Question: My doctor commented when doing a Pap smear that my womb was prolapsed. He said I shouldn’t worry about it until it caused problems. What causes a prolapse of the womb?
The womb (uterus) is where the baby grows during pregnancy. It therefore has the ability to expand dramatically in size, and is only loosely attached to the rest of the body. The ligaments that support it are stretched during pregnancy and may not return to their original size, allowing the uterus to move around more freely.
The more pregnancies you have, the slacker the ligaments become. With the assistance of gravity, pressure on the abdomen from lifting (eg. the result of pregnancy—children), constipation and lack of fitness it is possible for the womb to slowly slip lower and lower into the pelvis. This causes pressure on the bladder and bowel, leading to problems with these organs. Eventually, the womb may move all the way down the vagina to expose the cervix (opening of the womb). The main symptoms are discomfort and bladder incontinence. Correction is by best performed by surgery, but elderly women may use specially shaped rings that are inserted into the vagina to keep the womb in place.

Question: I have had vaginal infections before that have been treated by Flagyl, and I think I have the same infection again. Can I use the drug Flagyl if I am pregnant?
Flagyl is an excellent antibiotic for treating certain types of bacterial infections that occur deep inside the body. Infections of the woman’s Fallopian tubes and pelvic organs are one example.
No medication should be used between the 6th and 14th week of pregnancy unless it is absolutely essential, as this is the time when the organs and limbs of the baby are developing. Flagyl should NOT be used at this time, and it should only be used during the rest of the pregnancy and during breast feeding if there is no alternative. There is no evidence that Flagyl causes damage to the foetus, but it is known to enter the foetal circulation, so there is a potential for problems. It is better to be safe than sorry!

Question: What is the purpose of a woman’s period?
Once a month, just after a woman releases the egg (at ovulation) from her ovary, the lining of the womb (uterus) is at its peak to allow the embedding of a fertilized egg.
If pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the womb starts to deteriorate as the hormones that sustain it in peak condition alter. After a few days, the lining breaks down completely, sloughs off the wall of the uterus, and is washed away by the blood released from the arteries that supplied it. Contractions of the uterus also help remove the debris.
After 3 to 5 days, the bleeding stops, and a new lining starts to develop ready for the next month’s ovulation.

Question: I have a very embarrassing problem that I am reluctant to discuss with my doctor. It is a discharge from the vagina. What could it be?
Vaginal discharges fall into three major categories—excess normal secretions, infections, aqd bloody discharges.
The most common cause is excess production of the normal lubricating fluid that is present in the vagina. This can be due to hormonal changes at puberty, menopause and with pregnancy; the use of hormones including those in the oral contraceptive pill; sexual excitement or even stress and anxiety. Vaginal douches can sometimes irritate the vagina to cause a discharge. Infections can include thrush (a fungus being the cause), trichomoniasis (a small organism that is transmitted sexually), various venereal diseases and a bacterial vaginitis. Doctors can usually distinguish between these by the appearance of the discharge, the smell produced or by using laboratory tests. Bloody discharges are cause for concern. It may be just an abnormal period, but can also be a sign of significant vaginal or uterine disease.
Please do not be embarrassed, see your doctor to obtain the correct diagnosis and treatment.