Meningitis C

What is meningitis?
The very mention of meningitis strikes fear into the heart of most parents in the UK. Such fears are understandable because meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can be a very serious illness. Although most people recover from the disease, some are left deaf or blind, and in others it may prove fatal. One of the biggest problems with meningitis is that it can develop very quickly. A child (or adult) can seem perfectly well and then, just a few hours later, be extremely ill with the disease. Another problem is that the symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other, less serious infections.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?
In babies and young children it can cause fever, vomiting, refusal to feed, a high-pitched or moaning cry and irritability. Older children and adults may experience a severe headache, stiff neck and aversion to bright lights as well as fever and vomiting. Eventually, the person may become drowsy or unconscious. If septicaemia (blood poisoning) is also present a rash may develop that starts off looking like tiny red pin pricks. Later, the rash changes to purplish red blotches. If you press on the rash with a glass tumbler, the spots will not fade. Babies may develop a tense or bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of the baby's head), blotchy or pale skin, rapid breathing, a floppy body or stiffness with jerky movements. Older children and adults with septicaemia may complain of cold hands and feet, aching muscles and joints, and stomach pain (sometimes with diarrhoea).

What causes meningitis?
A number of different viruses and bacteria can cause meningitis. Children in the UK are already offered vaccination against one of them, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B), but meningococcal group B and C are two types of bacteria that cause a large number of cases of meningitis in Britain. Group B is the most common, but group C causes more deaths. In recent times, there have been about 1500 cases of group C meningitis and septicaemia reported in the UK each year, some of which have been fatal. Unfortunately, there is no safe and effective vaccine against group B, but group C vaccine became available in the UK in November 1999, following which a marked drop in meningitis C infections occurred.

The new vaccine against meningitis C
The vaccine is made from a small part of the meningococcal bacteria. It stimulates the body's immune system to produce antibodies that act as a defence against group C meningococcal disease. If an immunised person comes into contact with the real bacteria, the antibodies will prevent their body from becoming infected with the group C bacteria and will protect the person from developing meningitis C or septicaemia. The new vaccine does not prevent infection with other viruses or bacteria, including group B meningococcus.

How safe and effective is the new vaccine?
Meningitis C vaccines (Meningitec, NeisVac-C) are produced in a very similar way to the Hib vaccine, which has been used routinely in babies in the UK since 1992, and has proved very safe and effective. Hib meningitis has nearly been wiped out in this country since the vaccine was introduced. No serious side effects of meningitis C have been identified. As the vaccine is not 'live', it cannot give anyone meningitis or septicaemia.

What reactions might be seen after vaccination?
Babies and toddlers may become a little irritable after their immunisation and up to 1 in 20 may develop a mild fever. A few may get redness or swelling around the injection site, but this usually lasts only a few days at most. In older children, fever is less common, but about a quarter will develop redness or swelling where the injection is given. About 1 in 100 will have a very sore arm for a day or so, and about 1 in 10 may complain of a headache after the immunisation. Is there anyone who should not have the meningitis C vaccine? There are only a few medical reasons why the vaccine should not be given:
a high temperature on the day of the immunisation.
a severe allergic reaction to a previous immunisation.
pregnancy.

Who should get meningitis C vaccine?
The national immunisation programme for meningitis C began in the autumn of 1999. Babies and young people aged 15 to 17 were the first to be offered the vaccine because they are at the greatest risk of developing meningococcal C infections.
Babies are given the meningitis C vaccine when they have their other immunisations at two, three and four months of age. Extension of vaccination to people aged 20-24 was notified by the chief medical officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, in January 2002. This is to be offered to all those who were not immunised against meningitis C and for those received the older 'polysaccharide' meningitis vaccine more than three years previously (your GP will be able to tell from your records what vaccinations you have had if you are unsure). All people with an absent or underactive spleen should also receive meningitis C vaccine (such people should also receive pneumococcal vaccine).

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Posted in: types of illnesses

Mouth Cancer

We all know a lot more about mouth cancer now that Hollywood actor Michael Douglas has been diagnosed with the disease. The earlier you catch it, the better. But what are the signs to look out for? We talk to the experts.'The fact that Michael Douglas, the iconic Hollywood star, has been diagnosed with mouth cancer has raised its profile significantly,' says Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. 'It's very sad for Michael, who is fighting the later stage of the disease. But it means that far more people know about it and are thinking about how it might affect them,' he says.

Catch it early
The earlier the disease is caught, the better. Survival rates rise to 90 per cent if the cancer is treated before it has spread. Sadly, the survival rates for this disease have not increased over the last 40 years because symptoms are often picked up too late. In fact, over two thirds of cases are picked up at late stage. 'It can be hard to pinpoint, particularly if the disease is in the throat,' says Dr Nigel Carter. Medical practitioners may also miss important signs. Michael Douglas went to frequent appointments complaining of pain in his throat and ear. But doctors failed to pick up the cancer, which was in the back of his throat. 'What you are looking for is red or white patches on the tongue or an ulcer that doesn't heal within three weeks,' says Dr Carter. Other symptoms include unusual lumps anywhere on the head or neck.

Risk factors
Mouth cancer is on the increase, and people affected by it are getting younger – although most people affected are still over 40. Tobacco is considered to be the main cause of mouth cancer, with three in four cases being linked to smoking.
Michael Douglas had a 'half a pack a day' habit until he quit the habit for good several years ago. Drinking in excess is also a known factor, with those who both smoke and drink excessively being up 30 times more likely to be at risk.
More recently, it has also been associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted infection. Other risk factors include a poor diet. Research has shown that an increased intake of fish, vegetables, fruit and eggs can help lower risks of cancer. In the past, it was predominantly a male disease. But now the number of women with mouth cancer is growing because their smoking and drinking habits have changed. 'Thirty years ago, mouth cancer was five times more common in men than women. Now it's only twice as common in men as in women,' says Dr Carter.

Diagnosis
Most diagnosis is done after a visual examination, followed by a tissue biopsy. A new swab test, which will look for tell-tale signs of low levels of certain chemicals in the saliva, is still in the development stage. But it should help to make diagnosis easier in future. Scientists at the University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry published their exciting findings in the October 2009 issue of the Chemical Cancer Journal. 'It's a breakthrough, but we have to wait until the technology is available in the UK,' says Dr Carter.

What's the treatment?
Once the disease has been diagnosed, it can be treated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy – as well as surgery, either a partial or complete laryngectomy, which can cause voice changes or the loss of voice completely. 'This case shows just how devastating and life-changing mouth or oral cancer can be, and it really is vital the public know what to do if they spot a problem,' adds Dr Carter. But everyone agrees that the best thing is to avoid the problem in the first place.
Regular trips to the dentist are a must because half of all mouth cancer cases are detected by dentists. 'Every time you see a dentist, you should get a thorough examination of the soft tissue of the mouth as a matter of course,' says Dr Carter.
'The dentist will be able to spot any tell-tale signs and refer you to a specialist for further examinations.'

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Posted in: types of illnesses

Cystitis

What is cystitis?
Cystitis is an infection of the bladder, but the term is often used indiscriminately and covers a range of infections and irritations in the lower urinary system. It causes burning sensations during urination and a frequent need to urinate.

How do you get cystitis?
Infection from intestinal bacteria is by far the most frequent cause of cystitis, especially among women, who have a very short urethra (the tube through which the urine passes from the bladder to the outside). Normally, urine is sterile (there are no micro-organisms such as bacteria present). Between 20 to 40 per cent of women will get cystitis in their lifetime.


However, it is possible to have bacteria in the bladder without having any symptoms (especially in the elderly). There can be several reasons for the bacteria settling in the bladder. Inadequate emptying resulting in stagnation of urine may lead to infection. This may be caused by some drugs (for example, antidepressants), immobility, abnormal bladder control and constipation. Even the small drop which is always left behind may contain bacteria. Conditions that may make it easier for the bacteria to travel through the urethra include those listed below.

• Toilet hygiene.
  

Particularly common among females, as they have a shorter urethra than males and it is situated relatively close to their anus (back passage). Women and girls must dry themselves from front to back, towards the anus - not the other way around - to avoid leading bacteria from their intestine into their urethra.

• Congenital deformity in the urinary system
  

In the case of repeated infections of the urinary system, particularly among boys and young men, the individual should be checked for a congenital (present from birth) deformity somewhere in the urinary system which prevents the complete emptying of the bladder.

• People with a catheter
  

Everyone with a catheter (to drain urine) will have bacteria in their bladder, usually without symptoms. During the change of catheter, small lesions (damaged areas) may appear, which may increase the danger of infection (cystitis) and possible blood infection.

• Men with an enlarged prostate
  

An enlarged prostate (male sex gland) in teh older male prevents the bladder from emptying completely.
Other conditions like prostatitis (infection in the prostate) and urethritis (infection in the urethra) may give rise to similar symptoms in the younger male.

• Pregnant women
  

If pregnant women have bacteria in their urine, their urine should be cultured twice, regardless of whether or not they have any symptoms. If the same strains of bacteria occur, they should be treated. Otherwise, there is the risk of kidney infection and pre-term delivery (if near the due date).

Other causes
'Honeymoon' cystitis
Cystitis in women related to increased frequency of sexual activity.
Venereal diseases
Gonorrhoea and chlamydia infections may cause symptoms similar to cystitis. In addition, there is usually a vaginal discharge, bleeding after sexual intercourse and an inflamed cervix. Cystitis-like symptoms among young sexually active men may be caused by venereal diseases and they should seek immediate medical advice.
Parasites
Particularly among people who have been in North Africa or the Middle East. The bladder may be infested by parasites - schistosomiasis or bilharzia (river blindness). The symptoms are similar to cystitis, but there are no bacteria in the urine.
Postmenopausal women
Due to lack of female sex hormones in postmenopausal women, a range of changes take place in the whole body. A consequence of this is that the urinary system is more easily irritated by cystitis.
Contact dermatitis
Women using a deodorant or other potentially irritating material on their genitals may develop cystitis-like symptoms.

What are the symptoms of cystitis?
Burning sensations or pain during urination.
Frequent urination.
Cloudy and foul-smelling urine.
Pain directly above the pubic bone.
Children under five years of age often have less concrete symptoms, such as weakness, irritability, reduced appetite and vomiting.
Older women may also have no symptoms other than weakness, falls, confusion or fever.
Occasional blood in the urine.

Who is at special risk?

Women or girls who do not practice proper toilet hygiene.
Pregnant women.
People with a congenital deformity in the urinary system.
Men with an enlarged prostate.
People using a catheter.
Young people having unprotected sexual intercourse.

Good advice
It is important to drink sufficiently, so the bladder is flushed thoroughly. During urination the bladder should be emptied completely. It is a bad habit to sit on the toilet bent forward and reading while urinating. A trick is to place yourself backwards on the toilet, so you lean against the wall. This posture is more suitable in securing a complete emptying of the bladder than the usual sitting posture. Warm clothes on the lower part of the body will also help prevent cystitis.
As a prevention, it may be helpful to drink cranberry juice every day or take capsules. There is no doubt that this simple and natural treatment may help to reduce the frequency of recurrent infections. It is thought that the cranberry juice works by preventing common bacteria from ‘sticking’ to the walls of the bladder and so preventing infection taking hold. Urination immediately after sexual intercourse will flush out most bacteria from the urethra. Try to urinate at least once every three hours. Women who avoid urination for long periods suffer from more infections of the urinary system.

What treatments are available?
There are a number of products available from your pharmacist to treat cystitis. These can be used unless a woman is vomiting or if there is blood in the urine or if a woman is pregnant in which case she should consult her doctor. Usually, a single course of treatment clears up the problem, but if symptoms persist after trying an over-the-counter remedy then you should consult your doctor.

How does a doctor diagnose cystitis?
The diagnosis of cystitis is primarily based on symptoms and signs. Visual appearance of the urine is not helpful. The most important examination of urine is done by chemical testing (dipstick test), which is very quick, and by urine culture where the specimen is sent to a hospital laboratory to grow and examine the bacteria. The specimen must be fresh. It is also important that the woman has separated her labia (lips) during urination, to avoid bacteria from the skin and vagina contaminating the specimen. If there is inflammation, the doctor will identify bacteria and red and white blood cells in the urine using the dipstick test. If this is positive, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics immediately while waiting for further confirmation from the urine culture. This will also indicate whether the antibiotic is sensitive to the bacteria or whether there is any resistant bacteria which is not going to respond to the antibiotic. In the case of repeated, inexplicable, infections of the urinary system, a referral should be made to a hospital for tests such as ultrasound scanning or X-rays of the urinary system and cystoscopy (telescopic examination of the bladder).

Future prospects
Some people, particularly women, may have repeated infections. To avoid this, follow the good advice above. Women who have more than two episodes of cystitis yearly may benefit from medium term use of an antibiotic as protection against infection. The effectiveness of long-term antibiotics (over 12 months) has not been clearly established.

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Posted in: types of illnesses

Masturbation

Masturbation refers to sexual arousal (and often orgasm as well) by manual stimulation of the genitals. Generally, the word indicates self-stimulation. But it's worth noting that in 2010 some sexologists use the expression to indicate pleasuring of another person by hand, in phrases such as ‘the husband can masturbate the wife to help her achieve a climax'. However, in this article we shall deal only with self-stimulation. This is the form of sexual behaviour that most of us learn first – quite instinctively. And, until recently, it was probably the type of sex least talked about. In fact, in the early part of the last century: masturbation was widely considered to be a sin – and something to be avoided at all costs. Gradually, society became more tolerant of it as an activity, but it still had shameful connotations and was generally seen as a bit sad. Even in 2010, there are loads of bad jokes or disparaging remarks featuring the word 'wanker', which is of course a slang word for masturbator. Till far into the 20th century, there were many doctors, educators and youth leaders who strongly disapproved of masturbation, and who wrote books which claimed that it had terrible health consequences – like insanity! This was all nonsense. But until around the 1960s, there were youth leaders and pundits who advised people to avoid masturbation. They suggested that it was immature or undesirable and that if someone got fixated on it, they might not learn more 'grown up' responses.


Nowadays, experts have a completely different view of masturbation – and a very much more positive one. One of the reasons for this is the big change in people's lifestyles. In this 21st century, most of us can expect to have a much more changeable and flexible life than our grandparents did. We will live longer and we'll almost certainly have far more sexual and co-habiting relationships. But between these relationships we will find ourselves returning to single status. During these single periods, we'll most probably continue to have normal sex drives – and the most obvious form of sexual relief and satisfaction available to us at those times will be masturbation. So, masturbation needs to be seen in this modern context, and viewed as an activity that is pleasant, fulfilling, acceptable, normal – and very safe. In fact, masturbation is the safest form of sex there is, and much safer – and often more satisfying – than one-night stands. The only time masturbation isn't safe is on those rare occasions when young men (or occasionally women) decide to experiment by masturbating with potentially harmful objects – such as a vacuum cleaner! This is extremely dangerous and definitely not to be recommended.

Men and masturbation

The vast majority of men masturbate sometimes – even if they're in a long-term and happy sexual relationship. It’s most common if they’re away somewhere on a trip and have been without female company for a while. Masturbation comes pretty naturally to most men. Let's face it: a male child discovers that his penis feels good before he can talk! So, it's not surprising that boys fondle this area of their bodies a lot, and then, at the age of around 14, discover that masturbation can lead to orgasm and ejaculation – all of which they find exciting and pleasurable. There are some men who don't masturbate. But these are mainly men who don't want to do it because of religious reasons or because they're a bit uptight about sex. Also, some guys who have a fairly low sex drive don't masturbate. Some men - mostly from eastern cultures – try to avoid masturbating because they believe it depletes their energy and may shorten their lives. But there's no truth whatsoever in this belief. Most men masturbate by rubbing the penis with their ‘dominant’ hand – slowly at first and then more vigorously. Many guys grasp the shaft of their penis by wrapping their whole hand round it. Others grasp it between their thumb and first or middle finger. But however they do it, they don't usually have much doubt that they'll achieve orgasm as a result. This is quite a contrast to women, who may experience considerable anxiety about whether they will actually 'make it'. Some young men worry that they masturbate too much. The fact is that it's almost impossible to do this. Obviously, if a young guy is staying home and masturbating on the hour every hour, one might want to try to persuade him to get out more! But when a teenager first discovers sex, it's common for him to want to masturbate several times a day, on some days. And this certainly won't do him any harm. But masturbating constantly over a period of hours can produce some swelling or ‘puffiness’ of this penis. This is called ‘oedema’ and is due to fluid leaking into the tissues. It will disappear after some hours because the fluid goes back into the bloodstream. Other boys will masturbate quite rarely, especially if they don’t have a high sex drive. But this is normal for them. Some men in their 70s and 80s are still masturbating several times a week. But in general terms, men masturbate most in their teens and gradually do it less and less as their life progresses – depending partly on whether or not they have a partner at the time. As we have already indicated, many men still like to masturbate even when they're involved with a partner. They often feel that the orgasm they achieve through masturbation is less complex and more locally intense than climaxes achieved through sexual intercourse. Furthermore, they can control the pressure and speed of movement very accurately. In recent years, we have encountered a number of couples who achieve considerable satisfaction through the woman watching the man masturbate in front of her (or vice versa). Also, this practice is certainly helpful when – for some medical reason – intercourse is difficult or impossible.

Masturbation and pornography
At some point in their lives, almost all men will masturbate while looking at newspaper pin-ups, top-shelf magazines or sexy DVDs. For a single guy, viewing porn is seen as a pretty normal activity nowadays. Some single men do worry that they might get fixated on it, but the majority of them have no trouble in transferring most of their sexual focus to a real, live, warm, sexy female when they meet one. Masturbation using porn is more of an issue when a man is in a committed relationship. Some of these men worry that what they're doing is wrong – even if they don't want to stop. And of course many female partners have a problem with this sort of activity and can feel bitterly rejected and threatened by it. But most men who are in relationships are able to compartmentalise this kind of sexual behaviour. They may only do it occasionally, and they feel it has no bearing whatsoever on their love and desire for their partners. But – and this is important – this kind of sexual indulgence ceases to be normal when a man actually prefers it to having sex with his partner. When this happens, the relationship is usually in some trouble. Today, it is increasingly common for Internet porn to create that kind of relationship problem (see below). In such cases, it's not uncommon for men to use porn more and more for relief, rather than face up to sorting out sexual or relationship difficulties. This kind of avoidance behaviour almost invariably worsens an already problematic situation. If a man wants to save his relationship, but feels increasingly dependent on pornography, he should seek help.

Masturbation and the Internet
Since round about the beginning of the 21st century, more and more men have been masturbating while using the Internet. When this involves viewing the sort of pornographic images that you can also get on video, the situation is similar to when a man uses magazines or blue movies – in other words, he’s not getting involved with anybody else. But when the activity involves masturbating to orgasm while 'talking' by use of the keyboard with another person, then this cannot honestly be judged as a solo activity, or as simple masturbation. In fact, it can be seen as an act of infidelity – if the man in question is married or committed to a serious sexual relationship. In 2010, it's become surprisingly common for people to install video and audio equipment, so that they can see and talk to others while masturbating. The advent of the website ‘Chat Roulette’, which currently (2010) receives 500,000 visitors a day, has had an enormous impact. The idea of this set-up is that men and women are connected randomly to others in various parts of the world, and they can masturbate in front of them. Most partners would regard this activity as definite infidelity. In fairness, the rules of the site are supposed to prohibit ‘pornographic behaviour’.

Male masturbation and its use in helping sex problems
Two of the common sex problems that men experience can be helped to some extent by masturbating. Premature ejaculation (PE), which is a condition where the man ejaculates too quickly whilst he's having sex with a partner, is an enormously common problem. PE usually needs some sort of specialist help, but some men are able to help themselves to some degree by gaining more control over their climaxes, while masturbating. For such a man, he should practise beginning to masturbate and allow himself to get almost to the point of no return. But he should then stop and calm down a bit, before carrying on. If a man can do this several times before giving in and having a climax, it may well help him to develop the necessary control he's been lacking to delay his climax during intercourse – especially if he practises this stop-start technique on a regular basis. The other male sex problem that can be helped to some extent by masturbation is 'delayed ejaculation', 'ejaculatory incompetence' or as it's also called, 'retarded ejaculation'. When men have this particular problem they can maintain an erection for a long time during sex, but they can't relax enough to let go and climax inside their partner. Many such men are quite uptight about sex. And if they can learn to masturbate with their partner, this can help them a great deal. Again this is a problem that needs specialist help. But if a man can first of all learn to masturbate in the next room to his partner and then after a week or so manage to do it the same room, they will both feel he is making progress. Eventually, he should be able to masturbate right beside her and in time masturbate so close to her that he can place his penis into her vagina at the crucial moment.

Women and masturbation
Teenage girls do not tend to masturbate as automatically as boys do. Of course, plenty of girls do discover that they get pleasant feelings from their genitals at quite an early age. And many of these girls do discover how to masturbate to orgasm in their mid to late teens. But many girls and young women simply do not feel many strong sexual urges. Indeed, it's quite common for a woman not to reach orgasm until she is about 19 years of age. And there are plenty of females who don't reach one for years after that – either through sex with a partner, or by masturbating. When we wrote our book The Big 'O', our research showed that a few women did not learn to achieve orgasm until their 40s – but when they did, they were very pleased about it and quickly made up for lost time! So it's never too late to learn. But why is there this discrepancy between male and female orgasmic ability? One reason seems to be that a woman's sex drive simply appears to take longer to develop than that of men. Of course a woman's orgasm is not essential in nature – that is to say a woman doesn't need to orgasm to conceive, whereas a man does have to climax to produce the all-important sperm. Another reason for women's slower development may be that their genitals are much more hidden away than the male genitals – and this in turn may be why women don't have the same emotional and mental focus on the vulva that men have on the penis.

Methods of female masturbation
The average woman masturbates by stimulating her clitoris. She usually does this in little circular motions, either with her index or middle finger. Generally, women begin by touching themselves just above, or below, the clitoris. But as their excitement mounts, they can tolerate more intense stimulation right on top of it. Some women find they like the feeling of 'bulk' created by having something in the vagina at the same time. This could be two or three fingers of her other hand, or some kind of object. One word of caution: it's best to use fingers or a sex aid designed for the purpose. Women sometimes get into trouble if they use unwashed fruit, or other items, that may introduce infection into the vagina. And they should definitely always avoid anything that's breakable, like glass – for obvious reasons. In recent years, there has been a bit of a vogue among some young women for using an electric toothbrush in the vagina. Pleasant though this may be, it could certainly cause damage to those delicate tissues and should be avoided. Whether or not anything is introduced into the vagina – and this certainly does increase the excitement in a lot of women – the vast majority of females need to keep stimulating their clitoris at the same time in order to have a climax. A few women are so highly sexed they can orgasm simply by rubbing their nipples – but this is just a small minority of highly-talented females! Other women discover that they can bring themselves to a climax through squeezing their thighs together. Again they're in the minority. Vast numbers of women nowadays enjoy using a vibrator, some or all of the time. There are some amazing products around these days, and men are becoming much timid about trying them. When a vibrator is used, sometimes a woman will use it to stimulate her clitoris. At other times she will use it in her vagina. There's no right or wrong way of pursuing solo pleasure – and a woman should experiment to find what she likes best. Fortunately, it's now quite easy to purchase good sex aids from reputable companies. (See Further information for more details.)
The use of female masturbation in achieving orgasm As we have already mentioned, the female orgasm isn't as reliable or as automatic as the male orgasm generally is. For this reason many women consult psychosexual specialists, family planning doctors and so on in the hope that they can be helped to achieve the elusive 'Big O'. Nowadays, most experts agree that if a woman can reach orgasm through her own efforts, she can then learn to climax with a partner either during love play or intercourse. Learning to climax through masturbation gives a woman confidence and satisfaction – and it also educates her about how she likes to be touched and stimulated. Once she knows these things, she can communicate them to a loving partner. Some females have a real problem in touching their genitals. This is usually because they had restrictive upbringings where they were taught that 'nice girls don't touch themselves there'. Or that 'sex is for beasts'. Or that 'sex is dirty'. But if a woman is prepared to give time and effort to learning about her own body, she can often overcome these unhelpful beliefs. If you're a woman who has trouble in reaching orgasm – even through masturbation – you might like to follow the advice given below.

How to achieve orgasm through masturbation – even if you've never managed it before. Allocate some time – at least an hour, twice a week – when you know you'll have the house to yourself and can guarantee being undisturbed. (Arranging this can be the hardest part of the exercise!)

• Take a leisurely bath, using your favourite bath oil. Relax. Enjoy soaping your whole body. Give your breasts and your genitals plenty of attention.
• Dry yourself with love and care and continue to explore your body as you do so.
• Move to the bedroom. Make sure it's warm and that it looks nice and is a pleasant place to be. Put some favourite music on if you'd like. Lie on the bed and carry on touching yourself, anyhow and any place that you like. All sorts of parts of your body might give you pleasant feelings. Find them! Give them attention. Be aware of pleasure.
• Rub baby oil into your breasts and into your neck and throat. Enjoy the feeling.
• Gradually, allow your hands to travel lower in your body. Caress your abdomen, and then use some more baby oil and touch yourself between your legs. There's no wrong or right way of doing this. Just let your instinct take over.
• Slip your fingers into your vagina. Try tightening your muscles round your fingers. Then relax. Try gently stretching the vaginal opening – this is something that gives exquisite pleasure to many women.
• Start circling the area where your clitoris is. Don't hurry this. As you become more focused on your genitals, you may well find that you start applying more and more pressure to your clitoris, and that your breathing is quickening, and – best of all – that you're really enjoying yourself.
• Don't worry if you don't get any further than this on the first few occasions. So long as you feel that you are loving your body and appreciating it and experiencing some good sensations, then that's fine.
• Don't forget that the most powerful part of a woman's arousal equipment is in her mind. So, it can be helpful to introduce some mental stimulation into the exercise. Try thinking of things that turn you on. Or, while you're stimulating yourself, read from one of those erotic novels written for women. You might even like to try caressing yourself while viewing a sexy DVD – if you have a DVD player in your bedroom or somewhere else in the house where you can feel uninhibited and comfortable. One of Betty Dodson’s famousDVDs, on assisting women to reach orgasm through masturbation, may help.
• You may like to use a vibrator because many women find this increases their arousal quite magically. If you don't know where to get good books, videos or sex aids, see the further information section.
• Each time you start caressing your body, try to keep going for longer and to increase your delight in what you're finding out about yourself. Don't panic if you still sometimes have feelings that what you're doing is wrong. Just breathe deeply and tell yourself that it's every woman's right to love and enjoy her own body – and that masturbation is healthy and good and normal.
• One day you'll find that your caresses become more insistent and you're breathing heavier and you feel a desperate urge to carry on what you're doing. It's common to feel a bit frightened at the intensity of what's happening, if you've never felt it before. But go with the feelings. You deserve to have them. If rubbing your clitoris alone doesn't quite get you to your climax, try putting one or two fingers of your other hand into your vagina. Or use a vibrator in your vagina or on your clitoris. Your instinct should take over and tell you what to do.

Hopefully, these powerful feelings will lead to your first orgasm. And once you've had one – you'll find you can have others – maybe even on the same day! Many women like to practise having orgasms a few times on their own before involving a partner. But once you do choose to try with the person you care for, make sure you incorporate what you've been doing into your love play. Show your partner what you like, and let him or her help you to experience this great joy. If you follow this plan, without putting pressure on yourself to succeed, you'll become more sexually aware – and it shouldn't be too long before you join the ranks of the orgasmic. Good Luck.

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Posted in: healthies

Bladder cancer

What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is the result of cell changes in the mucous (inside) wall of the bladder. It is caused by changes in the cells' chromosomes or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). This form of cancer develops most often in people between the ages of 60 and 79, with the average age being 67. The disease is three times more common in men than in women. It is one of the most common forms of cancer to strike men.

How does bladder cancer develop?
In most cases, bladder cancer is caused by external factors. Cigarette smoking (because of harmful chemicals within the cigarette) and exposure to some carcinogenic (cancer causing) agents such as aromatic compounds and chemicals used in industry and elsewhere can lead to bladder cancer. Approximately 50 per cent of all cases are caused by tobacco smoking and 10 per cent by job-related factors. Stopping smoking, even after many years, can be beneficial, as ex-smokers have a lower rate of bladder cancer than those who continue to smoke. In the tropics, bladder cancer is often brought about by the widespread disease bilharziasis (river blindness), which is caused by a tiny micro-organism that invades the bladder.

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Generally the first sign is blood in the urine. It may be visible or the amount may be so small that it can only be discovered by chemical testing ('stix' test). There does not need to be blood in the urine constantly. In fact, there are often periods in which there is no evidence of blood at all. So one should not be fooled by a symptom that seems to have gone away. There may be frequent urination, stinging and pain across the pubic bone or exactly the same symptoms as in an ordinary bladder infection.

How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
If blood is discovered in the urine or there are constant symptoms of bladder irritation of unknown cause, the patient should be examined by a doctor. In order to reach a diagnosis the GP will refer the patient urgently to the local hospital urology department for a series of special examinations. If a tumour is suspected, a procedure called a cystoscopy, is necessary, in which a doctor looks up into the bladder via the urethra using an instrument called a cystoscope. In addition, ultrasound scans or X-rays of the whole urinary tract are taken - an intravenous urogram. The urine may also be examined under a microscope for malignant cells. When the diagnosis has been made and the extent of the cancer is known, the type of treatment will be considered.

How is bladder cancer treated?
Treatment will differ according to the spread of the cancer. There are two main groups.

• Superficial cancer (non-invasive).

This means there is no evidence that the tumour has spread into the muscle coat of the bladder. The majority fall into this category and can usually be cured. Treatment is usually by cautery (burning of abnormal tissue) through a cytoscope or scraping the tissue away with a specially adapted telescopic instrument. There may be only one, or possibly several, tumours on the bladder. It is known that they can recur and the doctor will advise the patient to have regular checkup examinations by cytoscopy. Anti-cancer drugs such mitomycin C, or BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) are often used by installation into the bladder if it is confirmed that there is an increased risk of new cancers. If neglected, superficial cancer can progress to deep or invasive cancer.

• Deep cancer (muscle invasive)

The cancer has grown deeper to involve the muscle lining of the bladder. This is more serious as there is a greater risk that the cancer may spread to the lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver or bone. Further tests like a CT scan or MRI scans will help to confirm that the cancer is confined to the bladder. Treatment is usually a choice between radiation treatment or the total surgical removal of the bladder. If the bladder has to be surgically removed, urine from the kidneys is diverted to the skin surface just below the waist line using a small portion of the small bowel (known an ileal loop iversion). In this procedure, the tubes from the kidneys are joined to one end of a 12cm length of small bowel and the other end is brought out through the abdominal wall and onto the skin to form a stoma. A special adhesive bag is placed over the stoma to collect the urine. There is a tap on the bag to drain off the urine when necessary. In certain circumstances, a more sophisticated form of diversion can be constructed. Bowel can be made into a pouch with a tunnel to the skin surface through which the patient passes a small tube to drain the urine. Occasionally, a functioning bladder can be constructed from segments of bowel to form a continent bladder substitute, known as an orthotopic bladder substitute. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, treatment with medicines (chemotherapy) may be offered.

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Bacterial Vaginosis Syndroms

Overview
Simply speaking it is the change in the normal bacteria of the vagina. There are two types of bacteria in your vagina – the good bacteria which is called the Lactobacilli and another type called Anaerobes. Vaginosis is caused by the over balance or too much of Anaerobes.
When there’s an imbalance of naturally occurring bacterial flora, Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common cause of vaginal infection. This is a disease that can only occur in women. This is caused when an unhealthy amount of bacteria infects the thin layer of tissue which covers the surface of your vagina or membrane.
Bacterial Vaginosis can also be identified as a mild infection in the vagina which is caused by a germ. Yeast infection, or infection with Trichomonas should not be confused with Vagilalis which are not caused by bacteria. It’s an inflammation which occurs in the vagina and includes several of the germs that cause bacterial Vaginosis yeast infections and Trichmoniasis. Bacterial Vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal infections effecting from 10 – 64% of the female population. It occurs more during the reproductive years of a woman, although women in all ages are also vulnerable to this infection which affects the vagina, urethra, bladder and skin in the genital area. It can also be seen in menopausal women and women who have had a hysterectomy.
Although it’s not a serious decease it can sometimes cause infections in the uterus and fallopian tubes. And it’s important that you get this treated as it can cause serious complications such as increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted deceases including HIV, and other complications for pregnant women. It increases risk of upper genital tract infections with severe consequences to fertility and outcome of pregnancy.

Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis are abnormal white vaginal discharge with an unpleasant, foul odor which most commonly can be explained as a ‘fishy’ odor. Most commonly this will be experienced after you have had sexual intercourse. Sometimes itching and/or burning might also accompany the infections but it’s not necessarily the only symptom.
The discharge could be clear or colored, light or heavy and will cover the walls of your vagina. The colors will vary from yellow to white. Also, accompanies with server stomach pains which would feel like stomach cramps. It is common that you may sometimes experience more than usual milky malodorous vaginal discharge which will get worse after sex.
It is also said that a new indicator of this infection is increased flatulence. There are even instances where some women have Bacterial Vaginosis without any symptoms. Most of the time women are not aware that they are diagnosed till they carry out a pelvic exam. These examinations should be carried out habitually. An important pointer to remember on the days prior to your visit to the gynecologist you should not use vaginal douches as they can hide the signs of infections also remember that it make the infection worse.

Caused
A healthy vagina normally has many bacteria’s. Some of the common ones are Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii. Lactobacillus which a hydrogen peroxide producing species, helps prevent other vaginal bacteria from increasing to a level that they can cause any harm. The bacteria involved in BV are different. And a change in the normal bacterial flora which may be due to the use of antibiotics or pH imbalance gives these bacteria’s to gain more foothold and multiply. When this happens the body produces toxins that will affect the natural defenses of the body and makes the re-colonization of healthy bacteria’s more difficult.

There are different causes for bacterial vaginosis. One of the most infamous causes are thongs as the cloth rubs against the anus and vagina. bacterial Vaginosis is most common with sexually active women between the ages of 15 and 44, especially after contact with a new partner. It is also shown that condoms may provide some protection. Although bacterial Vaginosis can be associated with sexual activity, there is no clear evidence of sexual transmission. So you don’t need to get your ex partners tested in case you have been infected with this decease.
But it is not necessary that you catch bacterial Vaginosis from someone. It is just an overgrowth of bacteria that are usually in the vagina. More sexually active women more likely sufferers, it also infects women who are not that sexually active. It is even possible for virgins to get infected with bacterial vaginosis.
Pregnant women and women with sexually transmitted infections are especially at risk for getting this infection. Also women after menopause could also be at risk for this infection. There’s also a theory women who have sex with women are in higher risk of getting BV due to the sexual exchange of vaginal discharge.

Treatment

If the infection isn’t treated, the bacteria may get up into the uterus or the fallopian tubes and cause more serious infections. Which could also the increase the risk of sexually transmitted deceases such as HIV. Treating bacterial Vaginosis lowers this risk. Treatment becomes especially important if you are pregnant, since it could increase the risk of premature birth.
Bacterial Vaginosis is twice as common as thrush, and it is estimated that every one in three women will develop the condition at some point in their lives. In addition to the physical discomfort and symptoms, Bacterial Vaginosis can also have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life. You will need to treat it especially if you want to have a pleasant sexual life.
There are many treatments in the market place, but as you try all of them you will realize that nothing of it will provide a permanent solution to the problem. And now there is a cure. A permanent one. Simply follow this link and you will have the answer to all your problems.
You don’t need to worry about the antibiotics, the countless creams that do nothing to make it go away for ever. Although Bacterial Vaginosis is not life threatening it can cause other kinds of unpleasantness such as the order, the irritation and itchiness. The medication that the doctors provide can only give you a short-term remedy.
Taking antibiotics could make the bacteria in your vagina go away, but you also need the good bacteria, without them the situation will only get even worse. What antibiotics do is kill all the bacteria the good and the bad leaving nothing behind.

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Eczema Syndroms

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin and is a form of dermatitis and is characterized by dry, red, scaly skin that often itches uncontrollably, and is mainly found of the flexor joints of the body such as the elbows, wrists, and knees. In severe cases the skin can be blistered, flake off, bleed or ooze with pus. Scarring does not often take place as a result of eczema but most sufferers do notice skin discolorations due to healed lesions.
There is no exact cause for eczema, although it is a genetic disease. However, it is thought that eczema occurs as a result of the body overreacting to an unknown trigger. Some people have their eczema flare up when it is too hot or too cold, others when they use a particular soap or detergent. Allergies and stress can cause eczema to become worse.
Eczema is usually treated by prescription creams and ointments that are meant to relieve the symptoms of eczema such as the itching and inflammation of the skin. Antihistamines are also given for this purpose – to reduce the body’s reaction to an unknown trigger. Immunodulators are used for moderate eczema, and they change the way the body’s immune system reacts to allergens. None of these methods treat the cause of eczema itself, they simply treat the outbreak.

What Does Eczema Look Like?
Eczema is the name given to a number of skin diseases that arise from the inflammation of the skin, caused by unknown triggers. There is no definite cause for eczema, although it is a genetic disorder. It can be triggered by changes in weather, certain soaps and detergents, allergies such as asthma or hay fever, or stressful situations.

It is an extremely uncomfortable condition to have, and can be very embarrassing socially as outbreaks of eczema appear on all parts of the body, mainly the wrists, elbows, knees, neck and back. It can also appear on the face and other areas as well. Atopic eczema is the most common form, and causes an itchy rash to appear on the head, scalp, neck, inside of elbows and behind the knees.
Eczema causes excessively dry skin which is often, uncontrollably, itchy. It may seem like a rash, causing skin to become red, swollen and sore. Patches of damaged skin can be flaky, wounded and bleeding. Blisters are lesions often form, and when they heal they leave behind a skin discolouration. Fair skinned people with eczema will notice that the areas affected will be darker than the rest of their body, while dark skinned people will notice the opposite, their affected areas being lighter than the rest of their body

What Food Caused Eczema?
Eczema refers to a variety of skin diseases that are all a form of dermatitis, where skin inflammations occur. Those with the condition suffer from dry, itchy skin that often forms as a rash in some or all areas of the body, mainly the flexor joints such as the elbows, knees and wrists.


There is no definite cause for eczema as of yet. It is known that certain forms of eczema are hereditary. Most types of eczema occur because the immune system is thought to overreact to certain triggers. Some eczemas flare up when the weather is too hot or too cold, when a certain material of clothing is worn, when a certain soap or detergent is used, when other allergies such as asthma and hay fever are present, or even in stressful situations.
Amongst all this confusion about the causes of eczema, it has been found that certain foods are more likely to trigger it than others. Dairy products, mostly those containing cows’ milk, are though to be one of these foods. Wheat products such as breads and cereals, and beverages made of wheat products need to be avoided by those with eczema. Also on the list are acidic fruits, eggs and any foods that contain eggs, sea food and nuts. Chemical food additives such as coloring and preservatives are also thought to cause eczema.
The above list of foods to avoid is a long one, and includes important food groups containing carbohydrates and proteins. Rather than limiting one’s enjoyment by avoiding all these foods, it is better to treat the actual problem that causes the body to react with eczema when faced with a certain trigger.

Eczema Treatment
Eczema is the term given to a wide variety of dermatitis, which is an inflammation of the skin. There are various types of eczema, but there is no definite cause for it. All that is known is that the body’s immune system reacts to certain triggers by causing skin inflammations. Examples of such triggers would be a certain type of soap or laundry detergent, changes in weather, and several types of food.
Eczema is characterized by red, itchy skin. It is usually in the form of a rash that can form anywhere on the body, but is found especially on the joints such as the wrists, elbows and knees. The skin becomes extremely dry, flaky and blistered, and can often bleed as a result of the itching. The most common form of eczema is atopic eczema, which is hereditary and tends to exist in families that have asthma and hay fever at some point.
The treatments for eczema vary according to its type and severity. Often, dermatologists will prescribe creams and ointments that will treat the rash, or suppress the body’s immune response to the trigger. However, these treatments are inadequate at keeping eczema at bay forever because they are only treating the symptoms, but not the actual cause of the eczema itself.

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