Bleeding at any stage of pregnancy should be a cause for concern and medical advice should be sought immediately. It is important to bear in mind that the first trimester is a ‘touch-and-go’ time in any pregnancy. A host of complications are possible in early pregnancy that can lead to a miscarriage or threaten the life of the mother. Vaginal bleeding is one of those important signs that should alert expectant mothers of a possible problem.
Acne is a common skin complaint during pregnancy and may persist even after child birth and during the course of breast feeding. The main contributing factor to any case of acne, whether during pregnancy or not, is a hormonal cause. The hormonal fluctuation and high levels of estrogen and progesterone, necessary during pregnancy, may contribute to the development of pimples during pregnancy.
The danger of consuming alcohol during pregnancy has been widely publicized and there is much confusion over what amount of alcohol may be potentially toxic to the fetus. The safest option is to stop drinking alcohol altogether once you learn that you are pregnant. It may also be advisable to stop drinking alcohol if you are planning on conceiving, as you may be unsure when you will fall pregnant.
Cigarette smoking is declining in many developing nations but this rather bad habit still continues to pose one of the most significant health risks to the modern world. Apart from the known effects of cancer, heart and lung disease, cigarette smoking plays a significant role in pregnancy.While women of today are more aware of the dangers of smoking during pregnancy, many pregnant mothers continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy. This has far reaching consequences on the unborn baby, impacting on both pregnancy and the physical and mental welfare of the child.
Fertility tests are done to determine the cause of infertility and whether the problem lies with the male or female partner or both. After proper history taking and physical examination, the following tests and procedures are advised :
Based on the results of these tests, further special testing and other investigative procedures may be necessary for each partner. The findings will determine the appropriate infertility treatment that should be considered for the individual or couple.
There are various options available for treatment of infertility such as fertility drugs, surgery, artificial insemination, assisted reproductive technology, or a combination of these, and obviously the treatment of choice will depend on the causes of infertility as well as on the couple’s personal preferences. The success of the various infertility treatment options may differ and is dependent on each individual case.
Infertility may be defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after one year (six months if the woman’s age is more than 35) of regular sexual intercourse, without the use of contraceptives. While the cause may lie in either partner, in some cases no definite cause for infertility can be identified. This is also known as primary infertility.
Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after successfully conceiving one or more children. The causes of secondary infertility tend to be the same as those for primary infertility. Sterility is a term used loosely but indicates the total inability to conceive, in other words, you can never fall pregnant or impregnate a woman. The causes of sterility are the same as infertility.
The oral contraceptive, often referred to as ‘the pill’, is still among the most popular method of preventing an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. While other forms of contraception, like the contraceptive injection, are widely used, especially after having a child and in developing countries due to the cost, an oral contraceptive is the method of choice for many teens and young women.
