Call for fewer hysterectomy ops

Too many women may be undergoing hysterectomies for heavy periods when alternative treatments should be considered first, a study suggests.

An audit of 51,500 women in England found large variations in the type of surgery done for the condition.Overall, four in 10 women had a hysterectomy, but regional figures ranged from 25% to 54%.

Experts said women may not be given enough information about the treatment options available. Heavy menstrual bleeding, also called menorrhagia, can be caused by conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids and hormonal imbalance, and can severely impair a women's quality of life.

There are drug treatments available, but if the condition continues to be a problem, national guidance recommends a type of minor surgery which removes a layer from inside the wombThis technique, known as endometrial ablation, is associated with less risk than a hysterectomy which is recommended only as "a last option".

The audit published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology looked at rates of surgery for both options between 2003 and 2006.The researchers from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) found a four-fold difference overall in the use of surgery between different primary care trusts in England.

And the proportion of endometrial ablation operations varied from 46% to 75%.

News Source : Call for fewer hysterectomy ops

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What is Cervical Cancer ?

Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer can often be cured when it’s found early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.

It's Causes :- Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.

You can have HPV for years and not know it. It stays in your body and can lead to cervical cancer years after you were infected. This is why it is important for you to have regular Pap tests. A Pap test can find changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you treat these cell changes, you may prevent cervical cancer.

It's Symptoms:- Abnormal cervical cell changes rarely cause symptoms. But you may have symptoms if those cell changes grow into cervical cancer. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

* Bleeding from the vagina that is not normal, or a change in your menstrual cycle that you can't explain.
* Bleeding when something comes in contact with your cervix, such as during sex or when you put in a diaphragm.
* Pain during sex.
* Vaginal discharge that is tinged with blood.

How is it treated? Cervical cancer that is caught early can usually be cured. If the cancer is caught very early, you still may be able to have children after treatment.

The treatment for most stages of cervical cancer removes the cancer and makes you unable to have children. These treatments include:

* A hysterectomy and removal of pelvic lymph nodes with or without removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes.
* Radiation therapy.
* Chemotherapy.

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