Birth control pills are basically pills that are taken on a daily basis and which contain certain hormones that will change the way the uterus and ovaries perform thereby preventing pregnancy. Most birth control pills today are classified as combination pills which means they contain both progesterone and estrogen hormones which prevent the release of eggs in a women’s monthly cycle (ovulation). If there are no eggs released, a woman cannot get pregnant.

Another function of the pill is that it thickens the mucus found around the cervix, making it very hard for sperm to get into the uterus and finding any eggs that could have been released. The pills hormones sometimes affect the uterus’ lining as well so that any eggs released will find it very difficult to attach to the sides.

Birth Control Pills and Other Common Methods

Most combo pills come in 21-day or 28-day packets, with one taken each day. With a 21-day pack you will stop taking the pill for seven days at the end of the cycle and with the 28-day pack you will take seven pills without any hormones at the end of the cycle. Women then tend to get their periods when they cease taking the pills that contain the hormones.

The testicles are found within the scrotum which is a loose sac of skin hanging down behind the penis.  The function of the testicles is to produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone.  Most of the time any lumps or swelling within the testicles are benign but it is natural for people to worry when they have found a lump.

Testicular torsion results in swelling of the testicles if the testicle has become twisted.  This interrupts blood flow and causes a large tender distension.  It often happens in developing boys who are experiencing puberty but has also been know to happen in men in their 20’s although it is quite rare.  Testicular torsion is a medical emergency due to the fact that it needs to be rectified by surgery within 6 hours or there is a risk that the testicle will be lost.

Symptoms of testicular torsion include nausea; vomiting; swelling of the scrotum; fever; abdominal pain; the need to urinate often; and, excruciating pain in one testicle.  The cause of testicular torsion results from a spermatic cord that is too long.  The spermatic cord is where the testicles hang from and in some boys this cord is too long leading to increased movement of the testicle which means the cord becoming twisted.  If it twists too much it will cut off the blood supply and the testicle will die.  Testicular torsion can sometimes just happen for no reason at all or it can be the result of strenuous exercise or other physical activity.

An ultrasound scan can be done to confirm suspicion of testicular torsion. Surgery needs to take place almost immediately to save the testicle.  The surgeon will have to cut the scrotum and untwist the cord.  He will then sew the cord to the scrotum to prevent this happening again.

Testicular Torsion

The menopause is that period in a woman’s life when her periods stop permanently. It’s a natural process that marks the end of a females reproductive years and the average age at which this happens is 51, although it varies from woman to woman. The menopause actually takes place when there aren’t any more eggs in the ovaries. It is these eggs that stimulate the production of estrogen, but when the levels of this hormone drop in the blood, the menstrual cycle is disrupted.

Menopause

The menopause normally takes place gradually and for a few years prior to it a woman’s periods may become more irregular; occurring every couple of weeks or every few months. Bleeding may be a bit heavier during this time as well.

Some women do not suffer any symptoms on the onset of the menopause, but approximately eight out of ten women do. These symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, palpitations, insomnia, dry skin, thinning hair, brittle nails, aches and pains, loss of libido, headaches, weight gain, and vaginal and urinary changes.

The lower levels of hormones brought on by the menopause can also increase the risks associated with other health issues in the long term, including osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, weight gain and weakness of the pelvis and pelvic floor.

Physical exercise and changes in diet can help in the treatments of the menopause, as does hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is designed to replace some of the hormones after the menopause occurs.