Disclaimer

This book is designed to increase knowledge, awareness and understanding of womens health issues. It is not intended to replace the advice that your own doctor can give you. If you are concerned by any of the issues raised in this book make sure you consult your GP, who is there to help you. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information and material contained in this book, nevertheless it is possible that errors or omissions may occur in the content. The author and publishers assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up-to-date nature of the information provided in this book.

The Womens Health Book

A Guide for the Irish Woman

DR RACHEL MACKEY

Dr Rachel Mackey About the Author

Rachel Mackey is a womens health specialist. She graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1992, winning the JB Lyons Medal in Medicine. She specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology and became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2000. As part of her training she completed three years of research at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney, Australia in the area of the menopause and reproductive endocrinology. From 2001 to 2005 Dr Mackey worked in the Womens Medical Clinic in Blackrock, combining womens health with aspects of general practice. In April 2007, drawing on her extensive obstetric and gynaecological expertise, she opened the Womens Health Clinic in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, which offers a wide range of health services to women. Dr Mackey has published a number of articles both in medical journals and in the medical press on a wide range of topics in the area of womens health, including original research. She is the mother of four children and enjoys running and playing hockey.

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Contents

Foreword ............................................................................................. Preface .................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Weight Issues.............................................................................. Thyroid Problems...................................................................... Cardiovascular Disease ............................................................. Benign Breast Problems ........................................................... Female Cancers........................................................................... Infertility...................................................................................... Sexually Transmitted Infections............................................ Contraception ............................................................................. Menstrual Cycle Problems ...................................................... Urinary and Genital Problems ............................................... Osteoporosis................................................................................ Gastrointestinal Problems ....................................................... Menopause ................................................................................... Adolescent Gynaecology ......................................................... Mental Health Problems .......................................................... Sexual Problems......................................................................... Vaginal and Vulval Problems .................................................. Pregnancy ....................................................................................

ix xi 1 13 23 33 45 69 85 95 111 137 155 167 181 201 209 227 237 247 267

Useful Websites .................................................................................

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Foreword

We live in an era of rapid access to information, data and opinion, all of which is readily available through the internet. This information, whilst rich in detail, may lack both balance and perspective, and it is my sense that this tendency towards a lack of perspective may be exacerbated by not knowing the right questions to ask. The Womens Health Book provides a wealth of information that will support women to ask the right questions and comes with the added benefit of Dr Mackeys vast clinical experience in dealing with clients presenting with the issues described herein. This is not a textbook of obstetrics and gynaecology it is a useful compendium of symptomatology, presenting complaints and enquiries for which many women seek advice. In many ways it must have been more difficult to decide what to leave out of such a book rather than what to include. There are many variations of disease progression that are related to gender, even in diseases that do not appear to be gender specific. That said, those topics which are considered to have a particular female interest are covered systematically, clearly and concisely in this book. Dr Mackey tackles her subject in a no-nonsense, easy-to-read style, and her empathy with the concerns of women in the context of their health is apparent throughout. Dr Peter McKenna Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Rotunda Hospital, Dublin
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Preface

When I was approached to write this book it struck me that there was so little information available to women specifically about womens health. Women are fantastic patients to work with because they are so interested in their own health and keen to educate themselves about their bodies and what can go wrong. So many times in my own clinic, however, women have told me that they had struggled to find information on their particular problem until they came to see me. The advent of the internet has, in many ways, been incredibly helpful to women in the area of their health, but often the information can be inaccurate and confusing. I wanted to write a book that would be clear and informative for all generations of women the kind of book you can dip in and out of, depending on your stage in life and your particular symptoms at any one time. In this book I have covered many different problems that I see in everyday practice in my clinic. Nevertheless, I could not cover everything, so I apologise in advance to those of you who cannot find your specific problem in this book. In particular, pregnancy is such a huge topic that I could not discuss it in any great detail, but I have provided an overview of it. I very much enjoyed putting my experience and knowledge of womens health down on paper, and I hope you find this book useful both for yourself and your family, now and in years to come. All royalties from this book will go to Breast Cancer Ireland. Breast Cancer Ireland is a charity established to raise vital funding
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Preface

to support research into breast cancer. The goal at Breast Cancer Ireland is to seek to transform breast cancer from often being a fatal disease to a chronic illness that can be managed long term through treatment.

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