypothyroidism

  • Eat healthy meals on time and make sure the fruits and vegetables are washed well before using them.
  • Have lots of leafy vegetables but avoid broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, and soy too, which reduce the thyroid functionality.
  • Include berries and nuts.
  • Include food rich in Vitamin D.

Management or treatment for thyroid abnormalities during pregnancy

There should be frequent monitoring of the thyroid levels and steps will be taken based on it.

  • Medication will be provided based on the issue at the same time it should be kept in mind that these medications do not have any side effects on the fetus. Some prenatal vitamins which contain iron and calcium may affect the absorption of thyroid hormones hence the medication for hypothyroidism and prenatal vitamins have to be taken with a minimum gap of at least 4 hours.
  • In some cases, surgery may be performed to remove part of the thyroid if the patient has an overactive nodule.

If you have thyroid issues and plan to conceive always consult with your doctor to make sure if you need to take any treatment before getting pregnant. If the mother has Graves disease, there is a one percent chance for Neonatal Graves disease to occur in the baby. Do inform your health care provider if you have these or a had a history of these diseases.

For more information, kindly contact us.

 

Post Natal Period Care

Posted on June 23, 2021   by   - Blog

Post-Natal period care

Post Natal period extends around six to eight weeks starting from the time the baby was delivered. During this period the mother needs good rest, support and nutrition. Proper care has to be given to the vaginal area so it heals. At the same time, we need to make sure that the baby also receives proper nutrition and remains healthy. Though the global count of deaths of mother and babies have reduced, studies show that women’s health is vulnerable for up to six months after delivery. This period is of utmost importance to the newborn babies too as chances of infant deaths are higher during the first few weeks.

The main objective for providing proper postnatal care is to

  • give proper support to the new mother
  • identify or help diagnose if there is any complication for the mother or baby.
  • guide the mother to have a well-balanced diet to keep them healthy and in the process, the baby too gets all the required nutrients.
  • train the mother on proper breast feeding techniques. If the baby is not able to latch properly they may not get the required feed and this can affect the baby’s health.
  • guide the new parents on family planning and abstain from sexual activity for at least 6 weeks so proper healing of stitches takes place.

There should be at least three scheduled visits to the doctor in the periods of 6 weeks after the delivery – first visit in the first week, next between 7 to 14 days, and the third visit between 4 to 6 weeks. Postnatal visits to the hospital is important so they can keep a check on the health of the mother and baby.

The mother will be going through a lot of changes during this stage which can be very tiring and overwhelming for her, so make sure they follow these to help reduce exhaustion.

  • Continue to have their iron and folic acid supplements for the next three months.
  • Try to sleep when the baby sleeps. It is expected a new born baby wakes up and needs to be fed every two to three hours interval which can be tiring. So make sure to at least take a nap whenever possible.
  • Eat healthy well balanced food and drink plenty of water.
  • Women who are breast feeding will require additional food and have sufficient water.
  • Avoid sexual intercourse so the vagina and stitches can heal during this period.
  • Go for short walks or do postpartum exercises as advised by your doctor.
  • It is not necessary for the mother to entertain all the guests who come to meet her and the baby during this period. Let the mother take some rest or have a nap.
  • Have someone to help the mother with household responsibilities at least till she gets adjusted to the new schedule.

The mother needs to immediately get in touch with the doctor if she displays any of these.

  • vaginal bleeding has increased and has a feeling that the stitch has not healed.
  • has an episode of fits.
  • has fever which lasts long and doesn’t go away
  • having difficulty in breathing
  • infection in the area of stich
  • mother is showing signs of severe depression

During the post natal period the babies also need to be taken proper care of.

Make sure

  • they are given only breast milk
  • they are always kept warm
  • the baby’s face and bottom are always kept clean. You do not need to wash each time but can be wiped and kept clean.

You should go to see the doctor if the baby starts showing any of the following-

  • the baby has fits
  • high temperature
  • presence of yellow color
  • diarrhea
  • count of number of times the baby passed urine is very less or has reduced drastically indicating dehydration
  • difficulty in feeding, baby not taking the feed properly or feeds count is less
  • cord with blood or pus

Post-natal period care is of utmost importance to the new mother and baby. Do keep a note of all of these. If you would like to know more kindly contact us.