Alzheimer’s Disease DEFINITION Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a degenerative disease leading to the loss of important brain cells. This causes symptoms that may include confusion, memory loss, impairment of reasoning and rationality, restlessness, speech disturbances, exaggerated emotional reactions and other problems that generally… Read Article
Allergies DEFINITION A person who is overly-reactive to a substance that is well tolerated by most other people, is said to be allergic, or atopic.. DESCRIPTION The substance which causes an allergic reaction is called an ‘allergen’. An allergic reaction causes the immune system to over-react to the substance. Antibodies… Read Article
Vaginitis DEFINITION Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina; it is characterised by vaginal discharge and burning, itching redness, and swelling of vaginal tissues. Pain often occurs with urination and with sexual intercourse. There are three general types of vaginitis- atrophic, irritant and infectious. DESCRIPTION The 3 types of Vaginitis… Read Article
Thrush DEFINITION Thrush is a yeast infection of the mucous membranes (the soft, pink coloured skin) of the vagina or penis. DESCRIPTION In a healthy bowel and genital area many bacteria and small numbers of yeast cells (vaginal flora) usually exist. Yeast infections occur when there is a change in… Read Article
Period pain DEFINITION Period pain (dysmenorrhoea) is lower abdominal pain experienced during a menstrual period. DESCRIPTION Period pain is very common with some studies indicating that approximately 75 percent of young women and 25 to 50 percent of adult women experience pain and discomfort during their period. For up to… Read Article
Morning after pill DEFINITION The Morning After Pill is a form of emergency contraception that may be used following unprotected sexual intercourse, or if contraception failed (e.g broken condom). It is not meant to be used as a regular form of contraception. DESCRIPTION The name ‘Morning After Pill’ seems to… Read Article
Menopause and weight gain DESCRIPTION Menopause is the term used to describe the stopping of menstrual periods due to decreased ovarian function. The decrease in ovarian function involves the progressive decline in the secretion of oestrogen and progesterone, which causes ovulation (egg release) to eventually stop. Menopause usually occurs around… Read Article
Mastectomy DEFINITION Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the breast. DESCRIPTION Treatment of cancers of the breast usually involves surgery to remove as much of the tumour (cancer) as possible. The patient will have to decide whether to have the whole breast removed (mastectomy) or just to have the… Read Article
IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) DEFINITION IVF or In Vitro Fertilisation is a procedure where an egg is fertilised in a laboratory and the resulting embryo is then placed in the mother’s uterus. DESCRIPTION IVF means, quite literally, ‘fertilisation in a glass’. It involves harvesting eggs from the female parent and… Read Article