All women need to listen to their doctor’s advice – many behave the wrong way

In the “Prescription for Health” program, I. Šiaudinytė said that all women should visit a doctor at least once a year. And if there are certain health complaints, it is necessary more often.

“Most women experience altered shocks and baths in the lower abdomen. A smaller proportion of women request cycle changes, said the interlocutor.

– In addition to genital or sexual health complaints, other symptoms are important for the gynecologist. Sometimes I ask patients what complaints they have about their overall health, what they would like to say to other doctors. A simple example is hairiness increase. Often, women don’t even think it may be related to STDs. Therefore, I urge all women to speak fully openly with gynecologists or other doctors. Because what you say to the doctor stays between the four walls, and it is very important for us to diagnose the disease. “

Control your cycle

As the doctor told me, the menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of menstruation, it usually lasts 28 days and ends on the first day of the next menstrual period. The cycle can fluctuate and each woman has it individually. According to I. Šiaudnytė, it is normal if it lasts from 21 to 35 days.

“For girls, as soon as menstruation begins, it is normal for the first 2-3 years that the menstrual cycle is not regular. After 2-3 years, it should become regular. If this does not happen, you should consult an obstetrician-gynecologist, “said the interlocutor.

It should also be alarming if a woman has always had a normal cycle, but suddenly something has changed, it has come sooner or later. In this case, your doctor recommends getting a pregnancy test first and then seeing a gynecologist.

“The duration of menstrual bleeding is also individual. It is normal if it lasts from 2 to 7 days, sometimes up to 8. It is very difficult to assess which bleeding is normal and which is not. But if the pads or swabs need to be changed more often than every 2 hours, you are bothered by heavy bleeding with blood clots, it would be worth consulting a doctor. This can be assessed by a simple blood test. If the hemoglobin is not too low and the woman does not feel much discomfort, this situation can simply be controlled, “said the interviewee.

Of course, changes in the menstrual cycle can report illness. For example, a woman may experience polyps or uterine fibroids while being bothered by extreme bleeding. Postmenopausal bleeding can report uterine cancer.

It is worth thinking about. if the changes in the environment did not result in an interrupted cycle. The doctor advises, do not forget to think about diet, stress, it turns out that sometimes even very good things can act on the body as stress, such as traveling or big trips. During the trip, the menstrual cycle can change and this is normal.

Diet also has a great impact on menstruation. For example, when you start a strict diet, your period may completely disappear.

“If you see a sudden change, it started to hurt a lot, you don’t have to wait any longer and you better hurry up to check it out.” Some women experience painful menstruation throughout their lives and somehow accept it, take medication, and think it is normal. But if it is really normal it is a more important question for the gynecologist. Such pain can be a symptom of fibroids, polyps, endometriosis, “said I. Šiaudinytė.

Termination of menstruation: only after consulting a doctor

Full menstrual cessation is becoming increasingly popular when women take birth control pills without interruption. However, your gynecologist advises you to discuss this in detail with your doctor before choosing to take oral contraceptives regularly and stop your menstrual cycle completely. If you want to do this for no apparent reason and just don’t want to bleed, you can think of the hormonal spiral that often stops bleeding.

“But sometimes the gynecologist himself advises stopping the menstrual cycle, for example when dealing with especially painful menstruation. In this case, we often prescribe birth control pills continuously for 3 months. And there is no need to be afraid of that. But it is important consult, “said I. Šiaudinytė.

Can a sauna and a hot bath really lead to a faster onset of menstruation?

In fact, a warm bath or sauna at the end of a cycle can lead to menstruation. You can try, but I can’t guarantee that it really helps, “smiles the gynecologist.

Most women don’t even feel the appearance of cervical cancer

Another topic that is often discussed when visiting gynecologists is cervical cancer. According to the doctor, this is a disease of young women, therefore preventive free screening programs in Lithuania start at the age of 25.

“The human papilloma virus causes more than 99 percent of all cervical cancers. There are many types of viruses, some with high risk, others with low oncogenic risk. This virus is sexually transmitted and infects up to 90% of people. “Women and girls who started their sex life. This means that up to 90 percent. Women have contracted this infection at some point in their lives. Normal immunity must deal with it and eliminate it from the body,” said the interlocutor.

– Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women of childbearing age. Until the cancer has progressed, the woman usually feels nothing. Occasionally, bleeding may occur after intercourse or in the middle of a cycle. But most women have no complaints and the only way to detect precancerous lesions is to get a cervical test. “

25 to 60 times every three years, the state reimburses this study. A woman can see a family doctor or a gynecologist. How to prepare for it? I. Šiaudinytė informs that if you register with a gynecologist during the visit and will probably take this exam, it would be good if the exam is done outside of menstruation, it would be best to do it in 10-20 days of the cycle.

Incidentally, this study is done only on women who have already had sex. It is recommended not to have sex, vaginal suppositories, or vaginal gel the day before the test. If you have complaints of altered discharge, itching, the test should also not be performed. Precancerous conditions, if treated early, are almost always cured.

“Women may ask the gynecologist to palpably evaluate the breasts during the visit. However, the woman herself must evaluate if the breasts and nipples are symmetrical when standing in front of the mirror, as well as perform a palpation, which is recommended after of menstruation. It should be done lying down and lifting one hand over the head, feeling one breast with the other hand. From the age of 40, it is recommended to have an ultrasound every two years and, from the age of 50, include women in breast prevention programs. If you feel anything, consult a gynecologist, “said the interviewee.

It is better not to try home remedies to treat intimate diseases.

At least 75 percent. Women have been exposed to thrush at least once. The gynecologist explains that the vagina, like the intestines or the skin, is rich in bacteria. There are also fungal spores, this is not treated and is common. However, when something decreases, the vagina becomes a favorable medium for growth on the other side: bacteria or fungal spores. In this case, the disease can start.

“Both candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis are manifested by an increase in secretions. However, the main difference is that bacterial vaginosis is characterized by grayish, greenish and unpleasant-smelling secretions, while fungal infections: thrushes are characterized by the consistency of curd, spongy, thick, white discharge, and they are white. These diseases are caused by different pathogens and their treatment is different, “said I. Šiaudinytė.

Breast cancer can occur with high sugar intake. It can also increase with the use of synthetic, compression, frequently worn panties and infrequent replacement of tampons. Yeast infections, according to the doctor, rarely go away on their own. Therefore, it is better not to try home cures, it would be much faster after a visit to a gynecologist.

“There is an acidic medium in the vagina, so we can’t really use shower gel or soap for intimate hygiene. There is also enough water. But for those who want more, special intimate hygiene cleansers can be used,” advised the interviewed.