Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. The skin on the penis or the vulva becomes red and inflamed with intense burning, painful and itchy sensation. Blister-like sores then appear. The sores then open and heal after a while. Burning sensation on passing urine, fever, headache and muscle ache may also be present. The first outbreak may last for weeks. The virus then retreats to the nervous system and remain inactive until stress like surgery and illness and vigorous sex trigger it.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for genital herpes. Antiviral drugs can help the sores to heal faster and suppress repeated outbreaks. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first. It is usually less severe and shorter than the first attack. Although the virus can stay indefinitely in the body, the number of outbreaks tends to go down over a period of years. Click here for fuller details on genital herpes.

In our body, about 90% of hair is growing at any one time with the other 10% entering a resting phase. Every two to three months, the resting hair falls out and allows new hair to grow in its place.

During pregnancy, many women experience luxuriant growth of hair due to increased amount of female hormone (oestrogen) in the blood. This hormone stimulates hair follicles growth, changes the texture and causes them to stop shedding. It also stimulates the body to bring nutrients to the scalp.

Furthermore, better eating habits and increase intake of vitamins during pregnancy lead to healthy hair growth. After delivery, these hairs begin to fall out. In about 40 to 50% of women, excessive shedding of hair occurs. This can happen from one to five months after delivery and is due to body adjustment to declining level of oestrogen hormone levels. As your doctor correctly points out to you, this condition does not cause permanent hair loss. Hairs will grow back slowly 2 to 3 months after delivery and the texture will take a few more hair growth cycles (sometimes up to several years) before it completely returns to normal.

To keep the hair in good condition:

• Avoid tight hair rollers which can pull and stress your hair.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These contain antioxidants which provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
• Hair is fragile when it is wet. So be gentle and avoid fine tooth combs.
• If you need to use blow dryers and other heated hair instruments, try to use the cooler, lower settings.
• Supplement your diet with:
  • Vitamin B complex
  • Vitamin C with bioflavonoids
  • Vitamin E and
  • Zinc
• Massage the scalp with vegetable oils once every few weeks.

No medical treatment is necessary.

There is not enough information to state with certainty that using hair dyes during pregnancy is completely safe as there are no extensive human studies available. There is also no information on having hair treatments during breastfeeding. However, The Food and Drug Administration of America recommends that until conclusive evidence is available, pregnant women may want to proceed with caution in using hair dyes.
For more details, please see our web page on Hair Treatment During Pregnancy.

According to medical studies that tried to analyse the common ingredients contained in these products, there is no evidence that these ingredients have the effect they claim. The most common ingredient is arginine, which occurs naturally in nearly every food. It is converted in the body into nitric oxide, which relaxes and opens up blood vessels in the body. In fact, Viagra works by increasing the availability of nitric oxide. But there is no evidence that taking arginine as a supplement works with erectile dysfunction. It is probably the placebo effect of these supplements that works. People believe in the suggestion that they work, so they might work a little for a little while.
True scientific studies have been done with drugs such as Levitra, Viagra and Cialis. They are medications that have been shown to work better than a placebo.

There is misconception about the safety and benefits of hepatitis vaccination. Many ladies would wait for a period of time before trying to conceive. Their concern is whether the baby will be deformed as a result of vaccination. This is unfounded as hepatitis vaccine contains non-infectious material.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of United States of America, HBV even in pregnant health care workers who are at high risk of getting the infection has no apparent adverse effects to the developing baby. On the other hand, should pregnant mother get infected by hepatitis B virus, there may be serious consequences resulting in occasional death.
Therefore, vaccination can be given during pregnancy or breast feeding in high risk mothers such as nurses, dentists or laboratory technicians. The benefits of vaccinating these mothers outweigh the risks.

You probably have heartburn. This is fairly common in many women especially during the last part of pregnancy.
Heartburn is also called acid indigestion. It is a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of the breastbone to the throat. The acid contents of the stomach may also give an intense sour feeling at the back of the throat.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the valve that separates the esophagus (food pipe) from the stomach. This allows gastric acids to seep back up the pipe and causes the uncomfortable burning feeling. In later part of pregnancy, the growing baby crowds your abdominal cavity and pushes up the stomach acids to cause heartburn.
Web page heartburn has more details on this subject.

The opening of the urinary bladder (urethra) is very close to the vagina and the anus. During sexual intercourse, bacteria in and around the vagina and lower bowel are pushed into the urethra by the movement of the penis. These bacteria grow in the bladder and cause urinary tract infection. This is called "Honeymoon cystitis".
For details regarding the symptoms and prevention of "Honeymoon cystitis", please see our web page on Urinary Infection.

About 75% of women report troublesome symptoms during menopause, but the severity and frequency of symptoms varies from woman to woman. The most common symptoms are hot flashes. It is the most common reason for seeking treatment. It produces a sudden sensation of warmth or even intense heat that spreads over various parts of the body, especially the chest, face, and head. Flushing and sweating usually occur as well, followed by a chill. Some women feel their heart beating very fast. This makes them feel anxious.
These flashes last from a few seconds to several minutes. How often they occur varies from woman to woman. Fortunately, for most women, their hot flashes usually subside the first 2 years after menopause. However, occasionally some women may have them for a few years after menopause.

One simple way that might help to ease your symptom is exercise. Regular exercise can relieve many uncomfortable symptoms of menopause as well as reduce risks of heart disease and osteoporosis. Other benefits of exercise include:

Reduced stress. Menopause is often associated with depression and anxiety. Exercise helps in reducing stress and improving mood changes.

Losing body fat.

Reduce hot flashes: Some studies have shown that exercise increases estrogen which can decrease the severity of hot flashes.

Increased bone mass: Weight bearing activity (walking or running) can help strength the bones and prevent osteoporosis.

Reduced risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

It is never too late to start exercise and the key is to start slowly and do things you enjoy such as brisk walking and fitness classes. Strength training using dumbbells or resistance bands is also important.
Make the commitment now, get the spouse involved and spend quality time with him through exercise. Taking control of your health is one way to make menopause a more pleasant experience.