Must Read: Dr Edward's New Book on Health for Seniors
1.R.N. Kuwait
*Recently, a marketing person came to my house to show a new water purifier in the market. He said the water we were drinking was very bad for health and he asked me to get a glass of water to test its purity. I gave him fully boiled water. He dipped an electrical instrument (ionization) into the water and after five minutes, we could see it full of dirt and the clear water turned into reddish mud water. He said there is too much dust and bacteria in the water and was not recommend for human consumption. Now my question is, could the instrument he used be genuine and are the results worth considering? Is the drinking (from govt supply but it is boiled before drinking) water harmful for us as well as small children? How can we measure the purity of water? Is there any household method to check the purity of water we drink? Is the purifier worth fitting in our houses?
**You have not mentioned whether this experience was in India or abroad, I presume it was in India. The executive must have used some chemical in his instrument which must have changed the color of the water. One cannot detect hidden bacteria in water by ionization and I do not think the dissolved chemicals on ionization change the color of the water. If the water you were using was very contaminated you would have fallen ill after consuming that water. Without discussing more about this, I shall restrict myself to the best and simple method of preparing drinking water at home-this is cost effective and safe.
Most of the natural water that is available in India for drinking is not safe by itself. The water purifying systems used by many of the corporations and municipalities in India are old and are not able to purify and supply enough drinking water to the consumers. Water is the commonest cause for many infective diseases and one has to take extra care while using the drinking water whether it is from a well or supplied by the government bodies-such as city corporations or municipalities.
*Boiling is the best method to purify the water. Boiling the drinking water for 3 to 5 minutes kills most of the bacteria, protozoa and fungi.
* The boiled water should be allowed to cool in the container in which it is boiled and then has to be filtered ideally using the candle filters. This will eliminate any foreign substances, chemicals and large pathogens from the water.
* The filtered water may be stored in clean, food-grade plastic containers. Large, food-grade plastic containers are available for this purpose. Make sure you wash your hands and plastic containers thoroughly before treating or storing treated water to prevent contamination.
This water is safe for children as well as for adults. Boiling water will not increase its nutritional value but, in some cases, could improve taste and reduce some health risks. By boiling the water some elements dissolved in the water precipitate out of the solution and other volatile elements boil away. Boiling water also releases dissolved gases that give drinking water flavor, so the boiled drink may taste flat. Boiling kills 100 percent of the dangerous pathogens in the drinking water.
When you are away from the house and require water to drink, ideal would be the bottled drinking water (also known as mineral water) from reputed companies.
The manufacturers and vendors of most brands of water ionizers sold for home use claim that the so-called alkaline ionized water, or "alkaline water" from their water ionizers improves health in a number of ways, and most of them attribute this benefit rather vaguely to the alkalinity of the water and it's supposed effects in "alkalinizing" the body. These claims are deceptive and without any scientific base.
There are other types of water purifiers which claim to kill most of the organisms and provide clean water. Ultraviolet water purifiers are now widely used. Ultraviolet radiation is capable of destroying [UV does not actually destroy, but inactivates bacteria] all types of bacteria. Additionally, ultraviolet radiation disinfects rapidly without the use of heat or chemical additives. These are expensive and require regular servicing to maintain the efficacy. Suspended solids or particulate matter can cause a shielding problem in which a microbe may pass through the UV filter without actually having any direct UV penetration. Iron/Manganese will cause staining on the quartz sleeve that houses the UV bulb, at levels as low as 0.3 PPM (parts per million) of iron and 0.05 PPM of manganese. UV filters are best used AFTER adequate sediment, turbidity, iron, and manganese filtration. As the water supplied in our country has sediments and other metals, frequent servicing of the equipment is required to maintain the efficacy. Moreover these work only when there is power supply, they may be of no use when the power supply is erratic.
2. S.S. Mangalore
* I am 29 years of age. I have the problem of blackheads on my nose for the past two years. I took several types of medicines, but there is no improvement. What may be done? Is there any natural remedy for this problem?
**The blackhead also known as open comedo is generally seen after puberty. They are the wide opening on the skin with a blackened mass of skin debris covering the opening. It is a widened hair follicle, filled with skin debris, bacteria and oil (also known as sebum). The blackheads are said to be the first stage of acne. They form before bacteria invade the pores of the patient's skin. If closed, a blackhead can develop into a pimple.
During puberty, the presence of higher levels of hormones in the skin stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce oily substances. When the sebaceous glands produce too much oil in the pores, it accumulates and gets stuck. The occluded oil is exposed to air and it becomes black. The blackheads are generally more common in those with oily skin. The blackheads become worse by the use of makeup and topical oils.
The key to getting rid of the black heads is unplugging the pores and dislodging the buildup. Ideally these should not be squeezed using the hands which might cause infection. You may consult a skin specialist to know about the cleansers, exfoliates and acne products that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide - or a combination of those. These can loosen the dead skin cells and help unplug the follicles.
• Don’t wash the face with harsh cleansers. The skin may overreact and produce more oil, and worsen the condition.
• Better to wash your face at least twice a day with natural sources or soft soaps or face wash creams.
• Avoid makeup as much as possible.
• Wash your pillowcase on a weekly basis to clean off any dead skin cells and oils your face leaves behind on it).
• Once every two weeks, use facial steam to help open your pores and let them unclog. You can do it at home.
• Blot your face with tissue paper as many times as possible to soak up oil before it can accumulate.
3. M.B. UAE
*I am 41 years of age. For the past 15 years I am facing a peculiar problem. Even after completing urination, urine drips out for few minutes. It does not stop completely. It does not stop even if I exert and put pressure on my bladder. I had been to an urologist and he opined that there were no problems. What may be done?
**Post-micturition dribble, also referred to as the after-dribble, is an embarrassing occurrence that wet the patient’s pants after every trip to the bathroom. Although post-micturition dribble occurs also in females, it is more common in males and occurs predominantly in older patients. It is the most common type of male urinary incontinence.
The urine that is leaked after urination is over is located higher up in the urethra, at the U-shaped junction between the penile urethra and the bladder. The part of the urethra known as the bulbar urethra is named after the adjacent bulbospongiosus muscle. Normally, the bulbospongiosus muscle, part of the pelvic floor muscles, contracts at the end of micturition to expel the urine which has pooled in this part of the urethra. When this muscle has been weakened, it does not contract properly and the urine is expelled while redressing or later. This muscle can be weakened by excess weight, operation for removal of the prostate, chronic cough, and chronic constipation because of the associated excessive straining.
The problem may be solved by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. This is strengthened through Kegel exercises. While performing Kegel exercises, it is important to identify the right muscles. Kegel exercises are easy to do, once you know which muscles to target. One of the easiest ways to locate the muscles is during urination. Here’s how:
• Halfway through urination, try to stop or slow down the flow of urine.
• Don’t tense the muscles in your buttocks, legs, or abdomen, and don’t hold your breath.
• When you can slow or stop the flow of urine, you’ve successfully located these muscles.
To do Kegel exercises for men:
• Contract these muscles for a slow count of five.
• Release the muscles to a slow count of five.
• Repeat 10 times.
• Do a set of 10 Kegels daily, three times a day.
Initially it may be easier to do Kegel exercises lying down, so the muscles are not fighting against gravity. It may also be easier to contract the muscles for just two or three seconds at first. After a few weeks, increase the time until eventually contracting the muscles for a slow five or 10 seconds, and do the exercises standing up.
Performing several squeezes of the pelvic floor muscles four to five times per day is an excellent rehabilitative measure for the bulbospongiosus muscle. It may take six to nine months, however, for an improvement to be noted.
Another technique taught to patients seeking relief from the post-micturition urine leak is the urethral milking, also known as the bulbar urethral massage. The patient is instructed to place two or three fingers behind his scrotum after urination and massage in a forward and upward direction. This empties the bulbar urethra and allows the patient to squeeze out and pass the last few drops of urine left. Squeezing the pelvic floor muscles immediately before massaging the bulbar urethra has been proven to significantly help in eliminating the post-micturition urine leak.
4.J.D. Mumbai
*I am 35 years of age. I keep getting chronic vaginal Candida infection. My husband is abroad and comes every year. I have been on medication and suppositories for a more than a year now. No diabetes, no thyroid problem, cholesterol is normal. Basic blood report is normal only hemoglobin level stands at 10.2. Please tell me how to get rid of this as it is quite annoying. I'm 5.7" and weight is 72 kgs. I have a child 5 yr old.
** Are you sure that you are getting repeated yeast(that is Candida) infection? Are you informed by your doctor that your problem is due to yeast infection?
It is because many women assume that they have infections, but they are really going through normal vaginal changes. Just because you have vaginal discharge, even if it is colored, it does not mean you have an infection. If the discharge is accompanied by pain, burning, or itching, you should be checked out by a gynecologist to determine if there is a problem.
There are several different types of vaginal infections and some may recur. It is not entirely clear why some women have trouble with frequent vaginal infections, but vaginal pH, or the degree of acidity in the vagina, may play a role. The vaginal canal is usually an acidic environment, but disruptions in vaginal pH can allow overgrowth of bacteria.
A yeast infection causes an overgrowth of the fungus Candida in the vagina. Symptoms include a thick, cottage cheese-like discharge and persistent, vaginal itching. Yeast infections are fairly common. Women who have frequent yeast infections may be at risk for a number of reasons. You may consult the gynecologist for proper evaluation and treatment. Do not use the over the counter medication unless your problem is diagnosed as Candida infection.
5.P.J. Mangalore
*I am 29 years of age. I live abroad and I used to smoke a lot cigarettes. However, its been 3 weeks since I quit cigarettes. I could see some withdrawal symptoms after I quit. I have little pain near the right side of chest. Do I have to worry about it? Or is it because of some gastric problem?
** The symptoms expressed by you are not the withdrawal symptoms of smoking. A smoker's nervous system becomes accustomed to functioning with nicotine. When one stops smoking, the reduced nicotine intake will disturb the balance of the central nervous system, causing the withdrawal symptoms.
The most common withdrawal symptoms are cravings for tobacco, irritation, anger, increased appetite, concentration problems, depression or low mood, tiredness, restlessness, insomnia, anxiety etc. Fortunately, the majority of these symptoms tend to disappear after a few of weeks.
The pain on the right side of your chest if significant may have to be evaluated by a physician.
6.A.D. Mangalore
*I am 36 years of age. I have a Keloid mark on my chest and have got injection at the site many times, but have not solved the problem. I want to remove this completely. What may be done?
**Keloid is a tough heaped-up scar that rises above the rest of the skin. Keloids are irregularly shaped and tend to enlarge progressively. Keloids do not stop growing. Unlike scars, keloids do not subside over time.
It is not known why keloids form in certain people or situations and not in others. The changes in the cellular signals that control growth and proliferation may be related to the process of keloid formation, but these changes have not yet been characterized scientifically. Keloids are equally common in women and men, and are less common in children and the elderly. Although people with darker skin are more likely to develop them, keloids can occur in people of all skin types. In some cases, the tendency to form keloids seems to run in families.
The keloids are very difficult to cure. The methods now available to treat keloids are cortisone injections, laser therapy, silicone sheets etc. The steroid injections are safe and usually help flatten keloids. The pulsed-dye laser can be effective at flattening keloids and making them look less red. Treatment is safe and not very painful, but several treatment sessions may be needed and may be costly.
Surgery to remove the keloid may be risky, because cutting a keloid can trigger the formation of a similar or even larger keloid. Some surgeons achieve success by injecting steroids or applying pressure dressings to the wound site after cutting away the keloid. Radiation after surgical excision has also been used.
You may consult a plastic surgeon for evaluation and possible remedy.
7.S.S.N. Mangalore
* I am 34 years of age. I always get itching in my ears and eyes. Itching in the ears is worse when I get a cold. My eye doctor had said that it is due to dandruff. I wash my hair twice daily. Sometimes my eyelashes go inside my eyes and cause a lot of irritation. I have tried some eye/ear drops which gives me temporary relief.
** If the problem is due to dandruff, it may be better to consult a skin specialist for proper evaluation and treatment. The itching also can be due to allergy. If it is due to allergy, ideal would be to identify the allergen and avoid it.
Dandruff is a minor infection of the scalp caused by an overabundance of a micro-organism called Pityrosporumovale (P. ovale), a yeast-like fungus that is part of the normal skin flora. The rapid growth of P. ovale often is triggered by an imbalance in environmental factors such as climate, heredity, diet, hormones and stress. As the body's natural defenses fight the excessive growth of this organism, the results are the symptoms of dandruff - flaking, scaling and itching.
While many of antifungal drugs have produced a good inhibitory effect on P. ovale, studies have shown that ketoconazole was the most powerful. Regular shampooing using Ketaconazole 2% scalp lotion twice or thrice weekly is effective for dandruff.
8.P.R. Udupi
*I am 27 years old, have been married for 3 years and not yet conceived. A doctor suggested me to do HSG and the report is that my ovarian tubes are blocked. As per the doctor’s advice it may be possible to clear the block by HSG itself, and asked me to repeat the HSG after 2 months. Kindly suggest if any solution is available for this. Will I ever get pregnant?
** A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a special kind of x-ray that helps to check whether or not the fallopian tubes are blocked or open. It can also help to know whether the shape of the uterus is normal. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, a woman will not be able to get pregnant, because the egg can't meet the sperm. Blocked fallopian tubes are the cause of infertility in about 20% of the cases. The commonest cause of blocked fallopian tubes is pelvic inflammatory disease.
The traditional solution for blocked fallopian tubes is tubal surgery. However, surgery is invasive and has several possible side-effects, one of the most common one being the risk of developing ectopic pregnancies. A less invasive solution in cases of fallopian tube obstruction is IVF or in vitro fertilization. IVF is safe and effective, and offers women with infertility problems a very easy solution to conceive. However the results of IVF are not uniform and differ from center to center. This is an expensive procedure and the cost of treatment again depends on the institute performing the procedure.
9.S.J. Kuwait
*I am 33 years of age. I am suffering from stomach upset. I get repeated vomiting. I have checked with the doctors in Kuwait and they say nothing is wrong with me. This problem is going on for the past one year.
** Repeated vomiting and stomach upset has to be taken seriously. There can be various causes that can manifest as vomiting and need not only be due to an upset stomach. It is not possible to give you a definitive opinion based on only these details. You may consult a gastro-enterologist for proper evaluation at the earliest.
10. A.L. Mangalore
*I am 47 years of age and I am a diabetic for the past 15 years, my sugar level is 7.5 to 8 on an average. I take about 6 tablets in a day to control diabetes. Of late I am having pain under my feet especially when I am about to go to bed and it is poking pain. What may be done?
** By your symptoms it appears that you have diabetic neuropathy. It is a type of nerve damage seen in diabetic individuals whose sugars were persistently high. The high blood sugar can injure nerve fibers throughout the body, but diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in the extremities to problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. For some people, these symptoms are mild; for others, diabetic neuropathy can be painful, disabling and even fatal.
Diabetic neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes. Yet one can often prevent diabetic neuropathy or slow its progress with tight blood sugar control and a healthy lifestyle.
Diabetic neuropathy has no known cure. Treatment for diabetic neuropathy focuses on:
• Slowing progression of the disease
• Relieving pain
• Managing complications and restoring function
Keeping the blood sugar within normal range can improve the symptoms. Several medications are used to relieve nerve pain, but they do not work for everyone and most have side effects that must be weighed against the benefits.
These measures can help reduce the risk of diabetic neuropathy:
• Keep the blood pressure under control: Having both high blood pressure and diabetes greatly increases the risk of complications because both damage the blood vessels and reduce blood flow.
• Healthy weight: Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of healthy foods — especially fruits, vegetables— and limit portion sizes to help achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercises: In addition to helping achieve a healthy weight, daily activity protects the heart and improves blood flow. It also plays a major role in keeping the blood sugar and blood pressure under control.
• Stop smoking: The diabetics who smoke are more likely to develop circulation problems in the feet.
11. S.R. Oman
*I am 42 years. Recently I had sex with a woman whom I met for the first time. I had used a condom but while removing the condom my hand touched the outer part of the condom. Can this lead to any problem? I had undergone blood tests once and there were no problems.
** Having sexual contact with unknown person can be dangerous, though mere touching of the body secretions like semen or saliva may not transmit the disease. A condom can provide safety, but there are reports that the failure can be anywhere from 13 to 20% even if used properly.
You are unlikely to get infected even if the partner had the disease and most probably she did not have. However, it may take about 3 to 6 months to detect HIV infection by conventional methods. Some tests can detect HIV infection earlier, before antibodies are detectable in standard HIV testing. These tests may cost more than standard HIV testing and may not be as widely available.
12. S.K. Karwar
*I am 42 years of age. I cannot enjoy sex and satisfy my wife because of premature ejaculation. What may be done?
** There are medicines available to address this problem. You may consult an urologist for advice and a detailed treatment regimen which will effectively tackle your problem.
13. S.A. Kerala
*I am turning 32 this May and have been married for 2 years. My wife is 30 years old. For the first 11 months after marriage, we followed natural contraception technique like avoiding sex on her ovulation days/she quickly cleaning off semen after intercourse. My wife has a regular menstrual cycle. She is slightly underweight-weighing 47 kg and I am 84 kg. This has not created any problems for intercourse though. I have no family history of infertility and neither does she. After 11 months of marriage, a pregnancy test done via a kit at home turned positive, but after 3 weeks she was bleeding on her way back from work and later test indicated a retarded embryo growth and later confirmed a miscarriage.
The doctor did not inform the clear reason for miscarriage. We did not have intercourse for 5 months as per the doctor's advice. Now we have been trying for a baby and having intercourse on her ovulation days as well with no luck. We have not undergone any tests so far. Please advise the tests that both of us should undergo.
**As your wife had conceived once, there are bright chances that she would conceive again although she had a miscarriage in her previous pregnancy. A miscarriage (the word usually associated with a spontaneous event and almost synonymous with 'abortion') can occur due to a variety of known reasons, and possibly from reasons as yet unknown. One in every six pregnancies fails to go to full term - the most likely stage being between six to ten weeks of pregnancy (within the first trimester). Many a times during conception the fetus that has formed has abnormalities; such a fetus if allowed to grow, will be a crippled and defective baby. These abnormalities occur at random and predicting such an outcome is difficult. Natural abortion is the method opted by nature to prevent these catastrophes.
There may be some treatable causes that delay the conception now. A systematic and thorough work up of her reproductive system along with your own will be required under supervision of a gynecologist. In the present scenario it is important that both of you keep your spirits up and not give up hope.
14.Z.N. Bangalore
* I am 23 years of age, unmarried. My height is 5'1" and weight is 39kg. I keep getting cold and sneezing almost every day. I am working in an IT company in Bangalore. What is the solution for this? I don't have any other health problems.
** By the description provided, it appears that you are having allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction when the immune system overreacts to substances that are inhaled, such as pollen. The two types of allergic rhinitis are seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and perennial allergic rhinitis, which occurs all year-round. Hay fever is caused by outdoor allergens. Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis resemble a cold, but they are not caused by a virus the way a cold is. When one breathes in an allergen, the immune system springs into action. It releases substances known as IgE’s into the nasal passages, along with inflammatory chemicals such as histamines. The nose, sinuses, or eyes may become itchy and congested.
The immune system is designed to fight harmful substances like bacteria and viruses. But when there is allergic rhinitis, the immune system overreacts to harmless substances -- like pollen, mold, and pet dander -- and launches an assault. This attack is called an allergic reaction. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is commonly triggered by pollen and mold spores, and the year-round allergic rhinitis may be triggered by pet dander, dust and household mites, cockroaches, molds growing on house plants, carpets and upholstery.
The best way to control the symptoms is to avoid being exposed to the allergens that trigger the symptoms. These steps may help:
• Cover the pillows and mattress with dust mite covers.
• Remove carpet and install tile or hardwood floors. Use area rugs and wash them often in very hot water.
• Use blinds instead of curtains.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.
• Wash bedding with hot water once a week.
The best way to reduce symptoms is to prevent exposure to allergens. Drugs such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroid sprays may help control allergy symptoms. Many of the people with nasal allergy are benefitted by homeopathy medicines. You may try this from reputed institutions or from qualified doctors.
15.R.D. Mangalore
* I am 24 years of age. For the past one year I have been feeling very good at times but very sad at other times; I have no interest in anything. Sometimes I felt that I should not be alive. Then I went to my family doctor and I explained everything that was happening to me. The doctor told me that I have OCD and he gave me some medicines to take everyday to solve my problems. I am taking these everyday but I am afraid of taking these tablets. Can you explain more about it and how long it will take to cure?
** It may be better if you can consult a psychiatrist for proper evaluation and treatment. The psychiatrist will be a better doctor to explain the problem to you and manage it as most medicines that help in mood control need to be carefully monitored.
16. D.G.F. Kundapur
* I have gray hair (age 44) and I am allergic to hair dyes. Whenever I use any hair dye (even from a branded dye), I get skin allergy. How can I overcome this? Is there any dye without Ammonia and PPD?
** The chemical in hair dye most likely to cause allergic reactions is para-phenylenediamine(PPD). PPD is found in more than two-thirds of permanent hair dyes, and is very effective at penetrating the hair shaft and follicle, as well as binding to proteins in the skin. These characteristics make PPD a potent contact antigen able to induce allergic reactions. For this reason, some European countries, including Germany, France and Sweden, have banned PPD.
If you are allergic to hair dyes, best thing would be to avoid using them. Most of the permanent hair dyes contain para-phenylenediamine(PPD), or the same chemical by another name. This can cause severe reaction by repeated use.
An allergy to chemical hair dye usually begins gradually; initial symptoms would be itching or burning. The symptoms get worse every time the hair is dyed with chemical dyes. On average, one can dye the hair about sixty times before they develop an allergy. If used when still a teenager, the allergy will probably happen sooner.
17. A.D. UAE
* I am 46 years age, weighing 93 kgs. I do not have hypertension, my blood sugar is normal, and cholesterol is at border level. I am normal in health but I have hearing problems for the past 11 years, and my hearing has kept on reducing as time has passed. There is problem with the nerves. As per the doctor advice I am taking multivitamin tablets one each a day for last 10 years. My question is is there any harm / side effects by taking multivitamins for such a long time. Also are there any natural foods like nuts, vegetables or fruits to compensate intake of multivitamin tablets. Is there any means to stop hearing loss other than surgery, medication or use of hearing aids?
** By the information provided by you, I presume you are having sensorineural deafness. It is hearing loss that occurs from damage to the inner ear, the nerve that runs from the ear to the brain (auditory nerve), or the brain. The inner part of the ear contains tiny hair cells (nerve endings), which change sounds into electric signals. The nerves then carry these signals to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is caused by damage to these special cells, or to the nerve fibers in the inner ear. Sometimes, the hearing loss is caused by damage to the nerve that carries the signals to the brain. The multivitamin tablets that you have been taking may not address your problem. They are probably not required as your problem is not due to vitamin deficiency and more over our normal diet contains required vitamins.
The treatment you require is to improve your hearing. You may consult an ENT surgeon for proper evaluation and treatment. Hearing aids may help in some conditions. A cochlear implant may be recommended for certain people with very severe hearing loss. Surgery is done to place the implant. The implant makes sounds seem louder, but does not restore normal hearing. However you will be able to hear better than what you perceive now.
On the other hand there are rarely any adverse effects from long term consumption of multivitamin tablets unless it is consumed in excess. Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of vitamins but there is no single food item that can give all the nutrients that a synthetic tablet might supplement. A healthy and balanced diet is the only natural means to gain all the essential nutrients.
18.R.P. Dubai
* I am getting white discharge at the time of passing urine one or two times in a week. I am married for 5 months and my wife is in India while I am living in Gulf. I am worried about my future family life. If this process continues is there any effect?
** Your problem requires assessment from an urologist. There are many causes for white discharge in men- normal sedimentation in urine, urethritis, prostate infection etc. In some men part of the semen may be discharged at the end of urination. The doctor will assess the condition and you may be advised urine analysis to detect the problem. This is not a serious problem and may not affect your family life if treated now.
19. S.B. Hyderabad
*I am 24 years. Last month on 24th I completed my periods. I was with my husband from 27th to 29th and we had frequent physical union. Are there any chances to get pregnant? What is the ideal time to get pregnant after the periods?
** Normally the woman ovulates two weeks prior to the onset of next menstrual flow. If the physical union takes place at or around ovulation there are possibilities of conception. From what you have given above it doesn’t look like you might get pregnant. Considering a 28 day cycle, 2 weeks prior to the next flow would mean the 14th day. Under ideal circumstances, sexual union 2 days before or 2 days after that is from the 12th to the 16th day would improve chances of conception.
20. S.C. Dubai
*I am 25 years. In a few months I would be getting married. We do not want to have a baby for at least 2 years. What precautions can be used? I heard we get some tablets also which should be taken daily, is this safe and which tablet is this?
** The oral contraceptive pills may be the best option to avoid conception at the beginning of the marriage when the couple is not yet ready to have a baby. To avoid conception during active sex life, oral pills are to be taken regularly and daily. They are to be started either on the 1st or on the 5th day of onset of menstrual flow and to be continued regularly for 21 days. Menstrual flow (when on oral pills this is known as break through bleeding) starts within 3 to 5 days of stopping the tablets. After a gap of 7 days since the last dose, the tablets should be started again. More about this is also available in the patient information normally accompanying the tablets.
However it may be better to see a gynaecologist before the pills are started. |
