This is About the Sexual and Reproductive Health

Sexual and reproductive health awareness day is observed every year on 12^th February, in India. It is extremely important to create awareness for sexual well-being in a country like India, where sex is still a social taboo.

The objective behind observing this day is to raise awareness regarding sexual and reproductive health issues and to inform the masses about minimizing the spreading of STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). Sexually transmitted diseases/infections are still one of the major public health issues.

Observing the healthcare days and conducting health awareness events help in generating publicity for health concerns and aspires to augment the condition and guides in saving lives. These events can also encourage preventative measures against serious issues.

What is sexual health?

Sexual health consists of many inter-related issues and challenges. The major concerns are human rights associated with sexual health, sexual pleasure, sexual contentment, arousal and STDs (HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)), sexual violence, sexual unfitness, female genital mutilation and mental health associated with sexual health.

What is reproductive health?

Reproductive health concerns with the ability of people to have a culpable, satisfying and protected sexual life and having the capability to reproduce and the liberty to decide if, when and how often to do so.

Sound reproductive health is important to ensure that each child born is wanted and people can enjoy their sexual life according to their free will and have freedom regarding the decision to reproduce. This is especially beneficial for women as it ensures that every woman is treated with respect and dignity.

Unquestionably, the vision of this initiative is that both the genders will have the ability to use their right to information and get their hands on safe, economical and admissible methods of fertility regulation & quality health services.

Mostly the poor women in the developing nations suffer from unwanted pregnancy, maternal death, STIs, HIV, sexual violence and issues with reproductive system and sexual conduct.

A sketch of sexual and reproductive health in India:

India currently deals with several reproductive health issues which are to be resolved.

• High unintended fertility: Around 21% pregnancies are not desired for or mistimed, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) III, 2005-2006. Participation of males in shouldering the responsibility for contraception is less. According to NFHS –III, male sterilization was agreed to by only 1% of the married couples.
• High mortal fatality: According to the 2008 UN estimates, India’s mortality fatality ratio is very high, at 230 per 100,000 live births. Indian women contribute to 18% of global maternal deaths. The gathered data also signifies a noticeable proportion of women suffering from obstetric morbidities.
• STDs & Reproductive tract infections: People falling between the age group of 15-50, the prevalence of STDs, STIs and reproductive tract infections is around 6%, according to nationwide community-based studies. The problem worsens as the women are hanging back in seeking proper treatment for the symptoms.

State of Indian women related to sexual and reproductive awareness and condition:

Many women have admitted to inappropriate or not likeable sexual conduct and lack of knowledge on various contraceptive measures. Women are unaware of their sexual and reproductive rights to and nearly 60% women admitted that they had little to no say in terms of having a child.

As per a survey, around 39% women of age group 15-24 knew that use of condoms minimizes the risk of HIV/AIDS and nearly 49% knew that an infected partner puts the other one at the risk of STDs. But only 20% women had absolute knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

Among the married women of age group 15-19, only about 40% admitted to having a say in their healthcare decisions and had either full control or made joint decisions, the rest 60% had no control over their healthcare.

In such a state it becomes important to make them aware of their sexual and reproductive rights and making them learn to raise a voice against any sexual or reproductive action against their will.

Every person has the right to live their sexual and reproductive life according to his/her own will. A woman can deny pregnancy if she wishes to and her sexual desires are strictly her own and no forced sexual obligations can be put on her.

Government's initiatives:

India became the first country in the world to adopt a family planning program, in 1951. Post International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994), Indian government revised the population control program and formulated suitable policies. It launched National Population Policy in 2000, National Rural Health Mission & Child Healthcare Program II in 2005.

To evict the social evil of child marriage, the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2006 has set the legal age to marry for women and men, 18 & 21 respectively.

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions believes that it is very important to create sexual and reproductive awareness among people as this will improve the mental, physical and social well-being of the individuals. It is very important for a person to know his/her sexual and reproductive rights and he/she should avail full freedom of taking the decision related to reproduction and sexual conduct.

Turacoz is a medical communication company offering medical writing services and it believes in the concept of perfection, people and planet. To know more about Turacoz’s services, you can get in touch by dropping a mail at hello@turaocz.in

All That You Need to Know About CANCER!

The survival of humanity has been challenged by various factors and health issues are one of them. There are many diseases which humans can suffer from and many of these diseases are even life-threatening. Medical science has been inventing cure for many diseases but there are still some diseases for which the cure is yet to be discovered. One such deadly disease is Cancer.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a group of over 100 diseases. Cancer is the result of the human cells growing uncontrollably and division of cells is also beyond control. In some cancers the cells divide at a rapid rate whereas in some types of cancer, the cells grow and divide at a slower pace.

Let’s understand the mechanism:

Cells are the basic units forming a human body. As long as a person is alive, the cells in his/her body divide and replicate themselves in a controlled and steady manner. Cells die post getting old or damaged. Cancer occurs when these cells multiply beyond control. These abnormally grown cells cause tumor.

Mostly the cancers form tumors (swelling/thickening) but not every tumor is cancerous. Generally, these non-cancerous tumors do not spread to other body parts whereas cancerous tumors can. Cancerous tumors suck up the body tissues from the nutrients. Cancers keep on growing and spread in the body through direct extension or through metastasis, wherein the cancerous cells travel in the body through lymphatic vessels or blood vessels, which then leads to formation of cancer in other body parts.

Causes of cancer:

Cancer is caused by several factors. Some of these are preventable. Mentioned below are some of the causes of cancer:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Obesity (excessive body fat)
• Lack of physical activities
• Lack of proper nutrition

These above-mentioned causes are controllable and there are some other factors too, which cannot be prevented.

Cancer due to genetics:

Genetic factors also play a role in development of cancer. An individual’s genetic code instructs their cells when to divide and die. Any mutations in the genes can lead to delivery of wrong instructions, leading to cancer.

Genes also have an impact on protein production of cells and proteins are responsible for carrying out instructions for cell growth and division. Excessive exposure to sun rays, smoking, etc. are some factors that leads to changes in genes, while some changes might also occur after birth.

A person can inherit an inclination for a kind of cancer, and it can be referred to as hereditary cancer syndrome. Inherited genetic mutations account for 5-10% of cancer cases.

Types of cancer:

Based on the origin of cancer, it has been divided into following types:

• Carcinomas: When the skin or the tissue which covers the surface of internal glands & organs is the origin of cancer, it is known as carcinomas. In this type solid tumors are formed. These cancers account for the most common type. The cancers falling under this category are prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer & colorectal cancer.
• Sarcomas: When the connecting and supporting tissues are the origin of the cancer. Sarcomas usually develop in fats, muscles, joints, lymph vessels, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, bone or cartilage. Examples are Fibrosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Liposarcoma.
• Leukemia: Known most commonly as blood cancer, leukemia is said to have originated when healthy blood cells change and grow beyond control. Leukemia is of 4 types, namely, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia & chronic myeloid leukemia
• Lymphomas: A cancer whose origin is lymphatic system. Lymphatic system comprises of lymphatic vessels & glands that helps in fighting infection. The 2 major types of lymphomas are Hodgkin lymphomas & Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Symptoms of cancer:

The signs and symptoms of cancer are very normal and can be confused with other ailments. Though, one needs to pay close attention to his/her body to observe the changes, the symptoms of cancer vary depending on its type and which part of body has been affected.

Mentioned below are some of the basic symptoms associated with cancer, but not specific:

• Feeling of weakness
• Unexpected change in weight (weight gain or loss)
• Presence of lump or a thickened area which can be felt under the skin
• Skin changes like yellowish skin, darkening or redness in skin, wounds slow healing, skin sores, changes in moles
• Discomfort in swallowing
• Difficulty in breathing or chronic cough
• Changes in bowel habits
• Unfamiliar bleeding or blemish
• Frequent indigestion
• Constant, unfamiliar muscle and joint pain
• Night sweating and constant fever

Diagnosis in cancer:

The diagnosis in cancer occurs usually when an individual notice some unusual symptoms. A doctor post verifying all the details including medical history of the patient and symptoms he/she is facing, will perform the required medical tests.

In many cases, the symptoms are absent in the patient. In such cases the diagnosis for cancer takes place during medical test for another issue or condition. The cancer screening tests are mammography, Pap test & colonoscopy. More tests may be required for some individuals to confirm or invalidate the cancer screening test result.

Biopsy is the only method to get a confirmed diagnosis. Biopsy consists of removing a small part of the tissue to examine clearly.

Cancer has become one of the major health concerns worldwide. Around 9.6 million people died due to cancer, globally, in 2018. There were 17 million new cases of cancer, last year. Where some risk factors for cancer can be controlled, in case of cancer, an early diagnosis always help.

One should be careful of any changes in his/her body and immediately seek medical help, if suspicious symptoms detected.

Turacoz Healthcare Solution, a medical communication company, believes that cancer can be cured with the early diagnosis and right treatment. Turacoz urges people to be more alert, active and vigilant and closely monitor their body.

Early diagnosis can reduce the risk of further complications as sooner the better.