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Larch Medical Centre, 65 larch st suite 400 P3E 1B8 Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada

It is normal to have small amounts of yeast in the vagina. A yeast infection (also called candidiasis) is caused by an overgrowth of yeast. Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted. Your risk of a yeast infection is higher if: You’re taking antibiotics... You’re taking the birth control pill You’re pregnant You have diabetes You use tampons You douche You have a lowered immune system Symptoms include: itching, burning, thick white discharge, redness, swelling and painful sex. It’s important to see your health care provider if this is your first infection, if you’re not sure, or if your symptoms don’t go away with treatment. They can do a swab to confirm the diagnosis. You can treat yeast infections with creams or suppositories that can be bought over the counter. These can be used during your period. Your health care provider may prescribe other medications. You can take steps to lower your risk of getting yeast infections: do not douche do not use scented feminine products like sprays, pads or perfumed soaps avoid bubble baths, hot tubs wear cotton underwear do not wear tight clothing as this may increase body heat and moisture in the area change out of wet bathing suits and work out clothes as soon as possible

Getting Your Tubes Tied Getting your tube tied also known as tubal ligation is a choice that many women make for contraception. The fallopian tubes are the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus. In a tubal ligation, the tubes are cut or blocked to prevent the egg and sperm from meeting up and fertilizing. There are many things to consider when deciding to have a tubal ligation. It’s permanent. This is a plus if you’re sure you don’t want to get pregnant again. ... But, while it can be reversed, only about half of women who have a reversal are able to get pregnant. It’s effective. The failure rate is 1/300. If you do get pregnant though, it could be an ectopic pregnancy where the fetus is growing outside the uterus. This is very dangerous. It doesn’t affect your hormones like the birth control pill. It’s a surgical procedure, done under general anesthetic and so there are risks. Problems are rare but this surgery can cause damage to your bowels, bladder or bleeding from major blood vessels. Infection may occur as well as long term pain. It can lower your risk of ovarian cancer especially if the entire tube is removed at the time of surgery. New research shows that some ovarian cancers may actually start in the fallopian tubes. So there are many pros and cons to a tubal. Talk to your health care provider for more information to see if this is right for you.

Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sex. This shortens to 6 months for women over 35. On average, it takes a couple 5-6 months to become pregnant. Many factors affect the ability to conceive: age, lifestyle, weight, and stress all contribute. However there are biologic factors as well. Your health care provider will check for both male and female factors. Blood tests can be done to check for ovulation and to check ...ovarian reserve. Other blood tests can check for medical conditions that affect ovulation such as thyroid problems or PCOS. Your fallopian tubes are the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus. This is where fertilization occurs. Your gynecologist will want to make sure these tubes are open. This can be done with a dye test or through a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy. Your health care provider will also request a semen analysis. Once the results are in, you and your doctor can come up with a plan to help you conceive. Your doctor may recommend some form of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This includes artificial insemination, intrauterine insemination, in vitro insemination and ovarian stimulation with medication. This may require a referral to a fertility specialist. In Northern Ontario for example the NEO Women’s Health Network celebrated it’s grand opening in October 2018 to service couples in Sudbury and the Northern Ontario area. New technologies in ART mean that many people are now able to have children who would otherwise not have had the possibility. See more

Let’s Talk About It Women spend a third of their lifetime in menopause. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) describes signs and symptoms associated with a decrease in estrogen on the female genitourinary tract. These include dryness, burning, irritation, lack of lubrication, painful sex, bleeding and urinary symptoms like urgency, frequency and painful urination. 45-83% of postmenopausal women have vulvovaginal symptoms. These symptoms worsen if untreated. There are treatment options for GSM. It is important to bring these symptoms up with your health care provider so that other causes of your symptoms can be ruled out. Treatment options for GSM include different lubricants and moisturizers, local hormone therapy and laser therapy. Talk to your health care provider about what options are best for you.

In keeping with Menopause Month, let’s talk about THE HOT FLASH!! Although the exact cause of hot flashes and night sweats isn’t known, they are thought to be due to changes in the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. This area known as the hypothalamus senses that you’re too warm and starts off a chain of events to cool you down. Your blood vessels on the surface of your skin will dilate to dissipate heat, producing a red flushed look a...nd you may start to perspire. You may feel palpitations, followed by a cold chill. While hot flashes don’t affect your health, they can certainly affect your quality of life. Hot flashes can start even five years before you go through menopause and for some women can last up to fifteen years! For a small number of women, they never go away. If you find your hot flashes troublesome there are treatments available. Prescription estrogen (plus progestogen if you have a uterus) is the most effective medication available. Bazedoxepine is a medication that can be used in place of progestogen to protect your uterus. For women who cannot or prefer not to take hormones, SSRI’s (used to treat depression) have been found effective in women who don’t have depression. Other options include certain drugs to treat high blood pressure, medication for sleep and medication for neuropathic pain. If you're interested in dietary supplements, soy has been found to be effective. Remember that dietary supplements can interact with prescription drugs so always discuss this with your health care provider.

A Healthy Menopause Since October is Menopause month, we’ll continue with our posts aimed at opening up the discussion around menopause. The decline in hormones at the time of menopause can affect many aspects of a woman’s health: energy levels, memory, bone health, heart health, urinary to name a few. Exercising and eating right can make a real difference in how you feel and maintaining your good health. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables (especially dark leafy vegetab...les). Nuts and seeds provide omega oils, calcium and fibre. Legumes for protein, complex carbs (whole grains and brown rice) and good fatty acids such as those from fish. Foods rich in tryptophans (eggs, milk, sesame and sunflower seeds) help promote serotonin production which is important for mood and sleep. Limit salt, saturated fat, coffee, teas, alcohol and sugary and processed foods. These can have negative effects on your heart health. Keep physically active. Weight bearing and aerobic exercise are both important for bone and heart health. Stretching such as yoga helps to maintain flexibility and joint movement as well as strength. Aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week. You can make menopause the happiest and most fulfilling time of your life

It's been a difficult year for us all. Thank you for all your efforts to keep everyone safe. "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you'll ever know." - A.A. Milne

October 2020 is World Menopause Month. This was first established in 2014 by the International Menopause Society as a means to raise awareness and promote discussion around the perimenopause and postmenopause. October 18 has been dubbed World Menopause Day. Menopause is a natural process, not a disease. No two women experience menopause in the same way. Dedicating this month to talking openly about the realities of menopause can help change misconce...ptions and demystify it. During this month, Northern Ontario Women’s Wellness will post some helpful facts about menopause, some of the things you may experience, health consequences and remedies to relieve some of the symptoms Symptoms: the symptoms associated with menopause are a result of hormone changes and lack of estrogen. The British Menopause Society list of most commonly experienced symptoms include: Hot flushes Vaginal dryness Weight gain Sleeping problems Stress and anxiety Loss of sex drive Night sweats Skin changes Joint aches Low energy Low mood Period changes Brain fog Sensitive bladder Painful sex Headaches Fun Fact: The term menopause was first coined in 1821 by a French physician.

It's been a difficult year for us all. Thank you for all your efforts to keep everyone safe. "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you'll ever know." - A.A. Milne

CA-125 (cancer antigen 125) is a protein found on cells that is secreted into the blood stream. It can be detected by a simple blood test. When people think of CA125 they often think of ovarian cancer. However, this blood test should not be used to screen for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women. That’s because this test can be elevated with benign conditions. CA125 can be up when a woman has her period, when she’s pregnant, it can also be elevated with liver conditions,... endometriosis, fibroids and benign ovarian cysts to name a few. Doing this test in asymptomatic, low risk women as a screen for ovarian cancer can lead to false positive results which in turn can start you down the road of unnecessary invasive tests and procedures that can have significant risks and consequences. CA125 is useful to monitor the effectiveness of treatment or to see if cancer has recurred. Unfortunately, there is no good screening available yet for ovarian cancer. Family history is very important. Symptoms can be vague but may include, pain, fatigue, bloating and changes to digestion such as feeling full after a small meal, loss of appetite, heartburn, indigestion or nausea. Report these symptoms to your healthcare provider especially if you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. See more

Many people ask how long it takes to get pregnant after stopping their birth control method. If you’ve decided it’s time to try to have a baby, you might be worried about the effect that your birth control has had on your fertility. If you’re using a barrier method like condoms or diaphragm, it’s possible to get pregnant as soon as you have sex without it.... . It’s possible to get pregnant within 1-3 months after stopping combination pill (the type that has both estrogen and progestin). If you’re on a progestin only pill (the mini-pill) you could get pregnant days or weeks after stopping it. . As with the pill, you should ovulate within 1-3 months after you stop the patch. . As with the pill and patch, you should ovulate within 1-3 months after you remove it. . It’s possible to get pregnant right after the device is removed by your health care provider. Most women start ovulating again in the first month. (). It’s possible to get pregnant right away after your health care provider removes the device. Most women ovulate within 1 month after removal and studies show that for most, pregnancy happens within 6 months to a year. (-). With this type of contraception, it may take 6-9 months before you start to ovulate again. Keep this in mind if you think you want to have a baby within a year of stopping birth control. Experts used to think that there was a greater risk of miscarriage if women got pregnant too soon after stopping their birth control however, newer research shows that this is a not the case. Remember that there are other factors that can impact your fertility like age, health history and weight. If you haven’t been able to get pregnant and it’s been more than a year since you’ve stopped your birth control, see your health care provider.

October 2020 is World Menopause Month. This was first established in 2014 by the International Menopause Society as a means to raise awareness and promote discussion around the perimenopause and postmenopause. October 18 has been dubbed World Menopause Day. Menopause is a natural process, not a disease. No two women experience menopause in the same way. Dedicating this month to talking openly about the realities of menopause can help change misconce...ptions and demystify it. During this month, Northern Ontario Women’s Wellness will post some helpful facts about menopause, some of the things you may experience, health consequences and remedies to relieve some of the symptoms Symptoms: the symptoms associated with menopause are a result of hormone changes and lack of estrogen. The British Menopause Society list of most commonly experienced symptoms include: Hot flushes Vaginal dryness Weight gain Sleeping problems Stress and anxiety Loss of sex drive Night sweats Skin changes Joint aches Low energy Low mood Period changes Brain fog Sensitive bladder Painful sex Headaches Fun Fact: The term menopause was first coined in 1821 by a French physician.

Hi Everyone. Check out our article in the fall issue of 50+ Lifestyle Magazine for information on heart disease and stroke in the menopause! https://www.gosheniteservices.com//12-50-Plus-Lifestyle-Ma

All of us here a Northern Ontario Women's Wellness hope you enjoy the last long weekend of the summer. We wish you good health in these unprecedented times. Stay safe!!

Preterm Labour Preterm labour occurs when regular contractions cause your cervix to open after 20 weeks but before 37 weeks. This can result in your baby being born early. Some risk factors for preterm labour include: previous preterm labour or delivery, twins, a short cervix, smoking, infections, stress, age of mother, and an interval of less than 12 months between your pregnancies.... Symptoms of preterm labour can include: A change in your discharge. It can become bloody or watery Constant low back pain or abdominal cramping Regular contractions or feeling your abdomen get tight A sensation of pelvic pressure Vaginal bleeding Premature rupture of membranes It can be difficult to tell the difference between false labour and the real thing so if you experience any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider.

Is it a Hot Flash or Something Else? Over 75% of menopausal women feel the heat. The technical term is vasomotor symptoms and they can occur at any time of the day or night. Research suggests that hot flashes occur when decreased estrogen levels cause your body’s thermostat to become more sensitive to changes in body temperature starting a chain of events to cool you down. Symptoms can include a sudden warmth across your head and chest, reddened skin, light or heavy sweati...ng, rapid heartbeat and anxiety. There is no telling how long your hot flashes will last. For women it can be as long as 10 years. But other things can lead to hot flashes as well: thyroid problems, medication side effects, cancers or cancer treatments, multiple sclerosis ,and certain infections. It’s important to point out that having hot flashes doesn’t mean there’s something scary going on, but if you’re feeling them on a consistent basis it might be a good idea to keep a diary to identify your triggers so that you can discuss this with your health care provider. See more

O TE EE OG Mammograms are one of the most common ways to check for breast cancer. There are two types of mammograms. A screening mammogram is done to screen women with no signs of breast cancer. A diagnostic mammogram helps diagnose women who do have signs of cancer. No screening test is 100% accurate but having regular mammograms lowers the risk of dying from breast cancer. Early detection may mean less treatment and less time spent recovering. In Canada, ...it is recommended that if you are 50-74, you have a screening mammogram every two years. During the mammogram, a technician will position your breast between two plates. She’ll then flatten and compress your breast to get a good image. This can be uncomfortable but most women can tolerate this just fine. Each breast is x-rayed in two different positions: from top to bottom and side to side. The whole process can take 20 minutes but your breast is not compressed the entire time. If the doctor spots something questionable, you may go on to have further testing. Follow up tests can include more mammogram images, an ultrasound or a biopsy, depending on the appearance. Talk to the women in your lives about getting regular mammograms. For more information visit www.cancer.ca.

Heart Health in Menopause After menopause, women may have questions about their risk for heart disease and stroke. Family history plays a small role, but many risk factors for heart disease can be modified by lifestyle changes. These include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, stress, lack of exercise. Maintain a healthy body weight, exercise at least 150 minutes per week, increase your vegetable intake and moderate red meat and salt, maintain a healthy blood pressur...e, moderate alcohol consumption and stop smoking. Menopausal women are also at increased risk because of loss of protective estrogen. Although this is still being researched, it appears that the timing of starting estrogen is important. Women who start estrogen within 10 years of going through menopause have a reduced risk of heart disease however, women with established coronary artery disease are advised not to start hormone replacement therapy. Visit heartandstroke.ca for more information.

What Can You Expect From Your Periods After 40 This time in your life is called the perimenopause and it can last a number of years. Because of hormonal fluctuations, what happens to your periods is unpredictable and different for everyone. Your periods may occur more frequently, or may happen less often. You may even skip months. The flow may be very heavy or very light. Other periods symptoms including cramps and PMS may become more intense. Because it’s unpredictable, ...women may have a hard time telling what’s normal. You can make this challenging time a bit easier by exercising regularly, eating healthy and trying to manage stress. Talk to your health care provider if: your are soaking a pad or tampon every two hours the bleeding lasts more than 7 days bleeding happens between periods your periods come consistently less than 21 days apart your symptoms affect your quality of life There are medical and surgical treatments to help. Birth control pills or a long-acting intrauterine device can help relieve the bleeding and cramping. An endometrial ablation is a surgical procedure which destroys the endometrial lining and helps to control bleeding. See your health care provider about other options and what’s right for you. #women#health#menopause#periods

PREGNANCY AND DENTAL HEALTH Hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause gingivitis which can ultimately lead to periodontal disease without good oral care. Research shows a link between periodontal disease and pre-term delivery or low-birth weight baby. Babies are at higher risk of asthma, ear infections and may even have a higher risk of death. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can leave stomach acids in your mouth which can erode your tooth enamel. Brush your teeth at lea...st twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Floss your teeth every day before bedtime. If you suffer from morning sickness, rinse your mouth with water or a mix of water with baking soda. Seeing a dentist for regular dental cleanings and check ups are safe at any time during your pregnancy. Any pain, swelling or infection in your mouth should be treated right away. Dental x-rays and local anesthetic (freezing) can be safely used during pregnancy. If x-rays are required, a lead apron will protect you and your baby.

There are lots of factors that can kill your sex drive. There is no age limit on sex for women although older women may be aroused more slowly. Hormonal changes in menopause can make sex more painful due to dropping estrogen levels. Testosterone plays an important role in arousal for both men and women but the role isn’t completely understood in menopause. Some medical problems can affect your sex drive. Depression, difficulty with body image, stress and alcohol can also drop your libido. Medications such as antihypertensives or antidepressants can also play a roll but never stop your meds without consulting a doctor first. If your having problems with low libido, consult your health care provider. There are treatment options available.