Vaginal dryness is not associated with menopause alone as it can also affect women of all ages; in fact it may be a sign of a deeper problem that needs immediate attention and treatment. To understand the symptom of vaginal dryness and itchiness you have to know what causes it

You may find yourself in a very delicate position to discuss this matter, be rest assured though that your gynecologist or health provider have encountered many problems like yours, so you do not need to worry. Discussing it will be a very big step towards finding the solution you need.

If you are in pre-menopause, vaginal dryness is associated with the decrease in hormone supply from the ovaries and your gynecologist will discuss with you about hormonal replacement therapy.

However, if you are not in this stage something else may be causing the dryness and itchiness. These findings may not be accurate but will give you an idea of your condition.

A condition called atrophic vaginal changes is usually accompanied by vaginal dryness. This may affect women of all ages; this condition is caused by a sudden decline in the estrogen levels.

Conditions that predispose this are: anorexia, childbirth and sudden loss of weight. All three conditions are associated with loss of body fluid and can therefore cause dehydration; they are also associated with psychological conditions that can affect the production of estrogen levels.

The symptoms include vaginal tissues becoming flattened, smoother, thinner and paler in appearance; and the feeling of dryness that is not related to any inflammation.

Management of this condition may include estrogen supplement in both oral or topical form and the aid of hypoallergenic lubricating, moisturizing remedies.

Another condition related to vaginal dryness and itchiness is called atrophic vaginitis, the symptoms are the same with atrophic vaginal changes discussed earlier, the only difference is that atrophic vaginitis is associated with inflammation, so it is also manifested by pain, redness, burning and itching sensation during urination and also painful intercourse.

This condition is also caused by a decline in the estrogen level decreasing the vagina’s normal flora and making the pH less acidic making the woman very prone to infection and inflammation.

Treatment management for atrophic vaginitis will include an antibiotic therapy other than the estrogen supplement and lubricating solution mentioned earlier.

Another condition related to vaginal dryness and itching is genital lichen sclerosis also called lichen sclerosus. This is an autoimmune condition, the exact cause is unknown that start with the appearance of small smooth patches (hypopigmentation) around the vulva and sometimes extends to the perineum and the anus.

Over time they become large patches making the vulva appear thinner and crinkled, eventually losing the tissue folds and the sensation. Treatment may include topical corticosteroids and estrogen vaginal products to prevent tissue bleeding, tearing and scarring.

Although lichen sclerosis is not cancer, studies showed that vaginal tissues that have been scarred predisposes slightly to the development of cancer cells.

There are still other causes of dryness and they include vulvodynia, bacterial infections like: vaginosis, herpes, candidiasis, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and condylomata (genital warts), just to name a few.
Whatever it is that is causing the symptoms, the best thing for you to do is to visit your gynecologist for proper assessment and evaluation so that proper treatment management can be given to you.

The products that may be responsible for causing breast cancer are those that are commonly found in kitchen cabinets all over – deodorizing air sprays and other foams and formulations that help to clear mold from tiles and similar cleaning products and pesticides could be responsible.

The study found that those women who were seen to use air fresheners were 20% more at risk of developing breast cancer according to the journal Environmental Health.

When it came to solid air fresheners, this risk rose further – users were twice as likely to develop and be diagnosed with breast cancer.

While surface and oven cleaners are not implicated in this, it is thought to be substances such as artificial musk and detergents that are added to products to make them smell better that could be responsible for causing cancer.

The findings of the study are not indicative of requiring any kind of recall of these products nor should women blame their ill health on them just yet caution researchers. As of now, more research into this is required to be done, before it can be called conclusive.

Symptoms of endometriosis include severe and chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and marked infertility.

Current treatment management of endometriosis comprises the use of analgesics to manage pain and oral contraceptive pills preventing ovulation to minimize thickness of the endometrial layer of the uterus.

Over the years, continued researches have been made to create the specific drug to treat endometriosis. Having understood the pathophysiology of the disease has opened the possibilities of creating drugs that will target the hypothalamic-pituitary areas of the brain to inhibit the production of GnRH (Gonadotropic releasing hormone) that is responsible in stimulating hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle.

Drugs available that have a promising outcome in the treatment of endometriosis include the following medications; Aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane, and vorozole), Leukotriene-Antagonists (zafirlukast accolate), montelukast (Singulaire), and zileuton (Ziflo) and Selective Estrogen-Receptor Modulators (SERMs) raloxifene (Evista) or tibolone).

Another drug is the Neurocrine’s elagolix, the first oral non peptide gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. Phase II trials have shown that it is effective in treating endometriosis during the 6 months clinical trial therapy.

The complementary alternative medicines are doing their own research and here are some common plant sources of plant stem cell extracts that have positive effect in the control of the reproductive hormones: Rye seed rootlets (Secale Cereale) are found to be good in Endometriosis, Adenomyosis by regulating the hormonal balance;

Raspberry young shoots (Rubus Idaeus) stimulates estrogen and progesterone by regulating ovarian function and Oriental Plane tree buds (Platanus Orientals) stimulates the pituitary enzymes that decreases potency of estrogen reducing the risk for breast cancer and endometriosis.

There are a lot of studies done to help women cope with the discomfort and fertility risks of endometriosis and if you are a woman of very young age and have a family history of endometriosis, the first step towards winning this battle is to seek help early.

The telltale signs that might tell you, you may have the disorder are irregular menstrual cycle, severe dysmenorrhea, presence of blood clots during menstrual flow and in between bleeding characterized by dark red to dark brown stains. If you have experienced any of this, have an early appointment with a Gynecologist for proper evaluation, management and treatment.

Missy Lavender is the co-founder of the Chicago-based Women’s Health Foundation, and it is her view that the area between the belly button and the top of the thighs “has been shoved aside for too long” and that it is necessary to break this silence shrouding pelvic health.

Her DVD entitled Total Control is used by hospitals all over the country and consists of 45 minutes of exercise and 15 minutes of educational nuggets telling women what they can do right now to change their life.

Her programs called Sex, Chocolate and Your Pelvic Floor, seeks to draw women together to educate them about pelvic health. Better pelvic health can not only solve problems of leaking urine or incontinence, it can help women enjoy a better sex life.

She tries to make the obscure topic of pelvic health fun, approachable and relevant, so that women inadvertently learn more about their own bodies. She uses humor so that the subject that she talks about doesn’t seem medical and scary.

However, before panicking, it is important to understand that the prognosis of each woman in stage 3 of a breast cancer can actually vary enormously.

Given the tremendous variation in survival rates, research has found that 72% of women who have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer go on to live for at least 10 years after their diagnosis.

Breast cancer stage 3 is actually divided into 3 sub-stages which correspond to the following conditions:

Breast cancer Stage 3 A / III A: Breast cancer at this stage is described as invasive and could be used to mean having: no tumor may be found in the breast, however the lymph nodes (typically found sticking together or to other structures) found in the underarm (s) are found to have cancer, or cancer may be seen to have spread to the lymph nodes near the breast bone.

In the alternative, the tumor in the breast is 5 centimeters or smaller (the size of a regular AA sized battery) and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm that are sticking to other structures or clumped together.

In the alternative the tumor could be bigger than 5 cm and has spread to the lymph nodes. Each of these conditions fall within the stage 3 A category.

Breast cancer Stage 3 B / III B: This is the term used to describe breast cancer that shows a tumor of any size, but which have spread to the skin of the breast and/or the chest wall.

In addition, the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes of the axilla (underarm) that are clumped to one another or are sticking to other structures or may have spread to the nodes beneath the breast bone. If the cancer is termed as being inflammatory, it will be deemed to have reached at least this stage of III B.

Breast cancer Stage 3 C / III C: This stage of breast cancer is defined as invasive breast cancer that shows characteristics of having spread to the skin of the breast and / or the chest wall.

In the breast itself, there may or may not be any sign of the cancer. The cancer would also have spread to the collarbone lymph nodes, those near the breast bone as well as the axillary lymph nodes.

The earlier parts of stage III breast cancer can be termed as the early stages of breast cancer, however the later sub categories are described as later or advanced stages.

After the third stage of breast cancer which progresses as described above, stage four describes the sort of invasive breast cancer that progresses to other organs of the body such as the brain, the lungs, liver or the bones. Stage IV cancer is also termed as metastatic cancer.

It would appear that this is a case of an Ovarian Cyst where the woman’s normally solid ovary or ovaries are seen to form a cyst where fluid has collected. Ovarian cysts form when something goes wrong during the process of the development of the follicle and release of the egg from the ovary each month.

There is the apprehension that ovarian cysts are associated with ovarian cancer, but in a vast majority of cases, these cysts do not lead to cancer.

Most benign (non-cancerous) cysts go away by themselves and not a cause for worry since they do not require treatment. This happens when the collection of fluid in the cyst is reabsorbed by the blood stream. Treatment/investigation is required if:

• A painful ovarian cyst should be investigated properly to rule out any serious problems.
• Also if an ovarian cyst does not resolve itself after several months (and menstrual periods) further investigation is required.
• For post menopausal women also ovarian cyst is of concern.
• If the cyst is growing larger rather than diminishing in size.

For a majority of those that have cervical dysplasia, the immune system of the body is able to eliminate any problems without actual intervention.

What are the causes of Cervical Dysplasia? The HPV (human Papilloma virus) is responsible for causing cervical dysplasia. This is the basic infection that is responsible for causing genital warts or mild dysplasia to severe dysplasia and even cervical cancer.

There are certain factors that increase risk of HPV induced dysplasia and even subsequent cervical cancer.

Smoking is a factor that is seen to substantially increase risk.

Other conditions that make a person immune compromised such as HIV etc are also more at risk.

The importance of the Pap Smear in detecting Cervical Dysplasia: The fact is that cervical dysplasia has no observable signs or symptoms and as such is impossible to detect without screening.

Since this is a condition that typically takes years to develop, regular screening is the best weapon against it so as to be able to detect any chances of developing cancer in the future.

This is where a pap smear (Papanicolaou test) assumes great importance. This test is performed by obtaining a smear or sample of cells from the outside of the cervix using a brush or a spatula or a swab. This sample of cells collected is then observed in order that any irregularity, disorder or abnormality can be detected.

Other tests for detecting cervical dysplasia could include colposcopy (examination of the vulva, vaginal walls and uterine cervix), doing a biopsy (taking of tissue samples to examine for abnormality or malignancy) and/or HPV testing.

What is the treatment for cervical dysplasia: The treatment usually depends upon the type or severity of cervical dysplasia that a woman has.

Mild or low grade cervical dysplasia generally requires no actual treatment and can resolve itself without intervention. Monitoring the situation is more important than treatment.

Since treatment is not required, monitoring is done to see that the problem does not develop and progress into a malignant or cancerous form.

The treatment for high grade cervical dysplasia could be performed in two ways: ablation (destruction of the abnormal area) or resection (removal of the abnormal tissue).

Though both procedures are seen to be effective, in general the former is recommended for milder conditions of dysplasia and the latter is indicated for more severe or cancerous conditions.

So as we have seen the diagnosis of cervical dysplasia need not be any cause for panic. For a large majority of women this may be an important warning sign that could indicate that a serious problem may be possible in the future.

However, in most cases, cervical dysplasia is something that resolves itself without treatment or medication and for a vast majority of women who have the condition; it is nothing to worry about.

In this post by senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, some serious medical lacuna in the movie is pointed out.

Reportedly of the ‘girls’, Samantha is undergoing hormone treatment and is quoted as saying ““I’m leading the way through the menopause maze… I’ve tricked my body into thinking it’s younger…No hot flashes. No mood swings. And my sex drive is right back to where it was.”

Sounds good, but the only glitch is that she is also supposed to have had breast cancer and when you are a breast cancer survivor it is not recommended that you take hormone therapy.

This increases chances of reoccurrence of the cancer. Most doctors would never allow hormone therapy for women who have survived breast cancer and breast cancer survivors are upset with the movie as well.

Clearly this is significant misinformation by the makers of the movie, who ought to have done their research properly, prior to penning their dialogue for the film. This is tantamount to telling women out there that it is OK to do something that is potentially dangerous to women’s health.

Trails being conducted on the drug Avastin are offering hope that the drug will manage to prolong life of sufferers of ovarian cancer who are terminal or in their last stages. Avastin is already seen to be effective in treating other cancers such as cancers of the bowel as well as breast cancer.

This drug is seen to starve the cancer cells by restricting their blood supply so that they are not able to grow or flourish and may be even more effective it used in the earlier stages of the cancer to prevent its spread.

The drug is not cheap, however it is being seen as a very significant development in the field of ovarian cancer which has seen no particular advancement in over two decades, and is therefore a welcome advancement in this field.

This kind of female cancer is known as the silent killer because ovarian cancer exhibits few or no symptoms in the earlier stages and is therefore very difficult to detect and start treatment for.

Also very often those who have no risk of breast cancer will develop the disease, so there is nothing really hard and fast about these risk factors. The main risk factors for breast cancer are:

• Gender of being a woman is the first risk factor. Breast cancer a hundred times more likely to affect women than men.
• Age is the other factor. The older a woman gets, the higher her risk of breast cancer is.
• Early menstruation, or getting one’s first period at or before the age of 11 years also marginally increases the risk.
• Like early menstruation, late menopause also increases ones risk of developing breast cancer, because of a prolonged exposure to the female hormone estrogen.
• Women who have or have had close female relatives develop breast cancer are also more at risk
• Women who have had not had any children or those who have had their first child at age 30 and above are also more at risk.
• Women having had a previous breast cancer are more likely to develop another separate cancer of the breast.
• Those women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are also thought to be more at risk of breast cancer. Use of the birth control pill also increases exposure to hormones, and hence is also thought to increase breast cancer risk.
• Race and ethnicity are also risk factors; white Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than black women.
• Dense breast tissue that contains more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue is also seen to up the risk.
• Certain benign breast conditions also are seen to up the risk.
• Women who have undergone chest radiation during childhood or early adulthood are also thought to have an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol(DES), which may have been administered during the 1940s, 50s and 60s is thought to increase risk either of the women who took the drug or of the women who were born of women who took the drug when pregnant with them.
• Lifestyle factors such as leading a sedentary lifestyle, eating a high fat diet, or being obese are all seen to increase the risk.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption of more than two drinks a day also is seen to increase the risk.
• Studies have shown that breast feeding one’s baby up to the age of one and a half to two years may decrease risk of breast cancer.

There are many risk factors that may be contributory factors for breast cancer; however it is difficult to collate a complete list or to predict who will develop breast cancer and who will not.

If you go here, you can fill out a simple form with a few personal details so that your personal risk of breast can be calculated for you. Here as well, the Cancer.org’s Breast cancer risk assessment tool will also help you calculate your risk factor.