Pharmacy News

Psychologists and psychiatrists have been examining the effects of Stress on the immune system. How do we cope with stress? Do we fed reasonably able to deal effectively with the world and maintain a positive sense of self, or do we feel helpless, as if no effort can make a difference? What if endometriosis is [...]

Just because you have endometriosis does not necessarily mean that it is the only cause of your inability to conceive.

Most doctors will want to do a number of tests to check that everything else is as it should be.

First, you will be asked to have your hormone levels assessed. This is usually done as a [...]

Many of the symptoms of endometriosis are also the symptoms of other conditions — particularly other gynaecological conditions — and therefore endometriosis is easily confused with them. These include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), irritable bowel syndrome, ovarian cysts, appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and occasionally cancer.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease, often known as PID, refers to any [...]

For a number of years researchers have sought ways to diagnose and monitor endometriosis that would avoid the need for a laparoscopy. Various methods have been tried, including examining the blood and endometrium for the presence of antibodies and testing for a substance known as the CA-125 antigen. Other methods are still being investigated. So [...]

Predictions that more than one out of five Australians will be over the age of 60 by the year 2001 have been worrying health and social service planners. A federal Government report on the needs of older people was released in the mid-1980s.

The report brought some contradictions to the stereotype of older people as being [...]

During labour a close watch is kept on both mother and foetus so that any problems that arise can be attended to promptly. The mother’s pulse, temperature and blood pressure are measured hourly and any urine passed is tested.

Vaginal examinations are performed about every few hours to assess the progress of cervical dilatation.

Foetal monitoring

The foetus [...]

Abortion today

Worldwide, around 150 000 abortions are performed each day. Three-quarters of the world’s women now live in countries where abortion is lawful and where competent, safe services are available. However, where illegal rackets persist (such as in Latin America), abortion still takes a terrible toll on women’s lives and health, accounting for 25-30 per [...]

Pregnancy

If pregnancy occurs with an IUD in place, there is a high risk of miscarriage, which may be further complicated by infection (septic abortion). If you become pregnant you will be advised to have the device removed (which reduces the risk of miscarriage) or, if this isn’t possible, to have the pregnancy terminated. However, many [...]

When I asked a group of medical students this question a number of years ago, there was such a variety of answers that we decided to look the word up in the dictionary. It wasn’t there (The Concise Oxford Dictionary, published mid-1960s)! Yes, sexuality is a term that has slipped into common use only during [...]

All acne can be improved by treatment, and often completely cleared. Mild to moderate acne can usually be remedied by simple, over-the-counter treatments, but beware! – because it is so common: and distressing, big industries have developed their business around its treatment and many measures advertised for contra’ or cure are misleading. If you try [...]