Women's Health

Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s life. One is considered to have menopause when she hasn’t had any menstrual periods for at least 12 months. The production of eggs in the ovaries slows down and then stops, and with it is the gradual reduction of oestrogen and progesterone levels in the body. The reduction of these female hormones is what causes the symptoms of menopause. These symptoms include:

• Hot flushes (also called hot flashes)
• Heavy sweating
• Breast tenderness
• Vaginal dryness
• Fluid retention
• Increased anxiety and stress
• Irritability
• Moon swings
• Low libido
• Headaches
• Vertigo

Majority of women undergoing menopause will manifest these symptoms, and they can vary widely between individuals as well. Generally, the first sign that a woman is undergoing menopause is that there is a change in menstrual patterns. Hot flushes occur in the majority of perimenopausal (transition period) women. Supplements for menopause have been proven to help with hot flushes, and they can also help manage other symptoms of menopause such as mood swings and heavy sweating.

Another common symptom is vaginal dryness. This dryness can be very uncomfortable and can cause painful intercourse, as well as a high risk for urinary tract infections. The use of vaginal moisturisers, water-based lubricants or gentle vaginal washes can help manage this symptom.

Menopause can lead to certain medical conditions such as osteoporosis, breast cancer and heart disease in the long run. Be sure to maintain adequate daily intake of essential nutrients and minerals, reduce calorie intake if necessary, and get plenty of exercise to minimise the risk of developing these conditions.

Taking adequate amounts of folic acid, iodine and other vitamins and minerals is essential during pregnancy. Your doctor or midwife will prescribe you these supplements during your pregnancy. Products containing these supplements can be bought over the counter as well. If you have any questions about what and what not to take during pregnancy, talk to us and we should be able to help you answer these questions.

Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is a very important vitamin for the growth and development of rapidly growing cells, such as the fetus. Normally this vitamin is in certain foods such as green leafy vegetables and liver. In pregnancy, however, folic acid requirements increase by up to three times, making diet-derived folate inadequate for the mother. Folic acid supplementation therefore is necessary, especially up to 12 weeks after conception. It is even recommended to take folic acid for at least a month before conception. A daily folate intake of 800 micro-grams (or 0.8 milligrams) is enough for most pregnancies to prevent fetal neural tube defects. However, in cases wherein the mother carries a higher risk of neural tube defect-affected pregnancy, up to 5 mg per day is recommended.

Another important supplement in pregnancy is iodine. Iodine is essential for normal brain growth and development. It should be taken at the start of the pregnancy until after breastfeeding has ended. Iodine supplements in the form of 150 mcg tablets are available on prescription from your doctor or midwife. It is also recommended for pregnant women to eat iodine-rich foods on top of the iodine tablet supplementation. Iodine-rich foods include pregnancy-safe seafood, milk, eggs, and bread with added iodine.

Vitamin D is also an important supplement in pregnancy, as it is vital for strong bones, strong immune system and overall health. The main source of vitamin D is exposure to direct sunlight, but don’t forget to follow the sun protection guidelines as well. One can also get vitamin D from their diet but it is hard to get enough of it. If you think you don’t get enough sunlight or vitamin D, talk to your doctor to assess if you need to start taking vitamin D supplementation.

When taking multivitamin supplements during pregnancy, ensure that the iodine and folic acid amounts meet the Ministry of Health’s recommendations. Do note that excessive Vitamin A during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects. Avoid taking more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin A daily.

Thrush is a common fungal infection caused by overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans, which normally is part of the harmless flora of the vaginal enviroment. It can be triggered by factors that affect the pH balance and flora of the vagina, such as taking broad-spectrum antibiotics (which kills a large portion of the normal flora), immunodeficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia, hot weather, stress, high-dose contraceptive pills, and pregnancy.

Symptoms of thrush include irritation, itching or a burning sensation in the genital area, which is sometimes accompanied by a thick creamy discharge. Consult with one of our pharmacists if you have these symptoms for a complete assessment. Our pharmacist will be able to sell you an antifungal medication that should be able to effectively treat thrush.

Thrush can be sexually transferred to a male partner causing redness, soreness or itching in the genital area. It is usually treated by a topical anti-fungal cream. You can ask us for recommendations to help you treat this condition.

There are different ways to prevent pregnancy.

Choosing the one that best suits you depends on your health, preferences and circumstances. Most of these methods are very effective in contraception if used or implemented correctly. However, it is important to note that only barrier contraceptives (for example, condoms) are effective against preventing the transmission of sexually transmissible infections or STIs such as gonorrhea, genital herpes and HIV/AIDS.

For other options, talk to your GP or go to one of the Family Planning clinics to help you choose which one is the best option for you.

If you choose oral contraceptive pills as your method of choice and you have a script for it, bring it to us and we can dispense it for free (except for certain brands; please check with us first).

Our pharmacists are ready to help you with all your questions regarding contraception as well; feel free to ask us in-store or online.

If you’ve had unprotected sex or had sex when your contraception has failed, you can take emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. Pregnancy is most likely to happen if unprotected sex happens a week before or up to one day after ovulation. There are two types: the emergency contraceptive pill or ECP, and the copper intrauterine device or IUD. Our pharmacists are trained to sell you ECP without a prescription; if you need one, talk one of our pharmacists and they will check if an ECP is suitable for your situation.

The ECP is a high dose progesterone pill taken as a single dose that helps prevent pregnancy with a high success rate, especially when taken as soon as possible for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. This prevention is good enough for most cases; however if you weigh more than a certain limit you may have to take two pills instead of the usual one. However, the copper IUD is preferred in this situation instead of taking two pills, and is usually considered the more reliable option. An IUD is a small flexible T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus by a medical professional. The copper IUD also carries the advantage that it can serve as a very reliable long-acting contraception if you decide to keep the implant. If you prefer the latter, go to one of the Family Planning clinics and their friendly staff will be able to help you.