ASK THE DOCTOR
Apr 10, 2007
I have fibroids<br><b>Dear Doctor,<br>I have a small fibroid in my uterus which scares me. I have a six-year-old child. What should I do?<br>Zaitun</b>
I have fibroids
Dear Doctor,
I have a small fibroid in my uterus which scares me. I have a six-year-old child. What should I do?
Zaitun
Dear Zaitun,
Fibroids are swellings on the uterus. They are very common amongst women between 20 and 50 years of age. They are usually painless and grow very slowly over years. The growth stops after menopause.
The effect of fibroids depends on their location, size and the age of the woman. Most women get no symptoms. In some, symptoms occur and the severity differs.
Some have a painless swelling, others heavy menses, pain during menses, anaemia and some have difficulties becoming pregnant.
Treatment of fibroids depends on many factors. In most cases, when there are no or few symptoms, your doctor may decide to do nothing but observe you.
You should not get worried by this. It is ok.
Other options include treating symptoms with blood-making-drugs, painkillers or controlling symptoms with hormones and the pill. For some people, an operation to remove the fibroid or uterus may be necessary.
Zaitun, you should see a gynaecologist and be followed up.
I fear to approach girls
Dear Doctor,
I am 25 years and want a girlfriend. But I fear to talk to ladies I admire. I have some I like, but I fear to tell them because I fear to lose their friendship. What can I do?
Faso
Dear Faso,
We have all gone through the same fear, not knowing how to approach the object of our affection. It may be easier to be friends, or ‘just friends’ than to enter into a deeper relationship.
But one has to take the step. If you never talk to the girl, she will never know how you feel. Your lady friend will not ‘kill’ you just because you tell her you have thoughts about her. It is a compliment, after all.
So Faso, take that first step. You may be surprised at how you are received. And if, (which may happen) the girl does not accept your advances, that is not the end of the world. Nor is she the only person out there.
With love, as in all things, practice makes perfect. Go out and relate.
Which are the safe days?
Dear Doctor,
I had unprotected sex on the seventh day after my period and I am worried I may be pregnant. Is it possible?
Maggie
Dear Maggie,
A woman is only fertile for a few days in the whole cycle. Theoretically, the sperms can fertilise the egg up to five days after ejaculation. The egg can only be fertilised within 24 hours of ovulation. This restricts the ‘fertile’ days to the period of four days before ovulation to one day after.
In practice, it is usually hard to say when exactly ovulation occurs. It is not a fixed day. When it occurs varies with the length of the particular woman’s cycles, the length of that particular cycle and other factors.
Ovulation usually occurs around the middle of the period cycle. But this is not a concrete indicator. Wait for your period and if it does not occur within the next three weeks, have a pregnancy test done.
You can use regular contraception or emergency contraception to avoid this kind of worry. Have a talk with a family planning counsellor, midwife or doctor.
Dr. Paul Semugoma
semugoma@hotmail.com
Write to Ask The Doctor, Box 9815, Kampala OR health@newvision.co.ug
Dear Doctor,
I have a small fibroid in my uterus which scares me. I have a six-year-old child. What should I do?
Zaitun
Dear Zaitun,
Fibroids are swellings on the uterus. They are very common amongst women between 20 and 50 years of age. They are usually painless and grow very slowly over years. The growth stops after menopause.
The effect of fibroids depends on their location, size and the age of the woman. Most women get no symptoms. In some, symptoms occur and the severity differs.
Some have a painless swelling, others heavy menses, pain during menses, anaemia and some have difficulties becoming pregnant.
Treatment of fibroids depends on many factors. In most cases, when there are no or few symptoms, your doctor may decide to do nothing but observe you.
You should not get worried by this. It is ok.
Other options include treating symptoms with blood-making-drugs, painkillers or controlling symptoms with hormones and the pill. For some people, an operation to remove the fibroid or uterus may be necessary.
Zaitun, you should see a gynaecologist and be followed up.
I fear to approach girls
Dear Doctor,
I am 25 years and want a girlfriend. But I fear to talk to ladies I admire. I have some I like, but I fear to tell them because I fear to lose their friendship. What can I do?
Faso
Dear Faso,
We have all gone through the same fear, not knowing how to approach the object of our affection. It may be easier to be friends, or ‘just friends’ than to enter into a deeper relationship.
But one has to take the step. If you never talk to the girl, she will never know how you feel. Your lady friend will not ‘kill’ you just because you tell her you have thoughts about her. It is a compliment, after all.
So Faso, take that first step. You may be surprised at how you are received. And if, (which may happen) the girl does not accept your advances, that is not the end of the world. Nor is she the only person out there.
With love, as in all things, practice makes perfect. Go out and relate.
Which are the safe days?
Dear Doctor,
I had unprotected sex on the seventh day after my period and I am worried I may be pregnant. Is it possible?
Maggie
Dear Maggie,
A woman is only fertile for a few days in the whole cycle. Theoretically, the sperms can fertilise the egg up to five days after ejaculation. The egg can only be fertilised within 24 hours of ovulation. This restricts the ‘fertile’ days to the period of four days before ovulation to one day after.
In practice, it is usually hard to say when exactly ovulation occurs. It is not a fixed day. When it occurs varies with the length of the particular woman’s cycles, the length of that particular cycle and other factors.
Ovulation usually occurs around the middle of the period cycle. But this is not a concrete indicator. Wait for your period and if it does not occur within the next three weeks, have a pregnancy test done.
You can use regular contraception or emergency contraception to avoid this kind of worry. Have a talk with a family planning counsellor, midwife or doctor.
Dr. Paul Semugoma
semugoma@hotmail.com
Write to Ask The Doctor, Box 9815, Kampala OR health@newvision.co.ug