"As a health writer, I had often heard and written about postpartum depression, but it wasn’t until I experienced it myself after delivery that I truly understood its intensity. I had never felt so low and hopeless before. I found myself crying at the smallest things, and no amount of support from family and friends could lift my spirits. I spent my days in a deep, unshakable sadness, unable to feel the 'motherly' emotions I had expected towards my baby," shares journalist Kalpana Sharma.

A woman’s body changes every week. With the four phases of the menstrual cycle, a woman’s feelings, her body and her emotions are always changing. However, when a woman becomes a mother, her body experiences tremendous changes. Furthermore, the responsibility of being a new mom too could be overwhelming, leading to postpartum depression.

"You are three different persons when you are a mother"

“I am a very positive person. I know I can handle anything. So, when my friends would tell me their stories of postpartum, I would tell myself that I could handle it. I could talk myself out of it. But to my surprise, it was very difficult. My body and my mind went through so much,” says Akanksha Thapliyal, 34 from Siliguri, a creative consultant, who became a mother at 33.

Thapliyal shares that there were days when she would just cry, without even knowing the reason. At times, everyone felt like her enemy, including her husband.

A mother from East Tennessee, Tiffany Toombs Clevinger, now 39, shares she was 37 when she had her baby and her first feeling was, “Oh no, what did we just do?” She was in disbelief and did not know what to do to take care of her child.

Why were these mothers confronted by such feelings? The answer is postpartum depression. Postpartum is a phase after childbirth, where mothers go through physical changes. These physical changes in their bodies affect them mentally, the added responsibility of being a mother further makes this phase stressful and anxiety-stricken.

Dr Sushma Pampanavar, gyneacologist and obstetrician at the Iswarya Fertility and ICF Centre and a member of DocTube says that there are many physical effects of postpartum on a woman’s body. “There are uterine changes, which means the uterus expands during the pregnancy and begins to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size after childbirth. This may cause cramping.” Other effects include postpartum bleeding and discharge, also known as lochia, which goes on for a few weeks.

“Hormonal shifts, especially estrogen and progesterone drop rapidly after delivery, this can affect the mood,” she points out.

The body too begins to change its shape, breasts get engorged, nipples get sensitive, changes in pelvic floor also occur which may lead to urinary incontinence and discomfort.

All of these, combined with the added responsibility of being a mother is what causes postpartum depression or what is commonly known as ‘baby blues.’

“Your body goes through so many changes all at once. You are a different person when you are pregnant, a different person when you deliver and a different person a year later. You are three different persons when you are a mother,” says Thapliyal.

Impact Of Postpartum Depression

Sarah Fletcher, 49 from Blackpool UK, a hypnobirthing practitioner had her child when she was 25. She had severe anxiety and struggled to enjoy being a new mom. It affected her relationship with her partner and her child's behaviour.

“One day I had tormented him [partner] so badly that he was crying in a corner, begging me to stop. I was fearful, depressed, lonely and felt useless. This is reflected in my baby’s behaviour through him being unsettled, agitated and not sleeping,” she shares.

Dr Himanshu Nirvan, a psychiatrist at the Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences and (NIIMS) Hospital says that persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and irritability in mothers can lead to difficult bonding with the baby and “thoughts of harming oneself or the baby.”

If unaddressed, suggests Dr Nirvan, postpartum can potentially strain the mother-child relationship, leading to feelings of detachment, neglect or irritability.

Mother’s Guilt

The added responsibility of being a mother, and not being able to perform well as a mother too causes stress. Both Thapliyal and Clevinger share that they were not able to breastfeed their child. This made them feel useless and caused them to feel the mother’s guilt. This term refers to the feeling of shame and guilt that a mother feels when she thinks she is unable to live up to the standards of being a ‘good mother.’

“I struggled with breastfeeding, my body wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do. I was frustrated and I felt like a failure. I felt like I was not good enough,” shares Clevinger. She spiralled into anxiety and depression and lost the motivation to drive to work. This lasted for 20 months.

For Thapliyal, the feeling was the same. She went to her mother to seek her advice; however, she did not get any help. “My breasts would hurt, and my nipples were sore from breastfeeding. When I asked my mother, she told me that it was normal. But it is not. It was so painful that I could not breastfeed my child for two days,” she says.

This is when she finally reached out to a lactation expert and a counsellor. “Her name is Divya Kapoor. She helped me a lot through this phase. A lot of lactation experts or birth counsellors come from an empathetic background. Mostly because they did not have a great birthing or post-birthing experience. Divya struggled so she wanted it to be better for other mothers. She is now a doula,” shares Thapliyal.

Thapliyal has also shared her journey of motherhood in an attempt to help other new mothers in her podcast 'Manomanjan.'

The same is the story of Fletcher, who discovered neurolinguistic programming that helped her in her healing journey. She now teaches this to others and helps them with their mental well-being. As a hypnobirthing practitioner, she also supports women during the birthing process and helps them to keep a positive outlook.

Is Postpartum Just Limited To Mothers?

Sejal Malhotra (name changed), 24, an advocate from Delhi shares that she underwent the postpartum phase when she experienced a surgical abortion, last year September. “I went through an unplanned pregnancy and for the first 10 weeks, I did not realise I was pregnant. Complications arose and it was determined that the pregnancy needed to be terminated,” she shares.

The surgical abortion caused her body to react in ways akin to labour. “I endured pain, particularly in my vaginal area. Even doing simple activities like stretching, and sitting down, became a task, causing excruciating pain. The physical discomfort lingered for months. There was a complete loss of sexual desire, and this deeply affected my relationship with my husband,” she shares.

“Postpartum recovery can significantly impact a woman’s relationship with her partner, as both partners adjust to new roles and responsibilities. The physical, emotional, and psychological changes that occur during this period can strain intimacy and communication, but with understanding and effort, couples can navigate these changes effectively,” points out Dr Pampanavar

Malhotra also underwent hormonal shifts and experienced postpartum depression, leaving her feeling emotionally numb, feeling isolated and guilty for not being enough as a partner and a woman. There were days when she could not get out of her bed.

Gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Avir Sarkar, Assistant Professor at NIIMS says, “Experiencing a pregnancy loss, whether through surgical abortion or delivering a stillborn baby due to miscarriage, can indeed lead to a complex and emotional postpartum experience for women.”

Dr Sarkar says that women still experience bleeding, hormonal shifts and other postpartum symptoms, along with the profound emotional impact of pregnancy loss.

“Allow yourself to grieve, express your emotions and seek support from loved ones and healthcare providers,” suggests Dr Sarkar.

For Malhotra, her partner gave her the support she needed. At times, she noticed her partner mirroring the same emotional signs as hers. She is now in therapy and is doing much better.

“Physical intimacy may change during postpartum,” suggests Dr Sarkar. Partners too show the same emotional signs as they also experience the secondhand pain of their partners.

Ways To Deal With Postpartum

“Joining new parent groups, seeking online forums, attending support groups, and connecting with other mothers can combat feelings of isolation,” says Dr Nirvan. Partners too can assist with childcare and share household tasks.

Dr Pampanavar says that self-care, rest, counselling and therapy are some of the ways one can heal through postpartum. Experts also suggest that allowing mothers the time to bond with their child also helps reduce the feeling of sadness.

Infertility impacts millions across the globe, touching both men and women alike. According to the World Health Organization, around 17.5% of the global population, roughly one in six people, experience fertility challenges. This condition can significantly reduce or even prevent natural conception.

Yet, despite its prevalence, infertility remains clouded by myths and misconceptions, many of which unfairly place the blame solely on women. Seeking to debunk these long-held beliefs, Dr. Holly Miller, an American Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, took to Instagram to share three important truths every woman should know about fertility.

3 Truths About Fertility Women Should Know

With the help of modern medicine and medical interventions like IVF, fertility treatment can help people boost their chances of reproducing.

Infertility Isn't Just a Woman's Issue

It’s important to understand that infertility affects both partners — it’s not solely a woman’s issue. Blaming only the woman is both unfair and inaccurate. In fact, experts find that the causes of infertility are almost evenly split between men and women.

Roughly one-third of infertility cases are linked to the woman, another third to the man, and the remaining third result from issues affecting both partners — or from causes that doctors are unable to clearly identify.

To identify the cause of infertility, both partners should undergo testing simultaneously. For men, a semen analysis — a quick and straightforward test — is often the easiest and most informative first step.

The "Wait One Year" Rule Changes with Age

Most couples automatically try to conceive for a full 12 months before they think about seeing a fertility doctor. However, the doctor emphasizes that the woman's age is the single most important factor that affects the chances of successful treatment.

If you are under 35 years old: You can safely try for a full 12 months of regular, unprotected sex before seeking a specialist.

If you are 35 or older: You should contact a specialist after only 6 months of trying without success.

If you are 40 or older: You need to see a specialist right away—as quickly as you possibly can.

The doctor explains that after age 35, the woman's egg supply starts to decline more quickly. Time is essential, so couples should strongly ask their doctors for an early referral.

"Unexplained Infertility" Often Means "Undiagnosed Problem"

When a couple is diagnosed with "unexplained infertility," which happens in about 10% to 20% of cases, it means the basic first tests did not find a clear reason. This can be upsetting, but it does not mean you can never have children. In the doctor's experience, the term "unexplained" often means there are hidden problems, such as:

• Small issues with the male partner's sperm that were missed by the basic tests.
• A hidden condition called Endometriosis, which can only be confirmed by a surgical procedure.
• Not having sexual intercourse at the best time or not often enough.

In today's corporate world, desk jobs have become the order of the day and so are the health problems associated with them. Endless typing, long hours of sitting, and poor posture are silently taking their toll on young professionals who spend most of their day glued to screens. Many don't realize that their daily work habits could trigger unexpected medical conditions.

Such a growing concern was once highlighted by Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, who recently shared a case on X. He wrote about one such case of Riya (name changed), a 25-year-old software engineer who developed a sharp, burning pain in her elbow-a pain which began as a minor ache while typing and gradually became so severe that even lifting a teacup felt unbearable.

What was the cause of the sharp elbow pain that Riya experienced?

Riya tried everything she could think of: Rest, pain relief balms, painkillers, even switching hands while using her computer, but the pain refused to fade. When she finally decided to visit the doctor, her symptoms immediately pointed to something unexpected: Tennis elbow. The diagnosis came as a surprise, considering she had never even held a tennis racket. On examination, Dr Sudhir Kumar found the tell-tale signs of the condition, medically known as lateral epicondylitis — tenderness along the outer elbow and pain when she tried to extend her wrist. He explained that the culprit wasn’t a sport, but repetitive strain from long hours at the computer — a problem increasingly common among desk workers.

What is Tennis Elbow?

The Mayo Clinic describes tennis elbow, medically termed lateral epicondylitis, as a painful condition resulting from the overuse of muscles and tendons in the forearm. It develops where these tissues are repeatedly strained by similar wrist and arm movements, leading to tiny tears and inflammation near the elbow.

The name is misleading, and you don't have to be an athlete to get tennis elbow. As a matter of fact, most people who develop it never have used a racket. It's common for the condition to strike people in jobs that require repetitive motions: plumbers, carpenters, painters, butchers, and yes, office workers who spend hours typing or using a mouse.

The pain generally arises on the outside of the elbow, precisely at that bony prominence to which the muscles of the forearm attach. For some, the discomfort may extend into the forearm or even the wrist, making most activities quite arduous.

How Can Tennis Elbow Be Treated?

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, Dr Sudhir Kumar focused on addressing the underlying cause — repetitive stress and poor workstation ergonomics. The holistic treatment for Riya included the following:

• Avoided repetitive activities that triggered her pain.
• Adjusting the computer setup and improving posture.
• Establish a physiotherapy regimen to stretch, strengthen, and gradually build muscle endurance.
• A short course of anti-inflammatory medication

Employing a counterforce brace-a tennis elbow strap-to reduce strain in daily activities. By her six-week follow-up, Riya’s pain had completely resolved. Her grip strength was back, and she could type, lift, and exercise without discomfort. Three months later, she was symptom-free — and far more aware of how small ergonomic changes can make a big difference.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, however, a recent survey showed that most people don’t know this vital fact about prostate cancer symptoms.

Prostate cancer is a serious illness in the US, affecting over 300,000 men each year and causing more than 35,000 deaths, according American Cancer Society. This makes it the second-most deadly cancer for men. If doctors detect the disease early, it is treatable. However, patients usually don't notice any signs of the disease in its beginning stages. Due to this lack of symptoms, checking for the disease is extremely important.

A recent survey of 1,004 U.S. adults, commissioned by the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, aimed to gauge public knowledge of the disease. The findings highlight a critical need for better education.

What Do Americans Know About Early-Stage Prostate Cancer?

The results showed that most people, 80% of those surveyed, are unaware that early prostate cancer usually has no physical symptoms. One health specialist noted that it's crucial for everyone to understand that this cancer causes no symptoms until it has become advanced. The survey also revealed other gaps in knowledge:

• More than half of the people surveyed (59%) did not know that changes in sexual function could be a sign of prostate cancer.
• The survey noticed some differences across groups. For example, one minority group was better at identifying less common signs like tiredness and weight loss.
• However, that same minority group was less likely than others to correctly identify that the cancer usually has no symptoms in its early stage.

What Is The Best Way To Diagnose Prostate Cancer?

The fact that prostate cancer often begins without symptoms is the main reason doctors worry.

Lack of Symptoms

In its early phase, the cancer is small and contained within the prostate gland. It doesn't push on or block any other body parts, so it doesn't cause pain or discomfort. Because the cancer is deep inside the body, it's hard to tell if someone has it without special tests.

Provider Worry

Because men feel fine, they may wrongly believe they aren't at risk. This feeling of being safe often makes men hesitant to get screened. Since there are no symptoms to look for, screening tests, usually a simple blood test or a physical exam, are the best way to find the cancer early.

What Are Some Signs of Prostate Cancer?

Even though most men with early prostate cancer feel completely normal, there are certain signs that might appear if the disease is more advanced. These symptoms include:

• Having trouble starting to urinate.
• Having a urine flow that is weak or stops and starts.
• Needing to urinate often, especially during the night.
• Difficulty completely emptying the bladder.
• Feeling pain or a burning sensation while urinating.
• Noticing blood in the urine or semen.
• Feeling pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.
• Experiencing pain during ejaculation.

When Should You Get Screened For Prostate Cancer?

According to American Cancer Society, health organizations advise men to talk with their doctors about getting checked for prostate cancer starting at certain ages, depending on their personal risk.

Average Risk: Age 50

Men who have no special risk factors.

High Risk: Age 45

Men who are African American or who have a father or brother who was diagnosed before age 65.

Highest Risk: Age 40

Men who have more than one close relative (father or brother) diagnosed at an early age. There is no one-size-fits-all advice for screening. Men should always speak to their doctor about their own risk and discuss the pros and cons of testing. Since there are no early warning signs, talking to a doctor about screening is described as "critical" and a simple process that could potentially save a man's life.