While young men are more apt to become victims of violent acts perpetrated by strangers, women are much more likely to become victims of violent acts perpetrated by spouses, lovers, ex-spouses, and ex-lovers. In 1999, more than 6 million women were victims of assault. In fact, 6 of every 10 women in the United States will be assaulted at some time in their lives by someone they know. Every year, approximately 12 percent of married women are the victims of physical aggression perpetrated by their husbands, according to a national survey. These acts of aggression are committed in anger and often include pushing, slapping, and shoving.Some women experience much more severe acts of aggression. Each year about 4 percent of married women are the victims of violence that takes the form of beating and/or threats of or actual harm caused by use of a knife or a gun. In fact, acts of aggression by a husband or boyfriend are one of the most common causes of death for young women, and roughly 2,200 women in the United States are killed each year by their partners or ex-partners. Over a recent 10-year period, according to the National Crime Survey, on average, more than 2 million assaults on women occurred each year. More than two thirds of these assaults were committed by someone the woman knew.The following U.S. statistics indicate the seriousness of this long-hidden problem:- The most vulnerable female victims are African American and Hispanic, live in large cities, are young and unmarried, and are far from their families.- Every 15 seconds, someone batters a woman.- Only 1 in every 250 such assaults is reported to the police.- More than a third of women victims of domestic violence are severely abused on a regular basis.- About five women are killed every day in domestic violence incidents.- Three of every four women murdered are killed by their husbands.- Domestic violence is the single greatest cause of injury to women, surpassing rape, mugging, and auto accidents combined.- About 25 to 45 percent of all women who are battered sustain such attacks during pregnancy.- One quarter of suicide attempts by women occur as a result of domestic violence.How many times have you heard of a woman who is repeatedly beaten by her partner or spouse and asked, “Why doesn’t she just leave him?” There are many reasons why some women find it difficult, if not impossible, to break their ties with their abusers. Many women, particularly those with small children, often are financially dependent on their partners. Others fear retaliation against themselves or their children. Some women hope that the situation will change with time (it rarely does), and others stay because their cultural or religious beliefs forbid divorce. Finally, some women still love the abusive partner and are concerned about what will happen to him if they leave.Psychologist Lenore Walker developed a theory known as the “cycle of violence” to explain how women can get caught in a downward spiral without knowing what is happening to them. The cycle has three phases:1. Tension building. In this phase, minor battering occurs, and the woman may become more nurturant, more pleasing, and more intent on anticipating the spouse’s needs in order to forestall another violent scene. She assumes guilt for doing something to provoke him and tries hard to avoid doing it again.- Acute battering. At this stage, pleasing her man doesn’t help and she can no longer control or predict the abuse. Usually, the spouse is trying to “teach her a lesson,” and when he feels he has inflicted enough pain, he’ll stop. When the acute attack is over, he may respond with shock and denial about his own behavior. Both batterer and victim may soft-pedal the seriousness of the attacks.- Remorse/reconciliation. During this “honeymoon” period, the batterer may be kind, loving, and apologetic, swearing he will never act violently toward the woman again. He may “behave” for several weeks or months, and the woman may come to question whether she overrated the seriousness of past abuse.- Then the kind of tension that precipitated abusive incidents in the past resurfaces, the man loses control again and he once more beats the woman.Unless some form of intervention breaks this downward cycle of abuse, contrition, further abuse, denial, and contrition, it will repeat itself again and again – perhaps ending only in the woman’s, or rarely, the man’s death.It is very hard for most women who get caught in this cycle of violence (which may include forced sexual relations and psychological and economic abuse as well as beatings) to summon up the courage and resolution to extricate themselves. Most need effective outside intervention.*2/277/5*
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WOMEN AS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
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Doctors prefer to do endoscopies in a hospital with patients put under local anesthesia. Before the culdoscope can be inserted properly, the woman is positioned on the table in a kneeling position, leaning forward with her bottom higher than her chest and her head resting on her arm. Before the procedure, the vagina is washed to the point of sterilization. This is the first possible snag of culdoscopy. Since complete vaginal sterilization is impossible, there is an inherent risk of infection and doctors must proceed cautiously. After she is coveted with a sterile drape, the doctor administers a spinal or epidural anesthetic, or the woman can be given a painkiller like Demerol as well A specialized speculum is then inserted into the vagina to permit a better view of the cervix. About now, a local anesthetic is injected into the vagina and a small probe inserted blindly through the vaginal wall. When the probe is in place, a larger probe containing the culdoscope is inserted. Looking through the culdoscope, the doctor can inspect the area just behind the uterus, the ovaries, and the tubes. Since the intestines tend to fall forward while in this kneeling position, the doctor has a less obstructed view to check for any abnormality in the area.
Aftereffects of culdoscopy are usually not troublesome. If you are scheduled for one, expect minimal pelvic pain for a day or two after surgery. Doctors will advise abstinence from intercourse for three or four weeks or until complete healing has occurred. Unlike laparoscopy, which is not as debilitating, culdoscopy will require rest at home for a week or two and avoidance of stress-filled work schedules.
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Tags: Women’s Health
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The uterus is situated deep within the pelvis. It makes its presence felt during the reproductive years, when its inner lining bleeds intermittently and its lower portion, the cervix, produces mucus secretions. During a woman’s fertile years the uterus is the most prominent of the female reproductive organs, drawing attention with activities like menstruation and pregnancy. In contrast, before a girl reaches puberty and after a woman has her menopause, it moves through phases of change slowly and unobtrusively.
Position in the pelvis. Some women can accurately locate the position of their uterus because of the contractions they feel during orgasm or menstruation. These uterine contractions can be like pleasant ripples and are an enjoyable part of sex for some, while other women find them painful. For women who don’t experience these clues, it can be helpful to picture where the uterus sits inside the abdomen: the vagina is below, the bladder in front, the loops of the bowel above, and the rectum behind.
Strong support tissues called ligaments hold the uterus in place in the pelvis. If these ligaments are not able to provide the necessary support and the uterus becomes displaced (this is one type of prolapse), this can create pain or changed function in the four surrounding organs. For example, pain during sex may result from the uterus pressing on and even into the vagina, while pressure on the bladder from the uterus can lead to urinary incontinence.
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Tags: Women’s Health
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Depo-Provera is the long-acting injection form of Provera, also manufactured by Upjohn, which is sometimes used in the treatment of endometriosis. It is also used to treat endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterus), breast cancer and, in some countries, is used as a contraceptive agent.
An injection of Depo-Provera consists of thousands of very small crystals of the drug suspended in a solution of water. When the drug is injected into the body the crystals are slowly released into the bloodstream over a period of weeks or months. The time that the drug remains in the body depends on how fast it releases the crystals and how fast the body removes the drug from the bloodstream.
There has been considerable controversy over the last decade regarding the unapproved use of Depo-Provera for contraceptive purposes. However, Depo-Provera has long been approved in this country for the treatment of endometriosis.
How Depo-Provera works
Depo-Provera presumably eradicates endometrial implants in the same way as Provera.
Dosages of Depo-Provera generally used
Dosages vary. Some gynecologists recommend one injection every two weeks for the first two to three months followed by one injection every month for the rest of the course of treatment. Others recommend one injection every two weeks throughout the course of treatment. The recommended length of treatment may vary from six months to a year.
It is important to remember that because Depo-Provera is a long-acting injection, any side effects will persist until all the crystals of the drug have been removed from the body. There is no way to remove the drug from your body once you have had an injection and there is no antidote.
Some gynecologists suggest that you try taking a short-term course of Provera tablets before you embark on a long-term course of Depo-Provera as this should enable you to find out how your body responds to the drug and whether or not the side effects are likely to cause problems.
Side effects of Depo-Provera
Vaginal bleeding is common and may be troublesome. The bleeding may be heavy and prolonged, or erratic with episodes of light bleeding or spotting. The bleeding may sometimes persist after the course of treatment has finished.
Weight gain is also common — usually only about two or three kilograms but sometimes more.
Most women will start ovulating and menstruating again within several months of their last injection. Depo-Provera sometimes causes a prolonged delay in the return of menstruation and a few women will not menstruate for more than a year following their last injection. Depo-Provera is not recommended for women who may wish to become pregnant soon after their treatment has ceased.
How effective is Depo-Provera
Studies indicate that Depo-Provera relieves the symptoms of endometriosis in 60% to 80% of women and that approximately 50% of women desiring pregnancy will conceive. There are no figures on the rate of recurrence of endometriosis following treatment.
Depo-Provera, pregnancy and breastfeeding
The manufacturers state that Depo-Provera should not be used if there is any possibility that you may be pregnant, as progestogens may cause abnormalities in the developing foetus. However, some gynecologists believe that Depo-Provera causes no risks to the foetus.
The use of Depo-Provera while breastfeeding is probably safe.
Interaction with other drugs, alcohol or foods
There are no known interactions of Depo-Provera with any foods, alcohol or other drugs.
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Tags: Women’s Health