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Dear Doctor, my fiancée and I are so in love and we can’t wait to the spend the rest of our lives together and raise a family but we are both AS. What would you advise us to do so as to avoid having children with SS?
Dear Reader,
Love is important in any relationship and I am happy that you want to spend the rest of your lives together. However, such a beautiful journey can be ruined because you are both AS. Although there are feasible options to try in order to avoid giving birth to SS children, they can be expensive.
Firstly, you can both opt in for a natural conception and wait till like 10 weeks or 13 weeks where a test would be done to determine the genotype of the embryo. The procedure done at the 10th week is called the chorionic villous sampling and if it done at about 13th week it is called amniocentesis. Basically, a needle is inserted into the pregnant woman to collect the cells which is then analyzed genetically. If the embryo happens to be SS genotype, the pregnancy can be terminated. However, if it is not SS, you carry the pregnancy to full term. Considering that there is a possibility of termination, there may be a religious or moral difference and this can be challenging. Also, this procedure can be expensive and there are chances of having a miscarriage.
Another method is through an assisted conception such as pre- implantation genetic. In this case, the couple goes through an IVF, the eggs and sperms are fertilized in a dish and the embryo is allowed to grow for some days. A biopsy is done. Only non-SS children are transplanted in the mother as the SS embryo are terminated. A major downside to this is that it can be expensive. Also, this doesn’t allow natural conception to take place.
Ensure you speak with your obstetrician in order to help you go through this phase. I am wishing you both the best in the future
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Hello Doctor, my 75-year-old father has been diagnosed of prostate cancer and the doctors have told us it has to be treated by surgery. I am so concerned because he has an history of diabetes. Are there alternative treatments we can consider or what would you suggest that we do?
Dear Reader,
I understand how the diagnosis of prostate cancer must have been on the family. This may be tough times but I am hoping he gets well soon. I believe that the doctor seeing him must have taken into consideration his co-morbid states like diabetes. If not, you may need to inform the managing doctor. Prior to surgery, the surgeon would want to ensure that his sugar is well controlled. With respect to other alternatives, it is important to note what stage of cancer it is and sometimes, surgery may be the best for him. If surgery is the last resort, I would suggest you tell your doctor to explain what the outcome would be. I am wishing your dad a fast and quick recovery.
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Dear Doctor, I am a young lady in her late twenties and of late I have been having serious difficulties when I go to the toilet. Using the toilet has been very painful and the poop has been really hard. Two days ago, after I struggled to poop, I noticed some blood stains on my tissue and I am worried. Could this be a serious medical problem or could the blood be from the hard poop? What do I do?
Dear Reader,
Noticing blood in your stool can be quite disturbing and scary. A common cause is hemorrhoids. It is important to note that whenever you are extremely constipated, you may find blood in your stool which is not unusual. This should not get you so bothered. I would advise that you increase your water intake. Also, you need to consume vegetables and fruits. Although if you noticed that the blood in your stool is increasing in quantity or not reducing, you should see your doctor for further evaluation.
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Dear Doctor, please what are mental health problems that are most common? Can they ever be cured?
Dear Reader,
The common mental health problems in Nigeria include: depression, bipolar disorder, Anxiety disorder, schizophrenia. These conditions can be managed effectively using different approaches. A visit to a mental health Physician is always advised as our mental health is as important as your physical health. No one is alone when it comes to mental health. Your health care providers are always willing to help you go through this phase.
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Dear doctor, I hear there is a second wave of covid. Is it true? I am really scared and confused. What measures do you suggest I take to avoid getting infected?
Dear Reader,
Yes, I can confirm that there is a second wave of COVID. You do not need to be scared and confused as long as you take into consideration the following preventive measures: Always wear face mask in public places. Ensure you wash your hands with soap and water. Ensure you maintain social distancing. Avoid non- essential travels. However, if you have symptoms like dry cough, loss of taste and smell, sore throat, fatigue or fever. Get tested and isolate if positive. We can all end the pandemic.
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Dr Eniola Hassan is a Medical Officer with Paelon Memorial Hospital. He graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria with a Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery (MB:BS).
For more information and enquires, contact doctor@paelonmemorial.com.
