Female Health

Hirsutism is the name given to cases of excess facial or body hair in women. It is caused by a hormonal imbalance, and can sometimes cause feelings of distress.

1. Affects 1-3 women out of every 20 
2. Can be a source of frustration and difficult to manage 
3. Easy to treat with Vaniqa

Emergency contraception, also referred to as ‘the morning after pill’, is a hormonal pill used in birth control. It is applied when a primary contraceptive has failed or not been applied.

1. Effective prevention method
2. Taken after unprotected sex has occurred
3. One-time pill treatment

Period pain is a common problem which can occur during menstruation. It can also be caused by menorrhagia or endometriosis.

1. Majority of women experience it
2. Can last for 2-3 days
3. Easy to treat with hormonal pill

Period Delay is a hormonal treatment, given in the form of a pill. As well as helping to suspend menstrual bleeding, it can also relieve period pain.

1. Simple three a day pill
2. Effective delay medication
3. Also useful at reducing discomfort

Heavy periods are characterised by persistent, copious menstrual bleeding. The medical term for this condition is menorrhagia.

1. Very common complaint
2. Many cases have no underlying cause
3. Treatable with medication

The menopause is characterised by a series of natural changes in a woman’s body, most typically taking place during her mid-late 40s or early 50s.

1. Natural part of the ageing process
2. Cause of oestrogen deficiency
3. Symptoms can be treated with HRT

Urinary incontinence is a condition characterised by the leaking of urine from the bladder. It is thought to affect between 3 and 6 million people in the UK.

1. Can occur in both sexes
2. More common among women
3. Treatable with medication

Urinary urgency is a condition characterised by a sudden and very desperate need to pass urine. In many cases, urine may be discharged before a person can reach the toilet.

1. Often accompanied by increased frequency
2. Can be caused by other conditions
3. Effective treatment is available

Thrush is an infection which can cause irritation and soreness in the mouth, throat, or the vagina. It is a common condition thought to affect most women at least once throughout their lives.

1. Caused by the presence of a fungus 
2. 80,000 estimated new cases every year in the UK
3. Simple to treat with prescription antifungals

There are a range of options open to those looking for contraceptive medicine, including the combined pill, the minipill, the contraceptive patch, and intrauterine devices such as the coil and the ring. The product you choose will depend on which method you’re comfortable with, and best suited to.