Breast lumps, pain, discharge or skin problems can be a sign of a minor problem or something more serious, so it's important to pay attention to any changes. Follow this chart for more information about breast problems.
SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSIS SELF-CARE
1. Do you have swelling and tenderness in one or both breasts? Go to Question 6.*
2. Have you given birth recently?
Soon after giving birth, your breasts could become engorged with milk, causing swelling and tenderness.
Breast pain along with redness, nipple discharge, itching or a fever, could be a sign of MASTITIS, an infection of a milk duct.
If your breasts are engorged, applying warm compresses to the breast and gently expressing some milk may help.
If you have an infection, talk to your doctor. He or she may give you an antibiotic.
3. Did the tenderness start recently, and do your breasts feel fuller and heavier? You may be PREGNANT. Changes in the way your breasts feel, fatigue, nausea and frequent urination are some of the early signs of pregnancy Take an at-home pregnancy test. If it's positive, see your doctor.
4. Do the swelling and tenderness seem to occur at about the same time during every menstrual cycle? Go to Question 6.*
5. Do you feel thickened, bumpy areas throughout your breast? Your symptoms may be a result of HORMONAL CHANGES during your menstrual cycle. If you also have irritability, trouble sleeping and mood changes, you may have PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS).
Over-the-counter medicines may help relieve bloating and tenderness. Ibuprofen or naproxen may be helpful for painful periods. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugary foods and excess salt. If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to relieve them.
Your symptoms may be caused by FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE. See your doctor. He or she may recommend that you avoid fatty foods and caffeine.
*6. Do you feel a tender lump, smaller than a penny, that wasn't there last month? This lump may be a noncancerous GROWTH or CYST. Carefully check this lump for a month. If it doesn't go away or it changes, see your doctor.
7. Do you feel a painless lump that is deep in your breast, possibly attached to your ribs? A painless, firm lump may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as BREAST CANCER. See your doctor as soon as possible.
8. Are you breastfeeding and having pain and cracking of the nipple? Persistent pain and cracking in the nipple with breastfeeding could mean INFECTION, or it could mean that your baby is not latching properly. Try a lanolin ointment on your nipple. If it doesn't help, see your doctor or a lactation consultant.
9. Have you noticed any breast changes such as skin dimpling or puckering, redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin, or have you had any nipple discharge? These changes may be a sign of a serious problem, such as BREAST CANCER See your doctor as soon as possible.
10. Do you have a sore on your breast that won't heal? A nonhealing sore on the breast could be a sign of a serious problem. See your doctor.
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think your problem is serious, call right away.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
BREAST HEALTH (Bra fit basics)
As girls reach puberty, they closely monitor the amazing and mystifying ways their bodies shift toward adulthood. Of all the changes, though, none is more closely watched and wondered about than breast changes. Girls watch the silhouettes of friends for hints, look to their moms and to movie stars and wonder: What will mine look like? How big will they be? When will I need a bra - and what size will it be?
For some women, their first bra wasn't really for support. Those training bras - simple, bandage-like pieces of fabric with basic clasps and, often, a tiny, delicate bow sewn between the cups - were probably bought to provide coverage during gym class. For others, that first bra was an absolute necessity for support and coverage.
No matter what her size, a woman's breasts need support. That's because a woman's breasts have no natural support system. The breasts contain no muscles to hold them up, instead relying on the skin and a network of underlying connective tissue called the "Cooper's ligaments" for minimal support.
As a woman moves, so do her breasts - vertically, horizontally, and in an overall figure-8 like motion. If not properly supported, breasts can move too much and cause pain and discomfort - especially during exercise. A bra can reduce excessive motion and prop up the breasts to help slow sagging that comes with age and movement.
Unfortunately, it's estimated that 8 out of 10 women wear the wrong size bra. A woman chooses a bra size based on two components - the cup size, noted by letters, and the band size, noted in inches. Cup size is measured at the fullest point of the breasts, and the band size is determined by measuring the distance around a woman's back right beneath her breasts.
There are lots of reasons why women calculate this bra equation incorrectly, like not switching sizes when weight fluctuates. In many cases, women pay more attention to cup size than to band size, often choosing a cup size that is too small and a back size that is too large. A lot of cultural emphasis is put on cup size. Stuck in an A-cup, a woman may feel less feminine, while going beyond D cup can seem like crossing into forbidden "fat" territory.
But when a woman wears a bra in which the band size is too large, she depends on tightening the shoulder straps to keep the breasts propped up. Ill-fitted shoulder straps droop or dig into the skin and can cause muscle tightness that may trigger aches and pains. A properly-fitted band fits around the smallest part of a woman's back, midway between shoulders and elbows. At this position, a bra can provide adequate support, lift the breasts, and accentuate a woman's waistline. Consider going up a cup size and down a band inch.
So, forget the stigmas and go for fit. In fact, go for a fitting! A professional bra-fitting can help women find not only the perfect bra size but also the perfect bra type for her figure. A full-cup bra will cover much of the breast, while a balconette (A.K.A. shelf bra, demi-cup, half-cup) is cut horizontally across the breast. A plunge-style bra dips down into the cleavage.
Women should also invest in a well-fitted sports bra. All the up-and-down, side-to-side, and figure-8 movement during exercise can be a real pain, no matter what size of breasts a woman has. Luckily, the sports bra has come a long way since its beginnings as sewn-together jockstraps. Nowadays, a woman can choose the more traditional "compression" sports bra, which flattens the breasts against the chest. Or she can opt for a sports bra with moulded cups to support each breast separately. The compression sports bra is thought to be more effective to reduce movement for smaller breasts, while the moulded cup sports bra is thought to be more effective for larger breasts. However, some research has noted that these double-cupped sports bras more effectively reduce motion for both larger and smaller breasts. Women should try both types to see what is most comfortable for them.
For some women, their first bra wasn't really for support. Those training bras - simple, bandage-like pieces of fabric with basic clasps and, often, a tiny, delicate bow sewn between the cups - were probably bought to provide coverage during gym class. For others, that first bra was an absolute necessity for support and coverage.
No matter what her size, a woman's breasts need support. That's because a woman's breasts have no natural support system. The breasts contain no muscles to hold them up, instead relying on the skin and a network of underlying connective tissue called the "Cooper's ligaments" for minimal support.
As a woman moves, so do her breasts - vertically, horizontally, and in an overall figure-8 like motion. If not properly supported, breasts can move too much and cause pain and discomfort - especially during exercise. A bra can reduce excessive motion and prop up the breasts to help slow sagging that comes with age and movement.
Unfortunately, it's estimated that 8 out of 10 women wear the wrong size bra. A woman chooses a bra size based on two components - the cup size, noted by letters, and the band size, noted in inches. Cup size is measured at the fullest point of the breasts, and the band size is determined by measuring the distance around a woman's back right beneath her breasts.
There are lots of reasons why women calculate this bra equation incorrectly, like not switching sizes when weight fluctuates. In many cases, women pay more attention to cup size than to band size, often choosing a cup size that is too small and a back size that is too large. A lot of cultural emphasis is put on cup size. Stuck in an A-cup, a woman may feel less feminine, while going beyond D cup can seem like crossing into forbidden "fat" territory.
But when a woman wears a bra in which the band size is too large, she depends on tightening the shoulder straps to keep the breasts propped up. Ill-fitted shoulder straps droop or dig into the skin and can cause muscle tightness that may trigger aches and pains. A properly-fitted band fits around the smallest part of a woman's back, midway between shoulders and elbows. At this position, a bra can provide adequate support, lift the breasts, and accentuate a woman's waistline. Consider going up a cup size and down a band inch.
So, forget the stigmas and go for fit. In fact, go for a fitting! A professional bra-fitting can help women find not only the perfect bra size but also the perfect bra type for her figure. A full-cup bra will cover much of the breast, while a balconette (A.K.A. shelf bra, demi-cup, half-cup) is cut horizontally across the breast. A plunge-style bra dips down into the cleavage.
Women should also invest in a well-fitted sports bra. All the up-and-down, side-to-side, and figure-8 movement during exercise can be a real pain, no matter what size of breasts a woman has. Luckily, the sports bra has come a long way since its beginnings as sewn-together jockstraps. Nowadays, a woman can choose the more traditional "compression" sports bra, which flattens the breasts against the chest. Or she can opt for a sports bra with moulded cups to support each breast separately. The compression sports bra is thought to be more effective to reduce movement for smaller breasts, while the moulded cup sports bra is thought to be more effective for larger breasts. However, some research has noted that these double-cupped sports bras more effectively reduce motion for both larger and smaller breasts. Women should try both types to see what is most comfortable for them.
Monday, March 7, 2011
INFERTILITY IN MALE
Learn About Infertility, Male
What is Infertility, Male?
Conceiving a child is always far from predictable, but when a couple has not succeeded after a year of having sex without any form of contraception--especially during the woman's most fertile days of the month--there may be a fertility problem. It was previously believed that the inability to conceive occurred equally in males and females. However, a multi-center study by the World Health Organization found that males contribute to a couple’s infertility less frequently than females. The study found that about 20% of cases are attributable to the male and 38% to the female while both partners are infertile in 27% of cases: in the remaining 15% of cases, the cause is unknown. (1)
In addition to inability to conceive after a year of trying, male infertility is defined by a total sperm count of less than 5 million per ml, the presence of more than 50% abnormal sperm, and/or inability of the sperm to impregnate an egg in the laboratory.
While some causes of infertility in men cannot be reversed, a diagnosis of male infertility does not always mean that conceiving a child is impossible; it simply means that becoming pregnant may be more challenging for the couple. There are many methods and technologies today that can assist in the pursuit of parenthood. Seeking professional advice early can prevent delays in the goal of starting a family.
Despite the prolonged frustration that results from infertility, the statistics are encouraging: Up to 60% of couples who haven't conceived after a year of trying will do so eventually—with or without treatment.
What is Infertility, Male?
Conceiving a child is always far from predictable, but when a couple has not succeeded after a year of having sex without any form of contraception--especially during the woman's most fertile days of the month--there may be a fertility problem. It was previously believed that the inability to conceive occurred equally in males and females. However, a multi-center study by the World Health Organization found that males contribute to a couple’s infertility less frequently than females. The study found that about 20% of cases are attributable to the male and 38% to the female while both partners are infertile in 27% of cases: in the remaining 15% of cases, the cause is unknown. (1)
In addition to inability to conceive after a year of trying, male infertility is defined by a total sperm count of less than 5 million per ml, the presence of more than 50% abnormal sperm, and/or inability of the sperm to impregnate an egg in the laboratory.
While some causes of infertility in men cannot be reversed, a diagnosis of male infertility does not always mean that conceiving a child is impossible; it simply means that becoming pregnant may be more challenging for the couple. There are many methods and technologies today that can assist in the pursuit of parenthood. Seeking professional advice early can prevent delays in the goal of starting a family.
Despite the prolonged frustration that results from infertility, the statistics are encouraging: Up to 60% of couples who haven't conceived after a year of trying will do so eventually—with or without treatment.
Friday, March 4, 2011
What is Infertility, Female?
When a woman hasn't conceived after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse during her most fertile times of the month (before and during ovulation), infertility is a possibility that she and her partner must consider. The problem affects about 10 million Americans. In 40% of infertile couples, it's the woman who has problems that prevent pregnancy. In another 40% of cases, the primary cause lies with the man. In the remaining 20%, both partners have factors that stand in the way of conceiving a child.
A diagnosis of female infertility does not mean that you cannot conceive a child; it simply means that becoming pregnant may be more challenging for you and your partner. There are many methods and technologies today that can assist you in your pursuit to become parents.
Today women are waiting longer to start a family. As fertility declines with age, a woman who is over 35 and trying to conceive is advised to seek help after six months of trying to become pregnant. By seeking professional advice you can prevent further delay to your goal of starting a family.Read more about infertility>>
A diagnosis of female infertility does not mean that you cannot conceive a child; it simply means that becoming pregnant may be more challenging for you and your partner. There are many methods and technologies today that can assist you in your pursuit to become parents.
Today women are waiting longer to start a family. As fertility declines with age, a woman who is over 35 and trying to conceive is advised to seek help after six months of trying to become pregnant. By seeking professional advice you can prevent further delay to your goal of starting a family.Read more about infertility>>
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)