Our Articles

Tips For First-Time Mothers

Posted on November 25 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

First-time mothers often struggle throughout the pregnancy. They aren’t aware of the little tips that make pregnancy easier. Following these few simple pieces of advice can make your first pregnancy not only more enjoyable, but it can also make it cheaper!

Don’t Limit Yourself to Maternity Clothing

With the new, stylish maternity clothes and excitement of having a baby bump, new mothers can get wrapped up in buying only maternity clothes. Later in the pregnancy it may be necessary to shop solely at maternity stores, but for the first few months it can save new mothers a pretty penny if they just buy larger-sized clothing.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on October 3 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women.

In 2013, an estimated 232,340 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, while 64,640 will be diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer. With early detection and treatment, women can fight back against breast cancer.

Diagnosed with Breast Cancer? Here Are Your Treatment Options

  • Breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy. An operation to remove the breast cancer, but not the breast itself.

  • Total mastectomy. The entire breast is removed. Many celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Christina Applegate, Kathy Bates and Sharon Osbourne, have spoken out about their choice to receive a double mastectomy.

You Are Not Alone in Your Fight Against Breast Cancer

Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can be overwhelming. Hearing the perspective of others who have survived cancer can give you a better perspective on treatment and survival.

Here are a few quotes from famous faces who won the battle against breast cancer:

  • “Having had cancer, one important thing to know is you’re still the same person at the end…most people come out the other end feeling more like themselves than ever before.” -Kylie Minogue

  • “I look at my cancer journey as a gift: It made me slow down and realize the important things in life and taught me to not sweat the small stuff.” – Olivia Newton-John

  • “Cancer gave me the gift of being fearless.”- Today show co-host Hoda Kotb

  • “I was diagnosed with breast cancer two months ago and am recovering from a double mastectomy. I don’t miss my breasts as much as I miss Harry’s Law.” – Kathy Bates

What Can I Do To Show My Support in the Fight Against Breast Cancer?

“With over 3 million women battling breast cancer today, everywhere you turn there is a mother, daughter, sister, or friend who has been affected by breast cancer.” -Betsey Johnson

Even if you don’t suffer from breast cancer, you most likely know someone who is. Show your support by:

  • Donating to charities

  • Participating in walks and races that give proceeds to breast cancer foundations. Some of the most popular races include the Race for the Cure, Three-Day Walk for Breast Cancer and “Tour De Pink.”

 

Do your part in the fight against breast cancer.

 

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on September 18 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

September is ovarian cancer awareness month. Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly women’s cancers, affecting approximately 22,880 women each year. During ovarian cancer, one or more malignant cancerous cells are found in the ovaries, which are almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect because the symptoms aren’t obvious and the ovaries are deep within the abdominal cavity. The common ovarian cancer symptoms include:

  • Bloating
  • Frequent urination
  • Trouble eating
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Changes in menstruation
  • Upset stomach or heartburn

5 Rules of Safe Pregnancy Exercise

Posted on August 6 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Exercising during pregnancy offers a variety of benefits, including preparing you physically for child birth and increasing your endorphins. Though it is safe to exercise during pregnancy, there are a few things to keep in mind before starting an exercise plan.

Dealing with PMS and PMDD

Posted on July 9 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Every woman has used the excuse “I’m PMSing” in their lifetime. However, recent studies show that PMS and PMDD aren’t just excuses but medical conditions that can have an impact on a woman’s daily life.

What is PMS?

PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is a group of symptoms linked to the menstrual cycle. Though the length of time PMS occurs depends on the woman, the symptoms usually occur one to two weeks before menstruation begins. Some of the most common symptoms for PMS include:

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Headaches and backaches
  • Trouble with concentration
  • Anxiety and depression

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 85 percent of women show at least one of these symptoms before menstruation. However, one in 20 women can suffer with a severe form of PMS, also known as PMDD.

I Have Pelvic Pain. What Treatment Options Are There for Correcting This Problem?

Posted on June 19 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Pelvic pain itself is not a syndrome but instead a symptom of an underlying cause. It will be important to try and determine why you are having pelvic pain in order to properly treat it. However, diagnosing the root cause can often involve a trial and error process. Your doctor may need to spend some time using various tests to determine your diagnosis. In the meantime, pelvic pain from an unknown cause can be treated through different manners. Below, you will find information on how your doctor could treat pelvic pain.

Treatment for General Pelvic Pain

Dealing with pelvic pain will begin in a more generalized approach. For your comfort, your doctor will want to treat the pain itself while determining its exact cause. A few of the medication-based treatments that may be used include the following:

  • NSAIDs. These nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually the first stop in treating chronic pain. These medications can be found in over-the-counter and prescription strengths. You will need to discuss with your doctor which would be best for your pain therapy.
  • Narcotics. If you have more severe pelvic pain, then your doctor may suggest the short-term use of narcotic pain medications. However, these medications are highly addictive and dangerous so they cannot be used for long-term pain management.

In addition to the medications, some research has recently found that certain antidepressants called TCAs (tricyclic antidepressant medicines) can reduce the amount of chronic pelvic pain in some women. This is a fairly new method of treatment, so it may not be the avenue that your doctor will choose to recommend.

Steps to Treating Urinary Incontinence

Posted on May 21 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Urinary incontinence is not something that any woman wants to deal with. While common, incontinence can be due to a wide variety of factors, like age, having a baby, genetics, and illnesses. If you are dealing with urinary incontinence, then you know it comes along with embarrassment and frustration. The good news is that there are ways to treat your condition. With many different options, you will want to discuss those options with your doctor.

At Home Techniques

You cannot completely cure your incontinence at home, but there are definitely things you can do that will help the issue to some level. Here are some things you can do at home to deal with your condition:

  • Training your bladder by teaching yourself to hold your urge to go a little longer each day.
  • Scheduling your visits to the bathroom about every two to four hours.
  • Avoiding beverages that make you need to go quicker, like alcohol, caffeine, and foods that are high in acid.
  • Kegel exercises to build strength in the muscles of the pelvic floor.
  • Wearing incontinence pads or underwear
  • Using a catheter

These at home methods are often just methods of dealing with the urinary incontinence. However, if you only have the mildest of versions, they may be feasible. If you have more severe cases of urinary incontinence, then you will need to talk to your doctor about your options, such as medications or surgical procedures.

Understanding Your Birth Control Options

Posted on April 16 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

The modern world is certainly different from what women had to deal with years ago. Thanks to advances in science and technology, women have a variety of birth control options. These days, you can find choices that guarantee against pregnancy with ratings up to 99.9% if you make use of them properly. You can choose from birth control options that will best suit your lifestyle, but be sure to discuss your top choices with your doctor in order to pick the right one. Here are common choices for birth control that you could consider:

Barrier Methods of Birth Control

Barrier methods include those that block the sperm from ever reaching the egg. They include the following:

  • Contraceptive sponge along with a spermicide
  • Diaphragm
  • Cervical cap
  • Female condom
  • Male condom

These types of birth control methods are considered to have the higher chance of failure when compared to other methods. For example, the male condom is about 97% effective. That does not mean they are not viable means of birth control. They just do not get the complete assurance you could find in other choices.

Interested In Robotic Surgery? Learn More

Posted on March 14 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Surgical procedures have come a long way. Today surgery can be done with much more precision. Through robotic surgery, surgeons are now able to reach the minutest areas and increase their visual field. Through robotic arms, the surgery itself is clean and precise. Before you undergo robotic surgery, you should always ask your doctor questions.

Is Robotic Surgery the Right Choice for My Surgery?

Not all surgical procedures can even be performed through this cutting edge method. Depending on the condition that you have and the procedure that you need to undergo, it may or may not be an option for you. You will need to talk to your doctor to determine if this is the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor if You Have Endometriosis

Posted on February 13 2013 by The Women's Centre for Well Being

Each month, your body goes through a cycle. During that cycle, it prepares itself for having baby. That includes building up the uterine lining for implantation. For most women, the lining is built up and shed during their period each month as normal. For some women, the cells that build up normally within the uterus build up within the body cavity outside of the uterus. This is called endometriosis. The women who suffer deal with a number of problems like irregular bleeding, severe pain, and infertility.

If you have endometriosis and you are ready to talk to your doctor about the condition and your options, then the best thing to do is ask the right questions. By getting answers to your questions you can approach your condition, and its treatment, in the best possible manner.