Due to early diagnosis of breast cancer, more women are today surviving breast cancer than ever before. Symptoms of breast cancer are hardly noticeable when it first develops but as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for – the most common being the abnormal lump or swelling in the breast, amongst other symptoms.

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women and is characterised by the growth of malignant tumours in the glandular tissues of the breast. While no one knows why some women develop breast cancer and others do not, several variables have been identified as risk factors for breast cancer.

Normal menstrual function is the result of a complex interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries and endometrium. Any interruption of this axis at any point may lead to disordered menstruation. The causes and treatment of menstrual disorders are varied from one woman to another.

Menopause basically refers to the entire span of time during which a woman’s ovarian function declines and menstruation stops. This time period is normally years in duration, generally encompassing ages 45-55. Women however experience different signs or symptoms at menopause with a majority experiencing only minor discomfort.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is generally characterised by persistent or recurrent absence of sexual fantasies or desires and is by far the most frequent problem occuring in female sexual dysfunctions. People with this condition neither masturbate nor do they engage in sexual fantasy or thoughts and they avoid sexual activity as long as they possibly can.

When choosing a possible treatment option for managing menopause, it should be noted that the severity of menopausal symptoms is a physiological phenomenon and is only slightly affected psychological factors. Several treatments are available, however it is worth noting that there is no one treatment that is good for all women.

Body image, sexuality and self-image are generally intricately interwoven for women. Most women therefore eat and exercise in order to maintain a healthy weight. While some women find that staying trim comes naturally and they don’t have to work very hard at it, others find it pretty difficult to take off a few unwanted pounds most especially as they grow older.

Dyspareunia or pain during intercourse is associated with sexual pain disorders which are perhaps the most extreme symptoms of female sexual dysfunction. Dyspareunia is best described according to the location of the pain. A very common cause of sexual pain is vaginal dryness due to lack of adequate lubrication.

While women exhibit wide variability in the type or intensity of stimulation that triggers orgasm, Female Orgasmic Disorder (FOD) can be said to be the persistent or recurrent delay or absence of orgasm after a normal excitement phase of sexual arousal and sexual stimulation that is assessed as adequate in focus, intensity, and duration. An exact cause of this dysfunction is yet unknown.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a medical condition characterised by a variety of physical and emotional symptoms felt by women before the onset of menstruation. Most common in women in their 20s and 30s, Premenstrual Syndrome is not due to a single factor as genetical, environmental, psychological and hormonal factors can all influence this condition.