Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

Doc, could nausea mean my morning-after pill didn’t work?

Young woman wearing summer hat begging and praying. PHOTO| Shutterstock

What you need to know:

  • Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that can be sexually transmitted through any exposure to vaginal discharge and semen
  • Emergency contraception works best at preventing pregnancy when used within 24 hours but may work if used up to 5 days (120 hours) after the event
  • Maintaining good health begins with planning. Plan for healthy foods as much as possible, and partake in unhealthy foods in small amounts

Dear doctor,
What is this chlamydia STI? How do you know if you have it? Is it curable?
Gerald

Dear Gerald,
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that can be sexually transmitted through any exposure to vaginal discharge and semen. It can cause infection within the reproductive tract of both males and females, and it can also cause eye infection, throat infection and anal infection.


Chlamydia infection is quite common but is unfortunately not diagnosed easily because many people do not experience any symptoms even though it can cause serious complications. It more commonly affects the youth (15 to 24 years) and especially females. 


Between 50 and 70 per cent of persons who get infected with chlamydia do not develop any symptoms. For those who get symptoms, they may experience them one week to three months after they acquire the infection. In females, the symptoms may include an abnormal vaginal discharge; vaginal or vulval itching or burning; pain during sexual intercourse; low abdominal pain, bleeding in between periods; painful periods; pain when passing urine; change in urine colour and/or smell; and passing urine frequently.

In males, the symptoms may include having a penile discharge, pain when passing urine, and passing urine frequently. Other symptoms depend on whether another part of the body is affected e.g. sore throat; redness, discharge, pain and swelling if the eyes are affected; and if the anus is affected, there may be anal discharge, bleeding and pain. 
In females, if untreated, chlamydia infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, and it can also lead to damage of the fallopian tubes or the uterus which can cause difficulties getting pregnant and complications such as ectopic pregnancies. In addition, chlamydia infection during pregnancy can cause pre-term delivery and also infection of the baby which can result in pneumonia, or eye infection, which carries the risk of blindness. In men, untreated chlamydia infection can result in infection along the reproductive tract, and the damage can interfere with fertility. In both men and women, chlamydia infection increases the risk of HIV transmission, and some people also experience reactive arthritis, with pain and swelling of the joints.


Chlamydia can be diagnosed by doing a specific chlamydia test on the vaginal fluid or the urine. This is a test that should be carried out in addition to other STI tests, including HIV testing. Chlamydia is curable when treated with effective antibiotics that may be given for up to one or 2 weeks. Any other present STIs should also be treated. All current and recent sexual partners should be tested for chlamydia and other STIs and treated as well. Abstain from sexual intercourse during the duration of treatment, and practice safe sex practices thereafter.


Dear doctor,
How do I know if the emergency contraception pills I took worked? I have been feeling nauseous since I took them a few days ago, and I’m wondering if I could be pregnant.
Nancy

Dear Nancy,
Emergency contraception works best at preventing pregnancy when used within 24 hours but may work if used up to 5 days (120 hours) after the event. After using the medication, you may experience side effects like nausea, headache, fatigue and having your next periods come earlier or later than was expected. These side effects are usually mild and resolve in a few days. Some medications can help to manage the side effects.


However, you may be pregnant, either because of failure of the contraception (there’s a five per cent chance of failure, especially if taken late) or because you were already pregnant by the time you were taking the pills. To determine your pregnancy status, take a pregnancy test if you do not receive your monthly periods. It takes about two weeks from the time of conception to be able to get an accurate pregnancy test result.

Dear doctor,
My husband was diagnosed with high blood pressure and a heart condition a few months ago. How can he keep safe during the festivities and still enjoy himself?
Rose

Dear Rose,
It is true that during the festive season, there are higher health risks because people tend to be more carefree with diets and lifestyle choices, and stress levels are also usually high. It is also possible to go through the holiday season without worsening health.


Maintaining good health begins with planning. Plan for healthy foods as much as possible, and partake in unhealthy foods in small amounts. Be especially careful about sodium intake (in salt) which raises blood pressure. This may require preparing your meals, reducing or avoiding eating out or communicating to potential hosts about the need for a low-salt diet.

Based on his condition, if he is allowed to take alcohol, then he should limit his intake to a maximum of two drinks per day. He should also maintain his exercise routine, and stick to his regular sleeping patterns as much as possible. It is also vital to care for mental well-being and avoid stress as much as possible as well as having healthy stress management strategies.

Planning also includes having adequate medication, carrying meds (and medical equipment like a blood pressure machine) when travelling and identifying the closest pharmacies or hospitals, in case they are needed. It’s also important not to ignore any feelings of being unwell and attending to these as soon as possible.
 Send your questions to [email protected]