No More Kids, thanks!

You have reached the point in your life where you both agree ‘no more children!’ So now you are wondering about the choices available to you…

For women there are a multitude of non-permanent methods available. With each option is the possibility of pregnancy and of course side effects. The majority are perfectly safe for long-term use but some do have problems associated with them. Ask your doctor about any concerns that you do have. Some options include:

Abstinence
Birth Control Sponge (Today Sponge)
Birth Control Patch
Birth Control Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing)
Birth Control Pills
Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)
Birth Control Implant (Implanon and Nexplanon)
Female Condom
Cervical Cap (FemCap)
Diaphragm
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FAMs)
Pull Out Method (Withdrawal)
Morning-After Pill (Emergency Contraception)
Spermicide
Sterilization for Women (Tubal Sterilization)
IUD

Some common side effects that you should be aware of and discuss with your GP can include:

Intermenstrual spotting
Nausea
Breast tenderness
Headaches and migraine
Weight gain
Mood changes
Missed periods
Decreased libido
Vaginal discharge
Changes to eyesight for those using contact lenses

A permanent option for women is sterilisation or having your tubes tied. This is a surgical procedure and would normally have a recovery period of around 7 days. There are a couple of options within this form of birth control and you should discuss with your doctor.

Solutions For Men

No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) is a technique that was developed in China in 1974. It is proving an extremely option and one of the very few available to men. It is now the recommended method of choice throughout the world, being used extensively in the USA, UK, China and many other countries.

In a vasectomy, the tubes carrying sperm from the testicles are blocked or cut. This prevents sperm mixing with the semen which therefore makes the man sterile.

In a traditional vasectomy, two incisions (cuts) are made in the scrotum and through these, each vas is located, cut and both ends tied. The skin wounds are closed with stitches.

NSV differs in the way the local anaesthetic is administered and in that a single “keyhole” entry is made to both vasa (you have a single wound). There is no cutting of tissues as in traditional vasectomy. That means recovery time is extremely fast. It also means that the likelihood of bleeding and therefore subsequent swelling and pain is much reduced. There are no stitches required.

Vasectomy should be entered into as a permanent solution and irreversible. It is true though that NSV is considered more easily reversible than a traditional vasectomy.

Overall, with NSV there is less discomfort and recovery is faster than was previously experienced.

Of course, no solution should be entered into without proper consultation with your doctor. You need to be sure that the option you decide upon is right for you, your relationship and your family circumstances.

If you have any questions regarding any of the areas above please get in touch. We would be happy to book a consultation for you.

Keeping on track with your health begins with you. Developing good health habits early means you are more likely to enjoy a longer, healthier, happier life. Getting recommended health checks at a relevant time means you can work with your healthcare team. This will improve your chances of preventing health problems throughout your life.

A health check is an examination of your current state of health. It can be likened to a service for the body! You take your car to be checked regularly so you should do so with your body too!

The aim of a health check is to help find, prevent or reduce the effect of medical situations. It’s better to avoid illness than to treat it.

Having a regular doctor or practice has several advantages. It will also help to build a relationship with your Doctor ensuring you are more likely to feel comfortable to talk more openly. Your doctor will get to know you better and understand your health needs and concerns. By having a regular doctor or practice, your medical history stays in the one place and is more likely to be kept up to date.

What can a health check involve?

A health check generally involves:

Updating your medical history
Examining your health issues
Performing tests if required
A follow up of any problems that are found
Advice and information on how to improve your health.

There are a number of health checks recommended at different stages in your life.

Health checks for preconception & pregnancy

Pregnancy is a huge event and can be very demanding on a woman’s body. The preconception period is usually considered to be the three months prior to pregnancy and is vital to ensure the health of your baby.

This is the perfect time to undergo some health checks. Making life changes at this time can help reduce problems during pregnancy and assist in recovery from birth.

Some health checks that you might want to consider before pregnancy include:

Pap test

This test can detect changes to cells in the cervix before they develop into cervical cancer. The cervical cancer vaccine is part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) since 2007 for high school-aged girls. This does not replace the need for Pap tests. The vaccine does not protect against all cancer-causing types of HPV. Because of the nature of the Pap test, you may prefer to have this done before you are pregnant, or you may be offered a test in early pregnancy.

Dental check

Regular dental check-ups are important. Poor dental health can affect not only our teeth and gums but also lead to problems like malnutrition and infections. X-rays are not recommended during pregnancy. You may need an X-ray during an oral exam so having a dental check to make sure you catch and fix any problems before you’re pregnant is a good idea.

Immunisation status check

Knowing your vaccination status and immunity for common infections when planning a pregnancy is vital. If you don’t have a record of when you last had the necessary immunisations don’t worry. A blood test can show if you are immune to infections that may be harmful to a pregnancy such as rubella, varicella (chickenpox) and influenza.

General health and blood tests

Assessing your overall health before you plan to conceive is important. It can uncover problems you need to resolve before becoming pregnant. You may need blood tests to check for thyroid function, blood glucose levels or for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You may also need a full blood count to check your iron and folate levels. Your doctor can help you determine what checks are suitable for you.

During pregnancy

Several different health checks may be available to you during pregnancy. These include tests for abdominal palpitations and ultrasounds. Maternal serum screening test (MSS) and amniocentesis are others. Check with your doctor or gynaecologist on which tests you might need.

We wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!