International Health Network

A 70 year old Indian woman has delivered her first baby girl, after the treatment of infertility, according to a report.

Rajo Devi, the 70 year old mother, had been trying to get pregnant for last 50 years with her husband, of age 72, who had not succeeded to become a father in his two previous marriages. Sex cells of both male and female, which were used in the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) are still undetermined, the newspaper reported.





Devi got expectant through IVF at northern Indian state of Haryana, after doctors examination that explain “she was strong enough to survive a high-risk pregnancy”. The mother and her baby girl, both are completely well, without any abnormality.

Devi, after Omkari Panwar, is the second old woman in India who gave birth this year. In July, Omkari Panwar, a mother of two and grandmother to five children have given birth to twins through Caesarean section, a boy and girl, after IVF treatment. Panwar had no birth certificate or any legal document that is why her age couldn’t be verified as she becomes the oldest woman to give birth. In 2006, a Spanish woman aged 67, gave birth to twins via IVF.

Although advances infertility treatments have enabled older women to get pregnant, some medical ethics experts raise question, whether clinics should accept a 70-year-old as a patient? The gynecologist of Devi said “I didn’t face any medical problems for the elderly woman and her child, except for the probability that the child could be orphaned at an relatively very early age because of her parents’ old age” the newspaper reported.

Women's Health, Pregnancy infertility, IVF treatment, old woman, Pregnancy, Sex cells

A new study that included 287,000 women and noticed their mammogram habits, says that increasing weight can boost the risk of developing breast cancer in older women.

Dr. Karla Kerlikowske, who led the study, says: “There are higher levels of circulating estrogens in women have increased body weight that leads to promote tumor growth in them.”

In another study, Kerlikowske and team have examined postmenopausal women with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and they have found higher risk of breast cancer in them.





In this new study, they looked at postmenopausal women who didn’t receive HRT. The study is to be published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dec.3 issue.

Some researchers seem to believe that in obese women, the higher risk of the disease is because of their inadequate screening, as their tumors are quite difficult to find out in mammography.

But in the current study, these risk factors have been excluded. “In our study, we also examined how many times they were screened and how well the detection of cancer was and we still found a higher risk in them,” Kelikowske added.

In this study, data from mammograms of more than 287,000 women who had routine mammograms, the researchers concluded that it wasn’t hard to detect tumors in overweight women.

Women's Health, Cancer Breast cancer, HRT, increased body weight, mammograms, older women

Women who live in a rural area may have higher chances of developing preeclampsia and pregnancy-related hypertension, a new study finds.

In this six-year study, the researchers also found that women with some college education were 19 percent more likely to have preeclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension than women with a high school education. Women who gave birth in Colorado during six-year were included in the study.

The study has been presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology in Philadelphia.





There are some known risk factors for preeclampsia and PIH and that include older age, excessive weight and giving birth to multiple babies. The researchers validated these factors in this new study. One researcher suggests that the link between rural living and preeclampsia, PIH risk may be due to maternal poverty and social deprivation.

Dr. Rebecca Moore, who led the study, says in a news release: “We know about the traditional risk factors for preeclampsia and PIH, but these diseases are still enigmatic and no effective way has been developed to reduce their incidence.”

A rapid increase in blood pressure along with kidney damage can occur due to Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a very common condition and it is known as the third most common cause of maternal death in the US, but the real cause of the disease is still unknown. There is no fixed cure for it, but is often resolved after delivery.

Women's Health Blood Pressure, hypertension, PIH, preeclampsia, pregnancy-related

A new study says that women with silicone breast implants may develop a rare form of lymphoma.

The study has been published in the Nov.5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical and its Dutch authors say that the absolute risk of developing this rare form of lymphoma is quite small and it can appear in 0.1 to 0.3 per 100,000 women with silicone implants every year.

Dr. Mitchell Smith, who is head of the lymphoma service at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, says: “Doctors must keep this fact in mind, however, women shouldn’t worry about it, as women with implants have one in many hundreds of thousands or even one in million chances to develop that cancer.”





According to Smith, this finding may prove helpful for scientists to understand the biology of this specific malignancy.

There have been controversies regarding Silicone breast implants for quite long time. The US Food and Drug Administration lifted a 14-year ban on Silicone breast implants commercial use in 2006 and gave approval to two companies to market the implants to all women aged 22 and older.

In 1992, the implants were removed from the market, as there were suspicions that they might cancer or some other autoimmune diseases. Similarly, there were other concerns that implants might obstruct with the preciseness of breast cancer screening, or broken tissues could cause other health problems.

Women's Health Breast cancer, breast implants, lymphoma, silicone

A new study suggests that light drinking during pregnancy does not increase baby’s risk of behavioral problems.

Researchers from the University College London specified ‘light drinking’ as not more than two drinks a week throughout pregnancy.

The study, which included 12,500 three-year-olds, found that there was a lower risk of some problems in children of such drinkers.

However, the experts are divided over whether this study is encouraging or can calm women into a false sense of security.





According to Government advice, pregnant women should avoid drinking during pregnancy and if they do choose to drink, they shouldn’t consume more than one or two units of alcohol in a week or two.

There is a well-established relation between sustained heavy drinking in pregnancy and health problems for the babies.

In some severe cases drinking can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or permanent damage to the growing fetus.

In some most severe cases a small number of babies may be born with “fetal alcohol syndrome” that includes symptoms like growth and mental retardation.

In this study the researchers from University College London asked mothers about alcohol consumption during pregnancy when they had nine months old babies. They classed light drinking as ranging from one drink every so often to two drinks per week, moderate drinking between three and six units per week, while seven or more units were regarded as heavy drinking.

Women's Health, Children Health alcohol, Children, light drinking, Pregnancy

The number of women, who are going for breast cancer gene test, is higher than ever, while leaving parents in tough scenario, either they go for their kid’s test or not.

Last year, 100,000 breast cancer gene mutation tests were done, which is twofold than the number of 2005. The trend can grow even more because of expanding insurance coverage and a new law banning genetic discrimination.

Medical expert recommend such testing after the age of 25, as a very little can be done to prevent or cure for breast or ovarian cancer until then, so the results would only create unwanted worry.

However, new studies and interviews by The Associated Press show that many people who have BRCA gene mutations and even more of their offspring, disagree.

Research also shows there can be benefits to at least talking about testing and inherited cancer risks with teens. It may lead some to quit smoking, limit alcohol and avoid birth control pills, which can raise the risk of breast cancer.

Women with a mutant gene have a three to seven time higher risk of developing breast cancer and a greater risk of ovarian cancer. Men have more risk of prostate, pancreatic and other types of cancer.

To reduce risk, women can use anti-estrogen drugs or removal of their breasts or ovaries. But these drastic procedures are not recommended to very young women. Even mammograms are not advised before age 25, because cancer is rare before then.

“The rule is, do no harm — test only if you can offer something that will help,” said Mary-Claire King, who in 1990 discovered the first breast cancer predisposition gene, BRCA-1.

“The life of a young girl is complicated enough already. There is nothing about it that needs to change” if she carries one of these genes, King said.

Women's Health, Cancer alcohol, anti-estrogen, BRCA, breast, Cancer, Gene, kids, women

BOSTON – Flu vaccine shots administered to pregnant women in third trimester will provide protection against influenza during the first six months of their neonates’ lives, researchers said.

“Immunize the mother and you protect the infant,” Dr. Mark Steinhoff, a pediatrician with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, said.

According to the test of 340 pregnant women in Bangladesh, vaccine shots, cut down the risk of flu, by 63 percent and the overall risk of respiratory track infections (RTI) by 29 percent. Six confirmed cases of influenza where there in the vaccinated group, compared to 16 among the mothers given a different vaccine.

Doctors already know that, immunizations provided to a woman can protect her infant, so the flu vaccine, works the same way, said Steinhoff. “We always assumed it, but nobody’s done the study before,” he said.

“This might persuade more mothers to say, ‘Hey, it really helps me and it really helps the baby,”‘ Steinhoff said.

Only 15 percent of pregnant U.S. women receive the vaccine each year.

The vaccinations in the Bangladesh study were given, one month or two before delivery because in 2004 and 2005, “at the time we did the study, that was the recommendation,” he said.

The recent advice to pregnant women is, to take the vaccine shot during the flu season, although it requires a month to build protection in baby.

Women's Health muniza, infant, influenza, pregnant women, RTI, vaccine, vaccine shots

Simple body hair removal can go from sexy beauty habit to scary sickness faster than you can say 'yowza!'
All Jennifer (not her real name) wanted was a smooth bikini line. But within 24 hours of getting a bikini wax at a reputable New York City salon, an infection crept in. She developed a fever of 102, chills, and pain in her left thigh. "I thought I'd caught a cold, "she says, "but after five days, the pain was worse."

Her doctor diagnosed her with cellulitis, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the skin and the underlying tissue. Jennifer spent the next 15 days in the hospital hooked up to an IV that pumped her full of antibiotics and heavy-duty painkillers. She also had surgery to drain the infection. "One doctor said I could have lost my leg!" she recalls. "It took me months to recover physically and emotionally from the whole ordeala steep price to pay for a little vanity."

While there are no reliable stats on body wax related complications, Jennifer's experience wasn't unique. Recently, the state of New Jersey nearly banned Brazilian bikini waxes after two women landed in the hospital as a result of them (one of the women filed a lawsuit against the state cosmetology board). And in 2007, an Australian woman with type 1 diabetes almost died of a bacterial infection she got after a bare-it-all wax.

What makes them risky?

"Pubic hair is there for a reason--to protect the sensitive skin and mucous membranes in the genital region," explains Linda K. Franks, M. D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the New York University School of Medicine. "Getting a wax literally strips away that layer of protection."

Waxing can also pull off tiny pieces of the skin's outermost layer, creating a portal through which bacteria can enter the body. What's more, the process creates inflammation, which can trap bacteria beneath the skin. All of this sets the stage for skin infections (including staph), folliculitis (infection of the hair follicles), and ingrown hairs.

"Anytime you compromise the integrity of the skin, you're going to increase your risk of infection," Franks says. She advises people who have diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease, skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, or weakened immune systems to avoid waxing altogether. For everyone else, there are simple ways to ward off danger:

Choose a facility carefully
Before you make an appointment, drop by to see how clean the place is, or ask a friend to recommend a salon she trusts. Be sure the cosmetologist or aesthetician you choose is licensed by your state and has received training in Brazilian waxing, says Rosanne Kinley, past president of the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology.

Ask about the wax
"Hard wax is best. It's gentler and adheres to the hair, not the skin," Kinley says. "Speed wax, which is soft and sticky, is applied with a roller applicator, and while it's fast and easy, it's more painful and more likely to tear skin." Sugaring, a natural method that's kinder to the skin than waxing, is a good alternative. Look for products that are chemical-free; Shobha ($22, myshobha.com) contains nothing but sugar, water, lemon juice, and glycerin.

Keep an eye on hygiene
Before beginning the process, the practitioner should scrub up or (at least) apply hand sanitizer. Double dipping into the wax is taboo because it introduces bacteria into the pot. "The waxer should have brand-new spatulas available for each swipe to your skin," Kinley says. To prevent burns, she should check the wax's temperature on the inside of her wrist before applying it to your skin. If you don't see the practitioner taking these steps, speak up.

Prevent irritation
For a few days following your wax, apply an over-the-counter topical antibiotic cream and an anti-inflammatory 1% hydrocortisone cream to the area, says Bruce Robinson, M. D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. This will ease irritation and help ward off potential infection.

Know the signs of infection
Check yourself with a hand mirror (look for inflamed ingrown hairs, rashes, or raw, open sores or cuts). "See a doctor ASAP if you develop redness or swelling in the area, an itching or burning sensation, peeling of the skin, or a fever," Robinson says.

source:womenshealthmag.com

Women's Health BIKINI WAXING, THE SCARY TRUTH, Prevent irritation

The scientists found that immune resistant system of the body could cause pre-eclampsia, a normal situation that is feasibly harmful for pregnant women and their newborn babies.

The pre-eclampsia influences one in 20 pregnancy cases, but the trials on mice in the United States observed that it could be generated through immune molecules.This could be increasingly helpful which leads towards new rehabilitations and experiments for the condition, according to reports of the journal of Nature Medicine.

A Pre-Eclampsia donation expressed that other researches showed about the immune connection.

It is difficult to forecast which women would be influenced through pre-eclampsia, though those with a family history of the condition, or who have had it in earlier pregnancies, are at gigantic perils.

It usually begins after the 20th week of pregnancy and dangerous indications could involve high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

Therefore, it not easily conducted and if it gets poorer and poorer, it could place the health of both mother and unborn baby at risk. More often than not, the mere solution is to provide the infants yet ahead of time.

The reasons don’t have the clarity, but the investigators at the University of Texas suppose the response of the mother’s immune system towards the pregnancy might hold the key.

To examine this, they conducted the immune molecules known as “Auto-antibodies” from women along with pre-eclampsia and put them into mice.

The mice starts to develop a situation very identical to pre-eclampsia among human beings they had high cholesterol and high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and telltale aberration in the placenta, the organ developed by the mother to provide the foetus along with oxygen and nutrients.

When the Texan group also provided mice a medication which blocked the response of these auto antibodies, this situation didn’t build up, guiding the theory that they played a role in the illness.

On the other hand, Professor James Walker, specialist obstetrician at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds and spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said, “He would require further proofs to be induced that these molecules were the straight reason of the stipulation among human beings”.

Women's Health immune resistant system, Pregnancy dangers

The surgical treatment took up of right knee injury of Pamela Jones for 12 years and so, while the White Plains, Md, woman discovered that did the acute ache continue for the long time. A doctor had left a 2-inch scalpel blade inside her leg.

LaCheryl Robinson of Pontiac, Mich., suffered just about eight years of inexplicable soreness subsequently a breast biopsy until a swelling came out last January and a new mammogram demonstrated the foundation of the trouble, while a busted needle fixed in her left breast.

It is said that three women are among hundreds of patients who had taken the hard and painful way about a rising and comprehensive issue that is the medical devices which had contained the breakdown leaving behind potentially poisonous debris.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave a strong warning to the clinician earlier this year in order to control upon the perils of the devices that confused the patient’s bodies with busted stents, torn balloons, cracked chains and drifted parts ranging from catheter orders to bradawl spots.

It is reported that almost 72 deaths and 4,675 injuries have been interconnected to “Unretrieved Device Fragments or UDF” since the period of 2003 and this data is saved in the FDA database system that follows adverse events.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mark Estes, President of the Heart Rhythm Society elucidate that all sorts of reports and data of the FDA don’t have the true and confirmed information, because it has the ambiguity in itself.

It is estimated in 2003 that those objects were unintentionally left behind in possibly 1 of every 1,000 to 1,500 abdominal operations.

In some of the cases, it was found that almost 10/0 (Gauge) needle has been likely to observe for a contact lens in a shag rug carpet as commented by Clarke.

The dispute shows a dilemma for those patients who has left with the devices.

Katherine Ellsworth, 57, a property insurance administrator from Lansing, Mich., just about died of last year after a 1 1/2-inch spine busted off a filter inside her abdomen and penetrated the right ventricle of her heart. Doctors improved the bits and restored her heart, but decided to break out the rest of the filter behind.

Women's Health Metal Debris Left in Patients