SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
Women’s health management in today is no longer
only concentrating on curative measures but is
focusing more and more on ensuring quality of
life improvement for women. As society is
starting to expect women to play an
ever-increasing part on the socio-economic
scene, women are starting to demand better care
and understanding from their health givers. We
are also seeing a marked change in the attitude
and approach to women’s health matters since
more female doctors are specializing in
gynaecology and obstetrics these days. There
seems to be a better understanding and empathy
towards women’s problems and the male
gynaecological fraternity that used to dominate
the gynaecology scene have suddenly become aware
of: ‘the woman behind the problem’!
At a recent South African Uro-gynaecology
Society congress and International Uro-Gynae
Exchange workshops held in Midrand, Gauteng,
particular attention was paid to matters
relative to urinary problems ranging from
incontinence (leaking of urine), urinary
retention (unable to urinate) and infections as
well as to colon and defecation problems. Common
conditions like constipation, irritable bowl
syndrome (or spastic colon as it is referred to
more often) and anal incontinence were put under
the spotlight and discussed by South African
experts and their International counterparts. It
was evident from the discussions and workshops
that South African specialists are holding their
own when it comes to these matters, as for a
matter of fact they do in almost all other
fields of medicine.
An interesting aspect that emerged from the
discussions was the fact that problems relating
to pelvic floor damage and dysfunction are not
as uncommon in black patients as previously
thought. It seems that there are more women of
colour suffering from pelvic floor prolapse and
incontinence than previously accepted. It is
possible that these women are more prone to just
accept their fate than to seek help. In the case
of white women about 11% of all women will
require treatment for prolapse related symptoms.
The most common causes for these problems are
vaginal childbirth, increasing age and chronic
constipation.
What has become clear is that these conditions
are not only debilitating but also very common.
The sad thing is that there are hundreds of
women out there that are unaware of all the
treatment options available.
Hermanus Doctors
On-line
THE MIRENA TO THE RESCUE
Dr Paul
de Flamigh
In modern times one is almost daily bombarded by
new inventions and developments. One of the most
elegant and useful inventions in medical
practice must be the development of the Mirena,
intra-uterine contraceptive device. This device
has been around for a couple of years and has
been tried and tested by millions of women over
the world. It is an intra-uterine contraceptive
device with a difference that instead of having
copper around the stalk of the device, it has a
reservoir consisting of a slow release
progesterone. The reason for this is that the
progesterone that is slowly released over a
period of 5 – 7 years, works by suppressing the
growth of the lining of the womb (uterus) and
therefore cuts down on the menstrual bleeding
and if the patient is fortunate (as most of them
are) they will eventually stop having periods
all together.
I often get asked if this is detrimental for the
patient but as the action is only localized in
the uterus and not systemically, it means that
there is a limited effect on the particular
cells lining the womb and the hormone does not
enter the bloodstream in significant quantities
to have any systemic effect. The patient
therefore has the advantage of being protected
against unwanted pregnancies, the comfort of
having very little to no periods at all, and
still have normal hormonal cycles because the
ovaries are not affected by this particular
device. Should the patient desire to fall
pregnant again, the device is very easily
removed in the consulting rooms and within
approximately a month she will have a normal
period and can therefore attempt further
pregnancies with no risk. The safety factor of
this device is virtually 100% and considered
statis-tically as safe as having a
sterilization, provided that the apparatus is
properly fitted. It does not need to be fitted
in theatre or under anaesthetic and can be done
in the consulting rooms in most cases, provided
care is taken and it is done gently. One can
also use this device in women that have very
heavy periods but have possibly been sterilized
and where no other pathology is found and
therefore avoid surgery like for instance a
hysterectomy. Although the device is considered
reasonably expensive at approximately R1 500, if
one considers the benefits and comfort it
provides and divide this costs into 60 – 72
months, you quickly realise that this is
actually a bargain.
This is a very liberating device with lots of
benefits for women and should any readers want
to obtain any more information they can go to
the Schering website or phone Sr Dianne Jooste
on 086 010 2667.
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Medical Services Listed in Hermanus
Antionette van Vuuren
Physiotherapist
7 Myrtle Lane Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3121981
Dr Du Toit & Munnik
14 Paterson St Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3121119
Dr Herman Fourie
Dentist
Hoofweg 9 Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3121066
Dr J.G. Tredoux
(Specialist Physician)
48 Fourie St, Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3130356 (24H)
Hermanus Medi Clinic
Hospital
St Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3130168
L Stander & T Visser
Physiotherapist
4 Mountain Drive Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3122735
Optical Eyes
Gateway Centre Hermanus
+27 (0)28-3131101 |
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