BARREN WOMB OR WOMAN: Homoeopathic Approach In

Female Infertility

Gyandas G. Wadhwani MD (Hom) Chief Medical Officer (Homoeopathy), Directorate of

ISM& Homoeopathy, Govt. of NCT of Delhi; Senior Lecturer (Organon of Medicine & Homoeopathic Philosophy), Dr B. R. Sur

Homoeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre

Email: homoeopathygyan@gmail.com

“I expose to men the origin of their first, and perhaps

second, reason for existing.” Leonardo da Vinci wrote these words above his drawing “The

Copulation” (1493). The Renaissance sketch shows a

transparent view of the anatomy of sexual

intercourse as envisaged by the anatomists of his time.

The semen was supposed to come down from the brain

through a channel which can be seen in the spine of the

man. In the woman the right lactiferous duct is depicted as originating in the right female

breast and ending in the genital area. Even a genius

like Leonardo da Vinci distorted men's and women's bodies—as seen now—to fit the ideology of his time and

to the notions of his colleagues, who he paid

tribute to.

Introduction

Modern medicine with its reductionist approach always views the presentation of infertility as a disease for the specialists.

Specialists viz. in this case gynaecologists (or sometimes endocrinologists) or those expert physicians who see more and more of less and less!!!

Introduction

Homoeopathic physicians on the other hand, moving against the current of dominant medicine, identify that the ‘being of a woman’ can’t be restricted to her genitilia alone!

So we perceive the entire personality that defines and typifies her being.

Introduction

Thus, Homoeopathic physicians, moving against the current of dominant medicine, following the wholistic view of life TREAT THE BARREN WOMAN, NOT the barren womb!

History

Infertility has always been a constant preoccupation.

Egyptians were the first to develop recipes in order to predict sterility and to diagnose an early pregnancy.

These recipes was reused by Hippocrates and still employed until the 18th century.

Hippocrates was also the first to write a treatise on infertility in which he analysed the physiopathology, the diagnosis and the treatment of infertility in the hippocratic's corpus.

History

Soranos was highly regarded as the first and the most famous gynecologist in the antiquity. In point of fact, Soranos was not really a gynecologist but, he was the first to write a treatise about "gynecology". This work came down to us incomplete.

Anamnesis as a therapeutic tool!

Duration of infertility and results of previous evaluation and therapeutic procedures.

Menstrual history (menarche, cycle length and characteristics), with molimina and characteristics.

Past: medical, surgical, obstetric and gynecological history to look for conditions, procedures, or medications potentially associated with infertility.

Review of corresponding (accessory) systems for example, whether the patient has symptoms of thyroid disease, cardiac disease, psychological dysfunction etc.

Anamnesis as a therapeutic tool!

Sexual history, including frequency of coitus, STD, sexual desire etc.

Vaginal discharge, presently or in past with characteristics

Family history

Accessory circumstances viz. age, familial environment, occupation, exercise, stress, dietary pattern, substance abuse etc.

Generalities, Mind & disposition

Retention of semen! (keeping in mind the feature of Natrum carb)

GPE as a therapeutic tool!

Starts with initial observation as patient is there with you. Watch out for obvious signs; Built, nutritional status, secondary sexual characteristics

Presence of pigmentation, nevi, colour of eyes/sclera

Patient's BMI should be calculated and fat distribution noted (maintenance)

GPE as a therapeutic tool!

LOCAL EXAMINATION IS A MUST. NOTE THE TOUCHINESS, TICKLISHNESS, TENDERNESS, STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES OR MASSES ETC.

Any obvious signs of substance abuse

Lifestyle, as an obstacle to recovery

Follow the sun cycle… that is to say, patient must be encouraged to work during the day and sleep at night!

Reduce usage of TV viewing, which can disturb the melatonin levels!

Diet & nutrition

Coffee drinkers often remain sterile also and you must stop heir coffee (Kent)

Women who have been in the habit of taking mercury for biliousness remain sterile (Kent)

When a remedy is given for sterility, the state must be looked into which is peculiar to the

remedy given such a state as that remedy can produce upon the healthy woman.

James Tyler Kent MD

Case no 1: Secondary infertility,

5 failed IUI, 1 failed IVF,

Rt tubo-oophorectomy

A 33 years old female, Mrs. V.A., consulted us on 20th Sep, 2012 for secondary infertility.

On observation she had dark eyes and hair and sharp pushed up nose.

She belonged to Bihar and had been married to an army-man for last 8 years.

Presenting complaints

Inability to conceive

Sensitivity of throat to cold food and drinks

Burning in epigastrium

HISTORY OF PRESENTING COMPLAINTS

She had history of failed (IUI) 5 times and 1 failed IVF since 2007.

During 2010-had prolonged low grade fever for which she took numerous antibiotics after which she had bleeding per vagina; later diagnosed as being 9 weeks pregnant but had to undergo D&C.

Gynae and Obs history

Menarche: 12-13 year old. Menstrual cycles till 2008 were regular:

4-5/ 26-28 days Molimina: pains in lower abdomen,

lower back and thighs with vomiting , which would start a day prior, continue during, and would decrease as the flow waned. Needed to take leave, rest & pain killers.

Post menstrual weakness

In 2007 she felt pain in lower abdomen on and off which was followed few months later by altered character of bleeding: clotted blood. PMC same. Diagnosed Serous Cystadenoma & underwent Rt. Oophorectomy & tubectomy at army hospital Jabalpur in 2008.

Post op PMC: 3-(4)/ 26-28 days.

Post op PMC: 3-(4)/ 26-28 days.

Character of blood: 1st day: jelly like dark brown; 2nd/ 3rd day: dark brown blood with dark

coloured clots Occasional 4th day scanty flow

Molimina: irritable 3-4 days prior; pains exaggerated in lower abdomen, lower back and thighs with vomiting , which would start 7-8 days prior, continue during, and would decrease as the flow waned.

HISTORY OF PRESENTING COMPLAINTS

Since childhood she was also subject to episodes of painful degluttition <cold food and drinks, which improved with gargles. Occasionally fever too.

Since few years burning in epigastrium <non veg, spices

Past illnesses 1995- underwent Appendectomy 2003- mild chickenpox

Family illnesses

Mother- asthma Father- heart trouble

Generals

Appetite- normal, non- vegetarian, feels burning in epigastrium if meals are delayed

Desires- vegetarian, salty

Aversion- Milk, ghee

Bowels/Urine: Normal, regular

Sleep- on left side; in dark; scared in sleep occasionally

Dreams- “weeps in dreams”; sees family members esp her father in trouble; difficult to wake her up though husband tries to

Perspiration- esp on face

Thermal reaction- prefers mild winters

Life and circumstances

She had been born and brought up in Bihar, Chhapra Distt. Post marriage she has been to Shillong, Panchvati, Pithoragarh, Jabalpur. She is in Delhi since past two and a half years.

More attached to father. Husband is nice and caring. No major troubles in life.

Mind and disposition

She is possessive about her family.

Easy going and laid back in household affairs

Worries about husband’s job and transferable posting.

Irritable and anxious

Investigations

11-9-12: DHEA 27.2 (↑) August 2012: U/S: Rt ovary not

visualised; rest wnl

Analysis and evaluation

Characteristics of molimina

Character of blood

Sensitive throat

1st prescription

20-9-12 Rx Placebo

First follow up15th Oct, 2012

Her LMP was 7th October 2012 which lasted for 3 days. Flow was same as before. She had pains in lower abdomen, back and thighs 8-10 days prior and then gradually decreased with the flow

Character of flow: same Irritability before menses

First follow up15th Oct, 2012

She also informed that she had forgotten to mention her Lumbago- esp in sacral region. This had started after spinal anesthesia at the time of Rt. tubo-oophrectomy in 2008.

The backache was < before and during menses, walking continuously for 30 minutes or more; > by lying flat on back.

First follow up15th Oct, 2012

She had once felt pain in epigastrium after a spicy meal

Once in between she had a dream in which she cried/talked ,a night prior to the follow up

Curare (Clarke)

• Female sexual organs: • Menses seven days too early, griping in r.

ovary, bearing-down, dragging, tired, in all pelvic organs, severe (causing faintness) in lumbo-sacral spine, running down thighs, …. very dark, lasting three days instead of five.─…Indolence, .. During menses: colic, headache, pains in kidneys, malaise,…..

• Many symptoms appear on right side

• Lumbago< movement, walking ascending

• Lumbago post spinal anasthesia

Curare (Clarke)

Prescription

CURARE 30 unit dose, followed by placebo

She did not have any periods after that……… delivered a healthy baby girl in July 2013

Case no 2:Primary infertility

Ms M.S.Age -27 years/Femalefirst seen on 19.08.11

ON OBSERVATION

On Observation-Brown eyes, dark hair, gap in upper central incisors, dilated pupils.

PRESENTING COMPLAINTS

Primary infertility Left sided fistula-in-ano Raynauds phenomema Angioneurotic edema with urticaria Contact dermatitis Vaginal discharge

HOPC

In 2005 (one year before her marriage), she developed a swelling in the peri-anal region. She was diagnosed as having haemorrhoids (left side).

Gradually she started having bleeding and a pustular discharge and developed a left sided fistula-in-ano.

HOPC

In June 2009 she underwent left haemorrhoidectomy and fistulectomy at Batra hospital.

Post-operative: The wound did not heal, and there was a yellowish foul smelling discharge.

She underwent a repeat fistulectomy in Sept’09 with I&D and repeat in Oct’10 but the pain and discomfort on left side with discharge persisted.

HOPC

She has been suffering from angioneurotic oedema since April 2009, when she developed severe swelling on the upper lip.

Now she develops swelling around the lip off and on .

<evening <cold weather

HOPC

Since the same time she has noticed contact dermatitis: artificial bangles or earrings develop a rash.<summers.

Urticaria lower limbs.

Occasional episodes of pyoderma

HOPC

Her hands and feet remained cold all the year round.

Also her nose, fingers, toes become very cold and painful in winters. (diagnosed Raynaud’s Phenomenon)

HOPC

Discharge P/V since 3 years,

Character of discharge- milky white, thick , offensive, no itching.

GYNAECOLOGICAL HISTORY

Menarche -14 years of age.

Cycles-always been regular 5-6/28-30 days No associated complaints.

PAST ILLNESSES

H/O Recurrent boils and pustules in childhood.

FAMILY HISTORY

Father-Hypertension, stroke.

Paternal Uncle-Stroke.

GENERALS

Appetite-non veg, can tolerate.

Thirst-good, cool water

Sleep-good, on sides esp. left, likes to sleep in slight light. Occasionally she wakes up at night scared, can’t recall the dream, then she must eat something before going back to sleep.

GENERALS

Desire-spicy+++, paneer++, mangoes+++.

Perspiration- profuse, foul smelling more on upper half of body; occasionally in winters also.

Thermal Reaction- Chilly.

LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES

She was born and brought up in Assam , in a middle class family. She was an average student.

When she was in VIIth standard, her father suffered a stroke; had to help mother with household work as they couldn’t afford a full time help and workload increased, being the eldest child. Felt pressure and was anxious about financial management and workload.

LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES

In 2006,she got married in Delhi.

Soon after marriage husband was posted in U.K. Since she did not have a passport she could not go with him. Due to political/ official reasons passport took nearly 5 years.

Husband visited india for 2 months every year.

Tried to conceive but was unable to.

LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES

Consulted many gynecologists and underwent numerous short term treatments but was unable to conceive.

Though in-laws are very supportive along with husband, anxious that numerous illnesses and treatment may portray her negatively.

Her younger brother in law got married in 2009 and his wife delivered a child in 2010. more pessimistic after that, though cares for the baby.

MIND AND DISPOSITION

Very nervous; pessimistic

Anxious

Easily gets upset.

INVESTIGATIONS

08-08-2011 T3, T4 , TSH-WNL

DHEA-17.35(↑)

USG-PELVIS-TVS Rt Ovary-vol. 8 cc Lt Ovary- vol. 17 cc Suggestive of PCOS.

Guess the remedy

???

MIND

Anxious ,full of fear ,melancholic; evil forebodings.

nervous, easily startled; restless, hands tremble.

Every moral emotion causes trembling.

Severe ailments from even slightest emotions.

MIND

Anxiety, several times a day (with or without pain), or at certain hours of the day or of the night; usually the patient then finds no rest , but has to run hither and tither, and often falls into perspiration.

Melancholy, palpitation and anxiousness cause her at night to wake up from sleep.(mostly just before the beginning of menses)

FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS

Leucorrhoea: large ,clotted lumps of an intolerable odour….

Leucorrhoea from the vagina,one or several days before ,or soon after ,the monthly flow of blood, or during the whole time from the one menstrual discharge to the other, with diminution of menses or continuing solely instead of menses; the flow is like milk, or like white, or yellow mucus, or like acrid sometimes like fetid water.

EXTREMITIES

Chilblains (even when it is not winter) on the toes and fingers, ….

STOOL AND RECTUM

Sensitive haemorrhoidal pain in rectum.

Burning haemorrhoidal tumours.

Painful and painless haemorrhoidal varices on the anus ,in the rectum, especially during stools after which the haemorrhoids often pain violently for a long time.

Itching and erosions in the anus and perineum.

SKIN

Skin : abnormal tendency to receive skin diseases, eruptions easily suppurate.

Pustules or boils on head, particularly scalp; scalp had a dirty look and emitted an offensive odour; fine red eruption, forming small, white scales; pustules on hand.

SLEEP

Sleepless from intolerable itching or frightful dreams of robbers, dangers etc.

Hungry in the middle of night, must have something to eat.

Night-mare;he usually suddenly awakes at night from a frightful dream, but cannot move, nor call nor speak and when he endeavors to move he has intolerable pain, as if he were torn to pieces.

MATERIA MEDICA

Great sensitiveness to cold air or change of weather.

All excretions –diarrhoea ,leucorrhoea, menses, perspiration have a carrion like odor.

Extremely Psoric patients; nervous ,restless, easily started.

PRESCRIPTION

19-08-2011 PSORINUM 200/ 1 Dose.

FOLLOW UP

11-9-11 Discharge from fistula had decreased. Felt more itchy in body LMP1-9-11; normal Vaginal discharge better

FOLLOW UP

10-10-11 No discharge from fistula; could still feel

opening on left side; itching peri-anal region on and off

Felt itching in body without eruptions LMP27-9-11; normal Vaginal discharge markedly decreased;

still felt some foul smell from vaginal region; occasionally burning in vaginal region

Travelling to UK next week.

FOLLOW UP

1-12-11: Reported from U.K. Missed her periods in november. Even though, it was very cold, Raynaud’s

Phenomenon was less. Skin eruptions were better. no vaginal or fistulous discharge

1st jan 2012, sent us a big box of chocolates!!

Kent’s therapeutic hints!

Sycosis

sycosis very commonly makes a woman sterile, or if she has a few children you will find in them a strong tendency to marasmus in the first year, or in the first or second summer a strong tendency to consumption, or you will find a withering, old appearance of the face….

Actea rac From weakness she is sterile, or she aborts in the early

months of gestation. Labor-like pains during menstruation with drawing pains in

the thighs and legs, and even the feet and toes. Uterine haemorrhage from inertia of the uterus.

Relaxation of muscles and ligaments. Heaviness, and even prolapsus.

Subinvolution. Excoriating leucorrhoea. Menses too soon or too late. She is sensitive to cold and wants warm clothing-quite

unlike Pulsatilla. She is hysterical, like Ignatia. She is fretful and apprehensive.

Rheumatic stiffness of the back and very sensitive spine. She is sleepless, restless and withal very excitable.

Aurum iod

- Sexual desire increased. - INDURATION OF THE OVARIES; UTERUS;

cervix uteri. - Inflammation of ovaries and uterus. - Leucorrhoea; acrid; copious; thick;

YELLOW. - Menses absent; copious, late;

suppressed. - Pain in ovaries and uterus. - Prolapsus uteri. - Sterility.

Baryta carb

Sterility. - Dwindling of the ovary. - Dwindling of the mammary glands, and

yet the lymphatics become enlarged and infiltrated.

- A passive leucorrhoeal discharge, whitish, thick, persistent, often copious, worse about a week before the menstrual period.

Baryta mur

Induration of the ovaries. - Leucorrhoea. - Menses copious, too often, painful. - Pain in the uterus. - Sterility

Borax There is another feature like Natr. mur. and Natr. carb.; in both male and

female it takes away sexual desire; it benumbs the patient, and hence the mind and sexual organs are in a state of indifference.

- Then we come to the most striking feature of Borax in regard to the female organs; in the menstrual flow will be found membrane.

- Borax cures the most violent forms of membranous dysmenorrhoea, when there are violent labor-like pains before and during the flow and it seems as if the uterus would expel itself from the vagina.

- The flow starts slightly, but the same violent pains keep on, until the expulsion of the membrane.

- Such patients are easily startled from downward motion; let that be your guide to Borax in membranous dysmenorrhoea.

- "During menses; throbbing in head and rushing in ears." - "Pinching and griping in abdomen;" that word does not describe it

exactly, for it is like the pain in labor; "pain extending from stomach." - - "Tired; sweat after midnight." - But, remember, with such things you must have the mental state, the

nervous, excitable state and then Borax will cure this dysmenorrhoea. - "Leucorrhoea like the white of eggs." - It has albuminous leucorrhoea which feels like a hot fluid, and flows

down the legs. - "Acrid leucorrhoea appearing for two weeks." - Now from this acrid leucorrhoea, from the menstrual state, this false

membrane forming and being thrown off, it is no wonder that women are sterile.

Calcarea carb - The Calcarea patient is weak sexually, with general relaxation

and weakness. - Sometimes an inordinate craving, sometimes an overwhelming

desire keeps him awake at nights. - But weak; weak in this way, that any indulgence is followed by

weak back, sweating, weakness in general, so that he is compelled to abstain because of the sufferings.

- The woman is affected in a similar way. - You need not be surprised, when you hear all of the

constitutional weaknesses, that it is a common thing for Calcarea women to be sterile. - So tired, so relaxed; wholly unfit for reproduction.

- And the same as in the male, she suffers from lassitude, sweating, wakefulness, and weakness in general after every coition.

- The parts feel relaxed. - The uterus drags down. - Sensation as if parts would be forced out. - State of general weakness and general relaxation of the sexual

organs of both male and female.

Calcarea iod

- Sexual desire increased in the woman; congestion of the uterus.

- Leucorrhoea acrid, bloody, copious, yellow.

- Menses absent, copious frequent, irregular, painful, suppressed.

- Metrorrhagia. - Pain in ovaries and uterus. - Sterility. - Tumors on ovaries. - Pain in both ovaries before menses.

Cannabis sativa

- Intense sexual excitement in both sexes.

- To the female it has a reputation for sterility.

- Menses profuse. - Leucorrhoea in little girls (Sepia). - Gonorrhoea. - Uterine haemorrhage after labor. - Threatened abortion.

Carboneum sulph - Sexual desire wanting. - Atrophy of the ovaries. - Cancer of the uterus. - Aversion to coition. - Eruption and excoriation. - Inflammation of the uterus. - Itching of the vulva. - LEUCORRHOEA; ACRID; bloody; burning; copious; before and

after menses; milky; thin; white; watery. - Menses absent; excoriating; black; dark; delayed first menses;

irregular; LATE or too soon; offensive; painless; copious at first, later SCANTY, short;

suppressed; slow passive haemorrhage from uterus. - Pain in uterus; burning; soreness; weak labor pains. - Women who work in carbon bisulphide are often sterile.

Caulophyllum - Weakness in the reproductive system of the woman. - From weakness she is sterile, or she aborts in the early

months of gestation. the feet and toes. - Uterine hemorrhage from inertia of the uterus. - Relaxation of muscles and ligaments. - Heaviness, and even prolapsus. - Excoriating leucorrhoea. - Menses too soon, or too late. - She is sensitive to cold and wants warm clothing, quite

unlike Pulsatilla. - She is hysterical, like Ignatia. - She is fretful and apprehensive. - She is rheumatic, like Cimicifuga, only the small joints

are likely to be affected. - Rheumatic stiffness of the back, and very sensitive

spine. - She is sleepless, restless, and withal very excitable. - This remedy has cured chorea at puberty when

menstruation was late.

Ferrum phos - In the woman there is slight change of symptoms;

predisposition to abort, aversion to coition, or desire much diminished.

- Leucorrhoea, excoriating, before menses, milky, thin, white.

- Chlorotic girls. - Menses absent. - Menstrual flow bright red, clotted, copious, dark, too

frequent, intermittent, irregular, late, painful, pale, protracted, scanty, suppressed, thin, watery.

- Uterine haemorrhage. - Pain in vagina during coition. - Dysmenorrhoea with fever and red face. - Bearing-down in pelvis with dull pain in ovarian region. - Prolapsus of the uterus. - Sterility. - Sensitive vagina

Medorrhinum

- Chronic pain in ovarian region. - Sterility. - Painful menstruation. - Obstinate leucorrhoea. - Enlarged ovaries. - Violent itching of vulva and vagina. - Profuse menses. - Drawing in sacrum as if menses would come

on. - Cutting like knives in whole pelvic region. - Burning in scrotum and hips during menses.

Merc sol - The woman has much tribulation. - Burning, stinging in ovaries. - Screaming from pain. - Stinging, tearing, cutting pains in the

ovaries; patient covered with sweat. - Copious, excoriating leucorrhoea, parts raw, sore,, inflamed

and itching. - Stinging, itching and boring pains in the uterus. - Pains in the uterus and ovaries at the menstrual period. - Milk in the breast of the non-pregnant woman at the menstrual

period. - Milk in the breasts instead of the menstrual flow. - Menstrual flow light red, pale, acrid, clotted, and profuse or

scanty. - The menses are sometimes suppressed. - Women who have been in the habit of taking mercury for

biliousness remain sterile. - Amenorrhoea with ebullitions. - Chancres on the female genitals. - Aged women have denuded genitals, rawness, soreness and

false granulations, which are always bleeding. - Itching of the genitals from the contact of the urine; it must be

washed off

Natrum carb - Sterility, a constitutional state in a woman

where she is unable to conceive; she is nervous, cold to the knees and elbows; cold body in winter, hot head in summer; always tired; relaxation of the sphincter vaginae causing the seminal fluid to gush out as soon as ejaculated by the male, thus causing sterility.

- There may be a spasm of the sphincter, producing the same effect, or a clot of blood or mucus shoots from the vagina with noisy flatus.

- Nervous, fidgety, excitable, lean, dyspeptic women, not hysterical.

- Menses too soon or too late; neuralgias, oversensitive to drafts and dampness, sensitive spine, legs numb; leucorrhoea yellowish-green, copious.

Natrum phos

- Desire increased in the female. - Leucorrhoea after menses, acrid,

copious, creamy, honey colored, sour smelling, yellow and watery.

- Menses absent, copious, too frequent, late, pale, painful, protracted.

- Prolapsus of the uterus with a weak sinking feeling after stool.

- Sterility

Phosphorus - Phosphorus has cured many cases of sterility supposed to depend upon

violent sexual excitement. - Violent sexual excitement with aversion to coition. - Violent pain in the ovaries extending down the inner side of the thighs

during menstruation caused by inflammation of the ovaries. - Inflammation of the uterus during menstruation and during pregnancy

or during pyaemia. - Frequent and profuse haemorrhages from the uterus caused from

cancerous affections. - The menstrual period is too early, flow bright red, lasting too long, is

copious; during the menstrual period ice-cold feet and hands; nausea; pain in the back as if broken; blue rings around eyes; loss of flesh; much fearfulness.

- It has also menstrual suppression in consumptives with cough, bleeding from the nose, and spitting of blood.

- Copious yellow leucorrhoea with great weakness; leucorrhoea instead of menses; white, watery leucorrhoea, acrid, excoriating; milky leucorrhoea copious when walking.

- While there is violent sexual excitement during coition there is lack of sensation in the vagina, as if it were numb.

- Condylomata appear like fig-warts and excrescences about the genitals and in the vagina. Bleeding warts.

- Dropsical swelling of the labia. - Fibroid tumors of the breast. - Fibroid tumors of the uterus with copious haemorrhages.

Platina - Sexual erethism is one of the most prominent features of Platinum in

women. - Unbearable sexual excitement and voluptuous crawling in the genitals. - Such extreme sensitiveness of the external genitals that it is

impossible for the woman to wear a napkin during menstruation or let the physician examine her.

- Pain in the ovarian region, especially the left. - It has cured sterility of long standing, especially sterility that is

supposed to come from excessive sexual excitement. - Inflammation of the ovaries coming with haemorrhage of the uterus,

and during the menstrual period. - It has cured ovarian tumors and cystic tumors. - Inflammation of the uterus, bearing down, as in prolapsus. - Polypus of the uterus and uterine haemorrhages. - The flow is dark, even black and clotted with much fluid blood. - These nervous women constantly feel as if the menstrual flow was

going to appear. - The menstrual flow comes too early, is too profuse, and then generally

of short duration. - The menstrual periods sometimes return every fourteen days or the

menstrual flow may be entirely absent. - The vulva and vagina are extremely sensitive during coition,

sometimes preventing the act. - The woman suffers from albuminous leucorrhoea mostly in the daytime

without much sensation.

Secale corr

- Numbness and burning down the whole length of the spine; general emaciation or only of diseased part.

- Establishes sterility; so weak is the uterus that it can never hold the foetus, hence the value in sterility and repeated abortions.

- Dwindling of the mammae. - Absence of milk after confinement - Cachectic females with rough skin,

pustules tending to gangrene.

Sulphur - The genitals are extremely offensive both to the patient

and to the examining physician. - Under female sexual organs we have sterility. - We have irregularity in the menstrual flow, menstrual

flow suppressed from the slightest disturbance. - Haemorrhage in connection with the menstrual flow;

uterine haemorrhage; prolonged uterine haemorrhage. - The flow keeps coming back in spite of ordinary

remedies, and in spite of remedies selected upon the group of symptoms related to the pelvis.

- Women needing Sulphur are full of hot flashes, such as they are likely to have at the climacteric period, and here it competes with Lachesis and Sepia.

- Sulphur and Sepia are suitable in the most violent cases of dysmenorrhoea in girls and even in those of advanced age.

- Perspiration copious and foetid coming from about the genitals, down the inside of the thighs and up over the abdomen.

- Leucorrhoea copious, offensive, burning, sticky; it may be whitish or yellow; it is offensive, burning, sticky; it may be whitish or yellow; it is offensive, acrid, and causes itching about the parts and excoriation.

Sulphuric acid

- The menses are too frequent and copious and the flow is dark and thin.

- Many symptoms come before the menses. - Nightmare before menses and at the close of

menses. - The vagina is prolapsed and gangrenous. - Leucorrhoea blood, acrid, milky or albuminous,

yellow. - The flashes of heat, weakness, sensation of

trembling, a nervous hurry in all her actions and feelings, bleeding from uterus and other parts of blood that does not coagulate, and constipation with small, hard balls like sheep's dung are symptoms common to the critical period.

- It has cured sterility when it was supposed to depend upon the copious and frequent menstrual flow.

- Violent itching of the vulva.

http://feministphilosophers.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/on-becoming-infertile-part-1/

….I never wanted children. And I spent a lot of effort convincing my doctors that infertility was something that wouldn’t have a drastic impact on my life. So I assumed – rather naively, perhaps – that actually becoming infertile wouldn’t be a big deal for me.

But it was a big deal, for reasons I still have difficulty articulating. It was also, and at the same time, both a massive relief and oddly liberating. My reactions to infertility have been complex, to say the least. But what seems clear enough is that, though actually having children wasn’t something I cared about, theability to have to children was something I cared about much more than I would’ve expected….

http://feministphilosophers.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/on-becoming-infertile-part-1/

…. The trouble wasn’t that I wanted my childlessness to be a matter of choice. My childlessness is a matter of choice. My disability makes me infertile, but it’s my preferences that make me childless. Childlessness and infertility are two very different things. ….

But whether or not you want children – and whether or not you want to have your own biological children – most everyone will grant that having babies is a truly amazing thing. And it’s an amazing thing that is intricately bound together (probably incorrectly, given what we know about trans men, but bound nonetheless) with our conception of womanhood and the female body. Whenever I’d been around babies, I’d never felt that “Oooooh, babies – I want one!” tug on my heartstrings that I guess is common to many women. But I had, subconsciously, thought: “Hey, those things are pretty awesome. I could totally make one of those, if I wanted to. I don’t want to, so I won’t. But I could.”

And now I can’t. And that’s hard in way I would never have expected it to be……………..