Mental Health

· Anxiety - All of us have experienced some form anxiety in our lives; those sweating palms before the start of an examination; the pounding heart on going to the stage, are features of Anxiety. Anxiety to an extent is useful in that it focuses our attention on the job at hand but too much of it and we just mess up everything. Find out what are the factors causing Anxiety and what you can do to handle it more effectively.

· Panic Attacks - Panic Attacks can resemble anything from an Attack of Severe Anxiety to a Heart Attack. Panic Attacks can be very incapacitating, but at the same time seeking correct professional help goes a long way in treating them.

· Depression - Depression, according to the World Health Organization, is THE THIRD MOST COMMON ILLNESS IN THE WORLD. It is more than just a bad mood or feeling low. The good thing is, it can be readily treated.

· Demystifying visit to a psychiatrist - A visit to a psychiatrist brings up images of a person lying down on a couch and the doctor taking notes, or images of a person hypnotizing you and knowing all about you. Contrary to all these psychiatrists use scientifically proven techniques which are pretty effective. Find out about the various therapies and techniques used in psychiatry.

· Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT) - It is a technique which is understood commonly as a shock therapy. It is very effective and harmless form of therapy which is tried and tested over time and used in many cases of mental disorders.

· Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - The Boy could not stop washing his hands.......The woman could not stop checking the lock..... The man could not stop himself from praying to God again & again...... Out of every 10 patients coming to the psychiatrist, one patient is suffering from this illness.

· Anxiety - All of us have experienced some form anxiety in our lives; those sweating palms before the start of an examination; the pounding heart on going to the stage, are features of Anxiety. Anxiety to an extent is useful in that it focuses our attention on the job at hand but too much of it and we just mess up everything. Find out what are the factors causing Anxiety and what you can do to handle it more effectively.

· Panic Attacks - Panic Attacks can resemble anything from an Attack of Severe Anxiety to a Heart Attack. Panic Attacks can be very incapacitating, but at the same time seeking correct professional help goes a long way in treating them.

· Depression - Depression, according to the World Health Organization, is THE THIRD MOST COMMON ILLNESS IN THE WORLD. It is more than just a bad mood or feeling low. The good thing is, it can be readily treated.

· Demystifying visit to a psychiatrist - A visit to a psychiatrist brings up images of a person lying down on a couch and the doctor taking notes, or images of a person hypnotizing you and knowing all about you. Contrary to all these psychiatrists use scientifically proven techniques which are pretty effective. Find out about the various therapies and techniques used in psychiatry.

· Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT) - It is a technique which is understood commonly as a shock therapy. It is very effective and harmless form of therapy which is tried and tested over time and used in many cases of mental disorders.

· Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - The Boy could not stop washing his hands.......The woman could not stop checking the lock..... The man could not stop himself from praying to God again & again...... Out of every 10 patients coming to the psychiatrist, one patient is suffering from this illness.

Some Common Misconceptions about Sex

• The penis can become erect at very early stage, especially in a young man. This does not mean that he is necessarily ready the for intercourse and he may start too soon - before his partner feels ready. She may become anxious as she feels she is keeping him waiting.
  
  
• Vaginal lubrication may remain hidden especially in lying down positions. Both partners may assume she is not responding, when in fact she is. Penis gives a more obvious signal which the vagina may not.
  
  
• Arousal comes in waves in both the man and the woman. This is normal. The decline doesn't mean that something is wrong.
  
  
• Premature ejaculation (coming too soon, before the partner is ready) is normal in young men, particularly when very much aroused. Control comes with learning and practice.
  
  
• Many women may not have orgasm but are fully responsive. This doesn’t mean that they are frigid.
  
  
• Early sexual relationships may not have orgasms in women. Partners need not worry. Anxiety further inhibits it.
  
  
• The husband snoring one minute after ejaculating can produce resentment if the wife is still feeling the need for intimacy. The men have their refractory period (time during which sexual arousal is difficult) very fast. Woman need not feel upset (as if being used as a sleeping pill) - you can wake up your husband sometimes and let him know.

Sex Guide - How to Improve?

How to Improve?

Like a breath of fresh AIR improves your mood, the three key elements for improving your sexual performance are as simple and as effective as the A. I. R.

• AVOID SPECTATORING
• IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
• REMOVE MISUNDERSTANDING

Avoid spectatoring:
Remember that you are not a spectator of an act, you are the act itself, and you are the participant. You are not there to critically analyze it and constantly to measure your efficiency. You are there to ‘Let Go’ and enjoy.

Enjoy the interaction and don’t aim or worry about the performance. Enjoy caressing, touching your partner (anywhere on the body). It’s nice to touch and feel close to your partner.

Break the cycle of watching/worrying/and further reducing the response.

Improve communication
Communication is a vital part of having Good Sex. Remember "Sex is as much between the Ears, as it is, between the Legs". Good communication with your partner can make the difference between having Sex ‘for the sake of it’ and having ‘a really good time’.

Communicate verbally/non-verbally. Tell your partner where else do you want, to be touched-how much and for how long. Tell him/her when it’s pleasurable and also when it hurts. Relax pleasantly and enjoy this without worrying about the ultimate. Enjoy in different positions, sometimes-female superior positions can be an easy position.

Remove Misunderstanding
A misunderstanding between the partners can really affect the sexual relationship badly. The clearer both are about each other and Sex the better it is. A feeling that something important needs to be sorted out before going further should not be overlooked.

Guide to Better Sex

Sex, like most other functions of our body is a normal process. As other functions, like for example, the digestion, can be upset by factors like a bad mood, stress or similar such things, so can the sexual function be disturbed by a whole lot of factors. These may not necessarily involve the anatomy but instead it’s the mind, which makes the difference.

If sex is allowed to happen naturally, in a relaxed way, our bodies will respond normally without any conscious effort on our part.

There are a wide variety of problem or situations that can upset the normal sexual responsiveness, most of them, fortunately, can be helped in a positive manner by understanding on our part. Here are a few of the most common amongst them and ways to improve:

• Misunderstanding and/or lack of information about sex :
  Its indeed one of the most telling ironies that Sex, despite being one of the most commonly discussed topic in our lives and in the media, there is a surprising lack of correct information about ‘What to Expect and How to Act’.
  
  Those images of the ‘Perfect Macho Man and The Perfect Sensual Woman’ on the TV and in the Magazines make us feel that Sex instead of being a perfectly normal natural and enjoyable thing, is an ‘Act to be Performed to Perfection’. All this does it to add to the confusion and leads to unrealistic fears, expectations and fantasies.
  
  
• Bad feelings about Sex and its consequences -

1. Fear of pregnancy; Fear of pain; Fear of being caught/ heard/ or interrupted.
2. Performance Anxiety-Fear of failing to perform well.
3. Fear of losing control (during orgasm) and /or becoming vulnerable.
4. Looking unattractive during the climax.
5. Bad feelings about yourself or your body like, feeling that the body is unattractive. Feelings that I am not successful (low self-esteem).

• Problems in relationship –
  Anger/resentment against the partner should be resolved as it can decrease the performance and pleasure while having sex.
  
  
• Unsuitable circumstances –
  While a ‘Quickie’ sometimes can be fun! But normally Good Sex requires a relaxed mind and body. Too much of a hurry, tiredness or preoccupation can rob you of the pleasures of Sex.
  
  
• Performance anxiety –
  This is one of the most significant problems in the way of Good Sex. We often forget that Sex is something that comes naturally to all of us, instead, we seem to view ourselves as performers who have to complete an act to perfection.
  
  
• Spectator role –
  Quite often we start observing ourselves as an audience, instead of really participating in it. – We observe ourselves ‘doing the act’, as if on stage (now coming, now coming...., so again it doesn't,...I knew it…etc.).

Women's Health

The woman's body is wonderfully complex and delicate. However, multiple roles as the mother, daughter, wife, homemaker, wage earner can be physically and mentally quite taxing. As a woman, you might share some common health risks with men, such as heart disease, but because of your special reproductive role, you are at risk of some distinctly female disorders.

This section deals with answers to some common problems like, menstrual disorders, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives too have been included.

Women's Health

The woman's body is wonderfully complex and delicate. However, multiple roles as the mother, daughter, wife, homemaker, wage earner can be physically and mentally quite taxing. As a woman, you might share some common health risks with men, such as heart disease, but because of your special reproductive role, you are at risk of some distinctly female disorders.

This section deals with answers to some common problems like, menstrual disorders, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives too have been included.

Menstrual Disorder

Premenstrual Syndrome

DEFINITION
PMS consists of various physical and/or emotional symptoms that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation. It is characterized by premenstrual discomfort in the lower abdomen and back, and in the breasts. All these features precede the period by a week or ten days. Fortunately, a woman obtains relief when her menstrual period begins. Another feature of PMS is a symptom-free time for several days every month, in the first half of the menstrual cycle.

Features: these include physical features like acne, backache, bloating, sore breasts, and headache. Emotional symptoms might include changes in sexual desire, difficulty concentrating, irritability.

Women may gain upto a kg. of weight or more in the latter part of the menstrual cycle due to water retention in the body. Emotional stress often contributes to the symptoms.

The only saving grace in this problem is that few women experience all these symptoms! Most have a few that recur each month.

The symptoms of certain medical conditions can resemble PMS. These conditions include allergies, depression, diabetes, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, and thyroid problems.

CAUSES
There's still some disagreement about what causes PMS, but it definitely seems to be linked to hormones. A relative lack of the hormone progesterone is suspected along with increase in a water retaining substance called anti diuretic hormone.

TREATMENT
The assessment of the emotional and work related stress is very important. Many women find that a balanced diet and healthy snacks are helpful, as are avoiding caffeine and reducing salt intake. Simple reassurance often does wonders, but often it is necessary to treat the symptoms with various drugs
Diuretics ("water pills") can reduce bloating
Analgesics like ibuprofen, aspirin ease headache or cramps
Combined oral contraceptives also called the birth control pill may be useful for some women.
Evening primrose oil (gamma linolenic acid) is also used widely these days.

Pregnancy

Symptoms of Pregnancy
For a woman having a regular monthly cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period, or sometimes women who are pregnant have a very light period, losing only a little blood. Other signs are:

• Feeling sick, not necessarily in the morning, but at any time.
• The breasts may become larger and tender. Veins may become prominent and nipples may darken and stand out.
• Increased frequency in passing urine.
• Tendency for constipation.
• Tiredness.
• An increased vaginal discharge without any associated complaint.
• A metallic taste in the mouth.
• Dislike for certain things like tea or coffee or fatty foods.
• Increased liking for certain things like spicy foods.

Pregnancy test can be carried out on urine samples, as early as from the first day of a missed period-that is, about fourteen days after the conception.
A positive test result is almost definitive of pregnancy. If the test is negative, it is less reliable. It can be repeated after a week, or a doctor can be consulted.

What you should eat?
Pregnancy puts additional nutritional demands on your body. You require to eat judiciously to meet the demands of the body. Make sure that you eat a mixture of different foods each day in order to get all the various nutrients that you and your baby need.
Your diet should have plenty of fruit and vegetables which provide vitamins, minerals and fibre. Eat them lightly cooked or raw. Let starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice and breakfast cereals with vegetables form the main part of any meal.

Eat some good sources of nutrients like fish, eggs, cheese, beans, and lentils every day. Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are important as they contain calcium and other nutrients needed for your baby's development.
Avoid sugar and sugary foods like sweets, biscuits and cakes and sugary drinks like cola. Cut down on fat and fatty foods as well.

Mineral and vitamin supplements
A large number of pregnant women suffer from varying degrees of anemia so additional iron supplementation is provided by pills. Also tablets of Folic acid (a vitamin necessary to prevent certain spinal disorders in the growing baby) along with Calcium are generally prescribed by the health care providers.

Pregnancy and weight
Most women gain between 10 -12.5kgs (22 - 28lbs). Weight gain varies a great deal and depends on your weight before pregnancy. Weight gain significantly more or less than the average could be an indicator of a problem, so you must monitor your weight gain carefully. Also if you weigh more than 100kg or under 50kg your health care provider may have special advise for you.

Smoking during pregnancy
Try to stop. When you smoke, carbon monoxide and nicotine passes into your lungs and blood stream. This means that: a) your baby gets less oxygen and cannot grow as well as it should, and b) the nicotine makes your baby's heart beat faster. Constantly breathing in other people's smoke may also have a harmful effect.

Babies of mothers who smoke are, on average, 200g (about 8 oz) lighter than other babies. These babies may have problems during and after labour and are more prone to infection; it will be better for your baby later too if you stop smoking. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from illnesses such as asthma; and there is an increased risk of cot death.

Alcohol
It has now been shown that even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful to your baby. Alcohol has adverse effects on the baby's development and can produce a lot of anomalies generally termed as 'Fetal Alcohol Syndrome'. So to be safe avoid alcohol totally during your pregnancy.

Pills medicines and other drugs
You should be very careful while taking any kind of medication, specially in the earlier part of the pregnancy. Majority of drugs have some effects on the growing fetus and the first three months are crucial. You would be better off asking your doctor about any medications you want to take. Make sure your doctor or dentist knows you're pregnant before prescribing anything or giving you treatment.

At the same time it is important to remember that if you on treatment for some chronic conditions like epilepsy or diabetes you consult your doctor and continue your medications because control of such conditions is vitally important for you as well as the pregnancy.

Women's Health - Infertility

Infertility

Infertility is defined as the failure to become pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse. There are two types of infertility; Primary infertility, which is infertility without any previous pregnancy; and secondary infertility, when there has been a previous pregnancy.

What are the causes of infertility?
A basic infertility evaluation is carried out to find out the cause of infertility.

Common causes of infertility are:

1. Ovulation problems
2. Tubal causes
3. Sperm causes
4. Unexplained infertility
5. Age-related factors

Some less common causes are:

1. Uterine problems
2. Endometriosis
   
3. Previous tubal ligation
4. Previous vasectomy
5. Various drugs
6. Cervical factors

When to see your doctor?
Though there is no specific time frame as to when to consult your doctor but you can see your doctor if the pregnancy does not take place even after one year of unprotected intercourse.

You might want to wait a little longer if you are in your twenties but if both of the partners are in mid or late thirties then the advice will be to seek professional help.

Age of the female is an important factor for if she has crossed 35 or is near to it then it is advisable to seek help at the earliest.

Is it correct that the female partner is responsible for infertility?
No, male factors account for up to 40 percent of infertility problems.

How would the doctor go about it?
The first diagnostic step is the evaluation of the infertile couple and to determine which partner is infertile.

Normally the steps of a basic infertility evaluation would include:

1. History:
   Taking a thorough medical history including any other medical conditions you might be having, any history of drug intake, and any other obstetric or gynaecological problems that you may have.
   
   
2. Physical examination
   A thorough physical examination.
   
   
3. Blood tests
   Depending on the individual couple’s situation, various blood tests on either the female or the male may be needed. They can include testing for the levels of various sex hormones.
   
   
4. Taking a sample of semen and doing a semen analysis
   
   
5. Finding out if the woman is ovulating or not (i.e. producing egg in every menstrual cycle)
   
   
6. Hysterosalpingogram
   This test is done in order to assess the anatomy of the cavity of the uterus and the fallopian tubes.
   
   
7. Laparoscopy
   May be required after basic tests have been done. The surgeon looks inside the abdomen through an endoscope to look for any deformities of the tubes or for endometriosis.
   
   

What if they still can’t find the problem?
There are known cases of ‘unexplained infertility’ i.e. cases in which standard testing has not found a cause for infertility

Treatment for unexplained Infertility
This can include a combination of the following modalities

1. Ovarian stimulation
   -by drugs such as ‘clomiphene citrate’
   -using hormonal injections plus intercourse
   
   
2. Assisted reproductive technologies as treatment for unexplained infertility
   In Vitrio Fertilization (IVF)
   
   
3. Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT)
   In GIFT a mixture of sperm and eggs are introduced into the end of the fallopian tube at laproscopy.

What is the success rate of these advanced procedures?
Although pregnancy rates vary from center to center on the specific technique used but generally a 30% success rate can be expected.

F.A.Q.’s for Female

Does Sex Hurt the First Time?

The first time a woman has sex, it may or may not be painful.There may be psychological and physical reasons for it. If you are not sure about your partner or if you are not entirely convinced about the timing and place, then you may feel more pain than you should. If you and your partner truly care for one another and he is gentle and understanding and will go slowly, then there may be less discomfort. Physically, often, the first time a woman has sex there will be some bleeding as the hymen is torn. Using large amounts of a water-based lubricant may help. If you have been using tampons, that may have helped to stretch your hymen.

What is the G-Spot?
There is a lot of talk regarding the most erotic zones for a woman. The Grafenberg spot, or G-spot, is considered to be one such area. This is an area located within the front wall of the vagina, about one centimetre from the surface and one-third to one-half way in from the vaginal opening.

The significance of the G-spot is that in about half the women it is a highly sensitive area that under the right conditions can be very pleasurable if stimulated. For some women, it can be a primary source of stimulation leading to orgasm during intercourse.

It is believed that stimulation of the G-Spot can lead to what is known as female ejaculation.

Is it O.K. to have Sex during a Period?
Sex during periods is a strong taboo in many cultures but there is no scientific basis for it .For the average, mutually monogamous couple with no sexually transmitted disease, there is no medical reason to avoid sex during menses. In fact many women feel increased sexual arousal during the periods.

I feel pain during sex. What could be the reason?
There may be a host of reasons for painful intercourse. Pain on initial

penetration is often due to infection, spasm of the vaginal muscles or inadequate lubrication. Pain on deeper thrusting may be caused by endometriosis, adhesions (scar tissue), a retroverted (backward-tilting) uterus or fibroids. Pain in only one particular position may simply mean that in that position, your partner is pushing against your cervix.

Persistent pain in all the positions should prompt a visit to your gynaecologist for a thorough checkup.

Bleeding after Intercourse
Bleeding after intercourse (post-coital bleeding in doctor talk) can occur for several reasons. Infection is one of the most common reasons.

Abnormal cervical cells, including cancer, are also more easily irritated and may bleed with intercourse. Women who use an IUD or diaphragm may experience such bleeding from irritation and friction. Sometimes the bleeding is not from the cervix, but rather from a tear in the vagina; tears can happen with vigorous sex or if you are dry.

Men's Health

Good is the key to a happy life. In a fast and demanding life, health unfortunately takes a backseat whereas it should be of prime concern. There are many questions that plague your mind, but answers to these are either insufficient or unavailable. Sometimes one is too lazy or shy to discuss these with the doctor. For a healthy life, numerous things have to be set in order.

Watching the calories, good exercises and healthy food is absolutely essential. Besides these, we also deal with sexual problems and methods to cope with them. These include Sexually Transmitted Diseases, impotence, testicular pain, contraceptives etc.

F.A.Q.’s for Male

F.A.Q.’s for Him

Is masturbation harmful?
No, masturbation is not harmful in as much as producing physical disability or diminishing your virility. In fact masturbation should be seen as ‘a handful of pleasure’. It doesn’t lead to any deformity of the penis nor does it affect the ability to achieve or sustain an erection.

What's the average size of the penis?
The average size of penis is 15cm, the normal range is considered to be between 13 and 18cm.

Is penis size important?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions. The fact of the matter is that it is important only if you think so. Factually speaking, the vagina is only eight to thirteen centimeters long, and only the outer one third of it is supplied with nerves and is therefore sensitive to touch. Therefore even a very small penis can touch every square centimeter within the vagina and can certainly perform adequately.

Can penis size be increased?
Yes. There are two surgical procedures to increase penis size-- the Bihari Procedure, and Fat Injection.
The Bihari Procedure consists of cutting the ligament that secures the base of the penis to the body. This gives between one-half and two inches of increased length to the penis; however, because the penis is no longer anchored to the body an erection no longer points 'up.'
Fat Injection is the process of removing fat from the backs of the thighs and injecting it into the body of the penis to make the penis thicker. Because the body rejects a significant portion of the injection this procedure may need to be repeated several times and each operation carries with it a severe risk of infection.

My penis bends down (or left, or right). Is there something wrong with it?
One-quarter of all penises bend in some direction and some bend downward even when erect. Coming to think of it, one would really thank that the penis doesn’t have any bones in it, and therefore it can normally easily bend in many directions to perform its job without much of discomfort. Unless the bend is severe or causes you pain, there is nothing wrong or abnormal about your penis. It should not interfere with sexual intercourse. In fact some people find the bend is to their advantage, making penetration easier.

One of my testicles is larger than the other. Is it all right?
Rarely are both the testicles identical. In fact the left one hangs lower in 85% of cases. It is nothing to worry about.

Sometimes I feel pain in my testicles. Is there some thing to worry?
Intermittent twinges in the testicles are common and these sometimes happen after the intercourse. If it lasts less than a minute then there is nothing to worry.
An infection or inflammation causes testicular pain that builds up gradually. In such cases consult your doctor.

Ejaculation happens to fast. What do I do?
Again, it is one of the more frequent problems. The solution is to try to strengthen your PC( pubococcygeus) muscle. It is the muscle that you use to stop urine flow or to rid yourself of the last few drops. Try contracting it whenever you get reminded of it - in the car, at your desk, some 50 – 100 times a day. It is the same muscle that contracts for ejaculation, therefore strengthening it will give you more control during sex.

Disease - HIV / AIDS

HIV / AIDS

What are HIV and AIDS?
Over the last fifteen years a new disease spread by a family of viruses, HIV, has spread globally. HIV stands for Human lmmuno-deficiency Virus. HIV has been given this name because its long-term effect is to attack the immune system of the body, making it weak and deficient. We live virtually in a sea of microorganisms and at every moment an enormous number of them are entering our body. It is the immune system that normally fights off these microorganisms and keeps us healthy. Any compromise with the working of the immune system has profound effect on our body.

After about 5 to 10 years of contracting the HIV infection, the virus has weakened the immune system of the patients so much that they develop a number of different illnesses such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, persistent diarrhea, fever and skin infections. This condition is called AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Why do you need to know about it?
At the moment it is estimated that 13 million people in the world may have HIV. Every day there are thousands of new cases of HIV infections in the world and these occur in every country. People who have HIV may have no symptoms for many years, and infected people may not even be aware that they have the virus. They look and feel well, but can infect other people during this time.

The most difficult aspect of HIV/AIDS is that though there are medicines, which can help them, cope with these illnesses, there is no vaccine, and no cure for the HIV, so almost all the infected people become more and more ill and eventually die. It is important that we all know and understand about this infection, so we can protect ourselves and our families.

We have responsibility not only towards ourselves but also towards our children who are growing up in a very different world from that of our childhood. They will have many new opportunities, but also may sometimes be faced with new relationships, standards of behavior and new risks. It is up to us to explain the truth of the situation to them in an honest and informed way, so they may have the knowledge to take the necessary steps to protect their health.

We have to understand that presently prevention is the only cure of HIV/AIDS and that can come about only if we are adequately informed about it. Following are some frequently asked questions about HIV/AIDS:

How does HIV affect the body? Is it the same as AIDS?
When HIV gets into a persons blood it attaches itself to a special type of white blood cells called as helper T-Lymphocytes. These Helper T- cells are crucial in defending the body against many infections. during all this the persons have no symptoms at all. They look and feel well. They may not know they now have the virus, but could pass it on to someone else through having sex, or by sharing needles or syringes.


Being HIV Positive is not the same as having AIDS. The HIV actually goes inside the white blood cells and lies their quietly. After about 5 to 10 years the HIV virus tricks the cell to start making the viral proteins, this results in the formation of a huge number of viral particles inside the white cells and eventually the cells burst releasing thousands of new viruses in the blood. The released viruses infecting new white cells This cycle goes on and on, and eventually the immune system of the body is overwhelmed and is no longer capable of fighting the infections.

Eventually the infected person may lose weight and become ill with diseases like persistent severe diarrhea, fever, or pneumonia, or skin cancer. He or she has now developed AIDS. People with AIDS can be helped with medicines for the different infections. At the moment though, in spite of much research, there is no cure for HIV or for AIDS and so, sadly, it is almost certain that people diagnosed with AIDS will die.