Gynecologic Oncology

Q & A with Dr. Rani Bhat How effective is HPV vaccination in preventing cancer? The human papillomavirus or HPV is the name given to a group of related viruses. There are more than a hundred types of HPVs and about forty of them are transmitted sexually. These viruses are generally divided into two groups known as low and high-risk types. The low-risk virus can cause genital warts and high-risk type causes various cancers of the reproductive organs, like cervical, vaginal, penile, vulvar, and anal and oropharyngeal cancers. Of the high-risk HPV, types 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70% cases of cervical cancers globally. What is HPV vaccination? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus that causes anogenital and oropharyngeal cancer in males and females. Vaccines have been developed to protect against acquiring HPV infection. There are three types of vaccination, which vary in the number of HPV types they contain and not all are avai...

Q & A with Dr. Rani Bhat Menopause: Why it happens & what to expect Menopause affects women in different ways as they enter a new and significant phase of life. Like many life-altering conditions, menopause may have emotional repercussions as well as physical. Some women feel a sense of loss with their infertility and decreased sex drive, the anxiety can send many women to depression. Some women may develop mood swings and sleeping disorders. Then there are women who are actually glad that they will no longer have to cope with menstrual cycles. Even at the physical level, menopause manifests through various symptoms in different women. As many as 25% of women will display no symptoms at all. The other three-fourths may experience a wide variety of symptoms from hot flushes, weight gain, aching joints, sleeplessness, and inability to focus. Women start menopause at different ages, usually between 45 and 55 years an...