The Sunday News
Hi Sis Noe
I STOPPED taking pills a month ago but I am yet to get my period back. What is wrong with me? — Help.
Reply
Going off the pill, or any hormonal contraceptive, is a big switch for your body. Among other changes, it may take several weeks for your period to find its own rhythm and become a regular visitor again. Depending upon the woman, the type of pill, and the length of time you have been taking it, it may take anywhere from several weeks to several months before hormone levels regulate and allow regular menstruation to resume.
In addition, if your periods were irregular before taking the pill, your periods may continue to be irregular after stopping the pill. Generally, your period should start four to six weeks after taking your last birth control pill. If you have not begun menstruating after three months, you may have a condition called post-pill amenorrhea.
Birth control pills stop your body from producing hormones that trigger ovulation (egg release) and menstruation. When you go off the pill, it can take a while for your body to re-adjust to its natural hormone production schedule. Eventually though, your regular menstrual cycle will return.
Most women will ovulate about two weeks after going off the pill. Older women, especially women who have been on the pill for a long time, may begin ovulating again more slowly. Although unusual, it is possible for a woman to get pregnant before starting to menstruate again.
If you have had unprotected sex since you stopped taking the pill, or if you are worried that there is a chance you could be pregnant, then you may want to take a pregnancy test. If after several months, you are still not getting periods or if you have concerns about being pregnant, you may want to schedule a check-up with a health care provider. All that being said, chances are everything is okay and your body is simply readjusting to life off the pill.
Hi Sis Noe
My husband does not want to make love to me. It’s been months since we had sex. — Help.
Reply
You need to explore together why he doesn’t want to make love. Has he lost all his sexual drive, if so it may be a medical problem like lack of testosterone, diabetes, depression, or prescribed drugs that can affect his libido. Perhaps he is impotent but doesn’t want to admit it. If any of these things are causing a problem he should see his doctor.
Alternatively if he has lost interest because, though he loves you, he no longer fancies you, then he needs to be honest about that. That does not mean that you are not attractive and sexy, it’s just that the chemistry is not there any longer. If so it would be soul-destroying for you to stay in this marriage.
The same would be true if he is not being entirely honest with himself or you about his sexual orientation. It could be that he has a very low sex drive, is there a pattern of him wanting sex in a new relationship but then he finds it peters out? High levels of stress can also depress some men’s libido and make them avoid sex. So can childhood sexual abuse. Psychosexual counselling could help if it’s a marriage or a psychological problem. But if he can’t identify why he has been avoiding sex and is reluctant to get help then you should seriously think whether you want this relationship.
Hi Sis Noe
Is it safe to have sex when pregnant? I am a woman aged 20 and I am pregnant. — Worried.
Reply
It is very safe to have sex when you are pregnant. But I am not surprised that you think your partner is going to harm the baby by thrusting into you. In fact, you might find out that your sex drive is higher than ever at this time (I hope I am right).
Reassure him that the baby is protected and you could try some gentle positions that don’t seem dangerous. In your second trimester you should have a good sense of wellbeing and be blooming, and you will know that your baby has made it through the stage where the risk of miscarriage is highest. As your belly expands though, you might both need to get more creative with your positions. Sex can even help reduce pressure on your lower back and plenty of women say pregnancy improves their sex life!
There are exceptions, of course, and it’s always worth checking out with your doctor. For instance if you know you have a risk of bleeding, you have a history of miscarriage, are expecting more than one baby or you feel pain while urinating. Don’t be surprised if you feel that you prefer to be intimate without having sexual intercourse. Many women become more interested in sensual arousal and want to enjoy touch and foreplay, and it’s also normal to feel uncomfortable about having sex when you are pregnant. People are not the same — we are different.
Hi Sis Noe
I am 22 now without any breasts; I do not know what happened to me. — Help.
Reply
You have breasts, they just have not grown outward. Having a flat chest is not a pleasant thing but you should know that it does not make you any less a woman. You still got your pubic hair and you menstruate normally and your breasts have milk glands. Unfortunately experts like doctors and lactation consultants don’t really know why this takes place. It is known that flat-chested women’s hormone levels are normal and they can successfully breastfeed.
A flat breast only represents a problem in the connective tissue inside the breast and not in the actual duct system of the breast that lets out milk. But no matter what the cause, it won’t hurt to eat healthy so as to give your body the best chance for everything to work properly. You might find out that when you get pregnant your breasts will grow out. During pregnancy the breasts do develop more and grow in size, and flat-chested women can breastfeed and produce milk. But you should not get pregnant for the sake of having grown breasts.
A totally flat woman’s breasts can grow to an A or even B cup during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. However, due to the small storage space for milk the baby might need to nurse quite often. But what you must remember is that a flat chested woman is not abnormal in the sense that her breasts are functional and can make milk. You are also not abnormal in the sense that there are many other women out there with a flat chest. If you are concerned about outside appearance use padded bras, no one will notice that you are flat chested unless they know you.
Hi Sis Noe
I am a lady aged 25, and I am married, these days I feel a burning sensation after sex. I am worried. — Worried.
Reply
While other women lie on their backs in bed and stare at the roof with smiles of satisfaction after sex, it sounds as though you will be agonising over the after-burn with thoughts of what is wrong on your mind. There are a number of possible explanations for the burning feeling you get after your partner ejaculates, including, a semen allergy, vaginitis, an alternation in your vaginal chemistry, or friction caused by insufficient lubrication.
If your symptoms continue, a visit to your health care provider is in order to get a proper diagnosis. A form of vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina) is a possible cause of the burning sensation. Bacteria and fungi (like yeast) grow in the vagina of all healthy women, and, as you suspect, the balance of those micro-organisms can be upset by changes in pH levels. Common forms of vaginitis include yeast infections and Bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Vaginitis may make itself known through abnormal discharge, mild or severe itching or burning of the vulva, chafing of the thighs, or frequent urination. Semen may be the trigger altering your vagina’s chemistry. Other possible triggers are lowered immune resistance, douching, birth control pills, antibiotics, or cuts, abrasions, or other vaginal irritation (friction from intercourse, fingers or fingernails, or tampons). Your partner can also transmit an infection if s/he has one. Birth control pills do not offer protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
When considering not using condoms with a sexual partner, in addition to talking with your partner, it’s a good idea to both get an STI check-up. It is possible that you have a semen allergy. Symptoms like burning, pain, and swelling typically start 20-30 minutes after contact and can vary in severity and duration. Friction from intercourse can irritate vaginal tissues, and may make you more susceptible to vaginitis.
Additionally, a side-effect of some hormonal birth control methods is vaginal dryness. To combat friction and prevent vaginal irritation, you may want to add water-based lube into the mix during sex. You can also try peeing both before and after intercourse — the acidity of the urine tends to kill off and wash away bacteria. Also, for both you and your husband, washing your hands and genitals before you have sex may make a difference.
If you have a true semen allergy, having your partner drink plenty of water before and during sex can reduce the acidity of his semen, which may make it less irritating. Since there are a number of possible causes for your pain and burning, it may be wise to seek the opinion of a doctor.
SOUL MATES
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