Doctor's advice - Using a condom twice to save money!

Q: Would it be safe to use a condom twice in order to save money?

A: No way! Manufacturers used to make real thick condoms, which could be washed and used again. But today's condoms are extremely thin for higher sensitivity. To use one twice would be real unwise, as there is a high chance that it would break.

Q: Doctor, at the age of 36 I am about to launch into what I am sure is going to be a wonderful new relationship, with a real sexy man who I recently met. However, these days I am wiser than I was when I was young, so I do realise that I am going to need some contraception! Several of my friends have said that maybe I should go on the pill. But one of them warned me that she had heard where it could interfere with my sex life, or maybe turn me off sex, totally! Is this true? Also, a nurse told me that at my age, the pill could be dangerous for my health.  So what is the truth, doc?

A: OK, let me deal first with the question of the pill's effect on your health.

Recent research has suggested that in general, the health of women who are on the pill is actually slightly better than the health of women who are not taking it. Certainly, for younger females, the pill carries very few risks and certain benefits. But things are different for more mature women. After about the age of 35, there is a slight increase in the possibility of getting heart attacks and similar disorders.

I should add that the incidence of heart attacks in Jamaica is less than it is in many other countries. So, the risk to you is not great. However, if you have any 'danger factors', like being a smoker or suffering from diabetes, I feel that it would probably be wiser if you did not go on the pill at the age of 36. Please bear in mind that there are various, perfectly good alternatives which you should choose. For instance, there is the 'mini-pill' or 'Progestogen-Only Pill' (POP), which is used by many women who are in their late 30s or 40s. This is thought to carry virtually no risk of heart attacks.

Now, let us turn to the question of sex and the pill. Your friend has told you that it might turn you off sex. Frankly, this is most unlikely. A small number of women do lose interest in sexual activity after they go on the oral contraceptive. But if that happens, they can easily change to one of the other brands that are available.

Furthermore, a lot of females do actually become a good deal more sexy when they start taking the pill. This is probably because it has freed them from the tyranny of fretting about whether they are going to become pregnant!

So I wish you good luck with this new relationship. May it be a long and happy one.

Q: I am a man who has just been diagnosed as having 'sugar', doc. Does this mean that I will lose my nature, as I have heard?

A: No, that is not true. Erectile dysfunction (ED), 'impotence' as it used to be called, is more common in diabetics than in other guys. But the majority of diabetic men remain sexually potent. And these days, if they do run into trouble with their erections, they can be treated with good medication like Viagra or Cialis.

Q: I am a divorced woman in my 30s, and I have to confess to you doc that I have two lovers. They do not know about each other. I live in Kingston, and one of these men is from the Negril area. The other is from Portland. They both travel in their work, and they each come to the corporate area around once a month, but never on the same day. What I would like to know is this: Is there any danger that I could catch BVD from this arrangement, doc?

A: Well, if both these guys were totally faithful to you, then you would have nothing to worry about.

But is that very likely? I do not think so. Each of these men is away from you for a month at a time. It seems to me that it is highly probable that during that time they might decide to have sex with other women. So if either man catches a sexually transmitted infection (STI), then he would probably give it to you.

It is difficult to advise you what to do, but I must point out that if you only had one boyfriend, then your chances of getting an STI would be much less. For the moment, I would advise you to insist that both of these gentlemen use condoms whenever they have sex with you.

Q: I have always been a healthy woman, but suddenly I am all nervous and 'jumpy'. Also, I can't stand having my husband in bed with me, because it makes me far too hot. Finally, I have been losing a lot of weight, doc. Any ideas?

A: From what you say, there has to be a high chance that you are suffering from an overactive thyroid gland. This is common in women. Please see a doctor who will examine you and arrange a blood test.

Q: Could I have caught that gonorrhoea thing, doc? Last month, I went with a really beautiful girl who I met in Montego Bay. Now I have pain in passing urine, plus a 'staining' on the inside of my pants, which looks like it's caused from some sort of discharge. I called the young woman, but she assures me that there is nothing at all wrong with her health.

A: Well, your symptoms strongly suggest that you have either: gonorrhoea ('the clap'), or chlamydia. You must see a doctor right away and have tests and treatment. Please do NOT have sex until this problem has been totally cleared up. Regarding the woman in Montego Bay, it is an unfortunate fact of life that many women have absolutely no symptoms, even though these germs are breeding inside them. So when the doc tells you what your diagnosis is, you should call her again, and inform her that she almost certainly has a sex infection, and should consult a doctor.

Q: Doc, I am seeing my menses twice a month these days. Does it matter?

A: Yes, it does. For a start, these frequent periods will almost certainly make you anaemic (weak-blooded). Also, the fact that you are menstruating twice per month means that there is something wrong with your ovaries, womb or your hormones. Please see a doctor to find out what is going wrong inside you.

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