Franapp Holistic Medical Centre-FHMC

​ By: Francis Appiah, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D. Candidate), with expertise in Medical Journalism, Medical Laboratory Science, Integrative/Complementary Health, CAM and Healthcare Management Dysmenorrhea, also known as painful periods or menstrual cramps, is the pain during menstruation. Its usual onset occurs around the time that menstruation begins. Symptoms typically last less than three days. The pain is usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen. Other symptoms may include back pain, diarrhea,  nausea. vomiting, headache, dizziness, disorientation, fainting and fatigue. Symptoms of dysmenorrhea often begin immediately after ovulation and can last until the end of menstruation. This is because dysmenorrhea is often associated with changes in hormonal levels in the body that occur with ovulation.  Dysmenorrhea can be classified as either primary or secondary based on the absence or presence of an underlying cause. Primary dysmenorrhea occurs without an associated und...

​ By: Francis Appiah, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D. Candidate), with expertise in Medical Journalism, Medical Laboratory Science, Integrative/Complementary Health, CAM and Healthcare Management Vulvovaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina as a result of tissue thinning due to not enough estrogen. Symptoms may include pain with sex, vaginal itchiness or dryness, and an urge to urinate or burning with urination. Which mostly occurs by lack of estrogen production in menopausal women, breastfeeding mothers and certain medications. Other signs also indicate lower estrogen levels which may include little pubic hair, loss of the labial fat pad, thinning and resorption of the labia minora, and the narrowing of the vaginal opening.  Up to 50% of postmenopausal women have at least some degree of vaginal atrophy which is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Topical treatment with estrogen, vaginal estrogen or vaginal lubricants, estrogen creams or moistur...