women – Hello Doctor

Checking your breasts? Here’s how to do it!

September 28th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Statistics show that women over the age of 50 are more likely to develop breast cancer, but that doesn’t mean younger women aren’t at risk.

Regular breast self-examinations are important for women of all ages, and annual mammograms are recommended for women over the age of 40 or earlier if there’s a family history of the disease. Depending on your circumstance, your doctor will be able to advise you on the best screening protocols for breast cancer. Remember: early detection, diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference when it comes to successful recovery.

It’s recommended that women check their breasts every month. The best time to do this is when you’re in the shower, and when it comes to the time of month, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s not around the time of your period, when your breasts are more likely to be swollen and tender.

Step 1: Stand in front of a mirror. Look for any changes such as puckering of the nipple, changes in the size or shape of the breast, dimpling, or changes in the skin texture.

Step 2: Look for changes to the shape or texture of your nipples. Gently squeeze each nipple and look for discharge.

Step 3: Repeat these steps with your hands on your hips, over your head, and at your side.

Step 4: Raise your right arm and use your left hand to examine every part of your right breast. Using the pads of your index and middle fingers, move in increasingly smaller circles, from the outside in.

Step 5: Gently press and feel for any lumps or thickenings.

Step 6: Using body moisturiser if necessary, continue to circle and gently massage the area next to your breast and under your arm.

Step 7: Repeat steps 4 – 6 with the opposite arm and breast.

Step 8: Lie flat on your back, put a pillow under your right shoulder and place your right hand behind your head. Again, gently massage and examine your breast for lumps or any other changes.

Need to know:

Menstruating women should do breast self-examinations a few days after their periods, and women who use oral contraceptives should do it aim to do breast self-examinations on the same day each month.

Important: Notify your doctor immediately if you notice any changes or lumps, or if you have any concerns. Remember, the earlier a problem is detected, the sooner it can be treated.

I’m a new mom, why am I so unhappy?

September 18th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

“I’m having panic attacks, feeling scared, helpless and overwhelmed. I don’t know who to talk to, am I alone? It’s been a few months – surely by now I’m supposed to be happy with my new baby?” Continue reading “I’m a new mom, why am I so unhappy?”

Can eating apples improve a woman’s entire sexual experience?

August 8th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Apparently so! Just like you, we have no idea who comes up with some of these weird ideas for medical studies. But they happen, and the results are often surprising. Take this one for example: Continue reading “Can eating apples improve a woman’s entire sexual experience?”

Ladies: What’s messing with your hormones?

July 26th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

When you hear ‘hormones’, you probably think of PMS or bodybuilders, but every process in your body is driven by different hormones. Here are a few things that can make it all go wrong. Continue reading “Ladies: What’s messing with your hormones?”

The top 5 factors that affect female fertility

July 21st, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

When it comes to female fertility and conceiving, there are a lot of different factors that come into play: from age to lifestyle and nutrition. Here we take a look at the Top 5 Factors that Affect Female Fertility. Don’t forget to also check out our infographic on the Top Factors that Affect Male Fertility.

Continue reading “The top 5 factors that affect female fertility”

Putting the FUN into fertility

March 12th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Amazingly, you have only around a 20% chance of conceiving each month – and this is only if everything is working as it should be. This percentage decreases with certain factors like increasing age (especially over 30), certain medical conditions and medication, being overweight, smoking and lack of exercise.

Continue reading “Putting the FUN into fertility”

Heart-attack: do women have it worse?

February 17th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

You feel a searing pain in your chest, you fall down and then you’re in an ambulance speeding towards the emergency room! Isn’t that how all heart-attacks happen? Well, that’s how they look in the movies, but real-life heart attack symptoms can be silent and sneaky. And, just to complicate matters a bit more: women may get very different symptoms to men! It all seems a bit unfair. Continue reading “Heart-attack: do women have it worse?”

Trying again after a miscarriage – when is it safe?

October 13th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Having a miscarriage is traumatic – and trying to fall pregnant again can be daunting. Let’s take a look at some commonly asked questions about miscarriage. Continue reading “Trying again after a miscarriage – when is it safe?”

5 types of emotional abuse

September 25th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ve heard of it, but what is emotional abuse? It’s any behaviour that is designed to control you through the use of fear, humiliation, and verbal or physical assaults. Continue reading “5 types of emotional abuse”

Alcohol use in pregnancy – what are the dangers?

August 22nd, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Ever wondered why you should never drink during your pregnancy? We asked Dr Lynelle Hoeks to give us the low-down on the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Continue reading “Alcohol use in pregnancy – what are the dangers?”

Can you reverse a female sterilization?

April 13th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

The answer to this question is complicated- the short answer is maybe.. and here is the long answer!

First let’s look at Tubal Ligation (female sterilization). This procedure is done to prevent pregnancy. There are two tubes (Fallopian tubes) in the womb: at the end of these tubes, the woman’s egg waits for the sperm to fertilize it. In tubal ligation, we simply block these tubes, so that the egg and sperm cannot meet. We do this either by:

Sealing the tubes with a clip or a ring
Burning (cauterizing) the tubes so that they become blocked with scar tissue
Cutting the tubes and then tying them closed

The procedure is classified as a permanent method of birth control as reversal is difficult and not often successful.

So what happens if you have had this done and want to fall pregnant? Can it be reversed? Yes it can, but the success depends on many factors:

Your age (the older you are, the less likely)
The type of tubal ligation you had (some are easier to reverse- for example clips)
The health of your reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, length of the remaining fallopian tubes, have you had PID before, do you have endometriosis, etc.)
Time since you had the procedure (more recent will make it easier)
Did you have any successful pregnancies before the procedure?

If your doctor is happy that there may be a good chance of success you will need to have a number of tests done before the reversal- blood tests, ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries for example. Your partner will also need to have his sperm count checked. All this is to see if there will be any other factors affecting you ability to fall pregnant.

Once the sterilization is reversed, in general success rates for a healthy pregnancy are between 40-80% and the best chance is within the first year.

Risk: Pregnancy outside the womb

Since the tube has been damaged in the first operation, it’s possible that after the doctor repairs the tube, there still remains a gap somewhere. This means the fertilized egg can escape from the womb, resulting in a pregnancy happening outside the womb – this is a potentially life-threatening condition.

Are there any other options?

The good news is yes- there are! In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF) can be done. This is when the egg is fertilized by the sperm outside the womb in a laboratory, and then placed straight into your womb to grow. This means the sperm doesn’t have to travel through the damaged tube – isn’t medicine great!?

IVF has a few risks of its own, so it would be best to chat to your doctor about what is best for you.

Author: Dr Lynelle Hoeks

Sorry, Beyonce – You’re Wrong!

March 10th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

‘Cause he’s taken you for granted and everything you had got destroyed’ – If I were a boy, Beyonce.

Ah, yes – common lyrics of many chart-topping female pop tracks that seem to portray men as being sex obsessed, shallow and likely to cheat on women. But, we, at Hello Doctor, are going to explore whether her lyrics have any truth behind them. Continue reading “Sorry, Beyonce – You’re Wrong!”