Is Sex Safe During Pregnancy?

Sure it is!

-Sex during pregnancy is not known to cause miscarriages as feared by some women.

-Studies also reveal that pregnant women who are sexually active will hardly have premature labour.

-Unless there are medical conditions, sex in pregnancy can never cause any known harm to your developing baby.

Our bodies are different. While some pregnant women may have an increase in sex drive, others may not. 

So most women actually enjoy sex more when they are pregnant.

Men should should be sure that their pregnant partners are comfortable with sex during the nine months period.

All you need is a ready mind, a healthy body and a good sex position.

Be safe!

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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

This is the cyclical presence of somatic, psychological and emotional symptoms that worsen as menses approach and are ameliorated by the onset of menstrual flow.

EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS

- Tension or anxiety
- Depression
- Crying spells
- Mood swings or irritability or anger
- Appetite changes or food cravings
- Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
- Social withdrawal
- Poor concentration

PHYSICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

- Joint or muscle pains
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Weight gain related to fluid tension
- Abdominal bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Acne flare-ups
- Constipation or diarrhea

Most women experience only a few of these problems among others. Near all women with regular cycles do experience some form of symptoms in the premenstrual phase, but about 5% of women suffer symptoms debilitating enough to disrupt work, lifestyle or relationships.

Such severe or disabling form of PMS is called PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMDD)

Read also Remedies For Vaginal Odour

What are the CAUSES of PMS?

The etiology of the symptom complex of PMS is not known, although several theories have been proposed, include estrogen- progesterone imbalance, excess aldosterone, hypoglycemia, hyperprolactinemia and psychogenic factors.

Previously, it was thought that a hormonal imbalance was related to a clinical manifestation of PMS, but recent consensus is that physiologic ovarian function is the trigger.

TREATMENT

Treatment of the disorder is dependent on the severity of the symptoms.

A doctor's reassurance is very necessary

- Stress management and aerobic exercises
- Modification of eating habits such as limit use of caffeine, alcohol, chocolate.
- You doctor may prescribe one of more of any of these drugs depending on your condition: NSAIDS, vitamins, anxiolitics, combined oral contraceptives

FIND OUT What May Be Causing Your Abdominal Pains

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Molar Pregnancy

Molar pregnancy occurs when tissue that normally becomes a fetus instead becomes an abnormal growth in your uterus. Even though it is not an embryo, this growth triggers symptoms of pregnancy.

TYPES OF MOLAR PREGNANCY

There are two types of molar pregnancy: complete and partial.

Complete molar pregnancy is formed when an egg without genetic information is fertilized by a sperm. The sperm grows on its own, but it can only become a lump of tissue. It cannot become  a fetus. As this tissue grows, it looks a bit like a cluster of grapes. This cluster of tissue can fill the uterus.

Partial molar pregnancy is formed when an egg is fertilized by two sperms. The placenta becomes the molar growth. Any fetal tissue that forms is likely to have severe defects.

CAUSES OF MOLAR PREGNANCY

Factors that may increase your risk of having a molar pregnancy include:

Age: This is because the risk of complete molar pregnancy steadily increases after age 35.

History of molar pregnancy, especially if you have had two or more.

History of miscarriage.

A diet low in carotene. Carotene is a form of vitamin A. Women who don't get enough of this vitamin have a higher rate of complete molar pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS OF MOLAR PREGNANCY

- A molar pregnancy causes the same early symptoms that a normal pregnancy does, such as a missed period or morning sickness. But a molar pregnancy usually causes other symptoms too. These may include:

+ Bleeding from the vagina .
+ A uterus that is larger than normal.
+ Severe nausea and vomiting.
+ Signs of hyperthyroidism. (These include feeling nervous or tired, having a fast or irregular heartbeat , and sweating a lot).
+ An uncomfortable feeling in the pelvis.
+ Vaginal discharge of tissue that is shaped like grapes. This is usually a sign of molar pregnancy.

TREATMENT PLAN

When you have a molar pregnancy, you need treatment right away to remove all of the growth from your uterus. The growth is removed with a procedure called vacuum aspiration. If you are done having children, you may decide to have your uterus removed
(hysterectomy) instead of having a vacuum aspiration to treat your molar pregnancy.

After treatment, you will have regular blood tests to look for signs of trophoblastic disease. These blood tests will be done over the next 6 to 12 months. If you still have your uterus, you will need to use birth control for the next 6 to 12 months so you don't get pregnant. It is very important to see your doctor for all follow-up visits.

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Wet Dreams (Nocturnal Emissions)

Also known as Nocturnal Emission, wet dream is a spontaneous orgasm during sleep that includes ejaculation for a
male, or vaginal wetness or an orgasm (or both) for a female.

Wet dreams are a completely normal part of growing up. They happen as your body prepares for sexual and reproductive maturity and are a good indication that
your reproductive system is working normally.

What causes wet dreams?

When you go through puberty, your body starts producing the male hormone testosterone. Once your body makes testosterone, it can release sperm. This
means you'll be able to fertilize an egg if you decide to have a baby in the future. It also means you can get a girl pregnant if you have sex.

Semen can build up inside your body. One way that semen gets released is with a wet dream. You have to go through puberty and your testes need to be able to produce sperm to have a wet dream.

Wet dreams during puberty are very common.

Some experts theorize that wet dreams are one of the many sub conscious ways that the body handles stress - they seem to happen more frequently in
teens and young adults because this age group is thought to be under extreme stress

There is nothing you can do to stop them, and, in fact, you shouldn’t try to. They are subconscious and can not be easily controlled or manipulated. As embarrassing as it is, be glad that they happen – it means you are developing normally.

The frequency of nocturnal emissions is highly variable. Some reported that it is due to being sexually inactive, either intercourse or masturbation.

Find out about MASTURBATION

Once you start releasing sperm by masturbating or having sex with a partner, you may have fewer wet dreams.

There is therefore no reason to ever feel guilty about having one.

WOMEN also do have wet dreams.
Girls and women who don't have orgasms in their sleep, or who don't
know whether or not they've had them, are perfectly normal.

It may be easier for men to identify their wet dreams because of the "ejaculatory evidence." Vaginal secretions could be a sign of sexual arousal
without orgasm.

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Uterine fibroids

These are benign tumors which are non-cancerous found in the uterus of women in their 30's and 40's.
Often,fibroids occur as multiple tumor masses which are slow-growing and often cause no symptoms.

CAUSES

No one is sure why fibroid tumors develop,however the following are risk factors:

*Family history
*Age
*Ethnic origin.It occurs more in African women
*Eating habits.Eating a lot of red meat predisposes a woman to develop fibroids

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

.Heavy bleeding
.Frequent urination
.Constipation
.Abdominal distension/fullness
.Back pain
.Repeated miscarriages
.Pain during sex

DIAGNOSIS

-Ultrasound
-CT scan of the abdomen
-Full blood count
-Laparoscopy

How are fibroids treated

.Treatment depends on:
     > If you want to get pregnant
     >Your age
     >Size & location of fibroids
     >If no symptoms and the fibroids are not affecting you you can opt not to receive treatment at all

MEDICATION

Medication for uterine fibroids target hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle.

They don't eliminate fibroids but may shrink them.

Less effective with larger fibroids

.Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
.Contraceptive pill
.Tranexamic acid
.Anti-inflammatory drugs
.Progestin IUD

SURGICAL TREATMENT

.Fibroids that are severe and life threatening require surgery where the doctor and patient may opt for:
  *Hysterectomy-surgery to remove the uterus.You cant get pregnant after this
  *Myomectomy-Surgery to remove the fibroids without taking out the healthy tissue of the uterus.You can become pregnant after this.
   

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Chlamydia

It is a common sexually transmitted infection(STI) in humans caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN

Symptoms do not usually show early but you may see these

* Abnormal vaginal discharge that may have an odour.
* Bleeding between periods(some women think they have their periods more than once in the month).
* Painful periods
* Abdominal pain with fever
* Pain when having sex
* Itching or burning in or around the vagina.
* Pain when urinating.
 
SYMPTOMS IN MEN

1. Discharge from penis.
2. Pain and burning sensation during urination.
3. Mild irritation at the end of the penis.
4. Inflammation of the testicles

PREVENTION

To reduce your risk of a chlamydia infection:
* Use condoms correctly during sex when not sure of the patner's status.
* Limit the number of sex partners.
* Sexual abstinence is the best

If you think you are infected, avoid sexual contact and see a doctor.

TREATMENT

Your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics, usually azithromycin or doxycycline.Your doctor will also recommend your partner(s) be treated as well to prevent reinfection.The infection should go in about a week or two with the treatment.
If not treated, you are at risk of several health problems.

For women.

If left untreated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, miscarriage, infertility ,increase risk of ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, premature births and can affect children yet to be born( eye infection,blindness, or pneumonia in the newborn).

In men it leads to infertility.

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Vaginal Odour

 

Normal vagina has odour and there is absolutely no problem with this. Normal vaginal odor is common during your period, after sex or after the use of birth control pills. 

But if your vagina smells 'fishy', there must be a problem.

To prevent:

1. Wear clean underwear. This is important.
2. Avoid douches and highly scented soaps. 
3. Wipe your perineum from front to back
4. Avoid tight fitting under wears and jeans. These garments prevent the area from being aerated, and sweating occurs, causing odor.
5. Do not wear panties for too long. A pant daily!
6. Change pads, panty liners, tampons regularly.
7. Avoid spicy or alcoholic or caffeineted foods
8. Eat yoghurt to sypply your vagina with good bacteria that will keep it in good condition.
9. See a doctor if all these fail.

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Cervical Cancer

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, the place where a baby grows during pregnancy. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called HPV. The virus spreads through sexual contact. Most women's bodies are able to fight HPV infection. But sometimes the virus leads to cancer. You're at higher risk if you smoke, have many children, use birth control pills for a long time, or have HIV infection.

Cervical cancer may not cause any symptoms at first. Later, you may have pelvic pain or bleeding from the vagina. It usually takes several years for normal cells in the cervix to turn into cancer cells. Your health care provider can find abnormal cells by doing a Pap test - examining cells from the cervix under a microscope. If there are abnormal cells, you will need a biopsy. By getting regular Pap tests and pelvic exams you can find and treat any problems before they turn into cancer.

Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination. The choice of treatment depends on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread and whether you would like to become pregnant someday.

Vaccines can protect against several types of HPV, including some that can cause cancer.

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