MOTHERS' HELPLINE: Vaginal Hygiene and Disease with Obs&Gyn Dr Kuruga

Q. I started using implant (Family Planning) 3years ago. My libido, together with that of my husband has gone down. Please advice.

The hormones from having the implant can really affect your libido, but not that of your husband. Advice him to see a doctor.

Q.Does the food you eat affect the nature of your vagina?

That is a yes or no question, depending on the person. Let me say maybe. It is important to note that there are some natural foods that can affect the pH of the vagina. Natural Yoghurt and Garlic are known to assist in balancing the vaginal pH and managing vaginal yeast infections.

Q.After giving birth I feel the need to tighten my vaginal muscles, apart from Kegel Exercise, are there any natural means? Some women say they use lemon, but I am afraid of the acidity.

Do not put anything up your vagina, especially not lemons. We never advocate for anything being put up the vagina for treatment. Kegel exercises are the best to help tighten those vaginal muscles. There are Kegel exercise kits like gynaeflex that help remove any uncertainty of muscle tightness reconstruction. The vaginal muscles can also be surgically repaired but the gynecologist must be sort to advice appropriately.

Q.I need to know how to appropriately clean my vagina. I am not a fun of douching and other methods?

Douching can tamper with the balance of the vaginal ph. The vagina cleans itself. Wash externally, avoid getting anything inside.

Q.What causes bleeding after sex, for more than 5 days. It is not my menstrual period?

It is not usual to bleed after sex, see the gynecologist immediately.

Q.How does one know for sure that after giving birth and it has expanded, that they have healed and are back to the size they were before.

You cannot tell the size. You could not tell before neither can you tell after.

Q.Does coil cause dryness during sex in some people? If it does, what's the remedy?

Coil is not known to cause dryness. There are other causes of dryness. You need to seek medical attention. Get examined by a gynecologist and get the right treatment.

Q. What are major causes of bartholin cyst and is there any means to prevent its recurrence?

Bartholin cyst is caused by the blockage of the Bath glands, the tubes from the vagina to the vulva. When they get clocked up, bacteria may take advantage and cause an infection. The cysts range in size from as small as a pea to as big as an egg. The bigger cysts may cause pain. A surgical procedure to permanently leave the gland open can be done to ensure there is no likelihood to develop the cysts.

Q. Can ovarian cyst cause infertility?

It all depends on the type of cyst, as there are various types. Get examined and the cyct examined to determine if it is a likely cause of infertility.

Q.What is that smell that comes from older women e.g. 50 and above? What are the causes? Any remedies?

It is not normal to have a smell down there. It could be due to imbalance of organisms. Seek the gynecologist immediately. If the person observes proper hygiene, regardless of age, there should be no smell at all.

GET WRINKLES OUT OF YOUR FACE in Kenya at an affordable cost

Joan Rivers was known for her constant glowing skin even in her 70’s, the talk show host and standup comedian credited her beauty in old age to her love for cosmetic surgery. She had Botox, face lift, chick alignment and many other cosmetic surgeries done all over her body. She once said, “I wish I had a twin, so I could see what I would look like without Plastic Surgery.”

Joan Rivers in her 30's and in her 70's, with the help of plastic surgery she managed to keep her image younger image: cbsnews.com

Little or no knowledge at all on advancements in plastic surgery has caused many Kenyan women to let their image fade with old age, but thanks to the Karen Hospital-Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, now they can get informed and molded surgically to keep looking vibrant and young like Joan Rivers.

Apart from an annual workshop to educate on plastic and cosmetic surgery hosted by the Karen Hospital, it has provided an avenue for advancements in beauty to be done at a more affordable cost for locals locally. Claims that one has to seek cosmetic surgery outside the country have been shattered as the department has highly trained surgeons in cosmetic surgery, that have the ability to tummy tuck, face lift, reduce your breast size, Botox among others.

If the wrinkles have started manifesting themselves, take a walk to Karen Hospital and have a chat with the surgeons on any cosmetic method you would like to help retrieve and maintain your youthful look.

The health center offers a variety of cosmetic procedures including:

Botox which is the use of a drug to temporarily paralyze muscle movement which cosmetically does away with wrinkles.

Face lift and Neck Lift, a surgical procedure that can be done, to improve the visible signs of aging on the face. It removes the wrinkles and excess facial skin, which may be sagging around the chin area.

An example of a facelift image: docteur-foumenteze.fr

If you still want to wear that bikini and look like your 20 year old self, then have a tummy tuck. The procedure that is also referred to as abdominoplasty, will tighten your abdominal muscles while at the same time remove excess fat and skin , giving you a firmer, well toned and flat abdomen.

It feels good to look attractive even as you get older, a breast lift would be a good way to keep feeling confident about your looks. The procedure that can be done at the Karen Hospital will give you firmer breasts and do away with sagging and dropping nipples.

International actress Sandra Bullock has been known to get better roles in movies after undergoing a cosmetic surgery known as Rhinoplasty, better referred to as a nose job. With a certain amount of money, you can have your nose reconstructed at the Karen Hospital to make you feel better and look more confident.

Actress Sandra Bullock before her nose job and after

 image:docteur-foumenteze.fr

The hospital that has a total of nine branches around the country also offers other cosmetic surgeries like hip and buttock enlargement, breast reduction, Hair transplant, cheek augmentation, tattoo removal and hand surgery. The department also does reconstructive surgeries; trauma reconstructive surgery, cancer restoration surgery, cleft lip and palate as well as breast reconstruction.

image: drss.com

It is important for any person seeking cosmetic and plastic surgery to first have a sit-down with the surgeon to discuss the best methods to help improve their image. The surgeons at the Karen Hospital are readily available to clients, to help them look better, feel better and build their confidence and self esteem.

MOTHERS' HELPLINE:Family Planning Q&A

with Gynecologist Dr Martha Kuruga

Q. What other natural ways of family planning can be invested apart from withdrawal? I have heard Spanish men use lemon!

A. Another natural way besides withdrawal is predictable cycle, better referred to as safe days. As much as this is achievable, one most have been monitored for at least six months to show characteristics of a regular cycle. The gynecologist will assist you to calculate the days; therefore it is necessary to visit one.We do not advocate for putting things in your vagina, especially not lemon.Even vaginal washes should be used externally.

Q. Had tubal ligation done 4 years ago, now whenever I’m on my days i experience pain on the left side of my abdomen, could it be related to TL coz before i never used to feel any pain.

A. The tubal ligation might or might not be a cause of the pain. There are various causes of pelvic pain, avoid over the counter drugs and visit the gynecologist, once tests are done appropriate answers and recommendations will be made.

Q. I was on depo from 2007 to 2011. Now this is the fourth year i want to get pg and it is not happening

A. Four years is a long time to be on a family planning method including Depo. It can delay your return to fertility but it takes not less than 8 months. If it has been longer then that is grounds for further evaluation, particularly to check your tubal factor.

Q. Which family planning method is the best? I have been on daily pills but I stopped since I started gaining a lot of weight

A. Family planning is individualized, that is because different family planning methods react differently in different people. Non hormonal family planning methods like the coil are known to prevent hormonal issues like mood swings and weight gain. However, note that even those non hormonal methods have their own side effects in different individuals, some may bleed in between their cycle. The best thing is to visit my clinic at the Karen Hospital I will help; I will correct the method and not necessarily do away with it

Q. Explain the relationship between family planning and low libido

A. This one is simple. The hormones in contraceptives influence the sex drive.It could be either way, in different people, as contraceptive react differently in each individual.

Q. After using depo and missing periods for some time, what should one do to restore periods and fertility to get pregnant

A. The effect of Depo Provera can last longer after it has been withdrawn. It is important to visit the gynecologist to advice you. We, at most times, give medication for two reasons; to regain your normal menstrual cycle and the other to produce ovulation. It can take almost 8 months to wear off the effect of Depo.

Q. Is it possible to get pregnant and a safe pregnancy for that matter 1year after ectopic pregnancy?

A. Yes it is!

Q. Why do I still get painful periods after having two children

A. There is no relationship between child birth and menses therefore see a gynecologist for that issue. Regardless of the number of children you have, it will have no effect on your period apins

Q. Best permanent Family Planning method

A. The only permanent method of Family Planning is Tubal Ligation or having no sex, which is almost impossible.

Q. Why are some women barren?

A. There could be many causes of infertility; it could have been an issue that has been acquired from her youth, or a problem of the reproductive system. There are various issues that could lead to this and it is important to visit a gynecologist for clarification

*Dr Kuruga is a resident Obs/Gynae at The Karen Hospital is set to have a Gynae Camp in April at the Hospital. Test cost will be subsidized. Test include, mammogram, pap smear,CA125,CA19-9(Cancer screening tests)

MOTHERS' HELPLINE: Q&A

With Paediatric Dr. Evelyn Ng’ang’a

Q1:  We constantly see children growing with Bow Legs, what is the cause of this, and how can we prevent it?

A: A child can either have one or both legs affected with bow-leggedness. It is important for the parent to visit the Karen Hospital and see the paediatric doctor to ensure that the baby has proper levels of  Calcium consumption.  Little or low vitamin D levels in the child can also be a cause of bow legs. Rickets is a major cause, and it is important for the parent to ensure the child gets the right kind of treatment.

Q2:  Many women complain of having low milk production. Does the size of the breast matter, what could be causing this and how can it be corrected?

A: The amount of milk produced has nothing to do with the breast size. Therefore size should not even bother any mother. The environment should be conducive for the mother, she must be comfortable psychologically and emotionally in order to lactate sufficiently; a place she finds peace is best. A mother’s main concern should be her diet. I urge young mothers to attend the Paediatric forum on 28^th March 2015 at Karen Hospital; there will be a nutritionist to advise on proper dieting to increase milk production.

Q3: Children who have begun teething frequent the hospital. Fever, running stomach and cold are just a few of some of the problems the child gets when teething. What can be done to reduce this?

A: Parents need to attend the forum to discuss simple but troublesome issues like this one. They always assume that the teething is the cause of those illnesses, yet the illness comes from the children constantly putting their dirty fingers in the mouth. They do this in an attempt to ease the discomfort in the gums. Keep their fingers clean, at all times to reduce the spread of disease. A dentist will be present on the day of the talk, to address this issue that is affecting many young children.

Q4: There are children out there that are almost one year and have never murmured a sound. Is this normal? Will they catch up in a few months?

A: There are certain stages or steps that a child must go through especially in speech development. At about 6 months the child should have started mumbling, and by one year they should be able to make voices and sounds. At 2 years of age the child should have some speech; pronounce and say certain words. Incase your child has not made those steps consult a paediatrician.

Q5: What is your take on Postpartum Depression?

A: That is a tricky topic, which affects new mothers. If the mother is not fine then the child is not fine. The mother must be able to give the child their attention in the most positive way and failure to which the child suffers.Bottom-line, If mother is suffering, child is suffering.