Pregnancy – How exciting can it get? Every woman awaits the precious phase in her life for the arrival of her new bundles of joy. However, this bundle of joy doesn’t come to you free of minor discomforts. And, one among the list of discomforts is urinary incontinence. Urinary Incontinence in women is a common problem during and after pregnancy.

Reasons for Urinary Incontinence

For those new to this terminology, urinary incontinence refers to the involuntary discharge of urine owing to reduced control on the urinary bladder. Urinary incontinence may result from a variety of reasons but the most common of all is stress. This primarily occurs due to increased pressure on the bladder especially when a woman is pregnant. During such a stressful situation, the bladder sphincter muscle does not function properly causing minor leaks.

Another common reason for urinary incontinence in pregnant women is a result of an overactive bladder. During the pregnancy phase, some women may experience uncontrollable spasms on their bladder. This contraction in the bladder ends up affecting the muscles surrounding the urethra (passage of urine from bladder to outlet). Subsequently, these muscles which are meant to prevent involuntary passage of urine are eventually overridden.

After pregnancy, the child birth is likely to weaken the muscles of the pelvic floor. This might result in an overactive bladder. Also, other conditions that have occurred during child birth might also contribute to urinary incontinence. Some of these are:

• A cut made to the pelvic floor muscles during a caesarian delivery
• Damage to the nerves that control the bladder
• Any movement to the urethra and bladder during pregnancy or child birth

Coping with Urinary Incontinence

There are ways to overcome urinary incontinence. Kegel are extremely effective in overcoming urinary incontinence.

Do not cut down on the fluids. Instead be careful about what you drink. If you are of the opinion that reduced fluid intake can reduce incontinence, you are mistaken. Reduced intakes can increase the acidic nature of urine and in turn irritate your bladder.

Coffee, tea and carbonated drinks tend to cause a lot of irritation to your bladder. Hence, avoid them. In their place, you can consume a lot of water, green tea and decaffeinated drinks. Consume much of your fluids during the day. Avoid fluid intake at least 2-3 hours before bed time to decrease night voiding and incontinence.

There are supplements that help to boost your immunity and strengthen your urinary system. Try natural supplement as they are proven to be most effective and do not cause any side effects. Natural supplement can be purchased online or at any local health store.

Next time you are embarrassed about the problem, just remember that urinary incontinence in women can dealt easily with exercise, diet and supplements. So, start now and gain total control!

The period of pregnancy is a time of great excitement and expectations in the life of a woman. This is the time she busily awaits the arrival of her little one. Though primarily a happy phase, this period is quite often riddled with instances of morning sickness and fatigue. Let us see how to combat your pregnancy fatigue and enjoy every bit of this wonderful time.

Fighting the Pregnancy Fatigue

Fatigue, which is a common symptom during the first and third trimesters, can be easily managed. Here are a few simple ways to manage your pregnancy fatigue:

1. Whenever you experience fatigue during pregnancy, consult your health care provider immediately. Tiredness can be caused by anaemia (low count of iron in your blood), thyroid related issues or even gestational diabetes.
2. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can also cause fatigue. There are natural supplements available online that can promote digestion and control nausea and vomiting. However, choose a supplement that is 100% safe for you as well as your baby. In case of doubts, you could take your doctor’s opinion before starting a supplement.
3. Include exercises as part of your daily activity. Pranayama and other yoga asanas can prove to be beneficial to you in more than one way. In the first place, they help relieve a lot of pressure off your back. Also, yoga helps improve blood circulation in your body and boosts the production of endorphins, which in turn can increase your overall energy level.
4. Use essential oils such as tea tree, geranium, clary sage, bergmot, rosewood, or lavender in your bath.
5. Follow a healthy diet with large portions of fruits and vegetables preferably in the form of fresh salads. Fruits and vegetables, when taken raw, require just a few hours to be digested and eventually produce energy. On the other hand, it might take a day for your system to digest meat. The key to combating fatigue during pregnancy is to eat small portions of healthy diet, say about 6 or 7 times in a day, at regular intervals rather than 3 large meals a day.
6. Ask for help when necessary. You can either have your partner, a friend or someone in the family to run quick errands for you. Any additional work can bring down your energy levels drastically.
7. It is quite natural to have mood swings during this phase. Don’t let any form of disturbances in the external environment trouble you within. Indulge in your hobbies that will keep you happy and occupied.

To summarize, you can combat your pregnancy fatigue by eating foods that produce quick energy and avoiding activities that can drain you easily. Remember that half your energy is being used by the little one inside you.  After all, your well being is of prime importance to the life that is growing within you.

Pregnancy and childbirth are the most exciting phases in any woman’s life. Nevertheless, it is also a time when your body and mind undergoes physical and emotional exertions. From pregnancy until childbirth, you might have gone through nausea, cramps, labor pain, incontinence, bleeding, and perineum pain. And, after delivery, you seldom get your much deserved break as you are busy taking care of your new born. So, along with physical exertion, sleeplessness in having to feed the baby through the day and night, stress to get back to your former shape, fatigue and hormonal changes begin to take a toll on your emotional health too. Hence, it is necessary to recover your health after childbirth. Only then would you have the energy to take good care of your child.

Useful Tips to Help your Recover your Health

Here are some useful tips that can help your recovery your health post-delivery:

1. Diet plays an important role in recovering the health. Choose a diet that is rich in nutrition and fiber. Fresh fruits such as oranges, green vegetable such as broccoli and cabbage are highly recommended.
2. Do not even think about diet or reducing weight for at least 3 or 4 months after delivery. Remember, as long as your baby is breast-feeding, all the necessary nutrients for the baby go through your diet.
3. Constipation is a common problem post delivery.  Hence, apart from fiber rich diet, drink a lot of water. It also helps to keep your body hydrated.
4. If you had a significant blood loss during delivery, you might develop anemia. Hence, increase the intake of food rich in iron such as lean red meats, soy beans, lentils, greens and spinach.
5. Due to weight changes, your bone density could decrease when you lose weight. This can affect your bones and lead to problems such as arthritis. Hence, include calcium rich food such as broccoli, almonds, figs, yogurt and milk in your diet.
6. Try natural supplements that are rich in nutrition. These supplements can be purchased online or in a health store. However, only opt for a natural product that does not cause any side effect, as you need to be extremely careful about your diet as long as you are breast feeding. If you are still worried about side-effects, you could get your doctor’s approval before starting the supplement.
7. Keep your perineum clean to avoid any infection. If you have pain or irritation, wash the area with cold water.
8. Depression is another common problem after delivery. It can happen due to fatigue and lack of sleep. Do not hesitate to get help your family and friends. If not, hire a nurse for a few hours. A few hours of sleep or even spending some time shopping can help you relax and overcome depression.
9. Whether you had a normal delivery or a C-section, you need to begin exercising within a few days of childbirth, after getting your doctor’s approval. Start with gentle exercises.  You could also try walking or swimming. They help in tightening and toning your organs which had expanded to accommodate your baby during pregnancy. Apart from helping to reduce weight and tone your body, exercising help with your sex life as well.
10. Incontinence is a common problem during and after pregnancy. Perform Kegel exercises that help in overcoming this problem.

Follow all these steps meticulously to recover your health after childbirth.  And, you would be able to enjoy and cherish every moment of your motherhood.

With the changing times, life is becoming more challenging and strenuous for women. In a race to maintain balance between house and work, the personal health and fitness has begun to take a backseat. However, it is quite important to do some simple exercises regularly to keep the mind and body fit. Among the other exercises, kegel exercises for women are extremely popular. So, what are kegel exercises for women and why is it important?

Kegel exercises are popular because of the incredible benefits it offers especially related to the sexual health of women. If these exercises are done properly, they can prove to be quite beneficial in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, thereby increasing the orgasmic and sexual responses.

Benefits of Kegel Exercises

It is a medically proven fact that kegel exercises helps in bringing about some major life changing benefits. These exercises are usually recommended to women during pregnancy, after child birth or to those who are aging or obese. Apart from helping in sexual health, they also help in prevention of prolapse of the pelvic organs. Kegel also helps in making the childbirth process easier. They assist in overcoming incontinence that usually starts during pregnancy and continues after childbirth.

Exercise the right way

Once you have decided to go kegel exercises, it is important that you do it the right way. Hence, it is advisable to go through the human anatomy as this will provide you with the complete knowledge of the structure of the pelvic muscles. This will assist you to exercise better.

In order to recognize the pelvic floor muscles, you have to start and stop the urinating process in midstream. During the process, keep focusing on the muscles that controls the process. Once the muscles have been recognized, the next step is to exercise those muscles. Also, once the muscles have been recognized, avoid doing kegel when you are full bladder or urinating.

Basic Kegel

To do kegel, first contract your pelvic muscles. Hold it for a few seconds, say 3-5 seconds. Then, relax the muscles for the same amount of time that you had contracted it. You could repeat the exercise several times a day and even gradually increase the period of contraction and relaxation.

Don’t Strain your Muscles Too Much

While doing kegel do not overstrain your muscles. Also, empty your bladder before you do the exercises. Depending upon the response of the muscles to everyday exercises, gradually increase the timings. Keep in mind Rome was not built in a day. In your effort to treat one problem, you should not end up with another. So, maintain caution.

So, have you learned about basic kegel exercises for women and why is it important? Next, you might be interested to know about advanced kegel exercise programs that can be done with assisted devices such as kegel exerciser. They help in further enhancing your sexual responsiveness. However, make sure you learn it right before trying it on your own. There are various programs and books available online that can train you in advanced kegel exercises. So, what are you waiting for? Start today and enjoy an extremely satisfying sex life!

Libido refers to sexual desire and it is a natural behavior among all animal species.  The  libido in men is always stronger than in women. At times, owing to physical or psychological factors, people might have reduced or no libido at all. However, if the reason behind libido is correctly identified and addressed, the sexual desire in a person can be restored. In addition, there are also various medications and natural supplements that can help increase the libido. But, first and foremost among them is honey. The benefits of honey to libido are immense and hence it finds a special place in most of the medications that promise to restore libido.

Benefits of Honey to Libido

Do you that the word ‘honeymoon’ originated because of the association of honey to libido?  As a matter of fact, the sexual inducing quality of honey has been known to mankind for a very long time.  Across religions and culture, honey forms an integral part of the feast in marriage ceremonies around the world.

Honey contains various compounds that render it the seduction power. Among various vitamins and minerals, honey is rich in vitamin B6 and anti-oxidants. Vitamin B6 helps in testosterone production which is a male sex hormone. Also, vitamin B is said to help in inducing neurotransmitters in the body that leads to sexual desire and arousal.

When honey is mixed with oatmeal, the sex drive is said to increase even higher. Some even recommend mixing honey with figs to increase libido.

Honey also helps in increasing blood flow in the body leading to arousal and strong erection. Apart from this, the fructose present in the honey provides necessary energy and stamina that aids libido.

Various studies are also being carried out to scientifically establish the link between honey and libido.

Other Natural Supplements

Apart from honey, there are also various natural supplements that can increase libido. Pomegranate juice, citrus fruit, strawberries, blueberries, banana, pine nuts and spinach are some of the libido-inducing natural foods. And, the best thing about these supplements is that they do not have any side effects.

Apart from the benefits of honey to libido, it can also add nutritious value to your food. So, if issues related to reduced or lack of libido troubling you, stop worrying! Make honey a part of your diet and enjoy a healthy sexual life.

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. This bacterial infection often shows no symptoms but, left untreated, it can cause side effects as severe as infertility in women.

If it is caught, it can be treated with a short regimen of antibacterial medications.

Symptoms that can appear in a woman suffering from this condition include vaginal discharge that is abnormal; burning during urination, back pain, fever, irregular menstruation or pain during intercourse. There can also be soreness around the vaginal area, related vaginal soreness, inflammation and/or rash. A handy fix is tea tree oil for chlamydia which we’ll discuss below.

Tea tree oil is an essential oil derived from the leaves of a tree that is native to Australia. It is a known antifungal and antiseptic agent. It is used in a wide range of cosmetic and medicinal products. It has shown to have positive results in clearing up vaginal conditions such as yeast infections or thrush. Treatments using tea tree oil for chlamydia will not clear up the disease. But the topical application of the oil to the vaginal area can alleviate some of the soreness, inflammation or rash if any of these presents as a symptom. Vitamin E cream can also be used topically on the vagina to treat these symptoms.

Again, it is important to realize that it is not a curing treatment to use tea tree oil for chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection occurring within your body. If you suspect you may have this disease- which can be spread through vaginal, anal or oral intercourse, you should consult with a doctor. If you test positive, you will be prescribed an antibiotic such as azithromycin, doxycycline, or erythromycin. One course of antibiotics will clear up the infection and prevent you from spreading it to your sexual partners. Until you’ve taken the medication’s full dosage, you could still spread the infection. Continue to use protective devices such as condoms and dental dams until you are certain you are healthy (or even longer if you’re not in a monogamous relationship).

Tea tree oil for chlamyida is not a cure but it is still useful to have the essential oil on hand for other uses. It can be used on cuts, burns and scratches to disinfect the area and promote healing. It can be used as a facial toner or mixed in with regular shampoo to create an anti-dandruff version. Tea tree oil can also be used on acne, bug bites, sunburn, boils and even flea control for animals. Before using tea tree oil for the first time for any purpose, do an allergy test by putting a small dab of the oil on a patch of your skin. If there isn’t a negative reaction, you know you’re safe to use the product. Don’t skip the allergy test if there’s even a chance you could be allergic. You don’t need to give yourself more rash and swelling in the vaginal area just because you used an oil you shouldn’t have.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that three out of every four women will experience a vaginal yeast infection sometime in their life. Symptoms of a yeast infection can include vaginal dryness, itch and unpleasant discharge along with a host of physical manifestations ranging from joint pain to grogginess. The prime culprit behind such infections is a fungus called Candida albicans, which exists in the vagina (and also the intestines and mouth).

Normally, the body keeps the fungus in check due to the acidic vaginal envronment caused by the bacteria Lactobacilius acidophilus and the body’s immune system. But sometimes these elements can become unbalanced enough for the fungus to cause an infection. But never fear- treatments are near. A very common treatment question is “should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast?”

The simple answer is yes. But not all vitamins are created equal. Vitamin C, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin B are all effective treatments.

Vitamin C works because it makes the white blood cells stronger, keeping the candida fungus contained to the area where it causes the infection and preventing the spread of it to other areas. It also helps restore some of the acidity to the vagina that is obviously missing or the fungus wouldn’t have taken hold. At what dosage should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast? Taking 1,000 mg, twice a day for a month will be adequate to see results.

Zinc is another vitamin to consider for candida yeast treatment. Zinc produces immune system cells called T lymphocytes that tidy up the cells infected by the fungus. A little bit of zinc goes a long way. At what dosage should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast? No more than 15 mg twice a day for a month.

Vitamins A and E act as a tag team to boost the immune system. Vitamin A can be taken orally or as a vaginal suppository to get a faster action. Vitamin E works on the immunity but also balances out hormone levels and eases dryness in the vagina. If you’d like to add on some extra dryness prevention and hormone balancing power, take some vitamin B. At what dosage should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast? 400 IU’s a day of vitamin E will be effective. For vitamins A and B, consult with your doctor or pharmacist regarding dosage because taking too much (especially of vitamin A) can have problems of its own.

Be sure to ask your doctor “should vitamins be used to treat candida yeast?” They will inform you of the actions listed above but can also counsel you better regarding dosages and any potential interactions the supplements may have with your health conditions or medications. It is advised that you see a doctor but if you decide not to, visit your local pharmacist to ask him or her about possible interactions or problems. They will be able to look at your list of medications and give you dosage recommendations, usually free of charge.

A decrease in a woman’s sexual appetite or ability to experience pleasure could be the result of a hormone imbalance. Sexuality is largely controlled by the sex hormones that would ideally exist in certain proportions Nature sometimes has its own ideas on where to take those levels but there are ways to bring things back into proportion. For example, there are natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones.

In order to understand how the vitamins work, it is first important to understand how the sex hormones work in the body. A woman’s sex hormones are created in either the ovaries or in the adrenal glands in the kidneys. There are three categories of sex hormones: androgens, estrogens and progestagens. Every human has all of these hormone types within their body but the levels determine, among other things, our gender.

Androgens are typically associated with the male gender because it includes testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione. Estrogens and Progestagens are more commonly associated with the female gender. The estrogens are estradiol and estrone. The only naturally occurring progestagen is progesterone. Progesterone and estrogen are the hormones behind the menstrual cycle and an imbalance of these can cause a host of health problems. If you suspect an imbalance, you may want to invest in one of the natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones.

Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) targets those sex hormones produced in the adrenal glands. The andogens (especially testosterone) are produced in the adrenal glands It may not seem like testosterone is important for a woman to have in the proper proportion in their body but lowered levels of testosterone can cause as many health problems as deficiencies in the “female” hormones. While it is rare for people to have a Vitamin B5 deficiency, it wouldn’t hurt to take these natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones in a low dose of 5 to 6 mg a day.

Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacin) is needed for the manufacturing of testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. It primarily stimulates those hormones in the adrenal glands. Vitamin B3 provides a flushed feeling in the body that is so distinctive it is actually called “Niacin flush”. It can create a feeling of warmth and increased sensitivity due to the increased blood circulation provided by these natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones. The recommended daily dosage for women is between 14 and 18 mg a day.

FYI: Un unbeknown to most people, the FDA has recently made Vitamin B6 a drug. This means it will only be available through prescription. So get your supplies now!

Vitamin A helps the ovaries produce hormones and can increase the stimulation capabilities of a woman. It can also help with conception and a healthy pregnancy. The recommended daily dosage for adult women is 4,000 I.U. (international units).

Vitamin E actually contains properties that are similar to progesterone, androgen and estrogen. It can help the ovaries in hormone production and is often touted as a sterility vitamin. The recommended dosage of these natural vitamins that increase a woman’s sexual hormones is 100 to 200 I.U. per day. While it is safe to take more than that, Vitamin E isn’t more effective at those higher dosages.

Whether they are the result of aging, childbirth or genetics- saggy breasts are a problem that many women face without a clear solution in sight. The high cost of plastic surgery and the lackluster firming creams available for purchase over the counter have sent some women in search of alternatives such as essential oils to tighten breasts. Believe it or not, something that seems so simple can have major results. But in order to get that firm look, you need to know which are the best essential oils to tighten breasts.

Lemongrass, geranium, fennel and sage are the most often used essential oils to tighten breasts. Combine five or six drops of each in an ounce of base (coconut or grapeseed oil work best). Use this mixture on your breasts as massage oil. Apply firmly to the full area of the breasts right after you take a hot shower or bath (the warmth opens the pores and makes it easier for the oils to soak into your skin). Repeat the process as often as you’d like (though at least once a week is recommended). The mixture will make more massage oil than you’ll use in one session. The leftovers can be stored in an airtight bottle or jar for up to two months.

The same essential oils to tighten breasts used in that massage treatment can be mixed with vegetable oil and an organic egg for an even deeper firming process. Apply with your hand using a firm, circular motion. Put on a bra you don’t mind getting oily and let the mixture set for up to half an hour. Rinse off in a hot shower or bath. Repeat this process at least once a week to begin seeing results more rapidly.

Don’t worry if you don’t see results right away- especially if you’re not applying the oils at least once a week. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. In time, you will begin to see a dramatic difference in perkiness. There are added benefits to using these essential oils to tighten breasts. The oils are packed with moisturizing nutrient and their lingering scent makes for a lovely, subtle fragrance similar to a body mist or perfume oil.

Before you begin using your massage concoctions, you should apply a small amount to your wrist to check for any possible allergic reactions. You want to make those breasts firmer, not cover them in hives . If you’d like to add an additional oil to alter the scent of the final product, feel free to experiment. Use lavender and tea tree oils with caution, however, since they were scientifically proven to cause breast growth in young boys that had repeated exposure. The effects of these products on women are not yet known but it is doubtful that they would create the same breast growth reaction. They could cause another, more harmful reaction so it is best to leave them off the list of essential oils to tighten breasts.

A woman’s menstrual cycle averages about 28 days long; however, some are shorter and some are longer. The reasons for a slow starting period are best understood in the context of understanding the normal menstrual cycle.

Periods begin usually when a girl is 10-14 years old.  She already has all the eggs she’s going to have and they begin to mature in response to hormonal changes in the body. The maturing follicles release estrogen, which allows the follicles to ripen over about a week.  The lining of the uterus thickens and the cervical mucus changes to allow sperm to pass.  This is known as ovulation.  The Fallopian tube comes in closer contact to the ovaries to allow the ripened egg to enter the tube more easily.  There is a surge of Luteinizing hormone that allows the egg to be released.

At the time of ovulation and in the days after, the follicle that released the egg becomes what’s called the corpus luteum.  It produced hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, necessary to maintain a pregnancy if one occurs.  If no pregnancy occurs, the follicle becomes white in color and is called the corpus albicans.  Before the period occurs, the woman may experience cramps, back pain, pain in the inner thighs, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, headache, constipation, breast tenderness, irritability and other changes in mood.

Periods are generally twenty eight days in length and depend solely on the date of the luteinizing hormone surge.  Exactly 14 days after that, the period occurs.  Women with a slow starting period, still have a luteinizing hormone surge, but the surge comes later than with normal individuals.  Causes of a delayed LH surge include heredity.  Women cluster in families who have a slow starting period. A woman who is obese will also have a delayed LH surge and will then have a slow starting period.  Any condition in which the estrogen and progesterone levels remain high in the first half of the cycle will delay the luteinizing hormone surge will likely lead to a slow starting period.

Women with a normal or slow starting period can suffer from premenstrual syndrome.  It is caused by the hormones existing before and during the menstrual period.  PMS can show itself as irritability, anxiety and mood swings.  The symptoms are relieved by the onset of bleeding.  It is felt to occur as a result of an excess of estrogen over progesterone in the premenstrual state.

Another type of PMS involves craving sugar, having fatigue and headaches.  Cravings to other foods, especially carbohydrates occur. It is due to an increase in insulin responsiveness prior to menses, which is, in turn, a result of the increased hormone levels.

It is a myth that every woman’s cycle should last 28 days long.  Many women have a slow starting period and find their menstrual cycles are up to 35 or 40 days long.  Women don’t always bleed every month either and find that they do not ovulate each and every month.  Women don’t ovulate every cycle and have what’s known as anovulatory cycles.  These cycles tend to be of a shorter duration than 28 days.  Some women have repetitive anovulatory cycles and always have short starting periods. The act of bleeding doesn’t mean a woman is not pregnant.  She can spot for a few days at the time of implantation of the egg in the uterine wall. It is also true that a woman can technically get pregnant or ovulate during the time of menstruation. This makes natural family planning difficult.

Regarding a slow starting period, some women have this condition as a result of a low thyroid condition or as a result of type II diabetes. If the slow starting period persists, a woman should be tested for both conditions and treated as necessary. If the problem is because of a thyroid condition, ThyroidAssist may be helpful. It is used to support the thyroid function.

The natural way to treat a slow starting period is to use herbs such as Dong Quai or Femalite. Both of these are well known for regulating a woman’s mentstual cycle and balancing the hormones. They should be taken consistently for at least 3 months before you may see the results you’re looking for.