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Editor
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Question
When should a woman/ couple become concerned about not becoming pregnant?
Answer
It is always recommended for a woman to seek investigations for conception one year after regular sexual life. Some doctors recommend two years not one year to give a full chance for the couple.
However, there are certain situations where a woman should go to the doctor irrespective of the duration of marriage. For example: if she had pelvic surgery before or her menstrual cycle is irregular.
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Are there any symptoms a woman/couple may notice which might indicate an inability to conceive?
Answer
The most important thing is whether the menstrual cycle is regular or not.
Some women experience pain during their menstrual cycle and think that this is a bad sign. In fact, painful menstruation is a good sign that ovulation is occurring.
Also, if a woman notices increased hair on her face or chest, she should be worried and should make an appointment with her doctor as this could reflect a disturbance in her hormones which can be corrected.
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Taqz
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Dear Sir,
How does a woman know that everything is going normally with her body? If she has a regular period/menstruation does that mean she is healthy and her genitals are all fine?
I know its a wierd question, but its hard for virgins to ask doctors these questions face to face. JazakaLlahu Khairan
Answer
When the menstrual cycle is regular, a woman may assume that she is ovulating normally and that she can most probably conceive normally. But the body has many secrets and things are not always so straightforward. For example there could be what is known as endometriosis in the abdomen that can not be identified and can cause a delay in conception. Health in general is an integration between different body systems and menstruation is just one of them.
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Does taking the Pill for many years affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant when she is ready?
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We always hear this question from women beginning to take the pill and we always reassure them that the pill does not cause long term inability to conceive. It is a temporary method of contraception that is effective but its effect disappears when the woman stops taking the pill.
However, women above 40 years should look for an alternative method of contraception rather than the pill.
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What are some of the reasons for a very heavy period?
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There are many reasons for a heavy period including tumours in the uterus but the most common causes for it are congestion due to constipation, sedentary life or unfulfilled sexual satisfaction.
In any case, woman having heavy menstrual cycles should always seek the advice of a physician and should always do pelvic imaging (ultrasound) to exclude organic causes like tumours. It is also advisable for these women to take vitamins to improve their health.
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What is your take on the pill in general? What are the side effects?
Answer
Pills are hormones and because of this a woman should not take them without being advised by a physician. She should not take them for a long period of time either
as hormones have many side affects such as hypertension (elevated blood pressure) following long term use or the development of gall bladder stones etc....
Pills also may cause depression and mood changes so pills are usually prescribed for a short period (3 years maximum) then alternative methods of contraception should be used.
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Is there anything a woman can do to increase her chances of conception?
Answer
It is always advisable not to delay conception intentionally. Some couples tend to delay getting pregnant for a few years after marriage for financial reasons and such.
However, I do not agree with this approach as chances to conceive decrease as age advances and women above 35 years should never delay their conception intentionally.
One way to improve the chances of conception is by eating fish and sea food. It has been documented that sea food may improve both women’s and men’s chances of conception.
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What is Endometriosis and how is it treated?
Answer
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that is similar to the uterine wall develops outside of the uterus. For many women, severe pelvic pain is the main symptom of endometriosis. Pelvic pain usually occurs just before or during menstruation or during or after sex.
Most women with endometriosis will become pain free by using a medication, or after pregnancy or menopause.If not, then surgery is advisable.
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What can a couple do to ensure a healthy pregnancy when they are ready to start a family?
Answer
The most important issues for a healthy pregnancy are to lead a normal life and to accept the difficulties and changes that occur with pregnancy. It is a well known fact that women during pregnancy get tired easily and vomit frequently. The key is to enjoy this discomfort and turn this unpleasant event into happy moments. You should also start your antenatal care early from the beginning of your pregnancy, eat well, take folic acid supplements and eat fish.
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If a woman experiences bleeding in times other than her regular period, what should she do?
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If this happens after intercourse, then she should be examined by her doctor to see if there are any abnormalities of the cervix. If this is not related to intercourse or medications, then she should have an ultrasound to detect any abnormalities of the ovaries.
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What's the most common cause of female infertility?
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Male causes account for 40% of causes of infertility in general and female causes account for another 40%. Sexual factors account for the remaining 20%.
As for females, ovulatory disorders are the major cause of infertility, being responsible for nearly 50% of all cases.
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What is IVF and is it expensive?
Answer
In IVF (InVitro Fertilization), eggs are gathered from a woman's ovaries and are then mixed with her husband sperm in a dish in the laboratory. Thousands of IVF babies have been born worldwide since the technique was developed and it is very expensive although the cost varies from country to country.
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If a woman has a bicornuate uterus, could this affect her chances of conceiving?
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It should not affect her chances to conceive but it may affect her chances of completing her pregnancy up until the usual nine months, meaning her chances of having a miscarriage are more than normal women. Most probably she will have an early delivery (at 7 or 8 months) and the baby may need special care.
