Doctor's Advice: Swellings just won't go away

Q I am female and have four swollen lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. They are different sizes, with the biggest one about as large as a regular-size marble. I also have one under my chin.

I discovered these lumps in March and did a blood test. The result indicated that my blood is 'weak'. It was probably anaemia.

The doc said I have these swollen lymph nodes because my body cannot fight infection. He prescribed about eight months of iron tablets for me.

I took them for about six months, but have now stopped because the swellings are still there.

What do you think, Doc?

A I am really concerned about your situation. Swollen glands in the neck are very common, particularly in young people. There are least 50 different reasons why they may swell up, but the most frequent are:

an inflammation in the throat;

an inflammation in the mouth;

some problem in the ear;

blood disease.

I presume that the doc examined your throat, mouth and ears, and found nothing wrong there. So what about your blood?

Well, the test done last March seems to have shown that you had 'weak' blood, or anaemia. However, the fact is that anaemia does not usually cause swollen glands in the neck.

So my guess is that something else is wrong. I cannot diagnose your problem without examining you myself, so you need a full physical exam by a doctor, as well as another blood test. That test should include an assessment of your white blood cells.

My reason for recommending this is because enlargement of the neck glands is quite often caused from abnormalities in the white cells.

Q I'm a male in my early 20s. When my girlfriend and I were having foreplay, in which I was fingering her, she suddenly discharged a creamy white liquid in my hand.

I would like to know what that was.

A Well, I am sure it was nothing to fret about. There are various possible explanations. But the most likely one is that this was the normal vaginal secretion which women produce when they are aroused.

This varies a lot in colour, depending on certain circumstances such as the stage of the menstrual cycle they have reached. It may be creamy in appearance.

Q I recently found a lump on the side of my vagina, on top of the bone. It was relatively big, but not really painful.

It lasted a couple of days. I was very alarmed, but I did not visit a doctor.

What was it? And how serious could it be? Could it be a symptom of cancer?

A I am sure it wasn't cancer. Cancer is very rare in young people, and it doesn't just go away after a couple of days.

My guess is that you had some sort of cyst, which is a fluid-filled swelling. But what is certain is that you must have your vagina examined by a doctor now to find out what has been going on.

Q I have two questions for you.

I was born with one testicle. Can I get a girl pregnant?

Second, is there some way I can get surgery to replace the missing testicle and fill out my scrotum?

A Almost always, one testicle will be enough to ensure a good sex life and to father babies. This is because a single testicle usually produces tens of millions of sperm.

As to your second question, that is something which is often asked by guys who have only one testis. Yes, you can have a cosmetic replacement inserted in a fairly simple operation. The artificial testicles I have seen are a little bit hard to the touch, so they are unlikely to fool any woman who touches the scrotum.

However, they do fill out the scrotum well. The drawback is that you would have to pay for the operation, and for the artificial testicle itself, which would be quite expensive.

Q I am a 23-year-old woman. Five months ago I had an ectopic pregnancy. Since then, I haven't seen my period.

I took a pregnancy test, which turned up negative. So, Doc, what's wrong with me?

A Did you have the operation to remove one ovary, with its Fallopian tube? If so, you still have another ovary and tube left.

With luck, that ovary will take over the work of two, and your menses will re-establish themselves. I also hope the ovary will work well enough to let you have children if you so desire.

However, the body needs time to recover from the shock of an ectopic pregnancy, so it takes quite some time before your regular menstrual cycle resumes. Till then, you must look after yourself and keep healthy.

In particular, it is quite likely that the illness has made you anaemic. Anaemia tends to stop the periods. I think you should see a doc and undergo a blood test for anaemia.

Finally, do not rush into trying to get pregnant. Your body has taken quite a beating already this year. It needs rest.

Q I am a 16-year-old guy, and I find that I have wet dreams almost every night.

Will this harm my health, Doc?

A Not at all. This is just an indication that you are a pretty highly sexed young man.

The erotic dreams will decrease in frequency as you get older, particularly when you establish a sexual relationship.

There is no need for you to fret.

Q My partner wants to have our baby circumcised. I do not mind having this done, but she wants to bury his foreskin in the garden.

Is there any medical justification for circumcision, Doc?

A Circumcision is a Jewish tradition, but it's also practised in other religions and cultures. It is based on an ancient belief that the foreskin contains some sort of 'negative energy,' which could only isolated by burying the foreskin in the earth.

But, in fact, there is absolutely no medical justification for burying foreskin in the soil. I must also add that there is rarely any medical justification for doing a circumcising a baby.

Remind your partner that the operation could go wrong, and that when this happens, there could be serious damage to the unfortunate child.

Q My partner wants to have our baby circumcised. I do not mind having this done, but she wants to bury his foreskin in the garden.

Is there any medical justification for circumcision, Doc?

A Circumcision is a Jewish tradition, but it's also practised in other religions and cultures. It is based on an ancient belief that the foreskin contains some sort of 'negative energy', which could only be isolated by burying it in the earth.

But, in fact, there is absolutely no medical justification for burying foreskin in the soil. I must also add that there is rarely any medical justification for circumcising a baby.

Remind your partner that the operation could go wrong, and that when this happens, there could be serious damage to the unfortunate child.

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