chatwithketch

In response to my post yesterday on calculating your ovulation and fertile periods, I received this question. I decided to respond to that today as it ties up this discussion. So, here goes….

Q: Thanks doctor with this can someone use this (knowledge of ovulation and fertile period) to determine the sex of the child?

A: Honestly, when it comes to matters of whether you have a male or female, it’s all up to God 😀

Starting from where we stopped yesterday, when ovulation occurs, a mature egg is released and if there is a sperm cell available and a conducive environment, fertilization occurs. The sperm cell that fertilizes the egg is key to determining the sex of the baby. The sperm cell has one X and one Y chromosome (XY) while the egg has two X chromosomes (XX). The woman always contributes an X chromosome….that’s all she has! She has no Y chromosome and so no matter how much she desires to have a male child, she cannot provide the Y chromosome. The man on the other hand, has both X and Y chromosomes and so he, essentially determines the sex of the child. If he provides an X chromosome, it combines with the female’s own X and forms a girl. If he provides Y, that combines with the female’s X and forms a boy

It is believed in some quarters that the male sperm cells swim faster and so having sexual intercourse on the day of ovulation guarantees having a baby boy…but trust me! The world is littered with women who tried this and it didn’t work! It’s just not up to you! That’s the point 😀

For more on my post yesterday on the calculation of ovulation day, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2018/03/02/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-best-bet-to-ovulate/

People who go for In Vitro Fertilization may have the option of selecting their baby’s sex, but even this is not offered indiscriminately.

I know that traditionally, we like to think that our family lines can only be propagated through the male species, but there are great men worldwide who have only girls as children. I don’t think the world will forget them in a hurry! Your daughters will bring you absolute joy and happiness and perhaps cater for you in ways that you would not have even expected. Both genders are important and we need to accept both as gifts from God.

Have a great weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Ma’am, my last period began on 6th February and it lasted for 6 days. I have a 28days cycle. Could you please track my ovulation and best bet to conceive? I’m really confused here.

A: Hallos! Thanks for writing in

You are one of the lucky ones with a perfect 28 day cycle 😀 Ovulation would usually occur at the midpoint of your cycle – day 14. But maybe we should backtrack a little bit and define what ovulation means. Ovulation refers to the release of mature eggs (medically referred to as oocytes) from the ovaries. This is supposed to happen every month at the middle of the cycle as described above. If you don’t have a regular cycle, you may have to keep a menstrual diary to give you an idea, over time, what your average cycle is.

Why is ovulation significant? Well, because for pregnancy to occur, the sperm has to have eggs to fertilize. Tracking your ovulation gives you a good chance of being able to ‘mate your egg with a sperm cell’ 😀 So having sexual intercourse in the 5 days before (because the sperm cells can stay alive for up to 5 days after release) and on the day of ovulation enhance your chances of conceiving.

Other signs to look out for that confirm ovulation (especially for those with irregular cycle who are not really sure) are:

Increase in vaginal secretions – You will notice clearer and more slippery mucous/vaginal secretions at the time of ovulation

Change in basal body temperature – Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your lowest body temperature in a 24-hour period. There are special thermometers to check basal body temperature. If you don’t have this, you can start off with a regular digital one and then get a proper BBT thermometer later. Use this thermometer every morning at the same time, after about 3 to 4 hours of sleep, before getting out of bed. Keep it within reach, so that you don’t have to get out of bed to measure it. Remember that any activity is likely to increase your BBT. Your body temperature rises slightly just after ovulation takes place. So, if you measure this over a couple of months, you will probably see a pattern emerge and be able to predict your next ovulation. You are most fertile about 2 to 3 days before the temperature spike.

If you cannot be bothered with any of these, you could try the ovulation predictor kit, which measures the level of hormones in your urine, given the surge in hormone level before ovulation.

I hope this helps.

Have a great weekend everyone 😀

Q: Hi Dr. Ketch, why do I have burning sensation in my heart? Sometimes I do feel pain in my left lower abdomen. I even wake up sometimes to heavy pains in my stomach.

A: Heartburn really has nothing to do with the heart…I bet all of you knew that, aye? It is usually felt as a burning sensation in the chest, which feels worse on bending down or lying down. Okay, why and how does this happen? You know that the stomach produces acid to help with food digestion, right? Have you ever wondered how come this acid isn’t all up in your mouth all the time? Well, that’s because there’s a ‘lock’ or control at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach, which prevents the acid in the stomach from coming back up into the esophagus. This ‘lock’ is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter. This lock can get strained if the esophagus opens too often or if there is too much food in the stomach…so, if you regularly over-eat, you might want to re-think that 😀 A major no-no is a very heavy meal just before you lie down. It’s almost certain you may have a heartburn 😀

There are also conditions like pregnancy and obesity that make this sphincter stay open for prolonged periods as a result of pressure on the abdomen and there are also foods that encourage this. Examples of these ‘foods’ are fatty foods, alcohol, orange juice, chocolate and coffee, onions, tomatoes, peppermint and spicy foods.

Therefore, for the person in the question, I suggest you keep a food diary over a period of time and try to figure out the trigger foods. If this is not the issue, perhaps it is a weight issue or even over-eating.

Treatment is targeted at the acid and healing the esophagus. Remember that occasional heartburn is not regarded a problem but if it happens frequently, like two or more times every week, then it becomes a problem and is now referred to as Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). So, drugs used can stop acid production, reduce acid production and cause healing of the esophagus or neutralize the effect of the acid.

Prevention involves trying to avoid your trigger foods (quite a number are actually healthy 😀 maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding heavy meals just before bedtime, try eating smaller meals and avoid tight clothes that may also put pressure on your abdomen.

So, the first and best thing to do now is to go see your doctor to get a diagnosis made. If you drink a lot of coffee, you may have to reduce or stop as this can actually be responsible for both diarrhea and heart burn.

Have a fabulous evening and remember…no heavy meals before bedtime 😀

Q: Hey Dr. can implantation bleeding contain blood clots?

A: Bleeding during pregnancy can be worrying whether it’s a little or a lot. But, it may not necessarily be the sign of a problem.

Implantation bleeding is typically a small amount of light bleeding that occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. This is thought to be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb). This usually occurs in early pregnancy, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would be seen and is thus often mistaken for a period. But, it is usually lighter than menstrual…typically without clots. It would stop on its own and does not require further treatment. If the bleeding is heavier, associated with cramps or any other complication, please see your doctor. As a rule of thumb really, any bleeding in pregnancy should be investigated as they may be due to more serious conditions like ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and infections.

I hope this helps.

Have a good evening everyone 😀

Q: Doctor Hello!! Is it possible to menstruate but not ovulating?

A: Yes, it is possible. Typically, the ovaries in females release an egg every month. If this does not get fertilized, the womb which had been getting ready to receive a fertilized egg, sheds its thickened lining. The release of an egg stimulates the production of the hormone, progesterone. This hormone is mostly responsible for keeping periods regular. But in some instances, a mature egg is not released regularly on a monthly basis and sometimes, no egg is released at all. In this case, progesterone is not produced and the cycle is either erratic or bleeding, heavy.

This kind of cycle, known as anovular cycle, is quite common in adolescent girls especially in the first year after they start menstruating. Other causes of anovular cycle include hormonal disorders, obesity, weight loss, thyroid problems, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hirsutism and pituitary problems.

Treatment options include lifestyle changes (focused on eating healthy, weight loss, exercise, stress management etc), medications to induce ovulation or to regulate menstruation and surgical (to remove part of the ovaries and restore hormonal balance)

For more related topics, please click on the following links:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/12/22/daily-health-tipswill-i-need-to-take-pills-forever-for-pcos/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2017/12/09/hlwdk-daily-health-tips-hormonal-imbalance/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2016/09/29/daily-health-tips-thyroid-problems/

Daily Health Tips: What Do I Do About The Hair Growing On My Chin?

Q: Dr. I’m glad because of this your page. You ‘re so wonderful by the testimonies of the page. May Almighty who for His mercy loved you to this kind gesture, bless you abundantly. Please, do me a favour, because I’m confused. Can a woman have menstruation and Ovulation at the same time? If possible, is it normal?

A: Amen to your many prayers and I love you right back! :d
Can one menstruate and ovulate at the same time? Yes…this may not be very common but it is very possible. Is this normal? It’s not abnormal :d It all depends on a woman’s cycle. To understand this some more, I reproduce the details of a post I made a while ago on a related question.

Q: Please Dr, is it absolutely free to have sex during menstruation? Secondly, if it is free, can a woman get pregnant during that period?

A: I had to hide a quick smile when I read this 😀 I’m not sure what you mean by free. Free from stress or free from sexually transmitted infection? Or perhaps you want to know if it’s safe?
Well, having sexual intercourse during a lady’s menstrual period does not make a man impotent, neither does it kill vital organs in his body…contrary to all the stories you have probably heard

However, it is obviously messy and it is also easy to contract Sexually Transmitted Infections at this time.

Can one get pregnant at this time? Unlikely but not impossible. It depends on the length of a woman’s cycle. If she has a short cycle, she could be seeing her period a few days away from her ovulation. Thus, if she has sexual intercourse, perhaps towards the end of her period, the sperm, which can stay ‘alive’ for days after sexual intercourse, are still available to fertilize the eggs released during ovulation. So, having sexual intercourse during menstruation is NOT a means of contraception, people 😀

For more on this topic, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/04/10/daily-health-tips-irregular-periods/

Have a good night everyone 😀

.

Q: Greetings Dr., great job you are doing. Please is there any possible cure for someone who snores heavily?

A: When we sleep, our muscles relax. This includes the tissues in the airways (throat). Snoring occurs as air passes through the airways that are partially obstructed by relaxed tissues. As the air flows, these tissues vibrate and we hear the sound described as snoring.

Occasional snorers are mainly problematic to their partners (who may or may not put up with it) but habitual snorers impede sleep for their partners and the quality of their own sleep is markedly reduced. As a result, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and not feeling quite rested after sleeping may be normal symptoms for both parties.

Causes of snoring include alcohol consumption (due to relaxation of throat muscles), being overweight (due to narrowing of the airways from extra tissues at the back of the throat), seasonal allergies, cold or sinus problems, enlarged tonsils or even sleeping position (sleeping on the back). Apart from the above, being a man and having a family history of snoring puts one at risk.

So, to prevent this, reduction of alcohol intake or not having any at least two hours before bedtime, losing weight if obese, slightly raising the head of the bed, treating allergies or sinus/tonsil problems, sleeping on the side etc are all helpful.

Where this is not helpful, any one of some oral appliances (provided by dentists specialized in snoring problems may help), nasal strips, pressurized masks, implants or surgery, as a final resort may be used to treat this.

So, I suggest you start with the lifestyle changes and see how it goes. I hope it goes well 😀

For a related article, please click on this link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-snoring-always-a-sign-of-sleep-apnea

Have a great day, y’all 😀

Hi y’all! I hope you had a great week. I did! Very busy but very rewarding.

Have you ever wondered if you can ever get it right health wise, after years of eating wrong? Well, you can. Here’s how!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-you-make-up-for-years-of-poor-eating

Q: Please Doc, what can be the cause of preeclampsia in pregnancy and how can one stop or avoid it for subsequent pregnancies?

A: Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy which is characterized by high blood pressure reading and signs of organ damage. A bit of background first….

Blood pressure readings are interpreted as same, pregnancy or no pregnancy. Any level more than 140/90mmHg is seen as hypertensive. A woman may already be hypertensive before pregnancy and on medication. She may be found to be hypertensive before the 20th week of pregnancy in which case it is believed she had previously undetected high blood pressure or she may be discovered to have high blood pressure after the 20th week, in which case it is believed that this high blood pressure is pregnancy-induced (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension: PIH). This would usually resolve within 6 weeks of having a baby. If a woman with PIH goes on to develop protein in urine, she is at risk of preeclampsia (in which protein leaks from kidneys into urine) or eclampsia (in which the woman experiences fits and seizures)

The risk of preeclampsia is higher in women who have had this condition in a previous pregnancy, first pregnancies, women who get pregnant after the age of 40 years, women who are obese and women with multiple pregnancies or those who have a long interval between babies (greater than 10 years) or short interval between babies (less than 2 years) etc

High blood pressure in pregnancy needs to be addressed as this poses a danger to both mother and baby. It may affect the flow of blood and nutrients to baby leading to slow growth or pre-term delivery. It may also lead to eclampsia or separation of placenta from the uterine wall before the baby is born.

Your doctor will determine the best course of action and may prescribe medications (to reduce blood pressure, or to even prepare your baby’s lungs for life outside the womb given the anticipation of preterm delivery), hospitalization to monitor you or delivery of the baby if the doctor believes the womb is now a hostile environment for the baby due to any of the dangers mentioned above.

There are varying thoughts about strategies thought to help prevent this condition. However, ensuring that risk factors are reduced by reducing weight, eating and living healthy may be helpful strategies.

For more on blood pressure, please click on the links below:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/12/10/daily-health-tips-blood-pressure-the-fact-behind-the-figures/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/12/daily-health-tips-pre-hypertension/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/12/11/daily-health-risks-my-high-blood-pressure-risks/

Be sure to make your antenatal classes interactive. Ask your doctor questions about your health and indeed your blood pressure readings if they are cause for concern.

Have a great evening, y’all 😀

Q: Please what can someone do whose discharge has odour?

A: Hi! Thanks for writing in. I assume you are referring to vaginal discharge.

Vaginal discharge is quite common in females especially in sexually active females, though it can also occur in people who are not sexually active. It can be rather disturbing if associated with symptoms like itching, sores in the genital area and bad odor.

There are different causes of discharge and many organisms responsible for vaginal discharge (bacterial, fungal and protozoan), and the offending organism/cause will determine the treatment.

Some causes include poor hygienic practices, use of harsh chemicals to wash the genital area, use of tampons and pads for long periods without change, insertion of herbs or other objects into the vagina, and wrong cleaning practices, like cleaning from back to front (the correct way should be from front to back)

From the description of your symptoms, it is rather difficult to determine the cause of your discharge.

I would advise you try to maintain a high level of cleanliness, eat healthy, involve in exercise as this helps in cleansing the system, try to keep the place dry always, by during with a towel or tissue after washing (wash with only water or water and a mild toilet soap). Washing and urinating after intercourse can also help. I would also advice you visit a doctor, who would request you have some tests done and then based on the results would prescribe the appropriate drugs for you.

Following the result of your tests, your doctor may advice that your partner be treated if he thinks it’s a sexually transmitted infection. This would prevent you from getting re-infected on meeting him after your treatment. It’s important to note that this is not always the case…your symptoms may not be due to a sexually transmitted disease and in that case, there may be no need for your partner to be treated.

Fungal infection such as candidiasis are not usually transmitted through intercourse and so would not require this.

Sorry about the discomfort you maybe going through, but once treated properly you will be preventing yourself from likely complications and recurrence.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

******This post was contributed by a doctor ‘guest’ blogger. For related posts, please click on these links:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/04/27/daily-health-tips-is-vaginal-discharge-normal/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/08/daily-health-tips-is-vaginal-odour-normal/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/07/daily-health-tips-toilet-infection-seriously/

Have a good night, y’all 😀

Q: Pls. Ma. I need your advice. My husband and I went for genotype test we found out that we were both AS. What should we do? Is there a possibility of us having AS as first child?

A: What to do? Well, what do you think? J As I have explained in earlier posts, with your genotypes, for every pregnancy, there is a 25% probability that you and your partner will give birth to a child with SS genotype, 50% chance that you will have children who have the trait (AS) just like you and another 25% chance that you would have a child with AA genotype. This is the information that you would be given at genetic counseling. Truth is, you could very well have all SS genotype children or all carriers of the trait or all normal genotype AA or any combination of the genotypes.

As adults, we always have the option of choices. This is the reason why, you are never forced into any procedure in a hospital, even if it is for your good. You must always sign an informed consent form stating that you understand what needs to be done, the risks involved and that you give your consent for the procedure to be carried out. In this case, it is important, however to weigh all the issues and consequences thoroughly before embarking on this lifetime voyage. Perhaps, it may be wise to visit a Sickle Cell Center and have a chat with the doctors about what to expect during a crisis or generally, just bringing up a child with Sickle Cell Anaemia. It is possible to know the genotype of the baby before birth through prenatal diagnosis. Speak with your doctor about this.

I have included a post I wrote a while back on sickle cell. Please click on it and read: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/06/29/love-is-blind-is-it/

Finally, I’m not sure whether you presumed that being a virgin makes a difference to the probabilities above, of having a child with SS genotype or indeed any other genotype. But, just in case you wondered, it doesn’t matter. Those probabilities remain the same, irrespective.

Have a good night y’all 😀