Doctor's advice: Getting a fix for my cervix

Q I am a 26-year-old woman who has a small daughter. After I had the baby, I was told that the neck of my womb was 'bruised'.

As a result, my sex life is difficult. I bleed most times when I have intercourse. I saw a doctor, and he gave me some medication, but still I am experiencing the same thing. What can I do to help my womb?

A Sorry to hear about this. The neck of the womb is actually the cervix. That is the part that projects down into the top of your vagina. It is easy to touch it with your fingertip. It feels like a soft 'nose' at the upper end of the vagina.

During sex, the cervix is usually hit by the tip of the guy's penis. This can make it bleed, particularly if there is anything wrong with it.

However, it is not possible for the cervix to be 'bruised'. So what is really wrong with it?

My best guess is that you may have an erosion on it. Erosions are raw patches on the cervix and they bleed easily when touched. Unfortunately, it is not possible to put them right by simply taking medication.

What you should do now is to consult a gynaecologist. She can look at your cervix and tell you precisely what is wrong with it. I am sure she will also conduct a Pap smear.

If she finds that you have an erosion, she should be able to cure this by applying either cryotherapy (freezing) or diathermy (heat treatment).

Q Last week, I had sex with a girl for the first time, and now I am bleeding slightly from the 'string thing' on the underside of the penis. Is this VD?

A No, this is just a little cut. Slight tears of what you term 'the string' are quite common in young guys.

Put on Vaseline three times a day for a week. If you have not healed by that time, see a doc. Don't have sex till you are healed.

Q I am a 16-year-old girl. I have never had sex but I do stimulate myself when I am home alone. Is this a good thing to do? And can I pick up an infection by doing so?

A Well, as a doctor, I am not here to say whether activities are 'good' or not. What I can tell you is that from a medical point of view, you have not done yourself any harm by touching yourself in this way.

Also, you cannot pick up a sexual infection through what you have been doing.

Q I recently had a yeast infection, so I started to use Canesten inserts and cream. But then six bumps appeared at the opening of my vagina. I went to a doctor, who said it didn't look serious. But she gave me Schederma cream. Since then, nothing has changed. I then went to a second doctor, a gynaecologist. He examined me and said the lumps are infected hair bumps, and that Schederma wouldn't clear them up. He gave me some blue capsules and Clotrimazole, which I am now using. Do you think the gynaecologist was correct?

A Yes, he is likely to be correct. Infected hair follicles in the pubic area are common among young women. They are never serious.

Clotrimazole is actually the same stuff as Canesten, which you have already used.

But my guess is that the gynaecologist's blue capsules will make you better, though the lumps may take several months to disappear.

Q I would be willing to take that 'male pill'. But where could I get it?

A You can't. Although a lot of research has been put into developing a male pill, no one has so far succeeded in developing an effective one.

Q I am a virgin woman in my 20s, and I have on my mouth what appears to be a wart, situated on the lower lip. It is a circular lump, the same colour as my lips. I have tried a few home remedies to remove it but these have not worked. I went on the Internet and got some very confusing information about it. I have not performed oral sex on anyone, nor have I ever been kissed. But I am getting scared and I want to get rid of this. I am not in a financial position to go to a dermatologist.

A There is no need to be scared. Lumps on the lips are rarely serious in young adults. It would be a very different thing if you were 50 or 60, but that is not the case.

Please do not use any other home remedies. To employ them on the mouth or face is potentially dangerous.

As I have not seen your lip, I cannot say what this thing is. But my forecast is that it will turn out to be some kind of benign lesion.

I appreciate that, at present, you cannot afford to consult a dermatologist. But, really, any doctor could have a quick look at this for you and give you good advice. Also, if you wish, you could send me a photo of this thing. Please try not to fret.

Q I am a young man and my female counterpart is seven years older than I am. Sex is great and everything is OK. But each time we are prepared for sex, she releases a lot of vaginal fluid, even while thrusting. She says that in her previous sexual relationships, she never released so much fluid. And in the little experience I have had, I've never known a woman to produce such quantities of liquid. Do you think that something could be wrong with her?

A No, I don't. Some highly sexed women do release a lot of vaginal liquid, particularly if they are being effectively stimulated. So you are probably doing everything pretty well!

It does not sound as if this is the phenomenon of 'female ejaculation', which only occurs at the moment of orgasm.

So I think you should just accept that your lady is pretty sexy and produces a lot of secretion. There is no medication that will stop that.

Q My husband and I are in our early 20s. For more than a year we have been trying to conceive, but were unsuccessful till April when I missed my period. I was pregnant but my joy was short-lived because I had a miscarriage. I would like to know how soon after a miscarriage can one get pregnant? Also, is there any over-the-counter fertility aid I could purchase?

A Very sorry to hear about your distressing experience. I think you should wait till three months after the miscarriage before trying again in order to let the body recover.

The only useful thing you could buy over the counter is an ovulation kit, which helps you pinpoint your ovulation day. Good luck.

Email questions and comments for Doc to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com. Also, read Doctor's Advice in tomorrow's edition of Outlook magazine in The Sunday Gleaner.