chatwithketch

Q: Hey Doc! What is the meaning of that black line under the belly button and on top just a little?

A: Hello dear, thanks for writing in.

What you’re noticing is most likely related to something called the linea alba and linea nigra.

Let me explain.

First, linea alba. This is a natural line that runs vertically down the middle of the abdomen, from the chest area down to the lower tummy. Everyone has it, but in many people it’s very faint and barely visible.

Then, linea nigra. When the linea alba becomes darker or more visible, it is called linea nigra. This darkening happens due to hormonal changes, especially increased estrogen and progesterone.

Therefore, it is very common in:

Important things to know

Linea nigra is not dangerous

It is not a disease

It does not mean something is wrong with your womb

It does not automatically mean pregnancy

It is simply increased skin pigmentation triggered by hormones.

Will it go away? In many women, the line fades gradually over time once hormones stabilize. In some, it may remain faintly visible and that is completely normal.

Please see your doctor is if the dark line is accompanied by:

Missed periods

Breast tenderness

Nausea

Lower abdominal pain

Then a pregnancy test or medical review is advised not because the line itself is dangerous, but to understand what’s driving the hormonal change.

I hope this helps!

Q: Hello doc I have diarrhea together with period cramps but I’m not on my period so today I’m bleeding dark red blood with small clots can it be that I’m pregnant

A: Hello dear, thank you for reaching out
Let’s take a few steps back to answer this question…

During every menstrual cycle, the womb prepares itself to receive a pregnancy. When pregnancy does not happen, the thickened lining of the womb is shed as menstrual blood.
Normally, menstrual blood does not clot because the body releases natural substances that keep it flowing smoothly. However, when the bleeding is heavier or flowing faster than usual, small clots can appear especially on the heaviest day. This can happen even in healthy women and does not automatically mean something is wrong.
Dark red blood with small clots can therefore still be menstrual blood, even if the timing feels unusual.

About the diarrhea and cramps
Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and even vomiting can occur around the time of menstruation. This is due to a hormone called prostaglandin, which causes the womb to contract but can also affect the stomach and intestines.
So yes – cramps and diarrhea can happen even before or at the very start of bleeding.

Could this be pregnancy?
Early pregnancy bleeding can happen, but it is usually:
• Light spotting, not heavy flow
• Often without clots
Bleeding with clots is more commonly menstrual, though an early miscarriage can also present this way.
Because of that, pregnancy cannot be ruled out completely without a test.
I hope this helps 🙂

Q: Hy Doc I want to know .,..is it possible to get pregnant when you have unprotected sex during your periods

A: 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 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. If in your case, you’re sure that you ovulate during your period, then I end by saying, ‘having sexual intercourse during menstruation is NOT a means of contraception’ 😊

Have a good night everyone 😊

Q: Good morning doc. Please I gave birth 3 months ago. Few days before six weeks doc’s appointment, I had spotting that lasted for days. I complained to my doctor and he said it’s menstruation. Now last week the spotting started again. What could be the cause? Thanks.

A: ‘Bleeding’ after having a baby is normal. The reason is because as the placenta separates from the uterus when the baby is born, the blood vessels where the placenta was attached start to bleed…understandably, because they are open They bleed into the uterus (womb). As the womb starts to contract, it seals up the blood vessels such that bleeding stops significantly.

So, the ‘bleeding’ after having a baby is a mixture of blood, bacteria and tissue that has sloughed off/peeled off the uterus. This discharge is called lochia. In the first few days, there’s more blood in lochia giving it a bright red colour which eventually becomes more watery and pinkish and eventually becomes yellowish/whitish. This whole process may last 2 to 4 weeks or may come and go, as in the case described above. So, it’s not really a problem

Be sure to check the level of bleeding though and if you feel uncomfortable, please see your doctor. General rules of thumb that suggest there may be a problem are:

• If you’re bleeding heavily…perhaps you’re using a sanitary towel every hour for at least 2 hours or are passing out big clots.

• If your lochia has a bad smell and you start having fever and chills

• If your lochia is still bright red after 4 days of delivery.

Where in doubt, please err on the side of caution and see your doctor.

Q: Hi Doc, I have a headache that is banging inside my ear, at the back of my head and it’s been days. Please help.

A: My first question is whether you are getting enough sleep? This is enough to give you a tension headache! This is the more common type of headache seen as the everyday sort of headache.

It affects both sides of the head as a constant ache. Its causes are not very clear but they can be triggered by stress, hunger, dehydration, etc. They can last from a few minutes to several hours but are not severe enough to stop regular activities. Resting and sleeping well, eating properly and staying hydrated can help prevent this.

Other common causes of primary headaches include:

Migraines: These are felt as severe throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Some people may experience other symptoms like nausea, vomiting and being sensitive to light. The pain could last a few hours or can stretch on for days. Thus, it is more severe than the tension headaches and can stop an individual from carrying out their daily tasks. Some find that they need strong medication prescribed by doctors to get relief but others are relieved by using over the counter medications.

Cluster headaches: These cause severe pain around one eye and are associated with red or watery eyes and a blocked nose or runny one. They tend to occur for one or two months at a time at about the same time of the year. Most times medications do not work for these headaches. Your doctor will prescribe specific treatment courses.

Chronic daily headaches may be due to medication overuse. This would occur in people who use pain medications too often and then end up with rebound headaches…the exact condition they were trying to avoid. Moral of the story: Never abuse your medications Use only as directed by your doctor.

Sex headaches: Yes, this can occur. It’s also known as post-coital headache, orgasmic headache etc. It could occur during sexual intercourse, during orgasm or after sexual intercourse. And it can also occur at any time of the day and during any type of sexual activity. It is felt at the back of the skull just above the neck and is usually described as throbbing. Or it could build up gradually during sexual intercourse and intensifies as the sexual excitement before an orgasm increases. They can last anything from a few minutes to a few hours; may never recur or may happen a couple more times before gradually fading away.

It is thought to be due to the release of adrenaline and rapid rise in blood pressure which occurs as one approaches orgasm. And so in these cases, the headaches may not be a cause for concern. However, it is also a possibility that these headaches are a sign of a more serious condition like bleeding onto the surface of the brain. People who usually have migraines, who use recreational drugs like marijuana, use birth control pills etc are more likely to have sex headaches.

Solution? If you have just experienced this, try lying quietly for about an hour or two after taking an analgesic (like paracetamol) to handle the pain. However, it is very important to see your doctor as soon as possible to let him/her know what happened. This is important because, while there may very well not be any underlying issue, you want to be sure to rule out any serious medical condition causing these headaches. Your doctor will also prescribe some drugs on a regular or intermittent basis to deal with your symptoms.

Primary headaches may be triggered by stress, skipped meals and dehydration as noted above. However, they may also be associated with alcohol, foods that contain nitrates like spinach and bad posture.

Secondary headaches may be due to dental problems, hangovers, ear infections, blood clot in the brain, wearing tight gear on the head like hats or even wigs (yes, I see you ladies ) or even eating cold foods such as ice creams etc.

So, what should you do? If you find that tight head gear or eating ice cream is the problem, see if stopping helps.

If you find that these headaches are now more frequent than usual, more severe than usual, stops you from going about your daily activities, is no longer responding to the over-the-counter medications you used to take etc, please see your doctor. If you have been seeing the same doctor, with no relief, please seek a second opinion or request a review by a neurologist.

All the best!

Hello Family!

Can you believe it! It’s the 10th day of January already! The year is off and running!

How are we doing on all those resolutions we made a few days ago? To encourage you, I am sharing one of the soft serve ice cream alternatives I made over the holidays with the left overs of virtually every fruit I had at home – Frozen Berry Banana Cream.

For recipes of the Frozen Banana Cream and the Frozen Mango Banana Cream, click on the links below: https://chatwithdrketch.com/…/healthy-alternatives-to…/ and https://chatwithdrketch.com/2025/12/28/frozen-banana-cream/

Have a great weekend!

“Brown (Ofada) rice makes you lose weight.”
Verdict: Not exactly.

Brown rice does not automatically cause weight loss.
What it does do is this:

• It has more fiber than white rice
• It keeps you full for longer
• It may help you eat less overall

But, brown rice and white rice have almost the same calories.

If you eat a big plate of brown rice every day, you can still gain weight.
If you eat a moderate portion and pair it well (vegetables + protein), it can support your goals.

So what really matters?
Not just what you eat but how much, how often, and what you eat it with. Oh, and also how you eat it! If you don’t know what I mean, read this – https://chatwithdrketch.com/2025/12/18/fact-or-fiction-nutrition-edition/

Brown rice is a better choice, not a magic solution.

4. “Swallow makes you fat.”
Verdict: Swallow doesn’t automatically make you fat.

What makes the difference is:

• The size of the portion
• The kind of soup
• The amount of oil
• How often it’s eaten

A mountain of eba with oily egusi every night will show up differently from a modest portion with vegetable soup and protein.

Bottom line:
No food needs to be demonised. Just understood, enjoyed wisely, and eaten in moderation.

Which of these myths did you grow up hearing the most? 😊