Human papillomavirus also known as HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can affect men as well as women. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affecting more than 20 million people. Every year, six million people get infected with HPV. In most cases, HPV is harmless and goes away on its own. However, it can cause genital warts and several types of cancers, which includes neck, cervical and head cancers as well. Hence, it is essential to protect yourself against HPV transmission with these eight strategies: Vaccination is a must! There are two vaccines namely, Cervarix and Gardasil that have been approved by FDA to protect females against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. Also, Gardasil protects against most genital warts as well. Before becoming sexually active, it is best to be vaccinated. For girls and women aging from 9 to 26, this vaccination is recommended. It can also be given to older women as well. Gardasil is approved for boys and men aging from 9 to 26 as well, and also it protects them against genital warts. The FDA has approved Gardasil for the prevention of anal cancer in both men and women.

IUD’s or intrauterine devices have become popular in the recent years because of it is a long-lasting reversible contraceptive. IUD’s are placed in the uterus which can help in avoiding pregnancy for three, five seven and even up to 10 years. There are two types of IUD’s available across the country – One uses copper, and the other uses a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel which is a form of progestin. IUD aims to prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg. The two types of components mentioned act as spermicides, thereby preventing pregnancy. If you are planning to use IUD as a contraceptive device, here are some facts that you should be aware of: Before we get to the facts about IUD, let us understand that you should not get IUD inserted in your uterus if you are already pregnant, suffering from pelvic inflammatory disease, unexplained genital or uterine bleeding and if you have severe liver disease. Some doctors even suggest avoiding IUD if a woman has breast cancer. There are many medical institutions and committees across the country that deemed IUD implants as the most effective form of contraceptive device for women. Although back in 1970’s the same contraceptive devices were linked to a lot of horrible pelvic infections that led to infertility and unfortunately in some cases, even death.

In vitro fertilization (IVF), known to most of us as the ‘test tube baby,’ is a process where an egg is combined with the sperm externally. The process involves the extraction of an egg from the ovaries of a woman and is then fertilized with an external sperm in a laboratory. The goal is to establish a successful pregnancy. The fertilized egg undergoes embryo culture for 2-6 days. The egg is then transferred to the uterus of the same woman or some other woman. The proceedings of the entire process are unknown to most of us, so here is a list of things you must know about IVF: Infertility is not uncommon The commonality of this phenomenon is vast as it affects every 1 in 6 people. The cause for this condition is equally due to both the partners in the relationship. 40% of the time it is due to the woman, same for the man and the remaining 20% is a combination of both the genders. But, there are only 5% of the couples that turn to IVF to help them conceive. Apart from that, some fertile couples have other reasons to adopt IVF. For example, same-sex couples, single women, those carrying a genetic disease adopt this process.

Experiencing a miscarriage can be incredibly devastating for the expectant parents. Moreover, it is accompanied by a lot of emotional baggage which could involve guilt, anger, fear, grief, etc. Such feelings are quite natural as the parents are still coping and trying to understand the possible reasons for it. The ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) suggests that miscarriage is a common scenario and a minimum of 10% of the identified pregnancies will end in a miscarriage. Therefore, it is imperative for all the parents to know about the causes related to the loss of pregnancy so that it is easier for them to gain closure and at the same time accept it is not their fault so that they can move on. The following are some of the common causes responsible for a miscarriage: Chromosomal abnormality This is the most common reason why a miscarriage occurs, as there’s a major issue with the sperm or eggs chromosome while the embryo is forming. These include – Intrauterine fetal demise where the embryo forms but ceases to develop before one can recognize the symptoms of pregnancy loss. Molar pregnancy is quite unusual, but it happens when there is an abnormal placenta development, and there is no fetal growth as both sets of chromosomes come from the father.

Though medical science has ensured that most of the diseases can be cured and has led to a decline in the mortality rate, one disease that cannot be completely cured is cancer. Cancer in any form, be it breast cancer, throat or lung cancer, prostate cancer, etc. is a fatal disease, and barely a handful of people manage to come out of it alive, and timely detection of the condition is what aids the treatment. Among the different types of cancer that affect women, the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths is ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer, like every other form of cancer, can be contained in its initial stages. Ovarian cancer usually starts in the outer lining or epithelium of the ovary. It is quite difficult to diagnose this form of cancer since few or no symptoms surface. We often confuse the symptoms with other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, unlike these conditions, the symptoms simply worsen as time flies. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are as follows- Severe back pain Frequent indigestion or heartburn Severe pain in the lower abdomen, the pelvis or in the lower part of the body The urge to urinate frequently Pain during sexual intercourse Nausea Weight loss Loss of appetite Fatigue These symptoms become more prominent as the condition worsens.