AN AYURVEDIC HYPOTHETICAL APPROACH TO PROTECT WOMEN AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE CANCERS

Abstract

In a healthy adult woman of childbearing age the vaginal contents consist of white coagu-lated material comprising squamous cells, Doderlein’s bacilli and coagulated secretion. Doderlein’s bacilli are large gram positive organisms which are sugar fermenting. This abil-ity to convert glycogen into lactic acid is responsible for the high acidity (pH-4.5) of the normal healthy adult vagina. As the acidity of the vagina falls and the pH rises, non-resident pathogens are able to thrive. In oestrogen deficiency conditions like vulvovaginitis in chil-dren and senile vaginitis in post-menopausal women, the vaginal epithelium is thin and ill protected against infection and vaginal pH is >7.4.During puerperium, acidity of the vagina is reduced and foreign organisms can grow. Vaginal discharge increases around ovulation, during pregnancy etc. Bacterial vaginosis, the most widespread vaginal infection in the United States, is associated with a 35.7% increase in the incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), an abnor-mality of cervical cells that may lead to cervical cancer, according to a study published in the Scandinavian journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (April 01, 1995 ( Oncology Journal, Cervical Cancer, Gynecologic Cancers). Any benign tumor like uterine fibroids may turn malignant in future. Arresting the growth of the tumor also may reduce malignancy potential in it. Endometrial carcinoma is associated with fibromyoma in women >40yrs. of age in 3% cases. Hyperoestrogenism explains the co-existence of these two conditions. In all the above said conditions, it seems vaginal pH and oestrogen are inter-related. Hence maintaining vaginal pH by using different procedures, dietary precautions and medicines of Ayurveda, various carcinomas may be prevented. Phased clinical trials will prove cause and effect relationship.