Our family doctor is qualified to treat every member of your clan – and as a woman (and a mum) she is particularly in tune with female health issues. From birth control to breast checks, we chatted to her about just some of the ways she can help look after female specific medical concerns and remembering to stay on top of regular examinations for overall wellbeing.
Cervical cancer screening through Pap smears has been one the most successful screening programs and has been shown to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. It is a simple and easy test that can be done in your local clinic. The whole thing takes no more than 5 minutes and is painless, although maybe a little uncomfortable. Many women will put off their Pap smear because of shyness and not feeling comfortable with the procedure or the doctor but rest assured most doctors have done these tests many times and will make feel at ease when having it done so it is important to find a doctor that you are comfortable with.
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) recommends that all females aged 25-29 undergo a Pap smear every 3 years. Woman between the ages of 30 to 65 should undergo a Pap test and HPV (human papilloma virus) co-test every 5 years.
There are a number of different ways to examine breasts – breast awareness and self-examination, clinical examination, ultrasound scans and mammograms. The type of examination and how often is dependent on the age and personal and family history of the woman.
Women under the age of 40 should regularly check their breasts, either with a self-examination or a clinical examination every 1-3 years. Over the age of 40, the UAE guidelines, recommend a mammogram every 2 years and clinical breast examination yearly. If there is any personal or family history or any other risk factors for breast cancer deeming them high risk then I would advise discussion with a doctor on how often they should get screened.
Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t menstruated in 12 consecutive months and can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but can develop before or after this age range. Most women first begin developing menopause symptoms about four years before their last period. Symptoms often continue until about four years after a woman’s last period.
The most common symptoms of peri-menopause (the lead up to menopause) includes:
– less frequent menstruation
– heavier or lighter periods than is normally experienced
– Vasomotor symptoms – hot flashes, night sweats, flushing
– There can be many other symptoms including – insomnia, weight gain, depression, vaginal dryness.
The severity of the symptoms of menopause can vary from woman to woman, some suffering severely while others have little to no symptoms.
If a woman thinks that she is at the start of menopause it is best to discuss with a doctor. Peri-menopause is diagnosed clinically with the symptoms mentioned above. Menopause can be diagnosed once periods have stopped for 1 year and can be confirmed with blood tests.
Treatment of the symptoms of menopause depends of the severity of the symptoms.
– Hormone replacement therapy
– medications to treat individual symptoms such as anti-depressants and vaginal creams
– lifestyle changes and home remedies – such as moisturizers, weight control, supplements with vitamin D, calcium and magnesium.
Birth control is a very personal choice and should be tailored to your lifestyle. There are a number of different options available to you, including daily medications, injections that last 12 weeks, intrauterine devices like the mirena coil which lasts 5 years and barrier methods like condoms. The type that suits is dependent on a number of factors such as:
– age
– weight
– smoking status
– Personal and family medical history
– whether you have had children and want more in the future or if you have finished your family.
I would advise women to book into see their family physician or gynaecologist and we can go through the many options available to them and advise what would best suit their lifestyle.
Obesity is a leading cause of medical problems that affects men and women in this region. The risk of diabetes, heart disease and many cancers can be reduced by maintaining and healthy weight and lifestyle. Other issues that affect women in particular is the uptake of screening tests such as pap smears and mammograms which greatly reduce the number of cancer diagnosis and mortality rates. It is really important that women remember to book their tests in as per the national guidelines, I always advise everyone to put a note in their calendar when their next tests are due.
To book an appointment with Dr. Ruhil or for more information about all of the services offered at our clinic please don’t hesitate to contact us.
