At the end of October and the beginning of November each year we bring infertility to the foreground. National Fertility Week raises awareness of infertility and conveys the issues faced by want-to-be parents here in the UK. [Read more…]
MMR Vaccination Drop Sparks Winter Fears
Due to incomplete vaccination coverage thought out the UK, diseases such as whooping cough, diphtheria and meningitis are predicted to rise once more. London having the lowest MMR vaccination rate at just 83%.
Unicef research places Britain third worst among high-income countries for the number of children left unvaccinated.
Menopause
The Menopause has had some well deserved political and media coverage recently. But is this “taboo subject” really getting the attention it needs?
Here we look at what “the change” really means on an individual basis, and how you can manage your menopause with a little help from your trusted doctor.
The menopause describes a time in a woman’s life when the female oestrogen hormone levels decline. The average age ranges normally from about 45-55 but some women will experience this a lot earlier or a lot later. With this, a whole spectrum of symptoms may occur and can affect each woman differently, or not at all.
The more common symptoms are as follows:
- Hot flushes
- Erratic periods – shorter, longer, infrequent, more frequent but eventually a cessation in periods
- Palpitations
- Difficulty sleeping including night sweats
- Weight gain
- Fatigue and forgetfulness
- Vaginal dryness and low libido
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Palpitations
- Recurrent UTI’s
- A reduction of bone density (thinning bones) resulting in fractures
- Reduction in strength
- Reduction in muscle mass
- Joint stiffness
- A higher risk of heart disease
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Breast pain
Women experience the menopause in widely varying ways, however, every 8 in 10 women can suffer a number of these symptoms before, during, or even after menopause.
What’s the difference between perimenopause and menopause?
The menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45-55. IN the UK, the average age is 51, however there are cases of premature menopause which can affect women before 40 years. Early menopause is defined as perimenopause before the age of 45.
Perimenopause refers to the period of time right before menopause begins.
It is difficult to determine when the perimenopause begins, due to multiple factors taken into account when trying to confirm diagnosis. Many doctors will normally make a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms, erratic periods and rarely will need to order other tests. evaluate using period patterns and the superficial symptoms such difficulty sleeping.
Blood tests can be taken to measure levels of the reproductive hormone known as FSH, although this is not a very reliable blood test as levels are normal during the menopause.
If you have stopped having a menstrual cycle completely, for 12 consecutive months, you can be assured you have now entered menopause. Perimenopause can take a 2 – 8 year cycle before menopause then starts.
Will I still go through the menopause if I’ve had a hysterectomy?
If a woman has a total hysterectomy whereby her ovaries have been removed, this will cause the lady to go into menopause. Dependent on her age, hormone replacement therapy may be indicated.
However if both ovaries are left intact you may still have the ability to produce hormones and therefore experience menopause naturally.
In some cases, a hysterectomy can cause ovarian failure, within two years of surgery.
Chemotherapy can also accelerate ovarian decline, resulting in menopause.
How long does menopause last?
On average, Menopause will last 4-5 years, with most symptoms tailing off towards the end.
What should I be doing to help with menopause symptoms?
There are many things you can try to help reduce the symptoms both medical and with simple day to day adjustments.
Menopause management tricks include –
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a well balanced diet
- Avoid foods which can irritate your symptoms
- Drink within reason
- Give up smoking
- Exercise more often
- Ensure your room temperature suits your symptoms
- Wear clothing which will help you keep cool during hot flushes
There are other forms of medications available to patients with menopauses and dependent on their symptoms they may be:
- Mild antidepressant – for hot flushes
- Vaginal oestrogens – pessaries which help with dryness and are used in recurrent UTIs
- Hormone replacement therapy – for hot flushes or early menopause
- Clonidine – for hot flushes
- Zoledronic acid or other medications to prevent osteoporosis
If you feel that you are struggling with the effects menopause can bring, advice and support is available here at our clinic.
Menopause in the news
Organisations would be forced to introduce a menopause workplace policy, which would include training so managers understand the physical and psychological changes in a female employee.
According to reports one quarter of women polled had to leave a job due to menopause.
Flexible working hours and a better support system is thought to give equality within the workplace, as well as, helping end the stigma in the workplace.
Want to discuss HRT? For general enquiries book in today to see our doctors who are all qualified to help.
Safe sex after 50
When we think about STI’s we automatically link it with a much younger generation, after all, with age comes wisdom. Well, at least you would like to think so.
Unfortunately, as wise as the older generation can be, they can also be complacent, believing everyone of a certain age would practise safe sex.
HPV vaccine for adults
Currently in England, both girls and boys are offered the HPV vaccine between 12 and 13 years of age. Vaccinating before our young adults become sexually active is very important but not necessary.
Although HPV is usually passed from person to person by sexual contact, studies have found HPV around fingers, hands, mouths and genitals (providing all the more reason to protect teenagers!)
Many of our patients ask about the HPV vaccine for adults, so here we cover off some of the questions we are regularly asked about HPV.
Can Adults have the HPV Vaccine?
Adults who are already sexually active, or have already contracted the Human Papillomavirus may find the vaccine is less effective in preventing the contraction of the same HPV strain again later in life.
However, it can protect you from other strains and potentially reduce your risk of HPV-related cancers.
High-risk HPV is more likely to cause cancer.
99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by infection with high-risk HPV.
Your immune system can usually fend off high risk HPV, leaving your body to recover without treatment. BUT, in some cases the Human Papillomavirus does not leave the body and over the years the infection transforms normal cells into precancerous lesions or cancer.
HPV Related Cancers include –
- Cervical cancer
- Oral cancer
- Cancers of the head and neck
- Anal cancer
- Vulvar and vaginal cancers
- Penile cancer
Signs and Symptoms of HPV
HPV is very common, however, there are 100 different strains which can cause variation in symptoms.
Most HPV strains can cause common warts or verrucas which appear around the hands and feet. Gential HPV can affect the head, neck and anus as well as produce genital warts.
Unfortunately, high risk HPV normally goes undetected. That’s why regular checkups are so important.
The lack of symptoms, leave most people not knowing they are infected, making it even more important to be immunised against the virus.
Am I at high risk of HPV or cancer?
There are some who are at greater risk than others and we would highly recommend the HPV vaccination to those people who fall into one of these categories –
- Men who have sex with men
- Transgendered people
- Those with a large number of sexual partners
- A weakened immune system due to –
- HIV/AIDS
- Transplant Recipients
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune Diseases
How does the HPV vaccine work?
Currently in the clinic we use the new Gardasil 9 Vaccine. Gardasil 9 is currently only available privately in the UK.
Unlike Gardasil which is used in the NHS and only protects against 4 types of HPV, Gardasil 9 protects against 9 sub-types of HPV including 7 high risk strains and will protect against approximately 90% of cervical cancers.
Like all immunizations which protect us against viruses, Gardasil 9 stimulates the body to produce antibodies that bind to the virus and prevent it from infecting cells.
The vaccine does not contain any live virus and does not cause cancer or other HPV-related illnesses.
Gardasil 9 was studied in more than 13,000 females and males before being made available. The studies showed the vaccine was almost 100% effective and so it was registered for use.
Who should not have the HPV vaccination?
There is no proof that any one person is not eligible to have the HPV vaccine however, it is best to consult your doctor first if you are –
- Pregnant or trying for a baby
- Suffering from a bleeding disorder
- Suffering from allergies
It is also best to check yours or your children’s medical history as you may already be up to date with your vaccinations.
How much does it cost?
Gardasil is provided free in schools for girls and boys aged 12–13 years as part of the National HPV Vaccination Program.
However if you want to further protect yourself or your child then we can provide you with the Gardasil 9 vaccine.
It is important to note, the HPV vaccination does not protect against other STI’s such as Chlamydia. Safe sex, even if you are immunised, is always important.
LGBT PRIDE MONTH 2019
This month we celebrate our LGBT community, taking a look at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. Not forgetting Gay pride!. LGBT History Month originated in the United States, and always celebrated in October to coincide with ‘National Coming Out Day’. We have chosen June this year to celebrate and commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots. [Read more…]
Do I need travel vaccinations?
It’s that time of year again, everyone is getting into the summer vibe and if you haven’t already planned and paid for your holiday abroad, the chances are you are thinking of it!
72.8 million sun-seeking trips from the UK were made last year, with fewer and fewer people being vaccinated, it’s no coincidence that viruses such as measles is at an all time high.
If you are planning on travelling outside of the UK this year you need to consider travel vaccinations for both yourself and your loved ones. [Read more…]
Time to talk – women’s sexual health
The stigma of intimate examinations still causes extreme anxiety in many women throughout the UK.
Perceptions about the disclosure of your sexual behaviour adds to the fear, leaving many women avoiding appointments.
Recently we have seen a drop in routine cervical screening, leaving some areas of the UK with a 50% decrease in attendance. Studies have also shown an overall drop in attendance with both men and women between the ages of 16-44. [Read more…]
The benefits of online appointments
Our busy lives are having an affect on our health, with over 15 million people each year missing doctors appointments.
Recent studies how found that the top two reasons for not showing up, are illness or forgetfulness.
With this huge strain on the NHS and private clinics, many surgeries have started to issue fines for people who either cancel too late or do not turn up to their appointment. [Read more…]
LGBT History Month 2019
February 1st brings us a whole month of LGBT education on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, plus the history of gay rights and related civil rights.
How much do you know about the LGBT community?
In the UK we celebrate LGBT History Month during February as it coincides with the abolition of Section 28, which happened in 2003. [Read more…]
