Endometriosis
Endometriosis (endo) is a disease in which the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) starts to grow outside of the uterus causing adhesions. These adhesions can cause the obstruction of organs and can cause some organs to stick together. Every month during the cycle the body goes through many hormonal changes that cause an increase in the lining of the uterus in preparation for a fertilized egg. During the menstrual period, hormones cause the shedding of the lining of the uterus. While these hormones affect the endometrium, in the uterus, it also affects areas where the endometriosis has migrated. It causes these areas to have the same effects as the lining of the uterus. There are four stages of endometriosis. The stages are:
- Stage I (Minimal)
- Stage II (Mild)
- Stage III (Moderate)
- Stage IV (Severe)
Stages are dependent upon how many areas and which areas are affected by the endometriosis. Endometriosis is diagnosed through laproscopic surgery. The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. Other symptoms include mild to extreme pain before, during or after the menstrual period, pain during bowel movements or urination, pain during sex, bleeding from unusual places during the menstrual period such as from the rectum, nausea and vomiting during the menstrual period, and infertility. Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all. Keep in mind that a woman with Stage I (minimal) endometriosis can have severe pain and a woman with Stage IV (severe) can have little or no pain. Pain is not always an indicator of severity. Treatment usually falls into one or both categories: Hormone Therapy and Surgery. Hormone therapy consists of Birth Control Pills, GnRH, and Danazol. These hormones are used to halt the cycle and give the endometriosis the chance to go away or lessen. Surgery is used to try to remove adhesions. Hysterectomies are sometimes recommended as an ultimate solution for endometriosis, but it can still return.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT : Herbs useful in such cases include dashmoolam( Bilwa, agnimanth, shayonakam, patla, gambhari, shalparni, prishnaparni, brhati, kantakari, gokshuram), chandan, lakshaa, rasanjan,etc
Ayurvedic Classicla Medicine : Rasanjan Wati, Dashmoolarishtam, Mukta Pisthti, Prawal Pishti, Prawal Panchamrit Rasam, Patrangasavam, Lodhrasavam, Pushyanug choornam
Ayurvedic Panchkarma therapies : Uttar Basti
Congenital Anomalies
A Congenital Anomaly is a malformation of the reproductive organs. This can, at times, cause difficulty with conception or carrying a pregnancy to term. Usually an anomaly can be found during a routine pap smear. It can also be found during an Ultrasound, Hysteroscopic Exam or a Laparoscopy. Signs of this condition are recurrent miscarriages, difficulty with coitus, vaginal tampons not effective in absorbing menstrual blood, and pregnancy despite the use of IUD (Intrauterine Device).
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT: If judged at right time some ayurvedic herbs and yogasanams can help in the better development of female reproductive organs.
Loss Of Libido
As is the case with women, lack of desire in men can be of either physical or psychological origin.
Physical causes :
- Alcoholism - quite common.
- Abuse of drugs such as cocaine.
- Any major disease such as diabetes.
- Obesity -quite common; slimming down will often help.
- Anaemia -unusual, unless the man has been bleeding for any reason.
- Prescribed drugs -particularly Proscar (finasteride), a tablet used for prostate problems.
- Hyperprolactinaemia -a rare disorder where the pituitary gland produces too much of the hormone prolactin.
- Low testosterone level - contrary to what many people think, this is rare, except in cases where some injury or illness has affected the testicles.
Psychological causes :
- Stress and overwork.
- Hang-ups from childhood.
- Depression - very common.
- Serious relationship problems with your partner.
- Obesity - quite common; slimming down will often help.
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT: In Ayurveda, libido is directly dependent upon the amount of "Shukara Dhatu" in our body. Ayurveda believes the body to be made up of seven dhatus. Rasa, Rakata, Mansam, Medam, Aasti, Maaja, Shukaram. It is believed that the diet we take is acted upon by the digestive fire of our body and Aahar Rasam is formed from the useful part of our food while the waste is thrown out of our body as the stool. Now this Aahar Rasam is acted upon by various types of metabolic fires leading to the formation of Rasa Dhatu and from there onwards upto Shukara Dhatu Respectively. If the amount of Shukra Dhatu decreases in the body due to Anuloma Kshayam( i.e. due to improper nutrition or due to disturbances in the metabolism of the body) or due to Pratiloma Kshayam (due to excessive masturbation or due to excessive indulgence in intercourse) then there occurs a loss of libido. Hence to improve the libido, we require to check this decrease in amount of Shukra Dhatu of the body. Various herbs as well as metallic preprations are helpful in improving the amount of shukra dhatu in the body and thus help to improve the libido.
Ovulation Disorders
Ovulation Disorders involve the inability to release an egg or the egg not being released at the right time in the cycle to facilitate conception. Ovulation Disorders can be characterized by absent ovulation (anovulation) resulting in infrequent periods (oligomenorrhea). Several different things can cause Ovulation Disorders. It may be due to
- Hormone imbalances
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Vitamin or Mineral deficiency
- Low body weight
- High body weight
- Chronic illness
- Luteal Phase Defect
Diagnosis & Treatment : Diagnosis for Ovulation Disorders involves blood tests for FSH, LH, Prolactin, Testosterone, and a Free Androgen Index. The use of CAT Scans or MRI's, Endometrial Biopsies, and Specific Antibody Tests may also be used. Blood tests can determine the majority of hormone problems. Treatment is dependent upon the diagnosis made by your doctor
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT : There are various ayurvedic herbs that help to resolve ovulation disorders herbs useful in such cases include: Kumari, Musli, Shivlingi, giloya, guggulu, ashwagandha, shatavari, etc.
Ayurvedic Classical Medicine : Raja prawartni Wati, Pushpa Dhanwa Rasam, Nashtapushpantak Rasam, Medohar Guggulu, Phal Ghrutam
Ayurvedic Panchkarma therapies : Sarwang Swednam, Uttar Basti.
Blocked Fallopian Tubes
He fallopian tubes are a part of the female anatomy that sweeps the egg up after it is released from the follicular sac on the ovary and passes it to the uterus. The fallopian tube is also where fertilization takes place. When the fallopian tube is blocked, it makes it nearly impossible for a woman to conceive. The sperm wait in the fallopian tube for the egg to be released and swept up. But, if the tube is blocked then there is no way that the egg and sperm can meet and for the egg to be transported to the uterus where it would burrow in and begin to grow. There are two fallopian tubes (one coming from each ovary). It is possible for one or both to become partially or totally blocked. Several different conditions can cause the fallopian tubes to become partially or fully blocked including:
If there is a suspicion of tubal blockage due to the inability to conceive, an HSG (Hysterosal-pingogram) may be performed. Laproscopy can be used to diagnose other damage to the tube. Treatment may involve tubal surgery. This is a procedure in which the doctor will try to open the tube or tubes and to reduce damage to the tubes. Or the other option is in-vitro fertilization. Several different conditions can cause the fallopian tubes to become partially or fully blocked including:
- A history of ectopic pregnancies
- Endometriosis adhesions
- Infections (PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)
- Inflammation
- Surgical procedures in the abdominal area
- Certain types of fibroids (rarely)
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT: Herbs useful in such cases include: Kachner Guggulu, Kultaham, Katphal, etc.
Ayurvedic Classical Medicine :There are ayurvedic medicines which can be of great help in this condition which include Kachner Guggulu, Medohar Guggulu, Tamra Bhasma.
Ayurvedic Panchkarma therapies: Snehanam, Swednam, Uttar Basti.