News
What women need to know (About reproductive health)
Women today are faced with several challenges. Aside from demands at work and at home, health issues arise as their bodies mature. Hormonal changes, like menstruation and menopause, cause most of the common difficulties. At the extreme end, women like pop star Kylie Minogue and local movie actress Maritoni Fernandez are suffering from the dreaded breast cancer.
Information is the key
“They shouldn’t have to suffer from the symptoms,” says Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society president Dr. Susan Nagtalon, about the importance of education and proper information in alleviating much of the pain and inconvenience of female conditions (such as menstrual cramps.)
In light of this, POGS focuses on instructing Filipino doctors on medical developments.
Partnering with Schering Philippines, an expert in reproductive health, POGS has embarked on a campaign to highlight key issues like contraception, vaginal infection, and menopause. The German pharmaceutical company conducts seminars on reproductive health for midwives and other medical professionals. They have also brought down prices of medicine.
Likewise, a recent conference conducted by the Department of Health in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, tackled the advantages of breastfeeding and the need for information.
Based on discussions, nonbreast-fed children have at least 10 times the risk of dying from diarrhea, 3.6 times from pneumonia and 2.5 times from other infections as opposed to those who were breast-fed. Babies must be breast-fed for six months, along with adequate complementary food and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond.
“The event is an opportunity to respond to the medical community’s clamor for technical updates on breastfeeding to clear out misconception and misinformation about certain practices,” says Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
Medical updates
Having the right information allows women, in turn, to take the right meds. For example, women who experience irregular bleeding, anxiety and palpitations, among others, may resort to hormone replacement therapy. However, HRT is not a safe method. Studies show that HRT may increase the incidence of heart attacks and breast cancer. Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Judith Galang Perez recommends natural, alternative medicine such as Hemofer to address the problem. The herbal liquid tonic supplement, manufactured by Pangaoshou Pharmaceutical Co., is ideal for women with menstrual irregularities. It contains dong quai (radix angelicae sinensis), which is known to enrich blood, activate circulation, regulate period, relieve pain and relax bowels.
Even new contraceptive pills have added benefits for women. Organon recently introduced low-dosed oral pill Desogestrel 150 mg/Ethinylestradiol 30 g. It harmoniously works with the anatomy of the modern woman. Studies show it has higher standard of risk and safety than other drugs. Aside from preventing pregnancy, the low-dosed pill causes lighter, regular periods, improved skin and no significant effect on weight. It also helps in the improvement of acne and excessive hair.
For breast cancer patients, St. Luke’s Breast Cancer provides a number of options for breast biopsy. They could choose to undergo fine needle aspiration, mammogram, an ultrasound or the Mammotome Breast Biopsy System. The Mammotome involves a one-time insertion of an ultrasound device through a small incision (about the size of a match head) in the breast where the lump was found. There are no stitches required since the incision is so small. Patients can return to their activities after the procedure.
“We leave the decision to our patients, of course, but we always recommend to use the Mammotome, because its cheaper and it saves them from unnecessary surgery. Most of all it is by far more efficient than other available options,” remarks SLBC head Dr. Alejandro Dizon (723-0101 local 5205).
May it be a disease or a natural change in the body, having the right information helps save women.