Newsletter No 3
med4u
news
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November 2000
Thank you again for using www.med4u.co.uk. UK’s leading site for Internet consultations. med4u.co.uk
News Dr Stephen Kegg, has recently joined the med4u team. He specializes in men's sexual
health. |
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Recent shock
headlines that 'kissing causing cot deaths' conceal a potential breakthrough in establishing one of the causes and means of prevention of cot deaths. There
are several sides to this story, so I thought it might be worth looking at it in more detail. See below for further information. |
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SPECIAL
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NEW PAGES |
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BOOK OF THE MONTH |
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MENS’ SEXUAL HEALTH Sex is such an important part of our lives. When things go wrong with our sexual
health there can be adverse effects on our self-esteem, relationships, mental health ad performance at work. We all find it easier to discuss sex since the
advent of HIV/Aids but it remains disappointing that so many men are either offered misinformation or are unaware how to access sexual health care. Many men
are understandably unwilling to discuss personal very personal issues with their General Practitioners. It is therefore important that men are aware of the
help that is available so as to make informed choices and to obtain help when things go wrong. Where to get help Where to start? There are a number of choices. The Internet is an excellent source of
information and some sites - such as this one - offer on-line consultations if you would rather avoid a face-to-face discussion. All areas in the UK are
served by a Sexual Health Clinic (these used to be called Genitourinary Medicine or 'Special' Clinics). They used to be tucked away in anonymous parts of the
hospital but in recent years have come 'out of the closet' and now occupy smart premises in prominent sites. All the staff you meet will be very at ease
talking about sex. It will usually be possible to get on-the-spot testing for sexually transmitted infections and all clinics offer HIV testing, often
providing a result the same day. It may well be worth telephoning in advance to enquire about this. All clinics will have staff trained to give up-to-date
information on safer sex and health promotion. Frequently they will be able to offer on-site counselling and help with sexual problems such as erection
difficulties. By far the most important feature of these clinics is the fact that by law your confidentiality has to be respected so you don't need to worry
that anyone will find out about your visit or what was discussed. Also, all treatments are completely free of charge. If you have special language or mobility
needs, these will be catered for, but again it might be worth an advance phone call so arrangements can be made. When to get help If you are uncertain as to whether you need help, this means that you probably do!
It's often a good idea to get to know your local sexual health clinic and they are an excellent source of pamphlets and free condoms. Many men get a regular
check-up, especially if they have changed partners and want information about the safety of abandoning condoms. Preventive medicine is high on the agenda -
you will be able to get vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B, which are two liver infections that may be passed on sexually. There are several symptoms that you should be aware of. A stinging or burning when you
pass urine or a discharge from the penis may well mean that you have an infection. Any lumps or bumps around the anus or on the genitals should be checked
out. Similarly, any breaks in the skin or sores - even if they are not painful - may be significant. If you suspect that you have an infection it is important
that you don't have sex with anyone else before you have a check-up to ensure you don't pass it on. And remember, any infection or break in the genital skin
hugely increases the chance of HIV being passed on. If you are having problems with your erections or other sexual difficulties, get help
sooner rather than later. If your local sexual health clinic doesn't run a service specifically for this they will be able to refer you on to get help.
Finally med4u offers consultations to provide information and opinion about sexual matters. Resources |
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PMT: Modern antidepressants such as Sertraline and Prozac are
effective remedies for severe premenstrual syndrome. They work differently from depression, as it is only necessary to take them only during the second part
of the menstrual cycle. More traditional natural remedies such as B6 or Evening primrose oil are also effective. Contraception: Lose weight on the pill – look out for a new pill containing Drosperidone as the progesterone part of the pill. Drosperidone resembles natural progesterone much more closely than ordinary progesterone and in a recent study helped women lose weight. Abortion Pill: The British Pregnancy Service (BPAS) now use the abortion pill Mifegyne combined with a more gentle procedure that can be done under local anaesthetic, as long as the pregnancy is less than nine weeks. This is more like a miscarriage and most GPs can refer women for this procedure rather than a more formal termination. |
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Recent shock headlines that
'kissing causing cot deaths' conceal a potential breakthrough in preventing of cot deaths. There are several sides to this story, so I thought it might be
worth looking at it in more detail. Up to 50% of adults are currently
infected with H. Pylori. Most people will not have any problems however H.Pylori can cause gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), gastric ulcers. Treating H Pylori infection
usually cures these symptoms. However H Pylori is also closely associated with gastric cancer and there is some evidence that treating H.Pylori might reduce
the risk of cancer. H.Pylori infection tends to run in families and is more common in
smokers. H Pylori can be transferred in
saliva, but not by a kiss on the cheek. Therefore sucking your babies' dummy, or sharing your babies' spoon may well infect the child with H Pylori. The human
mouth is not clean - for example, human bites cause severe infections. Are there precautions that will
help prevent babies becoming infected with H.Pylori and shed further light on the cause of cot death? 1 Avoid sharing dummies or spoons
with young babies, and wash hands regularly After that it becomes more
controversial 4 Perhaps all parents and
expectant mothers should be tested for H.Pylori At the moment many doctors are reluctant to
screen for H.Pylori unless a person indigestion that have not responded to ordinary medical treatment. The crux of screening is that it
picks up a common and important condition. Moreover there must be an effective treatment. In many ways H Pylori infection fits these criteria. However it will
be a long time before the NHS has sufficient resources to screen everyone for H.Pylori. It is possible to screen for H.Pylori at home with your own testing
kit. Follow this link http://www.med4u.co.uk/wellbeing.htm Who should test themselves? This test is important for
everyone with severe indigestion that does not respond to ordinary antacids, or antacid drugs such as ranitidine. If you are concerned about cot deaths, then
think about testing yourself and your partner. There has only been one study, the danger at this stage is that no other researchers will take up the challenge to confirm
it. Cot death may not be common enough for a drug company or the government to be concerned enough to sponsor the studies. This is
where public pressure can be helpful. If you test positive and you have symptoms of a stomach problem, take the result to a doctor and ask for 'triple therapy' for H.Pylori |