COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant Mother

 

Getting vaccinated is a personal choice for people who are pregnant

People who are pregnant and part of a group recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccine, such as healthcare personnel, may choose to be vaccinated. 

A conversation between pregnant patients and their clinicians may help them decide whether to get vaccinated with a vaccine that has been authorized for use under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). 

While a conversation with a healthcare provider may be helpful, it is not required prior to vaccination.

Key considerations pregnant patients can discuss with their healthcare provider include:

• The likelihood of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19
• Risks of COVID-19 to them and potential risks to their fetuses
• What is known about the vaccine: how well it works to develop protection in the body, known side effects of the vaccine, and lack of data during pregnancy,
  (mRNA vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 and, therefore, cannot infect someone with COVID-19. Additionally, mRNA vaccines do not interact with a person’s DNA because the mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell. Cells break down the mRNA quickly. Based on how mRNA vaccines work, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a specific risk for people who are pregnant. However, the actual risks of mRNA vaccines to the pregnant person and her fetus are unknown because these vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women).

Pregnant patients who decide to get vaccinated should continue to follow the current guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after they are vaccinated. That means:

• Wearing a mask
• Staying at least six feet away from others
• Avoiding crowds
• Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Following  travel guidance
• Following quarantine guidance after exposure to COVID-19
• Following any applicable workplace guidance

What You Should Know About Gynecologic Cancer

       "Gynecologic cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. An estimated 1 in every 20 women will develop gynecologic cancer in her lifetime. No one can predict for sure who will get a gynecologic cancer. That is why it is so important for women to pay attention to their bodies. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective"

What Are the Specific Gynecologic Cancers?

    Gynecologic cancers start in a woman’s reproductive organs. These cancers are named for the part of the body where the cancer starts. There are 5 main types of gynecologic cancer: ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. Each cancer appears with different signs and symptoms and has different prevention strategies.
    All women are at risk for gynecologic cancers, and the risk increases with age. These cancers do not have to be life-threatening; there are early detection tools such as Pap tests

Pay Attention to Your Health
     

Be familiar with your family history, and tell your gynecologist if there is a history of cancer in your family so she/he can recommend preventive steps. Learn the warning signs of these cancers, learn what is normal, and if you notice any unexplained signs or symptoms, see a clinician right away. Some of these cancers have no warning signs, so it is important to make an appointment for an annual gynecologic exam and Pap test. Not all gynecologic cancers have tests to identify the individual cancer.
 

    The Pap test can screen for precancers and cell changes on the cervix. The human papillomavirus (HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause cell changes in cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. It is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls. It is also recommended for females ages 13 to 26 who did not get any or all of the vaccine shots when they were younger. 

What Are Some of the Signs or Symptoms of Gynecologic Cancers?

    Ovarian cancer: Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area, back pain, being tired all the time, bloating (area below stomach), change in bathroom habits, upset stomach or heartburn, discharge from vagina that is not usual.

    Cervical cancer: Early on the cancer may not cause signs or symptoms. In the advanced stage, bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal. Uterine cancer: Bleeding that is not normal for you— bleeding between periods, bleeding that is heavier or longer than 7 days.Vaginal cancer: Vaginal discharge or bleeding that is not normal, a change in bathroom habits that is not normal, pain in the pelvis and abdomen (especially  when you have sex or urinate). 

    Vulvar cancer: Itching, burning, or bleeding on the vulva that does not go away; color changes  and skin changes on the vulva; sores, lumps, or ulcers that do not go away; or pain in the pelvis (especially upon urinating or having sex). 

If you are diagnosed with one of these cancers, your clinician will recommend a gynecologic oncologist, a doctor who has been trained to treat cancers of a women’s reproductive organs. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment can be effective.

                                                                 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).