Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien

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Premenstrual syndrome is a recurrent set of disabling symptoms that occur in a definite relation to the menstrual cycle. Patients chart the severity of symptoms over time during consecutive menstrual cycles while the physician should rule o…

The pathways of production of estrogen are described, as well as its actions. Its use in childhood, puberty, adolescence, childbearing years and the menopause is detailed, together with the actions of the available estrogens. Special emphas…

Diagnostic ultrasound is helpful in the assessment of many common gynecological conditions from early teens to the late postmenopause. Female pelvic anatomy and pathology are readily imaged through a distended urinary bladder. In gynecologi…

Abdominal pain of a few hours' duration may indicate an innocent dysfunction or could be the beginning of some serious intra-abdominal organic disease. The physician's problem is to make the right decision at the right time. Acting too soon…

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Dysmenorrhea affects at least 50% of women at some time in their lives. Painful contractions of the uterine muscle (similar to labor pains) are triggered by increased endometrial synthesis of prostaglandins, which appear in elevated amounts…

Family physicians should carefully follow their patients receiving methyldopa for liver toxicity. Methyldopa is commonly used in treating hypertension and its hepatotoxic potential is frequently overlooked. This point is illustrated in the …

Assessment of risk factors is an integral part of family medicine and of prenatal care. A strong positive relationship has been demonstrated between a high risk score and higher incidence of maternal or perinatal morbidity and mortality. Th…

Acute salpingitis is an extremely common disease with much morbidity and is undoubtedly increasing in incidence, as a result of the increasing incidence of gonorrhea and the increasing use of contraceptive measures. It must be treated early…

Hysterectomy is a most useful surgical procedure. However, its indiscriminate performance has made this procedure suspect and it is being scrutinized at all levels of health care. Recent studies show that hysterectomy should be carried out …

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The present trends in the incidence of gonorrhea cannot be reversed to any measurable extent by moralizing, exhortation, or by expecting people to change their habits or life styles. In the absence of an effective vaccine, the most hopeful …

Painful coitus often prevents sexual satisfaction. The symptom of dyspareunia presents special propblems for the patient and for the doctor. A family physician with sexual knowledge, self-awareness, and time to carefully counsel and examine…