All posts in Women’s Health

The arrival of a new baby into the family is a wonderful thing. All family members are excited to welcome the newborn! Since it is a new family member, it is also possible that family dynamics will change and be affected—especially if your older child is about to become the Big Sibling. So, what can you do to ensure introductions go smoothly?

• Share the news, but not too early! Share the news early with family and friends, but remember younger kids or toddlers have a limited sense of time: if you tell them something is going to happen, they expect it in the next moment, and non-specific waiting periods may cause worry and anxiety. Wait as long as you can, and then share the news with your older children by giving them concrete details about the timeline they can understand, like “after the snow melts,” or “when school starts”
• Your older kid may seem “older” to you, especially when a newborn arrives, but their perception of themselves is much different: they are still trying to figure out what their sense of self is, how the world works, and still have baby needs. Remind them that they will always be your first baby and be cautious to still tend to their baby needs even if you see them as older or more independent than the new baby.
• In a similar vein, because your older child may be unsure of their new role as a Big Sibling and possibly feel like more attention is given to the newborn, expect regression. Both toddlers and older children regress, even in toilet manners and sleep disruption. They need you more, so try your best to bring them closer during this time and give them extra cuddles, hugs, and babying them.
• Include them in the baby’s life in tangible ways, placing the attention on them: tell them the baby was waiting for them to get back from school, or allow them to open presents that arrive in the house. Young children like to help, so try and make them your sidekick in taking care of the baby: they can hold a toy for you while you buckle in the baby, or hand you a towel during bath time. These small acts go a long way in a toddler’s world!

And finally, remember that jealousy is normal. There is no doubt that in a healthy family environment your children will become friends, but that is in due time. For the time being, show your older child that there is a balance between the attention you give to the baby and the attention you give to them: remind them of the things you do together, and recognize that negative feelings should be expressed and are not necessarily bad—it’s all part of this new process the whole family is in!

Our offices, serving Buffalo, Williamsville, and WNY, are accepting appointments for new patients. Click here to learn more: WYN OBGYN.

Proper female hygiene is one of the most important gifts a woman can give her body. It not only ensures great personal hygiene, but it also protects us from facing more severe health issues that may be cause by poor female hygiene. Learning how to properly care for ourselves, however, can be a bit tricky as there is a lot of untrue information circulating the internet, and numerous products on the shelves that promise good hygiene but may not actually be that safe to use.

These are some of the most common myths about female hygiene:

1. You Need Special Products—no, you do not. The vagina has the ability to self-clean, and the vulva can be cleaned by thoroughly washing it with lukewarm water. You may use a mild, unscented soap if you wish, but make sure to wash off with plenty of water and pat the area dry, as extra moisture enables bacteria growth.
2. Vaginal Discharge Means Yeast Infection—it doesn’t. Vaginal discharge is absolutely normal and varies throughout your cycle. Secretions help remove bacteria and dead cells, thus keeping a healthy balance of vaginal flora. Healthy discharge does not have a strong odor or color and it shouldn’t cause discomfort. If you notice a strong odor, discharge that is abnormal to your body, and soreness and itching on the vaginal area, then you may be experiencing symptoms of an infection.
3. Vaginal Odor Means I Have an STI—not always. Every vagina has a distinct smell that also varies throughout the cycle, any may be more potent after you sweat or after sexual intercourse. More often, vaginal odor can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis: this happens when there is a change in vaginal bacteria, but it is not an STI. As a rule, vaginal odor on its own is not a sign of an STI, but if it comes along with soreness, itchiness, abnormal discharge, or other signs it may require further attention.
4. Douching Maintains Vaginal pH—quite the opposite! Douching is the process of water-soap or vinegar-soap into the vagina to clean it and get rid of the odor. These mixtures contain fragrances that upset the natural balance inside the vagina. Douching can disturb your vaginal pH balance and can lead to inflammation.
5. Underwear Choice Doesn’t Matter—but it does. The most gentle and natural fabric for your skin is cotton. It is breathable and absorbs moisture easily, thus helping absorb vaginal discharge without trapping extra moisture. Synthetic underwear can cause redness and chafing, which may then lead to other conditions such as yeast infections.

Despite the marketing many products engage in to convince you that they are good for you, remember to check the ingredients. You do not need to risk irritating your vagina with harsh soaps, or oil-based lubes, or vaginal sprays that contain harmful chemicals. Remember that your vagina is like a self-cleaning oven, and it needs very little external products for its maintenance.

Our offices, serving Buffalo, Williamsville, and WNY, are accepting appointments for new patients. Click here to learn more: WYN OBGYN.

Nearly every woman who has gone through menopause can attest to the numerous changes that come with it and are the results of lower estrogen levels in female bodies. Menopause changes can pose several health risks for women, both physical and mental. Some of the health issues postmenopausal women face are:

1. Heart Disease: Estrogen helps keep blood vessels flexible, but this is a benefit that’s lost after menopause. A study published in February 2021 also linked persistent hot flashes to future cardiovascular disease.
2. Osteoporosis: Women’s bones are protected by estrogen before menopause, but a year before menopause is finalized and for a few years after, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has found that bone loss is very rapid.
3. Weight Gain: Though many women consider this solely an issue of aesthetics, the changing metabolism resulting from menopause actually puts women in risk of type 2 diabetes.
4. UTIs: The vaginal tissue can become thinner and drier due to lower estrogen levels, thus increasing the risk of UTIs, as bacteria has more fertile ground in which to grow.

Along with the physical issues that women face as a result of menopause, studies also find that older women are also more likely than men to develop not only chronic health problems, but also cognitive problems. Anxiety, for example, affects 10-20% of older adults, but it often goes undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed as a side effect of other medications. Older adults may often leave mental health issues untreated since they commonly dismiss them as aches of their older age. Here are some ways in which you can recognize anxiety in older adults and help them seek appropriate treatment:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) may be what we most often see older adults struggle with, as those with GAD worry about a plethora of things (such as declining health, money, safety, family problems) when there may be little to no reason for such worries. It can lead to sleeplessness and difficulty relaxing, as well as fatigue, aches, irritability, nausea, and other physical symptoms.
• Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder is when someone feels anxious or overly self-conscious in social situations. Older persons may experience heightened self-consciousness or embarrassment in social situations because of possible declining health, aging, and change in appearance. This can lead to loss of friendships or difficulty socializing, and can be accompanied with physical symptoms of sweating, trembling, and difficulty talking.
• Specific phobias, in general, mean the intense fear of a situation, place, or event that may pose little to not threat. Phobias common among elders are fear of death and disaster to family. Thinking about, or facing, these situations can cause severe anxiety or a panic attack.

Remember that even though older adults may dismiss issues of mental health, these problems are very real and can have a severe effect on physical health. Thankfully, they are also treatable with the assistance of a mental health professional or consistent therapy. Contact our offices, serving Buffalo, Williamsville, and WNY, to schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about your body’s menopausal changes: WYN OBGYN.

Becoming pregnant comes with a myriad of changes: mood swings and hormonal rollercoasters, as well as necessary—and many times unavoidable—changes to the body. Pregnant women have to be mindful of their diets, as well as their mental and physical condition. Another cause of concern during pregnancy is arthritis: can you develop arthritis after pregnancy? Does having arthritis affect your ability to become pregnant? Let’s explore some of these questions.

Developing Arthritis

There does not seem to be a direct correlation between becoming pregnant and developing arthritis either right after your pregnancy or later down the road. It is rare that women will develop rheumatoid arthritis after pregnancy, and this is only if the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue.

However, there are some elements of pregnancy that cause joint pain:

1. Physical Demands of Pregnancy and Motherhood: Postpartum joint pain, or during pregnancy, can be caused because of the extra weight in your body. Your hips and knees may suffer because of it; sometimes your fingers too. Though most symptoms decline after childbirth, there is a chance they may stick around for longer and even develop into lifelong conditions. Applying ice packs and using compression bandages on areas that ache can help relieve the symptoms.
2. Fluid Retention: As you may know, fluid retention is a common side-effect of pregnancy. This can also increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that occurs when the median nerve in the hand is compressed. Fluid retention may also mean that fluid builds up the wrist, causing pressure on your hand nerves.
3. Post-Partum Hip Pain: This is also known as Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP), and it affects joints in the pelvic area. The most common cause of PGP is because the hips can become unstable during pregnancy. Its symptoms include pain in the pubic area, pain that seems to worsen with activity, radiating pain in your lower back, and popping sounds when you move your hips.

Pregnant with Arthritis

Generally speaking, you can become pregnant if you have arthritis. However, since certain medications can affect your baby or interfere with your ability to conceive, you should consult your doctor beforehand.

Symptoms of arthritis during pregnancy may worsen, as your body is carrying on extra weight. Added pressure on your spine can cause muscle spasms or numbness in your legs. Additionally, remember that sometimes pregnancy hormones change our perception of pain: as such, pain that was moderate before your pregnancy may be experienced as much higher when you are pregnant.

If you are taking medication for arthritis, consult your doctor on what medication is safe to continue, and which ones aren’t. Continue to be mindful of both medication and pain-reliever intake if you plan to breastfeed. Remember to exercise during pregnancy, so you can assist your body in promoting flexibility and muscle strength. If you are worried about the safety of your exercise routine when it comes to your baby, always consult a medical professional.

If you have heard the word, you probably know endometriosis comes with pain. The endometrium is tissue that lines the inside of your uterus. In the case of endometriosis, tissue similar to endometrium grows on the outside of your uterus, involving your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis. When this occurs, the endometrial-like tissue acts like the inside of your uterus on each menstrual cycle: it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds. However, it has no way outside of your body, so it is trapped and leads to excessive pain.

What else happens?

If endometriosis has moved to the ovaries, cysts called endometria may form. As a result, surrounding tissue becomes irritated causing scar tissue and adhesions. It is possible that these adhesions can cause pelvic organs to stick to each other.

What are the symptoms?

One of the first symptoms of endometriosis is extreme pain during menstruation, far more intense than regular period cramps. However, the amount of pain is not a good measure for how severe your case of endometriosis may be: you can have a serious case of it with little to no pain, or a mild case with a lot of pain. Pain that’s associated with endometriosis may become worse with time, and the following symptoms often accompany it:

• Painful periods for extended time: pelvic pain and cramping may begin before your period and extend for days after it, coupled with abdominal pain and lower back ache
• Pain during or after intercourse is common with endometriosis
• Pain with bowel movements or urination
• Bleeding excessively during your period, or bleeding in between periods
• Infertility is also associated with endometriosis, as the condition is often found when women seek fertility treatments

Some other symptoms of endometriosis may include fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating or nausea.

What causes it?

Some of the most common causes associated with endometriosis are:

• Retrograde menstruation: when menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back into the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity, not out of the body
• Transformation of peritoneal cells: when cells that line the inside of your abdomen become endometrial-like cells due to hormones or immune factors
• Embryonic cell transformation: when embryonic cells turn into endometrial-like cells during puberty
• Immune system disorder: when your body would not recognize and destroy endometrial-like tissue as a threat that is growing outside of your uterus

What are some of the available treatments?

Treatments depend on how severe your case of endometriosis is, and medication is taken as a first approach, with surgery following in extreme cases.

1. Pain medication to ease menstrual cramps
2. Hormonal contraceptives to control the hormones responsible for the buildup of endometrial tissue each month
3. Progestin therapy can stop menstrual periods and the growth of endometrial implants
4. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists and antagonists block the production of ovarian-stimulating hormones, thus lowering estrogen levels and preventing menstruation, and leading to endometrial tissue shrinking
5. Aromatase inhibitors is another way to reduce the amount of estrogen in your body