Sexual Health – Hello Doctor

Nine months after the night before the morning after pill

August 30th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

The first week of September is one of the most popular weeks for unprotected sex in South Africa. We don’t know if it’s the smell of blossoms in the air, the first rays of sun or those floral skirts parading the streets, but this time of year, people everywhere are getting it on.

How do we know this? Because, come June, our hospitals will be filled to the brim with brand-spanking new babies. (It also means, if you’re a June baby, you were conceived in this very month.)

So, if you want to avoid being part of the statistics, here are three words of advice: use birth control! And if ‘contraception’ sounds like a passion-killer to you, you’ll need to weigh it up against sleepless nights, nappy-changes and preparing a small adult for their life.

Not ready for that? Then we have four (plus one back-up) ways to have adult fun, in an adult way:

1. Cover your lover

Ribbed, unribbed, strawberry-flavour, glow-in-the-dark, extra strength, extra thin and even warming condoms: the latex industry sure knows how to turn protection into a sport (or a circus). If there’s one thing you can’t say, it’s that condoms will make sex boring. If anything, it opens up whole new levels of experience.

You can even take turns wearing the ‘glove’. Yes, gents – there are also female condoms and diaphragms available. Just take note: it’s not as comfortable or effective as a male condom.

2. One-a-day

No, we’re not talking about apples here. Although an apple a day won’t keep the doctor away; a tablet a day will prevent babies – 99,9% of the time. Yes, that is not a typo. If you take the pill every day, you only have a 1 in 1000 chance of falling pregnant.

So what about your neighbour and her cousin and who fell pregnant while on the pill? Although the drug itself is almost 100% effective, omen aren’t nearly as effective at taking them every single day, which brings us to our next option:

3. Fit and forget

It’s one of the simplest, least painful procedures, and can last you up to 5 years. The IUD (or intrauterine device) is a small T-shaped device that the doctor inserts into your uterus. They are

effective at preventing pregnancy
have almost no side-effects (unlike the pill)
can be taken out once you’re ready to welcome another bundle of joy into your life.

There you have it: three fantastic reasons to pick up your phone right now, and book an appointment with your Gynae.

4. Closing the factory

Then, of course, there are the more permanent options: vasectomy for the men, or tubal ligation for the women. These operations have low-risk, quick recovery, and permanent results.
This is the best option if you’re at the stage of life where you can’t imagine another run of nappies, school-fees, teenage drama and study loans. When your family is at capacity, just go for the snip. Then you can rekindle those flames of passion from B.C. (Before Children) with zero worries.

EEK! The condom broke!

When all else fails, the morning after pill is an effective (but controversial) back-up plan, available at most pharmacies. Just remember to take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex: no later than 5 days.

Here are some classic situations where you may need it:

you’re reading this article the morning after, and did not use protection last night
you didn’t check the expiry date on your condom, and it broke
you forgot to take the pill yesterday and the day before (set reminders on your phone!)
you’ve been vomiting or had diarrhoea while on the pill

So, while spring is in the air, and love is all around, rubber-up, pop a pill or snip. Just don’t get caught with your pants down!

By Dr. Albert J. Viljoen

The bad advice you need to question

August 22nd, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

“I heard from my second cousin’s friend that you can’t get an STD from…” This is like a terribly-played game of broken telephone – the original information may have been incorrect from the beginning, or lost down the line. And, with the internet, anyone’s opinion quickly becomes fake news.

Here’s what you should know:

“Condoms will stop you from getting STDs”

You may have heard this from one of your friends, but it’s not entirely true. Condoms are highly effective at reducing – but not completely preventing – the chance of transmission of an STD. It’s vital to note that there are different degrees of protection; it depends on the type of STD that you get.

Important: Make sure you know how to put on a condom correctly before you have sex – otherwise it may slip off or even break. When used correctly, condoms are 98% effective.

“You will know if you have an STD”

No, you won’t always know; it depends on the type of STD. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), for example, usually doesn’t show any symptoms because you body’s immune system is able to kill the virus. The sexual partner that infected you may not even know that they have it.

However, there are warning signs that you may have an STD; these include:

Sores or warts on your genitals
Pain when you pee
Nausea, fatigue, fever
Discharge and/or odour from your genitals

If you experience any of these symptoms soon after sex, make an appointment with your doctor to get tested for an STD.

“You can’t get pregnant while on your period”

Nope. Ladies, you can still become pregnant while you’re on your period. A menstrual cycle normally lasts 28 days, but certain women have a shorter menstrual cycle – sometimes only 22 days. This means that you may ovulate a few days after your period.

Sperm remains in your genital system for six days and so if you did have sex during your period, it is possible that the sperm will still be there when you ovulate, fertilising the egg.

“Birth control pills make you gain weight”

This is not completely accurate. Perhaps 50 years ago when birth control pills contained a lot of oestrogen, but today’s pills do not contain as much of this hormone anymore. If you do pick up a bit of weight when you start taking them, it’s usually a temporary side effect.

Generally, birth control pills will not make you gain weight; if you do pick up a few kilos, it is probably due to the type of pill that you are using. You should go and see your doctor and they will suggest a different type.

So, the next time your uncle gives you his usual “2 cents” – think twice. Rather ask one of our doctors. Just log onto the app, and text us a question. We’ll get back to you within an hour, so you can give your uncle our two cents worth!

Sources

Do you have an STD, or a UTI?

August 8th, 2019 by Content Editor

When you consider how close your reproductive organs are to your bladder and urinary tract, it can be difficult trying to figure out if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

What is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

STDs are most often caused by a bacterial infection caused via sexual intercourse. It can also be contracted through placing your hands, mouth and genitals on the sore of someone who is infected. These diseases have a high chance of spreading from one person to the other.

How do you get it?

If you have sex (oral, anal or vaginal intercourse) and/or genital touching, you can get an STD. Whether you’re straight or gay, married or single, you’re equally vulnerable to STDs.
At times, the infections and diseases usually carry no symptoms and that’s why regular check-ups are recommended. While STDs can be contracted through anal, oral, vaginal sex, they can also be picked up from sex toys.

Common symptoms of a STD include:

Bumps, sores, or warts near the mouth, penis, vagina, anus.
Swelling or redness near the penis or vagina.
Skin rash.
Painful urination.
Weight loss, loose stools, night sweats.
Aches, pains, fever, and chills.
Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
Discharge from the penis or vagina.
When to get tested

If you’re sexually active it’s best to get tested every six months or in between new partners. STDs are usually easy to treat, however, if left untreated, they increase the risk of HIV and infertility.

What is a UTI?

Urinary tract infections are usually caused by the same bacteria that normally live in the colon and rectum. Once bacteria enter the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside), they multiply and travel up this tube towards the bladder. There they can continue to multiply, and left untreated, can also travel to the kidneys.

A urinary tract infection’s symptoms include a painful and burning sensation when you pee, frequent trips to the bathroom, and a feeling of urgency.

How do you get it?

Women are at greater risk for UTI infections because the urethra is located close to the anus, allowing an easy spread of bacteria between them, This can happen after poor bathroom hygiene, but also during sexual activity when bacteria from your partner’s genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra. UTIs can also be caused by sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Common symptoms of UTI include:

Strong and frequent urge to pee.
Cloudy, bloody, or strong-smelling urine.
Nausea and vomiting.
Muscle aches and abdominal pains.

When to get tested

The safest thing to do is to get tested. Even if your doctor already diagnosed your UTI, there’s still room for human error and you may have actually have an STD.

Depending on the severity of infection, your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic. A simple UTI can be treated with a three-day course of antibiotics.

The length of antibiotic treatment will depend on the severity of the infection as well as the type of antibiotic prescribed.

Note, never take someone else’s medicine to treat your illness. If you’re given an antibiotic to treat an STD, it’s important that you take all of the prescribed treatment, even if the symptoms go away.

Your doctor may provide additional antibiotics you can give to your partner. In that way you can both be treated at the same time.

References:

How to diagnose and treat syphilis

March 20th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Do you have painless sores, blisters or ulcers on your penis, vagina, and anus, or inside your mouth or on the lips?

You could have syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection is caused by a type of bacteria. The infection usually starts as a sore in or on the genitals, anus or mouth. It then leads to a painful skin rash and can lead to damaged organs, if not treated. With the right treatment, though, you can get this infection sorted.

Syphilis happens in primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages:

Primary syphilis

During this stage, you develop a sore that’s usually painless. This often happens within three weeks of getting the bacteria. At this point, you are very contagious.

For men, the painless sore often appears in the genital area, but not always on the penis.

For women, the sore develops on the outer genitals or on the inner part of the vagina. You may not notice the sore if it grows inside the vagina or at the opening to the uterus (cervix).

Secondary syphilis

The secondary stage involves a skin rash and sore throat, which means that the bacteria from the sore has spread to the bloodstream. The rash usually doesn’t itch and can be found on the palms and soles. Some people don’t notice the rash.

Other symptoms include:

Swollen lymph nodes (small glands all around your body that are part of your immune system)
Fatigue
Fever
Headaches
Aching joints
Weight loss
Hair loss

Latent syphilis

The third stage of syphilis is usually referred to as the hidden stage. While the primary and secondary symptoms of syphilis show no noticeable symptoms, at this stage, the bacteria remains in the body. This third stage could last for years before developing into the fourth stage, called tertiary syphilis.

Tertiary syphilis

This is the last stage of the infection. While this stage is rare, it has the most severe complications. It can affect different organs, like the brain, heart, spinal cord, liver, bones and joints, which could result in death.

This last stage is life-threatening and can develop years after the initial infection. Some other complications of tertiary syphilis include:

Neurosyphilis, an infection of the brain or spinal cord
Mental illness
Memory loss
Blindness
Deafness
Destruction of soft tissue and bone
Neurological disorders, like stroke or meningitis
Heart disease

Risk factors

Having sex with multiple partners.
Having unprotected sex.
Being infected with HIV; the virus that causes AIDS.

Treatment

Syphilis can be cleared with antibiotics. Blood tests can determine whether you’ve been infected with syphilis or not. If left untreated, it could increase the risk of HIV and infertility. If you’re sexually active, it’s best to get tested every six months and between new partners for all types of STIs.

Prevention

Always use a condom when you have sex; this helps minimise your risk for syphilis.
If you’re having sex with multiple partners, it’s important to use condoms and have regular STI tests.
Discuss your sexual health with your partner and know each other’s sexual health status.

References

What exactly is chlamydia?

March 20th, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a type of bacteria.

The disease can affect both men and women. Women can get chlamydia in the cervix, rectum, or throat, while men are vulnerable in the urethra (inside the penis), rectum, or throat.

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); in 2017, over two million new cases of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis were reported.

Chlamydia remained the most common condition reported to the CDC with more than one million cases diagnosed in 2017. The report estimates that about 45% of these cases are girls between the ages of 15 to 24.

How do you get chlamydia?

This STD can be passed on through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. This includes sharing sex toys with someone who has chlamydia, even if they don’t have symptoms. If you’re pregnant with chlamydia, you can pass the infection on to your unborn baby. You can also get this condition if your genitals come into contact with your partner’s. This means you can contract chlamydia from someone even if there’s no penetration, orgasm or ejaculation. People most at risk of contracting chlamydia are those who regularly have unprotected sex or multiple sexual partners.

Symptoms

Like most STDs/STIs, chlamydia puts you at risk of other STDs including HIV/AIDS. Many cases go undiagnosed because people with the condition don’t have obvious symptoms when they first contract it:

Pain or burning when peeing.
Increased vaginal discharge caused by an inflamed womb (cervix).
Pain during sex and/or bleeding after sex.
Pain in the lower abdomen during sex.
Bleeding between periods and/or heavier periods.
Pain, discharge or bleeding in the anus (bottom).
A cloudy, white or watery discharge from the penis.
Pain and/or swelling in the testicles.

When these symptoms are ignored, they can lead to more infections, prostate problems and even cause infertility in women.

How can it be treated?

As soon as you notice symptoms, check in with your doctor who will ask you to provide a urine sample for testing. For women, a swab is taken from the lower part of the womb (cervix) or the vagina. For men, a swab is taken from the tip of the penis (urethra). If you’ve had anal or oral sex, a swab can be taken from the rectum (bottom) or throat. In most cases, your doctor will give you an effective antibiotic treatment. Your partner must take an antibiotic too, so they don’t reinfect you.

Stay safe

Prevention is key, so learn to protect yourself to prevent infection. Don’t have sex until you and your partner have completed the antibiotic treatment. If you’re diagnosed with chlamydia, you’ll need to inform all your sexual partners, because they will need the same treatment. Also make sure to:

Use latex condoms correctly when you have sex.
Have a follow-up test to make sure the treatment has cleared the infection.
Contact all sexual partners. Even if partners have no symptoms, they could possibly transmit the infection to other sexual partners, so they need to be tested and treated as soon as possible.

References

How Kegel exercises can improve your sex life

November 30th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

What does the strength of your pelvic floor have to do with orgasms? A lot – if you want an amazing sex life!

The pelvic floor is a powerful set of muscles that sits between your tailbone and pubic bone. It supports your core and the organs of your lower abdomen. A strong pelvic floor could mean more intense and longer-lasting orgasms, since it’s those very pelvic floor muscles that contract during an orgasm.

Arnold Henry Kegel, an American gynaecologist, invented the Kegel exercises (also called pelvic floor exercises) as a non-surgical treatment for genital relaxation. These exercises consist of repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor.

When it comes to sex, Kegels build muscle strength, increase sensation and boost blood flow to the vagina. This improves your control over the pelvic floor muscles and to experience more intense orgasms. Doing Kegels also builds good muscle tone in your vagina, which enables it to stretch more during sex. The result: muscle and nerve stimulation for better sex.

The benefits of Kegel exercises

Kegel exercises are beneficial for both men and woman. They help control a condition that causes spontaneous discharge of urine when abdominal pressure increases (called stress incontinence). This is when you leak urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, jog or while lifting a heavy object.

Usually, as your bladder fills up, you may get the urge to urinate, but when you have a case of urge incontinence, your bladder may feel full even if it’s not. In a healthy bladder, your muscles remain relaxed as the bladder progressively fills up. Kegel exercises help strengthen the muscles surrounding the bladder, thus allowing you to recover control.

Try to do the exercises for five minutes, two or three times daily. You’ll soon notice an improvement in your ability to control urinary leakage. In men, regularly doing Kegel exercises can also help improve erections.

For men, these exercises may help you:

Have stronger erections, while reducing the chance of erectile dysfunction.
Orgasm without ejaculating.
Overcome premature ejaculation and last longer in bed.
Give more intense orgasms and make your partner last longer.
Reduce your chances of urinary incontinence, prostate cancer, urine leakage and other consequences of ageing.

A Kegel exercise is like pretending you must urinate and then holding it in. You relax and tighten the muscles that control urine flow. It’s important to find the right muscles to tighten. If you’re still unsure whether you’re tightening the right muscles, just imagine that you’re trying to keep yourself from flatulence.

Get started

Once you have the movement figured out, do Kegel exercises three times a day:

Make sure your bladder is empty, then sit or lie down.
Tighten your pelvic floor muscles. Hold tight and count to eight.
Relax the muscles and count to 10.
Repeat 10 times, three times a day (morning, afternoon and night).
Make sure you breathe deeply and relax your body when doing these exercises. Remember, when you contract your pelvic floor muscles, the muscles in your abdomen, back, buttocks, and sides should remain loose.

Always empty your bladder before doing Kegel exercises. As a beginner, find a quiet and comfortable place in your home to sit or lie down. As you practise, you’ll find that you can do them anywhere. If you feel pain in your abdomen or back after a Kegel session, it may be a sign that you’re not doing them properly. Don’t overdo the exercises; if you work the muscles too hard, they become tired and incapable of functioning correctly.