Just as contraceptive advice at six weeks may be too late to prevent pregnancy in some women, for others it will be too early to find a method of contraception that will suit. Particularly when intercourse has not been resumed, the woman’s change in feelings about her sexuality may not be apparent. As always, unless [...]
Condom use is traditionally the man’s decision. It is seen as good manners, caring and safe. It protects both parties, but particularly the woman from something noxious. The guidelines seem clear for the promiscuous and those in stable partnerships, but these are artificial distinctions. A man may not want to use a condom for what [...]
It is wise to offer a post-abortion appointment to check physical and emotional wellbeing and confirm the contraceptive method. Most women will have adjusted well, but about 3% may have emotional problems sufficient to interfere with their lives (Dagg, 1991). These may manifest themselves as depression, anxiety, lack of sleep or psychosexual difficulties: they can [...]
Miss R. was 17 when she first attended the clinic and 21 months later had a thick file, having attended 18 times. In retrospect, the professionals should not have been surprised that she wore them down. The counsellor was the first contact and noted that she had been brought/referred by her boyfriend who stayed in [...]
After the birth of this fifth baby her chaotic lifestyle continued. She decided to have the fourth child adopted, and the new baby was in and out of care. During a number of visits the domiciliary doctor learnt that the boyfriend was often violent but Mrs H. felt that she deserved it and that her [...]
Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA) Radio frequency energy can also be conducted through tiny needles, which are inserted directiy into prostate tissue via a special catheter. The needles can riddle the BPH tissue with holes of various sizes to weaken the tissue’s grip on the urethra. Experiments using TUNA in animals have been promising, and clinical [...]
Ultrasound, a painless method of imaging, creates a picture with high-frequency sound waves—like sonar on a submarine. It may be done either from the outside, through the abdomen, or transrectally, via a wand inserted in the rectum. Though not recommended for most men with BPH, it can be valuable in checking for such problems as [...]
About one-third of men with metastatic prostate cancer may be at risk for spinal cord compression—when proliferating cancer cells cause part of the spinal column to collapse, trapping and sometimes crushing nearby nerves. If you have severe pain in your back that accompanies leg weakness, loss of sensation (often beginning with numbness or tingling in [...]
Ultimately, what kills men with advanced prostate cancer are these malignant hormone-insensitive, or androgen-insensitive, cells. And right now, we don’t have any way to stop them. Standard chemotherapy—a host of drugs that work so well in treating other kinds of cancer—doesn’t help, mainly because it’s designed to target cells that are dividing much faster than [...]
It was just a routine physical—until Peter Weaver’s* doctor found a lump in his prostate. “I went in to the doctor’s office sort of full of myself,” recalls Weaver, who was 63 at the time. “I felt in great shape, I was jogging every day, doing some weights, eating well and having a good married [...]