Sexual Dysfunction: “Not Tonight, I Have a Headache”

Sexual dysfunction can affect woman of any age – pregnant or not. It’s a common problem, but one that offers a number of solutions. If the zing has left your relationship, do something about it. Here’s how to get your groove back!

 

Sexual dysfunction is a problem that can affect women of any age at any time. Women who are between the ages of 35 to 65 however are more likely to suffer from sexual dysfunction. It is at this time of life that women describe a pattern of sexual response that is perceived as a problem by the woman and/or her sexual partner.

The Sexual Response
The human sexual response is complicated. Most women will go through many different physiological changes during sexual arousal. These changes may begin with the initial period of excitement, where the vaginal wall becomes lubricated and the skin becomes flushed. This stage is typically followed by a plateau, where muscle tension is built up and blood congestion occurs in the vagina. This is typically followed by orgasm and resolution, where most women will experience a decline in sexual tension and release

Many Factors can Influence your Sexual Function and Response

Your Environment
Overall Health
Biological and Hormonal Changes
Emotional Well Being
Interpersonal Relationship
Socio-Cultural Influences
Sexuality over the Course of a Lifetime
Most women’s sexuality and sexual response changes and develops over the course of their lifetime. These changes may be the result of personal experiences, interests, cultural attitudes, behaviors and other factors.

The biological and hormonal changes that typically occur during midlife often impact sexuality most abruptly. Understanding these changes may be the first step toward overcoming sexual dysfunction.

One of the hallmarks of midlife is a decline in estrogen, a female hormone produced in the ovaries. As a woman approaches menopause, varying ovarian function often leads to a drop in estrogen levels over time. This can result in a decreased blood flow to the vagina, which may ultimately affect sexual function.

Other changes that result from this decline include vaginal dryness and decreased elasticity of the vaginal wall. The clitoris may also change, becoming less sensitive in some cases and smaller in size.

Most women do not realize that they produce more testosterone, a male hormone responsible for libido or sex drive, than estrogen. Over time the production of testosterone declines in women and may result in contributing to sexual dysfunction.

Men also may experience a decrease in testosterone production over time, which may result in decreased penile sensitivity and diminished blood flow. It is important to recognize this very important fact of aging, so that women realize they are not alone. Such changes in their partner may cause them to withdraw from intimacy, having a profound impact on a woman’s desire and sexual response.

Decreased libido and sexual desire are common among women during the years preceding menopause.

Looking for ways to address sexual dysfunction? Don’t worry. Be happy at Women’s health Care Topics.

Women and Smoking: Time to Call It Quits

Despite known risks of cigarette smoking more than 23 percent of women still smoke, increasing their risk of cervical cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems and more. Smoking is a known killer, but hundreds of thousands of women will die each year from lighting up.
Most women who smoke are between the ages of 25 and 44. Teenage women also make up a significant percentage of smokers in the United States. Second hand smoke is just as damaging, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths every year.

 

Smoking cessation prevents much of the damage associated with cigarette smoking including heart disease and cancer. There are many benefits of quitting smoking, which we will describe below.

Smoking Cessation Benefits
Women who quit smoking will realize immediate health benefits. Women who quit smoking before they reach the age of 50 reduce their risk of dying of smoking by as much as one-half. Smoking cessation also reduces the risk of heart disease in people exposed to second hand smoke.

The most common side effects of smoking cigarettes
Pulmonary and Respiratory Disorders: Smoking increases your risk of developing a condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The lung damage that occurs from pulmonary disease is not often reversible. However, if you do quit smoking your lung function will not decline further, and you may notice an improvement in coughing and breathing.

Cardiovascular disease: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease in the United States. Women who smoke more than double their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Immediately stopping smoking can result in instant improvement in your cardiovascular function and a reduced risk of heat disease. After smoking cessation has continued for at least a year, your risk of developing cardiovascular disease drops by 50 percent. Your risk continues to decline the more years you remain smoke free. Some studies suggest the heart attack risk for smoker’s drops to that of nonsmokers after two years of cessation.

Cancer: Cigarette smoking contributes to developing several different kinds of cancer, including cervical cancer, lung cancer, cancer of the esophagus, mouth, bladder and pancreas. Smoking cessation can improve your survival rate and reduce your risk of developing severe cancers resulting from smoking.

Osteoporosis: Smoking contributes to bone loss, thus increases a woman’s risk for developing osteoporosis. 10 years after smoking cessation a woman’s excess risk for osteoporosis declines significantly.

Breast Cancer: Women who smoke are more at risk for breast cancer. In fact, the risk of developing fatal forms of breast cancer is 75 percent higher for women who smoke than those that do not. The number of cigarettes a woman smokes per day can affect their breast cancer survival rate.

Vulvar Cancer: Women who smoke are also 48 percent more likely to develop a rare form of vulvar cancer.

Smoking may also contribute to many other diseases and problems. It is especially dangerous to pregnant women. Babies exposed to smoking mothers are often born with birth defects and low birth weights. Mothers who smoke are also more at risk for miscarriage, premature rupture of the membranes and placenta previa. Babies born to mothers that smoke often experience withdrawal symptoms during the first week of life. Over time smoking also contribute to skin wrinkling and may even reduce your sexual ability. Quitting smoking improves all of these conditions immediately

Discover more about the dangers of women smoking at Womens Health Care Topics.

Time to kick butt!

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: How Ya Gonna Tell Her?

 

Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are a group of infections that can be caused by any type of sexual contact. Did you know that it is not necessary to have actual intercourse in order to spread an STD? Anyone that has ANY form of sex is at risk for contracting STDs, and that means you if you are sexually active.

 

 

 

I‘m a Teen. Am I at risk for a sexually transmitted diseases? 

STDs are very common among teenagers. Every year more than 4 million teens are diagnosed with an STD. That equates to about one of every four teenagers! About 25 percent of all STDs occur in teenagers. If you are sexually active, particularly if you engage in unprotected sex, you are at risk for contracting an STD.

The teenagers most at risk for contracting an STD are those:

• That have unprotected sex.

   

• That have sex with more than one partner. 

   

• That have sex with someone that has an STD or has had an STD.

   

What are the consequences? Learn more and be safe.

Eat Healthy: A Women’s Road to Good Health

     

Lookin’ good, feelin’ even better. Eat Right. NOW!

 

Eat Healthy: A Woman’s Path to Good Health Today AND Tomorrow

Everyone knows that a healthy diet helps maintain a reasonable weight. However, more and more research is providing information that shows how exactly your diet may impact your overall health and well being. 

 

Fruit and Vegetables There is a large body of growing evidence supporting the notion that a relationship exists between diet and health outcomes. Everyone knows that fruit and vegetables are staples in a well balanced diet. Studies suggest that adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables have important health benefits and implications for women. 

Among other things, these foods may decrease the risk of certain cardiovascular and heart disease in women. In addition individuals who consume more than six servings per day are less likely to suffer from stroke than their non-vegetable and fruit eating counterparts. 

Of particular benefit are the following:

• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts)

• Green leafy vegetables.

• Citrus fruits.

• Vitamin C-rich fruits.

High intake of these foods

may also reduce the risk of

cancer, particularly lung and gastrointestinal cancer.

There’s more. Click here.

BMI and Heart Disease Risk

For years now many believed the body-mass index (BMI) was a fair predictor of cardiovascular risk in people. A new study however, reveals this often used tool is NOT a good predictor of cardiovascular risk. Why? The BMI does not do a good job distinguishing between fat and muscle. Failure to do so may lead to inaccurate perceptions of one’s health and fitness level.

How BMI Is Calculated
Health providers calculate BMI by dividing a person’s weight (in kilograms) by height squared. Typically those with a BMI less than 25 are considered healthy, and those with a BMI over 25 are considered at risk for adverse health outcomes, obesity and more.

Read more

Morning After Pill or Plan B

On August 24th the federal government decided to let women age 18 and older buy the controversial “morning after pill” over-the-counter.

The reaction from women is mixed. Some feel the ruling is a benefit to women who are at risk for unwanted pregnancy and who may be too embarrassed to get contraception from a clinic. However, it also presents the opportunity for people to acquire (more easily) and potentially abuse the morning after pill. Read more

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