chatwithketch

Q: Good evening, Doctor… Please what is the cause of headache in the middle of the night especially after sexual intercourse?

A: This sounds like a condition known as sexual headache. It’s also known as sex headache, 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.

Should you swear off sex? Yes, if you’re unmarried 😀 And no, if you’re married;) 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.

Have a great night y’all 😀

Q: Hi, is there any problem when you are having sex and then the sperms came out with blood and then I bleed few drops of blood and then it stops? I was thinking I’m on periods but the bleeding stops. Is it normal or I’m pregnant?

A: Hi dear, thanks for writing in. It is certainly very disturbing to see blood in semen! This phenomenon, known as haematospermia or haemospermia in men under 40 years with no other symptoms related to more serious issues (which I shall discuss below) is usually not a major medical problem.

Causes include:·

Inflammation of the prostate gland (where semen is produced)·

Inflammation of the seminal vesicles (where most of the fluid in the semen is produced)·

Cysts in the seminal vesicles·

Sexually Transmitted Infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia etc·

Following recent instrumentation eg after prostatic biopsy

These conditions would usually resolve on their own or require a course of antibiotics. Please let your partner be guided by his doctor.

However, if the under-listed symptoms are developed, especially if your partner is older than 40 years, it may be a sign of more serious conditions and he should see his doctor immediately.·

Blood in semen which persists for longer than 3 to 4 weeks·

Presence of other symptoms like pain during urination·

Recurrence of blood in semen·

Presence of other risk factors for bleeding disorders, cancer etc

These more serious problems could be due to bleeding disorders, severe high blood pressure, cancer etc.

So, please let your partner see his doctor and let him make a proper diagnosis.
On the issue of vaginal bleeding, this depends on the woman’s age:For women who are not yet at the age of menopause, the cause of vaginal bleeding is usually from the mouth of the womb (the cervix). However, this can also occur once in a while even when there is really no cause and may not be a cause for concern. It is important, though to get a pap smear done to rule out cancer of the cervix.

Examples:

 Inadequate lubrication during sexual intercourse

 Friction during sexual intercourse

 Inflammation of the cervix

 Genital sores from sexually transmitted infections

 Normal bleeding before or after a menstrual period

After the age of menopause, vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse could also be from the mouth of the womb (cervix).

Other sources of this bleeding could be from the womb (uterus), the opening of the vagina or the opening of the bladder.

Examples:

 Inflammation of the vagina

 Vaginal dryness

 Vaginal atrophy

So, I will suggest a little patience before sexual intercourse to get in the mood. Take a moment to get emotionally ready before you get into the physical 😀If this continues, however, please see a gynaecologist.Have a good night, everyone 😀

‘Many people are surprised to learn that heart failure is often a manageable condition. Taking medications, balancing exercise and rest, following a low-sodium diet, and being careful about fluid intake can help keep it in check. But heart failure can be unpredictable. After a long stretch of being under control, it can flare up, and even require a hospital stay.’

Want to know more? Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/stay-on-top-of-heart-failure-symptoms

Q: Good day Doc. God bless you really good, Please, I’ve been leaking fluid for 2 days now yet no pain. What do I do? I’m 39 weeks pregnant.

A: Thanks for writing in dear.

Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds and cushions a baby while in the womb. The fluid is contained within a sac called the amniotic sac. Usually just before a woman goes into labour, this sac ruptures and the fluid is released…that’s what is referred to waters breaking. When I had my last baby, my waters broke right in the hospital reception! And so, there was I with water all over my legs and people in the reception area watching 😀 It wasn’t quite funny on that day! But I digress…

Sometimes, this sac of fluid bursts or it could start leaking very gradually before the pregnancy is 37 weeks. This is called Pre-term Pre-labour Rupture Of Membranes (PPROM)

Question is whether what is leaking is urine, amniotic fluid or vaginal discharge.

Here are some tips to help you know:

If it’s urine, it has the peculiar smell of urine and is usually leaked when one coughs, laughs or sneezes.

If it’s vaginal discharge, it’s there constantly and may be clear, white or yellowish

If it’s amniotic fluid, it’s likely to be clear, or slightly mucoid and/or blood stained and it wets panties continuously irrespective of whether one laughs or not

The most significant issues with PPROM is the danger of infection, premature birth and the dangers associated with it.

Thus, if you develop a fever, the discharge changes to green, develops a foul smell, you experience vaginal bleeding, contractions, abdominal pain or baby appears not to be moving as normal, be sure to see a doctor immediately.

So, my advice would be to see your doctor immediately so he can examine you and make a diagnosis. He will confirm whether indeed it is amniotic fluid and then take a decision as to what step to take next. If the leakage is little, you may be asked to stay in hospital for a few hours while wearing a sanitary pad to check for whether it becomes soaked. An ultra sound scan, vaginal exam etc are also useful in making a diagnosis.

Have a good night y’all 😀

A practical timetable to help you sleep better at night.Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/better-sleep-naturally

Ever since my first daughter went ‘natural’, she has been extra finicky about the ingredients in her hair products. This was soon to be carried over to being super particular about the ingredients in her skin care products and finally her food. If it has letters and not real names, she will not use it. If she’s not sure what exactly it means, she will research it before she buys it. It is absolutely exhausting to go shopping with this daughter of mine…even though I approve of all that ‘finickiness!’ ;D

Well, this post is not about her. It is about the fact that you should also be particular about the stuff you put on and inside your body. Some of the ingredients in those products may be harmful. Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/toxic-beauty

Q: Good morning doctor, Please I am 5months pregnant and I have been having an itching and less painful white discharge from my vagina two days now. Please what might have been the problem?

A: A: In pregnancy, the decrease in tolerance to glucose which may occur, means that the vagina has a rich supply of sugar which encourages the fungi to grow and multiply as they love the dark, warm, moist and rich environment 😀

Usually, there is yeast (fungi) in the vagina and they generally mind their own business until something comes along to disturb the peace of the environment. This disturbance can be in the form of abuse of antibiotics (which kills off the good bacteria that hold the fungi at bay causing them to take over and overgrow the environment) or even in pregnancy (where the estrogen hormone produced in pregnancy messes with the normal order of co-existence of fungi and bacteria, again, allowing the fungi to take over). Other conditions associated candidiasis include Diabetes Mellitus, disorders of the immune system, use of oral contraceptives, the hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycle etc.

How can this be prevented? Trust me, I’m not going to suggest not getting pregnant 😀 There are things you can do to reduce your risk of this infection. They include:
• Wear cotton panties instead of tight fitting nylon panties.
• Always wipe from the front to the back, after using the bathroom
• Do not use perfumed personal care products like sanitary towels, tissue etc
• Do not spray perfumes in your genitals and avoid perfumed soaps
• Change out of wet swimming gear as soon as possible

Now, this infection can be treated using oral drugs (tablets to be taken by mouth) but these are not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Vaginal pessaries and creams are better bets in pregnancy. However, because of the very small possibility of hurting your cervix (the neck of the womb), it is advisable not to use the applicator to administer the pessary. Instead, use your finger to insert the pessary. It may be necessary to continue the drug application for about 6 days as opposed to the shorter 3-day course. Your doctor will confirm diagnosis and advice on medication duration.

For more on candidiasis, please click on the following links:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/26/daily-health-tips-why-do-i-have-recurrent-candidiasis/
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/07/daily-health-tips-toilet-infection-seriously/
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/04/27/daily-health-tips-is-vaginal-discharge-normal/

Have a great weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Good evening Dr Ketch. Thanks for your work. Please, I wish to know if green tea is good for a woman TTC? If no, please what can I do to slim down? Thank you.

A: Lots of people like green tea for different reasons. Some because they like everything herbal. Others, because it is thought to speed up metabolism which in turn can help weight loss. It’s also touted to have beneficial effects on blood pressure, blood sugar levels and Alzheimer’s disease. These health effects are thought to be due to the presence of the anti-oxidants that help fight cell damage as in cancer. However, in excessive amounts, green tea can cause the same symptoms as excessive caffeine in the body and this includes diarrhoea, irritability, nervousness, rapid heart beat etc.

Some claim that green tea helps conception. There’s no evidence to that effect.

So, on the average, just like for coffee, 2 ‘dainty’ 😀 cups are fine per day. More than that, you could be opening up yourself to other health issues. Most green teas contain less caffeine than black tea and coffee.Where in doubt, especially when trying to conceive, please see your doctor.

For tips on slimming down, please click on https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/11/27/daily-health-tips-weight-loss-revisited/

Have a great weekend