Why We Need To Talk About Our Uterus

Highlights

The uterus is an essential organ of the female reproductive system, and yet, it is hardly spoken of.

It performs a multitude of functions, each one key to a woman’s reproductive system and overall health.

When speaking of periods and the menstrual cycle, don’t leave the uterus out of the conversation.

What Does The Uterus Do?

Uterus and Periods
So, since you were a young girl, you have been having your menstrual cycles. But very few know what actually causes them. First off, let’s learn what the endometrium is. When a woman is of reproductive age, each month, her body releases hormones that cause ovulation. Around the same time of ovulation, the endometrium (lining of the uterus) grows thicker to prepare for a pregnancy. In the case where a woman does not get pregnant, the top layer of the endometrium, containing blood, tissues, etc., is shed. This is the flow of blood that we experience during our monthly menstrual cycles or periods.
Once menopause sets in, our bodies stop the production of the hormones that cause ovulation and menstruation.

Uterus and Fertilization
Chances of conceiving are higher when a man and woman engage in sexual intercourse within days of the woman’s ovulation. When the egg does get fertilized, that is when pregnancy occurs. The egg now attaches itself to the wall of the uterus and begins developing.
A major function of the uterus is to nourish and house the fertilized egg. This fertilized egg develops into a fetus and into a baby eventually. It is the uterus that holds the baby till it is mature and ready for birth.

Conditions That Affect The Uterus

Apart from being aware of how the uterus helps in reproduction, it’s also important to be aware of the various diseases that occur involving the organ.

Uterine Prolapses – A uterine prolapse occurs when the uterus slips from its normal place and shifts down into the vagina. This is common in women who have had multiple vaginal childbirths but can also occur from obesity or menopause.

Uterus Fibroids – These are non-cancerous growths in the uterus walls and can cause heavy bleeding and pain.

Endometriosis – This is a condition when the tissue that normally lines the uterus starts to grow outside of the uterus. It can cause excessive bleeding and pain in between periods.

Adenomyosis – A condition opposite of endometriosis, this is when the tissue that lines the uterus begins to grow inside the walls of the uterus. Again, this too causes severe pain and bleeding.

Cancer of the uterus, cervix, ovary, or endometrium – Cancer in any of these areas can be treated depending on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Several treatment options are available such as hysterectomy, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Now, this information isn’t being shared to scare you. But just like all other bodily diseases that we’re well versed with, we must also be aware of these. Regular visits and open conversations with your gynecologists can help detect and treat these conditions.

Hysterectomy & Other Solutions

A hysterectomy is a surgery wherein your uterus is removed from your body. Along with the uterus, the doctor may also remove your ovaries and fallopian tubes. Post a hysterectomy, you will no longer menstruate or be able to get pregnant.

A hysterectomy is usually recommended to treat the diseases listed above. However, it isn’t the only solution and may not always be necessary. Depending on your condition, the following treatments can also be tried at first:

Watchful waiting

Medications

Exercising

Non-surgical treatments

The uterus is said to be one of the strongest muscles in the human body. Apart from its role in the reproductive functions, it also offers support to our bladder, pelvic region, and organs and acts as a separator between the bladder and bowels.

When speaking of periods and the menstrual cycle, don’t leave the uterus out of the conversation. If you’re a parent to a young daughter, this is even more essential. Or even if it’s with your gang of girlfriends, try and be more open to information-sharing. Knowledge is key and knowing why your body acts the way it does is empowering to say the least. The uterus supports us through multiple stages of our lives. It’s high time we speak about it, isn’t it?

Highlights

Hepatitis B and C kill more people annually than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. Hepatitis B and C are responsible for 2 out 3 liver cancer deaths.

290 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware.

Birthdose vaccine costs as low as 20 cents yet isn’t used in 48% of countries worldwide.

Eliminating hepatitis B and hepatitis C as public health threats by 2030 would prevent approximately 36 million infections and save 10 million lives.

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World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes place every year on 28 July bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.

Hepatitis B and C cause 1.4 million deaths per year – more than HIV/AIDS and malaria, and a number comparable to tuberculosis. Together, these viruses cause two in every three liver cancer deaths across the world.

In India, about 4 crore people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and 60 lakh to 1.2 crore people are chronically infected with hepatitis C. According to the Indian Journal of Medical Research, in India about 2,50,000 people die of viral hepatitis or its sequelae every year
www.who.int

What makes viral hepatitis a global health problem?

Chronic hepatitis B and C are life-threatening infectious diseases that cause serious liver damage, cancer, and premature death. More than 300 million people are living with the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis B and C are silent epidemics, hitting children and marginalized populations the hardest which include people who inject drugs, Indigenous Peoples, prisoners, men who have sex with men, migrants and people living with HIV/AIDs.

Globally, 90% of people living with hepatitis B and 80% living with hepatitis C are unaware they are living with the disease, resulting in the real possibility of developing fatal liver disease or liver cancer at some point in their lives and in some cases, unknowingly transmitting the infection to others.

With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, the elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable, but greater awareness and understanding of the disease and the risks is a must, as is access to cheaper diagnostics and treatment.

Types of Hepatitis

HEPATITIS A

Transmission: hepatitis A is mainly spread through eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. The disease is often endemic in countries with a lack of safe water and poor sanitation.

Prevention: a vaccine exists to prevent hepatitis A. Treatment within a few weeks of exposure to the virus can also bring short-term immunity. The risk of exposure can be greatly reduced by practicing good hygiene and sanitation and avoiding drinking water that has come from a potentially unsafe source.

Treatment: there is no treatment for hepatitis A. Hepatitis A only causes acute hepatitis so the body is often able to clear the infection itself within a few weeks. However, hepatitis A infection can sometimes cause further complications.

HEPATITIS B

Transmission: hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. For example, it can be spread from mother to child during childbirth, through sharing razors or toothbrushes, having unprotected sex, and sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs.

Prevention: hepatitis B vaccination is very effective in preventing infection. If you have not been vaccinated, it is best to use condoms and to avoid sharing needles or items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person to reduce chances of exposure. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities. If you think you are likely to be exposed in the future, vaccination is highly recommended. Children born to mothers with hepatitis B should be vaccinated within 12 hours of birth, as this can prevent an infection that is likely to progress to chronic hepatitis B.

Treatment: although there is currently no real cure for hepatitis B, drugs such as alpha-interferon and peginterferon and a variety of antiviral drugs are available. These drugs slow the replication of the virus and occasionally result in its clearance. Most importantly, they greatly reduce the risk of the complications that hepatitis B can cause such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

HEPATITIS C

Transmission: hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact. The most common modes of infection include unsafe injection practices, inadequate sterilisation of medical equipment and unscreened blood and blood products. It can also be transmitted through certain sexual practises where blood is involved. Whether it can be transmitted sexually without the presence of blood remains unclear. If it does happen it appears to be extremely rare although the risk may be increased by the presence of other sexually transmitted infections.

Prevention: currently there is no vaccination for hepatitis C. To reduce the risk of exposure, it is, therefore, necessary to avoid sharing needles and other items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities.

Treatment: treatment can cure hepatitis C infection. Until recently treatment hs involved a combination of interferon, generally pegylated, long-lasting interferon, and ribavirin but there is increasing use of potent direct-acting antiviral drugs. People with different hepatitis C genotypes respond differently to treatment, some more successfully than others but the differences between the genotypes are disappearing as cure rates with the new drugs approach 100%.

HEPATITIS D

Transmission: hepatitis D is passed on through contact with infected blood.

Prevention: hepatitis D only occurs in people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus. People who are not already infected with hepatitis B can therefore prevent hepatitis D infection by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B. Avoid sharing needles and other items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person. You should also avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities.

Treatment: treatment for hepatitis D consists of interferon but it is not very effective.

With a person dying every 30 seconds from hepatitis-related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis this World Hepatitis Day.

Source www.worldhepatitisalliance.org