Other reproductive conditions

Question 1

What are the symptoms menopause?

Answer 1

• Hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, skin dryness, joint aches, mood changes, insomnia and changes in sexual desire

Question 2

What are the post-menopausal risk factors?

Answer 2

• Higher risk of bone loss and fractures
• Higher risk of heart disease

Question 3

What are the 3 stages of transition through menopause?

Answer 3

Three stages of transition:
* Peri-menopause (on average, begins around age 47)
* Menopause: 12 months since the last period (including any menstrual bleeding or spotting)
* Post-menopause

Question 4

What are some menopausal related patterns?

Answer 4

• Kidney yin xu: Overwork leading to empty heat (hot flushes, dizziness, night sweating, tinnitus)
• Kidney yang xu: overwork
• Kidney + Liver Yin Xu + Liver Yang rising: Overwork and emotional stress leading to headaches, irritability, dry eyes and skin.
• Kidney + Heart not harmonised: emotional upset (hot flushes, palpitations, insomnia, night sweating)
• Phlegm damp accumulation and Qi stagnation: diet – overconsumption of greasy food and dairy.
• Blood stagnation: Long term Liver Qi stagnation (due to anger).

Question 5

What are the causes of uterine prolapse?

Answer 5

• A prolapse occurs when the ligaments that hold the pelvic organs in place are stretched or weakened. This can happen when something puts pressure on the pelvic floor
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Prolonged constipation or regularly straining on the toilet
• Repetitive heavy lifting
• Being overweight
• Smoking
• Chronic coughing

Question 6

What are the symptoms of uterine prolapse?

Answer 6

• A sensation of fullness or pressure inside the vagina
• A lump or bulge in or out of the vagina
• A sensation of heaviness or dragging in the pelvis or vagina
• An inability to completely empty the bladder or the bowel when going to the toilet
• Straining to get the urine flow started or to empty the bowel
• Bowel or bladder urgency
• Pain during sex or less sensation during sex
• Lower back pain
• Recurring UTI’s

Question 7

What is a uterine fibroid?

Answer 7

• Uterine fibroid (also known as leiomyoma) or fibromyoma is a non-cancerous benign tumour that grows in or around the uterus

Question 8

What are the three types of uterine fibroid?

Answer 8

• There are three types: subserous fibroid (develops in the outer wall of the uterus), intramural fibroid (develops within the uterine wall) and submucosal fibroid (develops beneath the lining of the uterine cavity

Question 9

What is an STI?

Answer 9

• Genital herpes: is an STI that is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) – the same type of virus that causes cold sores
• As many as 1 in 8 sexually active Australians have genital herpes

Question 10

What are the symptoms of STI’s?

Answer 10

• Symptoms of herpes: stinging or tingling in the genital area, small blisters, sores that look like a rash or cracked skin on the genitals, difficulty passing urine, fever, headache.

Question 11

How can TCM help the symptoms of STI?

Answer 11

• TCM: acupuncture and TCM offer a very effective short-term relief of genital herpes by clearing damp heat in the LJ

Question 12

What are uterine fibroid patterns?

Answer 12

• Qi stagnation leading to soft, moveable masses in the abdomen (no fixed location & come and go). GB34, CV6, LIV3, SP6, PC6, TE6, LU7 and KI6. Shu Gan Wan.
• Blood masses: blood stagnation leading to hard, immovable masses in the abdomen (fixed location). GB34, LIV3, PC6, TE6, SP6, SP10, BL17, LU7, KID6. Shi Xiao Wan