Soundbyte!

Happy Monday! I usually dont like mondays but today, i am feeling really mellow. Had a good weekend. Got almost enough sleep. The day doesnt look that bad. So i turn to a diva with an unbelievable voice and vibe to set the pace for my day:

Cassandra Wilson - Time after Time

Ms Wilson's voice is pure honey. Her music would fall under the contemporary jazz genre but that's really neither here nor there. What i know for sure is that the sounds that come out of her mouth are on another level. She hot, she's got soul, her music is authentic (even when she does covers) and you just get the feeling that she knows what she's singing about. She is not a conventional beauty and doesnt wear tops cut down to her navel but she is beautiful and one very sexy mama.

This song originally done by 80's party girl - Cyndi Lauper is on the Brown Sugar soundtrack and has been reworked by Ms Wilson with phenomenal results. I love it.

Enjoy!

*If you would like this song, please leave your email address in the comments section*

Women's Issue - Widowhood

A recent experience of a friend of my family started me thinking about the plight of widows. Onyeka Onwenu played the part of an igbo widow who had to shave her head and deal with a lot of inhuman treatment the moment her husband died. Nigerian movies constantly depict the cruelty facing widows. So i decided to do some more research about this. This post is quite long so i intend to make it a 2-3 part series. The family friend in question who i shall call Aunty J, is aware that i am doing this post so she is looking forward to reading it so please let your thoughts and comments be known. Aunty J has said many times over that if she had known, she would not have ignored financial security over love. Yes love is great but at the end of the day when her husband died, the love did not keep the inlaws away. So here goes:

"We are considered bad omens. We are excluded from all auspicious events."
(Lakshmi, India)

"I am accused of being a witch who killed her husband." (Terezinha, Mozambique)

"We are treated like animals just because we are widows." (Angela, Nigeria)

"I and my children were kicked out of the house and beaten by the brothers-in-law."
(Seodhi, Malawi)

"My husband died of AIDS and slept with many women; I am now dying, but his family blames me for his death." (Isabel, Kenya)

South Asia

India has the largest recorded number of widows in the world—33 million (10 per cent of the female population, compared to only 3 per cent of men), and the number is growing because of HIV/AIDS and civil conflicts. “Fifty-four per cent of women aged 60 and over are widows, as are 12 per cent of women aged 35-39. Remarriage is the exception rather than the rule; only about 10 per cent of widows marry again.” India is perhaps the only country where widowhood,
in addition to being a personal status, exists as a social institution.

Widows’ deprivation and stigmatization are exacerbated by ritual and religious symbolism. Indian society, like all patriarchal societies, confers social status on a woman through a man; hence, in the absence of a man, she herself becomes a nonentity and suffers a social death. Sati
(widow burning) is the ultimate manifestation of this belief. Widow remarriage may be forbidden in the higher castes, and remarriage, where permitted, may be restricted to a family
member. Further, a widow, upon remarriage, may be required to relinquish custody of her children as well as any property rights she may have. If she keeps her children with her,
she may fear they will be ill-treated in a second marriage. Indian widows are often regarded as “evil eyes”, the purveyors of ill fortune and unwanted burdens on poor families. Words in
the vernacular are crudely pejorative: “witch”, “dakan” and “whore” (similar verbal abuse is common in Bangladesh as well as in some countries in Africa).

Thousands of widows are disowned by their relatives and thrown out of their homes in the context of land and inheritance disputes. Their options, given a lack of education and training, are mostly limited to becoming exploited, unregulated, domestic labourers (often as house
slaves within the husband’s family) or turning to begging or prostitution.

The sexual and economic exploitation of widows, abandoned by their families to the temple sites has been sensationally documented in the media. Thousands of India’s widows live in abject poverty and degradation in these centres. Younger widows are forced into prostitution, and older ones are left to beg and chant for alms from pilgrims and tourists. Older
widows may have lived the greater part of their lives in these temples, having been brought there as child widows many years before. The ordeals of the temple widows and the occasional satire publicized in the international press. But the day-to-day suffering of Indian widows,
who are emotionally, physically and sexually abused by relatives, who or migrate to cities to live on the streets and beg, remains largely hidden.

Legislation criminalizing child marriage, sati and violence against women has not succeeded in
eliminating such traditions, which persist in villages of some Indian states. Lack of legal literacy, threats of violence and the insensitivity of the legal profession to women’s issues bar widows from seeking justice. As in other regions of the world, bitter disputes occur between widows
and brothers-in-law and sons and daughters-in-law over inheritance, residence and support, often resulting in physical and mental violence, including sexual abuse.

Restrictions on residence, dress, diet and social intercourse force a widow to a life in the shadows affecting both her physical and mental health. Cruel mourning rites may confine the widow within a designated residence for many months or years.
However, two factors distinguish India’s treatment of its widows from that of other developing countries. First, a number of states have set up widows’ pension schemes. Secondly, India is home to a vibrant and dedicated women’s movement, which is fighting intensely for the protection and empowerment of all women, and offers special programmes for widows.

In Bangladesh, the Muslim widow is, in theory, better off than the Indian Hindu widow. The Koran encourages remarriage and a widow cannot be disinherited. Under sharia, a woman
is entitled to one eighth of her husband’s estate, and half her male siblings’ share of the parent’s estate. In practice, however, many Bangladeshi widows, especially those who are illiterate and live in rural areas, are subject to oppressive patriarchal traditions.

Widows are the poorest and most vulnerable group since they are often deprived of their rightful inheritance. According to a recent report, many rural widows receive nothing from their in-laws and are often victims of violence, evicted from their homes and robbed of their household possessions. In return for shelter, many Bangladeshi widows are forced to work long hours as unpaid domestic servants in a relative’s house. Others may be brutally forced out into homelessness and thus are statistically uncounted.

Because arranged child marriages still occur in rural areas in Bangladesh, and age differences
between spouses can be great, child widowhood is not uncommon. Polygamy enables second wives to be brought into a marriage when the first is considered too old for sex or
childbearing. Daughters of poor widows represent an economic liability and are most likely to be given away in such arrangements. They commonly encounter problems with the new family and the adult sons. Before long, they may find themselves child widows in a hostile setting, encountering abuse or eviction. Illiterate, young and vulnerable, they may be passed on to a series of older, frail or disabled men, thus enduring serial widowhood.
Bangladesh, like Nepal, is allegedly a major centre for trafficking young girls to the brothels of India.

Widows’ daughters who are without male protectors and not enrolled in school are especially at risk to this trade. The numbers of young Bangladeshi girls disappearing in this way is purportedly reaching astronomical proportions. Poor, homeless Bangladeshi widows
make up a sizeable percentage of women marketed as domestic servants, forced to leave their children behind in the hope that the meagre income which they send home will
be used to feed, clothe and educate them.

In Pakistan, destitute widows are reported to be supported by a small pension or zakat. But, as in India, the allocation system is often corrupt, and the most needy widows are frequently neglected. Furthermore, the Honour Codes oppress all women, with a blanket of silence hiding
the cruelty; and sometimes imprisonment, or even death, is inflicted on young widows who are
suspected of bringing dishonour to the family.

In Sri Lanka, war widows from both sides of the conflict experience poverty and marginalization. In Afghanistan, it is estimated that approximately 40,000 widows live in
Kabul, most of whom lost their husbands in the war that killed an estimated 50,000 civilians. Under the Taliban, widows were doubly victimized. Denied paid employment, these widows further lost access to international food aid, since it was decreed by the Taliban
that such aid had to be collected by a male relative, which these widows do not have. The Taliban ban on women working outside the home has drastically increased the numbers
of widows and children begging in the streets. Widowed mothers’ children suffer malnutrition, ill health and depression, which in many cases leads to suicide.

Soundbyte!

Its friday and its my women's issue day. My song of the day is by a woman that my family is privileged to know. She is obviously Nigerian and recently celebrated 25 years in the industry. She is smart, she is a writer, a musician, an activist, a role model, a wife and a mother. This is an artist that i would like to perform at my wedding. She gives me goosebumps when i hear her sing and i love the maturity of her performances. She is the one and only elegant stallion and the author of my song today:

Onyeka Onwenu - Peace.

Lovely. I adore this song and it reflects my feelings for today. One of the lines in the song:

"Let there be peace in our hearts, peace in our homes....."

The first part of that line speaks truth to me. I believe that the moment i have peace within, my approach to people, situations and life in general will change. Peace in my heart. I love that.

I hope you enjoy this song as much as i do.

*If you would like this song, please leave me an email in the comments section*

Soundbyte!

I was told by a perfect stranger this morning, that i have a beautiful smile. Made my morning but has also set the tone for my song of the day:

Shanice - I love your smile

Remember this? Such a cute song. And the video was so clean and cute as well. Whatever happened to Shanice?

*If you would like this song, leave your email address in the comments section*

Repost - Made in Nigeria!

I apologise in advance for the repost below. Its soooo lame but since i am easy, i find it absolutely hilarious:

In line with the Nigerian federal government's renewed drive to encourage exports, a group of "experts" have come up with suggestions on how to improve the image of our local products by renaming them to conform to international standards on exports. Feel free to offer additional suggestions:

Kuli Kuli - Peanut Bars
Donkuwa/Robo Alata - Hot Charcolit Nuts
Kilishi - Beef Crackers
Dundun - Yamarita
Boli - Barbequed Plantain
Roasted Corn - Corn Aflame
Eko/Agidi - Corn Jello
Moin Moin - Bean Pie
Isi Ewu - Goat Hedo Lickins
Garri - Grain O Fibers
Bokoto/Nkwobi - Hoof Salad
Ogi/Akamu - Corn Caramel
Puff Puff - Energy Buns
Chin Chin - Dough Rocks
Zobo - Juice Rose Afrik
Kunnu - Grain Alive
Gurudi - Coconut Jaw Breakers
Bread & Akara - Bean Cake Burger
Ofada Rice - Unpolished rice for vegetarians
Adalu - Lentils & Grain Salad
Ikokore -Continental Yam Casserole

Soundbyte!

I love old music and i am especially impressed when modern artists can make a version of an old song i like. My song of the day was originally done by Stevie Wonder:

George Michael & Mary J Blige - As

Love, Love this song. Its a few years old now but it still makes me move. I like George Michael even though he has disappointed me lately but i think he's hot. That beard goatee thing he does is sooooo just hot.

The video for this song rocked as well. All shades of purple and multiple marys and georges. Lovely. Enjoy.

*If you would like this song, please leave an email address in the comments section*

The beauty of heritage

For those of you that dont know, i am half Igbo and half Yoruba. My father is from Abia State while my mom is from Ondo State.

On my father's side, i have lost both grandparents and i dont really know too much about them except for the fact that my grandfather was a proud man and my grandmother was absolutely besotted with her only child - My dad.

This post revolves around my mother's end of the family. My grandfather is a lawyer from Ondo State while my feisty grandmother is Ijesha.

Over the weekend, my grandmother paid us a visit specifically to see me. After her usual preamble, she made me sit in front of her and proceeded to tell me that her father (my great grand father) was a great, legendary drummer. His fame spread far and wide. She told me that the talking drum is a powerful powerful instrument. One that young people cannot appreciate.

This i believe - Has anyone seen Lagbaja perform live with his band? The man that plays the talking drum plays it perfectly. I saw them perform with Earl Klugh at the Muson Jazz festival and it was amazing. The bass guitarist would play a riff and the guy with the talking drum would reproduce the sound. On and on they went till my head felt light and i thought i would weep at the sheer beauty of the sounds surrounding me.

My grandmother proceeded to present me with a talking drum. The stick that came with the drum had its handle wrapped in Aso-Oke. Not the new stuff but the real old Aso-Oke. She said she thought i was old enough to understand what having the drum meant. That all of us "oyibo" children were forgetting things. That i should keep the drum and remember where she came from.

I felt so many things. Regret that i dont understand Yoruba or Igbo as well as i should. Regret that i have never taken the time to ask relevant questions from my grandparents. Pride in my family. For being a mish mash of flavors. A longing to share my history and heritage with everone.

I havent beaten the drum at all. I dont feel worthy. But i have wrapped the drum and stick in Aso-Oke that my grandmother gave me years ago and have placed it in a suitcase. When the time comes, i will unwrap it and let it take its place for display in my home.

I have never felt as much pride to be a Nigerian woman. So here's to our culture and heritage. In our bid to run from Nigeria and her issues,as we become more westernized, let us try not to forget where we come from and what we stand for. A people richer than our surroundings for we have what money cannot buy: Our Heritage.

My new blog

I have decided to start a new blog in an attempt to review the stuff i experience - books, movies, music, restaurants etc. So enjoy!!!!

Soundbyte!

Happy Monday! My song today is absolutely beautiful to me. Its on the Love & Basketball soundtrack and its by an artist that i appreciate:

Me'Shelle Ndegocello - You make a fool of me

I think this song is haunting. Its one of those songs that i think is pure. What i mean is its uncluttered with excessive musical instruments and equalizers. Its a simple but oh so complex song. The words are amazing and Me'shelle's delivery makes it extra special. She doesnt shout or adlib. She just sings this song and i feel her. I really feel the strength of emotions behind her words.

Enjoy!

*If you would like this song, leave me your email address in the comments section*

Surreal!

I have a really close friend that is getting married in December. I am a bridesmaid and am also helping in the wedding planning process. Anyway, after work last night, my friend (who is also my neighbour) called me frantically. Her dress and accessories had just arrived and she wanted me to be with her as she saw them for the first time.

So Uzo jumped to the rescue. Off i toddled next door anxious and hoping everything was perfect. We crowded around the suitcase and with bated breath, we unzipped. In the suitcase were 2 boxes. The first box had the "softer" items - the hoop skirt, gloves, purse and lingerie which we oohed at appropriately.

We proceeded to the main event. We opened the box and out came the accompanying shawl (so gorgeous), bolero jacket (to fulfill the church obligations - which was mighty gorgeous), the tiara (so regal), the veil and THE DRESS.

With a lot of care, we laid each item on the bed and she promptly started undressing. Obviously she wanted to try all her stuff on. Her mom was waiting in the living room, waiting to see the finished product.

So we started the process of getting her ready. We handled everything with care and with each item she put on, she seemed to glow a little bit more. We got her into the dress (which is a gorgeous strapless number that has optional caplet sleeves) and i laced her up and it was just perfect.

Time to get the veil on. Oh dear - my friend has braids in at the moment. So she asked me to put the tiara and veil on so she could get an idea of what it looked like on unbraided hair. No probs there. I put the tiara on and stuck the veil in and i immediately developed goosebumps. She helped me put the blusher over my face and i almost passed out.

Let me tell you that this is some pretty intense stuff. Do not joke around with wedding accessories. The feeling that hit me in my gut was indescribable. I looked at myself in the mirror and i looked ethereal and beautiful. Its a good thing i am single at the moment because, i would have picked the phone up and proposed to someone right there and then. What in the world. Anyway, we walked out to her living room and her mom cried some and oohed and aahed and we went back to start the undressing process. I helped her get out of her stuff and we packed everything away. And the veil and tiara were the last to come off.

I am back to "normal" today but i just thought it was sooo interesting the feelings i experienced with just a veil and tiara on my head. Imagine how i would feel if i was ACTUALLY getting married to the man meant for me, that makes me obscenely happy. Good grief....

*I missed my women's issue post today because i forgot to save what i was working on, so i will have that posted come Monday. Have a great weekend everyone. Ooh and on the Nigerian entertainment scene, LL Cool J and Akon will be in Nigeria for the Star Mega Jam in a few weeks*

A Meme

I was tagged by Daddy's Girl and since i am a Meme whore, i have given it a shot. Its all about weird things about me so here goes:

A few random weird things about me:

* I eat paper: Not like a meal or anything. LOL. But i tear the corners of books and eat. I dont know why or how it started but i do it. If you take any book i have and flip through, you will see the eaten edges. I remember being younger and eating corners of my boyfriend's books and i would actually sign it - Uzo was here.

* I use my perfumes and fragrances in order: I have them arranged and i use them one after the other. If someone messes with the order, i cry. If i miss a day, i cry. If anything happens to mess with that balance, i cry.

* I dont like watermelons or pawpaws: Not just the taste but i cant touch these fruits. The seeds freak me out and i break out in goosebumps if i see the fruit cut open. Especially a pawpaw. Oh yuck!

* I screech and grunt when i laugh: Its very unladylike and uncool but when i am really tickled, the sounds that come out of me have raised eyebrows. So i try to be aware when i laugh.

* I am scared of little people: I know its not right but i really am. I see them on the street and i want to run away. I see them on TV and i turn away. Its not a distaste thing. Its real fear. I dont know why.

On that note, i will stop in order to retain some dignity. There are a few other things that are ABSOLUTE SECRETS...LOL

I tag Soul, Diamond, Olawunmi, London Buki in particular and everyone else that has the time to do this.....

Soundbyte!

Its friday and i am exhausted. I have been so busy and then with the change of weather in Lagos meaning all the dust in the air, i came down with something. But i am glad the weekend is here and my song today is one of my favorites right now from an enduring artist that i love:

Lionel Richie - They call it love

Lionel Richie started out with The Commodores and belted out such classics as "Nightshift" and "Brickhouse". He veered off on his own and has single handedly in my mind become the ballad crooner. From "Easy", "Penny Lover" to "Endless Love".

This man with the curly hair has managed to remain relevant in every decade. In the 90's he hit us with "Do it to me" and "My Destiny". In recent years, some of my favorites include "Ball and Chain" and "To Love a woman".

He has had duets with everyone from Diana Ross, Enrique Iglesias, Lemar to Lenny Kravitz.

This song is from his latest effort - Coming Home and i love love it. I have been trying to embed the song onto my blog but blogger is acting up but i will keep trying through out the day.

Whenever i hear a Lionel Richie song especially his ballads, i just want to be in love. Some of the lyrics from this song are:

It's so clear for you to see (dont let anybody tell you what to do)
Why they can't they just let us be happy (i dont want to find somebody new)
If you know whats real in your heart
Then dont let them tear us apart (Cuz you feel it, I feel it, Lets think this through)

Yes Lionel, i feel it.

*If you would like this song, leave me your email address in the comments section*

Past/Present

Our office assistant IK has been fired for being lousy. His last day was yesterday so for most of you that dont know why on earth this is blog worthy, i have reposted an incident about him. Oh he is only 19 years old:

At about 5pm yesterday, the office assistant IK, started the process of closing up for the day. I noticed him beginning to primp from the corner of my eye.

He took his shoes off and buffed them with a cloth that emerged from his back pocket. He brought out a pocket mirror and placed it on the table. He tucked his shirt in properly. Brought out some lotion which he applied to his hands. He took a comb out and combed his hair in a forward motion. And then, he brought out a bottle of powder. In a white bottle with flowers on it. The bottle was labeled "Enchanted Rose". He poured a little of this WHITE powder into his palm. The room was immediately pervaded with a heavy scent of flowers. A sickening sweet scent. He dusted the excess powder off and applied this to his face. He picked up the mirror and rubbed the powder in properly. Applied vaseline to his lips. Got up and turned to me and said: "Goodnight Aunty Uzo". Then he left.

I looked around and i noticed someone else at work watching his retreating back in disbelief. We made eye contact and began to laugh out loud. Oh my goodness.

There are no words! I was soooo amused. Thanks IK for making me really laugh....

Soundbyte!

Everybody scream Alleluia this morning! Oh my song of the day is one of my favorite gospel songs of all time:

Israel & New Breed - All Around

I woke up early this morning. Feeling great. Got to work and i am filled with energy and ready to rock and roll. I have an all day workshop that i will be anchoring but i am not fazed. Its all peaches and cream in my world today so i thank God.

This song says it all "All around, all around. Everywhere i look your love is all around"

Have a blessed day!

*If you would like this song, leave your email address in the comments section*

Food for thought!

I read Soul's post today and its a touching account of rape. And i got thinking. Well i am always thinking. When one is in a relationship maybe even a marriage where there isnt a history of abuse. And everything is great between you guys. One night/day, he comes to you all frisky and ready to get it on. You are not in the mood. You let him know that. He ignores you and begins to paw at you. You tell him to stop but he must think you are playing. All your no's are ignored and boyfriend/husband that you love and think the world of is suddenly on top of you. After its all done, he pulls you close and kisses you and he seems alright. But you said no. You didnt want to. But you love each other....But you said no.

I have my thoughts but answer me this....

Rape?

Soundbyte!

Old school day today:

Kenny Thomas - Thinking about your love

"Thinking about your love. Tonight. Today and always".

This is another one of those songs that i loved for the longest time but i had no idea who it was by. A birthday party staple from back in the day. So now i know its by Kenny Thomas. Who the hell is that?

Anyway, hoping this chases away the monday blues. If you are like me and hate mondays, enjoy. Its definitely helping me out today.

*Let me know if you would like this song*

Snapshots from my weekend!

I had a full weekend and a really fun one too:

Friday Night: I stopped by at a friend's place after work. After a long trip to India, i got - you guessed it, a few indian movies. Then it was off to my house to prepare for my movie night i had planned. I had 2 girls come over and we watched Sex and the City, Prison Break, Pretty Woman and Under the Tuscan Sun. Chick flick night. So fun.

Saturday: I woke up to get to the gym. I didnt overdo it this week. Managed to get an hour and a half in and a lot of grunting towards the end when i did lunges and abs (the part i hate the most). Once again, the thought crossed my mind, why do these men come into the gym in packs and pnly workout their upper bodies? Toothpick legs and huge upper bodies. So wrong. I went home, took a shower and took off to the salon to get my hair and nails done. I took that step. I cut my hair. My hair has gone from past my shoulders to chin length and i am loving it. Rushed back home to get all dolled up and it was off to a wedding reception where get this: I had to wear a hat. LOL. Me, a hat with feathers and everything.

I fulfilled my obligations and staggered back home exhausted.

Sunday: Had to wake up and get ready to catch a movie at noon with a blogger: Daddy's Girl.
We had plans to see Don - an indian movie and i managed to drag an old friend along as well. We had fun. The movie was sooo great and we all loved it. Its interesting putting a face to the words. She is soooooo sweet. And beautiul and mega quiet. LOL. We are already making plans to see another movie. After the movie, my friend and I had lunch at this lovely italian restaurant called Al Dente. We talked and laughed and then it was back home to hangout with my parents and laugh loads.

It was the perfect weekend: movies, friends, laughter......Hope you all had a good weekend as well.....

News Update!

A security guard at the Lagos Airport was arrested for attempting to place explosives on board a Bellview flight bound for Abuja yesterday.

A different spin on the air disasters?

What the *&%$?

I need to take a deep breath and calm down.

I am sitting here at my desk doing my work gently, when i look at the time. Ah. Noon. Time to break out my salad. Since i broke down and confessed to the world about my weight issues, you can understand that i am practicing portion control. I dont eat breakfast just because i feel nauseous in the mornings. I had some fruit earlier on but i was ready to dig into my salad for some energy.

I woke up this morning at 6am to make this salad. Some cabbage, lettuce, green peppers, carrots, sweetcorn, some olives topped with some tuna. Mixed my own dressing with olive oil, lemon juce and some black pepper. Do you know what it means to scrape carrots and chop all these veggies at 6am, put it in a bowl and come to work?

Anyway, i bring out my LITTLE bowl with my salad and prepare to silence the hunger pangs when a co-worker walks by my desk and says: "Hmm this oyibo girl. What is this ya eating again". I say some salad. Out of COURTESY, i say "care to join me?".

You all know that i just asked just because. This rude mannerless man said "IK (the office assistant) bring me a fork". Ehn? Is this man for real? He has got to be f*****g kidding me.

He takes the fork, pulls up a chair and digs in. Ehn? His first mouthful "what kind of salad is this one?" Second mouthful "no salad cream in this thing oh" Third mouthful "you should have boiled egg and put it on top" Fourth mouthful "i hope you dont mind oh" Fifth mouthful "ah ah. This thing is sweet oh. Can you make for me next time"

Let me reiterate : I am eating smaller portions through out the day, so this salad was 7 mouthfuls at the most.

He removed his fork leaving like 3 grains of sweetcorn, some strips of carrot and one olive or so. I called him back and said "you can finish it all". He said "Are you sure?". I said "Oh yes". He took my bowl and just went away.

I heard him calling the office assistant to come and take my bowl away.

Can you imagine this useless man? Now i am hungry and he has eaten ALL my salad that i lovingly made for myself. Useless, greedy, mannerless agbaya of a man

Women's Issue - Health Matters Pt 1

My post today glosses over certain health issues that affect women. I just put together an overview of each issue but detailed information on each condition is readily available online. The second part of this post will be next friday.

Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is classified as the involuntary loss of urine. It has been estimated that it affects as many as 13 million Americans and that 10 to 30% of all US women aged 15 to 64 and 50% of all female nursing home patients are affected with the condition.

Around the globe, urinary incontinence is widespread. In Asian nations, between 4% (China) and 17% (Singapore) of all women are affected. Between 15 and 34% of all European women experience some form of urinary incontinence. The overall average worldwide rate of urinary incontinence for men and women is greater than 25% and is approximately 15% for all women world wide. The prevalence of urinary incontinence tends to be higher in women than in men due to anatomical differences as well as the fact that women experience pelvic trauma during childbirth. The number of women with urinary incontinence of any type increases with age. Younger age group cohorts tend to reflect a lower percentage while post menopausal women tend to yield a higher percentage.

In order to understand urinary incontinence, one must understand the anatomy and physiology of the urogenital system. Normal bladder control is maintained by the bladder and urinary sphincter as they work together as a valve. The urethra and urinary sphincter muscle relax and open, the bladder opens, and urine passes. The bladder neck and urethra are under muscular control with the lower portion of the sphincter tightening to maintain continence. When surrounding tissue is compromised or weakened, there is lack of bladder neck support and incontinence is the result.

The primary causes of urinary incontinence are:

Bladder related: caused by the bladder's failure to store, failure to empty, or both; reduced capacity, involuntary contractions, poor bladder compliance.

Sphincter related: poor positioning of the bladder neck in women, uncoordinated bladder sphincter action, sphincter damage or weakness, outlet obstruction.

There are three major types of incontinence which are based on the characteristics of the disorder:

Stress: caused by weak external sphincter and pelvic floor muscles and an unsupported bladder neck.

Urge: causes may be neurological in origin; bladder is overly sensitive and may contract unexpectedly.

Overflow: continual leakage from an overly full bladder that never empties completely.

Pharmacologic therapy is generally used in the treatment of urge incontinence due to the fact that the underlying causes of urge incontinence are primarily related to neuromuscular dysfunction. These drugs, while effective, produce a variety of untoward side effects of varying degrees. Stress incontinence is typically treated surgically, however anticholinergics found in common decongestants seem to be effective in patients with poor muscle tone and poorly functioning sphincters.

Mastalgia
As many as 50% of women in the United States have asked their physicians about breast pain, also known as mastalgia or fibrocystic breast disease. Women often find they have symptoms of swelling, breast pain, tenderness and lumps that increase in their breasts immediately prior and during their menses. This clustering of symptoms is called cyclical mastalgia. Symptoms can last up to seven days or more but frequently last one to four days.

For about 15% of the women who do experience breast pain, the pain warrants the women take prescription medication for their pain. Most women who do consult their physician regarding breast pain do not have breast cancer. If you are concerned about breast pain, it is very important to consult your physician about the symptoms you are experiencing. Mastalgia can impair a woman’s ability to work, participate in her daily activities, embrace a child or have an intimate relationship with her partner. In addition, mastalgia frequently causes increased anxiety and stress in a woman’s life as a result of dealing with pain each month. Additional psychological stress is often caused by the mammograms, ultrasound scans and breast biopsies, utilized by physicians to rule out other diseases of the breast.

Current treatments for mastalgia include one FDA approved prescription medication for mastalgia which typically causes unwanted side effects like facial hair growth, weight gain and acne; dietary changes and vitamin supplements; and purchasing a properly fitting brassiere.

Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea is the term used to describe the pain and cramping associated with menstruation. It is estimated that dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological condition affecting women and can occur in the absence or presence of other conditions (like endometriosis).

Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that is not related to any other condition. Dysmenorrhea can start shortly after a woman’s first menstrual period and last through menopause. Estimates indicate 50% of all women worldwide experience primary dysmenorrhea and some prevalence rates indicate that as many as 90% of all women experience dysmenorrhea at some time in their lives.

In the United States, it has been estimated that 100 million work hours are lost per year due to dysmenorrhea which could translate into $2 billion in lost work productivity. More than half of all women who experience primary dysmenorrhea indicate that their pain is moderate to severe in nature. Multiple treatments have been used throughout recent history to ameliorate dysmenorrhea including herbal supplements, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, prescription pain medications and oral contraceptives.