New test for endometriosis
BY KATE HAGAN
20 Jan, 2012 04:00 AM
An ultrasound is just as effective as an invasive surgical procedure in diagnosing the female reproductive disorder endometriosis, a Melbourne specialist has found, in a development that could lead to more women being treated for the painful condition.
Sofie Piessens found the new technique was more than 90 per cent effective at diagnosing endometriosis, in an analysis of 100 patients she saw between 2009 and last year.
She presented her findings at the annual scientific meeting of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists last month.
About 15 per cent of women have endometriosis, which can cause severe pain and damage reproductive organs, leading to infertility in up to 50 per cent of cases.
Dr Piessens said the disorder, in which the cells lining the uterus migrate to the abdomen, was usually diagnosed with a laparoscopy, an operation to inspect the pelvic organs.
''Some people will have painful periods but not endometriosis, so to do a laparoscopy on everyone who has painful periods was quite invasive,'' she said.
''A lot of women are told the pain is normal and they have to put up with it, so there can be a significant delay in diagnosis and the endometriosis can become quite severe.''
Dr Piessens, a gynaecologist who specialises in ultrasound, said doctors had previously believed that ultrasounds could not detect endometriosis.
''Now groups around the world have published data to say if you just look backwards, behind the uterus, you can diagnosis a high proportion of women who have that really bad form of endometriosis,'' she said.
''With a normal vaginal ultrasound we look right ahead at the uterus, we turn it to the side to look at the ovaries, and I would like people to just look behind the uterus as well to look for endometriosis.
''It's something people need to become aware of and my feeling is, if there is demand from referring doctors, then imaging people will lift their game and look harder.''
Dr Piessens said the result was a speedier diagnosis which provided a template for surgeons performing complex surgery to remove the lesions.
She said the ultrasound could also be used to monitor the effect of hormone medication in shrinking the lesions, potentially avoiding surgery.
One of the patients who has benefited from the new diagnostic technique is Alana Vaughan, 29, who suffered for years with painful periods.
She said her symptoms ''returned with a vengeance'' when she stopped taking the contraceptive pill a few years ago, before she was referred to Dr Piessens who diagnosed her endometriosis. After extensive surgery to remove it, Ms Vaughan said she was now thrilled to be pregnant with twins.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/new-test-for-endometriosis/2426662.aspx?storypage=0
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Gynaecologist analyses women’s biggest sexual problems
Gynaecologist analyses women’s biggest sexual problems
On January 2, 2012 · In Health | 4:10 pm..
Abuja – Unlike men’s main sexual complaint — erectile dysfunction, women’s biggest sexual problem is caused by a combination of mental and physical factors, a doctor has analysed.
Dr Ekpi Philips, a Consultant Gynaecologist, said that common causes for a loss of sexual desire and drive in women could be interpersonal relationship issues, socio-cultural influences and peer pressure.
Others include partner performance problems, lack of emotional satisfaction with the relationship, the birth of a child and becoming a caregiver for a loved one.
“Medical problems such as mental illnesses, depression, or medical conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, and thyroid disorders impact on a woman’s sexual drive both mentally and physically.
“Age, medications, certain antidepressants, blood pressure lowering drugs, and oral contraceptives can lower sexual drive.’’
Philips said that testosterone could also affect sexual drive in both men and women.
Testosterone is a hormone made by the body and helps to stimulate and maintain sexual function, maintain bone strength, among others.
“Testosterone levels peak in women’s mid-20s and then steadily decline until menopause, and drop dramatically,’’ he said.
Philips noted that lower sexual drive sets in when a woman experiences a significant decrease in interest in sex and it is having an effect on her.
According to him, sexual desire is more than just an issue of low libido or sex drive.
“Sexual drive is the biological component of desire which is reflected as spontaneous sexual interest including sexual thoughts, erotic fantasies, and daydreams.
“ It’s about your body signaling that it wants to be sexual.
“Whether or not there is any intention to act on it, we all have a certain level of drive.”
He explained that a woman carrying financial burdens of the home could lose interest in sex.
“For a growing number of women, declining hormones, job stress, relationship issues, and other problems are taking their toll in the bedroom.
“When a woman go to work and comes back late, think of bills to pay, prepares the children and think of the attitudes of the husband, such woman can never pick interest in sex’’.
Philips also explained that a woman who is ill and probably on medication, could have low sex drive.
He stated that relationships between the husband must be cordial for both parties to enjoy sex.
He added that loss of sexual desire, known in medical terms as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), is the most common form of sexual dysfunction among women of all ages.
“These are not likely to be cured by merely using a pill’’.
He said that since the loss of sexual desire in women was caused by a combination of factors, it required more than an approach to fix the problem.
He advised that putting the desire back in women’s sex lives would require putting her on sex therapy and relationship counseling.
“Changing medications or altering the dose, addressing underlying medical conditions of the woman and the use of vaginal estrogens, testosterone therapy, could help.’’
According to Philips, many gynaecologists recommend off-label uses of testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire to restore testosterone to normal levels.
“In postmenopausal women, vaginal dryness may be treated with vaginal estrogen creams although no hormone or drug has been approved to treat sexual problems in women,’’ Philips added
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/gynaecologist-analyses-women%E2%80%99s-biggest-sexual-problems/
On January 2, 2012 · In Health | 4:10 pm..
Abuja – Unlike men’s main sexual complaint — erectile dysfunction, women’s biggest sexual problem is caused by a combination of mental and physical factors, a doctor has analysed.
Dr Ekpi Philips, a Consultant Gynaecologist, said that common causes for a loss of sexual desire and drive in women could be interpersonal relationship issues, socio-cultural influences and peer pressure.
Others include partner performance problems, lack of emotional satisfaction with the relationship, the birth of a child and becoming a caregiver for a loved one.
“Medical problems such as mental illnesses, depression, or medical conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, and thyroid disorders impact on a woman’s sexual drive both mentally and physically.
“Age, medications, certain antidepressants, blood pressure lowering drugs, and oral contraceptives can lower sexual drive.’’
Philips said that testosterone could also affect sexual drive in both men and women.
Testosterone is a hormone made by the body and helps to stimulate and maintain sexual function, maintain bone strength, among others.
“Testosterone levels peak in women’s mid-20s and then steadily decline until menopause, and drop dramatically,’’ he said.
Philips noted that lower sexual drive sets in when a woman experiences a significant decrease in interest in sex and it is having an effect on her.
According to him, sexual desire is more than just an issue of low libido or sex drive.
“Sexual drive is the biological component of desire which is reflected as spontaneous sexual interest including sexual thoughts, erotic fantasies, and daydreams.
“ It’s about your body signaling that it wants to be sexual.
“Whether or not there is any intention to act on it, we all have a certain level of drive.”
He explained that a woman carrying financial burdens of the home could lose interest in sex.
“For a growing number of women, declining hormones, job stress, relationship issues, and other problems are taking their toll in the bedroom.
“When a woman go to work and comes back late, think of bills to pay, prepares the children and think of the attitudes of the husband, such woman can never pick interest in sex’’.
Philips also explained that a woman who is ill and probably on medication, could have low sex drive.
He stated that relationships between the husband must be cordial for both parties to enjoy sex.
He added that loss of sexual desire, known in medical terms as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), is the most common form of sexual dysfunction among women of all ages.
“These are not likely to be cured by merely using a pill’’.
He said that since the loss of sexual desire in women was caused by a combination of factors, it required more than an approach to fix the problem.
He advised that putting the desire back in women’s sex lives would require putting her on sex therapy and relationship counseling.
“Changing medications or altering the dose, addressing underlying medical conditions of the woman and the use of vaginal estrogens, testosterone therapy, could help.’’
According to Philips, many gynaecologists recommend off-label uses of testosterone therapy for women with low sexual desire to restore testosterone to normal levels.
“In postmenopausal women, vaginal dryness may be treated with vaginal estrogen creams although no hormone or drug has been approved to treat sexual problems in women,’’ Philips added
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/gynaecologist-analyses-women%E2%80%99s-biggest-sexual-problems/
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Baylor scientists receive $1.35 million from Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
Baylor scientists receive $1.35 million from Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
HOUSTON -- (January 9, 2012) -- Two Baylor College of Medicine researchers have received three-year grants totaling $1.35 million from the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for studies directed toward earlier detection of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cause of cancer among U.S. women and the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in women. An estimated 22,000 will be diagnosed with the disorder this year and more than 15,000 will die of it.
"Investigating ARID1A
Over the next three years, Hawkins will research why some women with endometriosis (the growth of cells that usually line the uterus outside that organ, often on the ovary) go on to develop a kind of ovarian cancer known as endometrioid or clear cell ovarian cancer.
"Additionally, women with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer have a better prognosis than women without endometriosis," she said.
She will look at a gene called ARID1A that may play a role in the transformation from endometriosis cells to ovarian cancer cells. How ARID1A plays a role in the formation of tumors is not yet understood, and Hawkins plans to study both benign and malignant human tissue to find mutations in ARID1A. She will work in cell cultures to determine if ARID1A leads to increased growth of cancer cells because of interaction with other cancer genes. She will create a mouse model to mimic the low levels of ARID1A and see how early tumors form as well as to study potential therapies."
Click here to read entire article: http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=5022
HOUSTON -- (January 9, 2012) -- Two Baylor College of Medicine researchers have received three-year grants totaling $1.35 million from the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for studies directed toward earlier detection of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cause of cancer among U.S. women and the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in women. An estimated 22,000 will be diagnosed with the disorder this year and more than 15,000 will die of it.
"Investigating ARID1A
Over the next three years, Hawkins will research why some women with endometriosis (the growth of cells that usually line the uterus outside that organ, often on the ovary) go on to develop a kind of ovarian cancer known as endometrioid or clear cell ovarian cancer.
"Additionally, women with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer have a better prognosis than women without endometriosis," she said.
She will look at a gene called ARID1A that may play a role in the transformation from endometriosis cells to ovarian cancer cells. How ARID1A plays a role in the formation of tumors is not yet understood, and Hawkins plans to study both benign and malignant human tissue to find mutations in ARID1A. She will work in cell cultures to determine if ARID1A leads to increased growth of cancer cells because of interaction with other cancer genes. She will create a mouse model to mimic the low levels of ARID1A and see how early tumors form as well as to study potential therapies."
Click here to read entire article: http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=5022
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
New Risks for Women with Endometriosis
New Risks for Women with Endometriosis
By Heidi Anne Duerr, MPH | January 3, 2012
Endometriosis affects as many as 6% of the general population. While some women with endometriosis remain asymptomatic, many women experience dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-cyclical pelvic pain, and subfertility. Now, new research indicates that patients with endometriosis are also more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease.
Read the rest here: http://hcp.obgyn.net/endometriosis/content/article/1760982/2012566
By Heidi Anne Duerr, MPH | January 3, 2012
Endometriosis affects as many as 6% of the general population. While some women with endometriosis remain asymptomatic, many women experience dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-cyclical pelvic pain, and subfertility. Now, new research indicates that patients with endometriosis are also more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease.
Read the rest here: http://hcp.obgyn.net/endometriosis/content/article/1760982/2012566
Monday, January 02, 2012
Endometriosis Linked to IBD
Endometriosis puts women at risk for Crohns Ulcerative Colitis
By: Lindsay Patterson
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Madia, MD
(dailyRx)Endometriosis is a common reproductive disorder that affects women during their childbearing years. It is often connected with infertility, and now, it's also been linked to inflammatory bowel disease.
New research has found that women with endometriosis are at least twice as likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Click here to read the rest: http://www.dailyrx.com/news-article/endometriosis-puts-women-risk-crohns-ulcerative-colitis-16651.html
By: Lindsay Patterson
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Madia, MD
(dailyRx)Endometriosis is a common reproductive disorder that affects women during their childbearing years. It is often connected with infertility, and now, it's also been linked to inflammatory bowel disease.
New research has found that women with endometriosis are at least twice as likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Click here to read the rest: http://www.dailyrx.com/news-article/endometriosis-puts-women-risk-crohns-ulcerative-colitis-16651.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)