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Health

Gynaecologist counsels women on conception above 35yrs

By Chinenye Offor
Pregnancy
Abuja, June 13, 2019 (NAN) Dr Theodore Yakubu, an Abuja based gynaecologist, has advised women above age 35 with intention of becoming mothers to seek medical advice before conception.

Yakubu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, as a woman gets older, there is an increased risk of pregnancy related complications and health problems faced by both mother and child.

Yakubu noted that the complications occurred due to changes in the reproductive system and increased general health problem associated with age such as obesity and diabetes.

The expert also said that complications were eminent because the older body was less supple and flexible which increased the chance of giving birth to a baby with congenital abnormality such as down-syndrome, among others.

He explained that an older woman’s uterus was less hospitable to the changes of pregnancy and thereby could cause premature labor.

“Pregnancy in older women is associated with high risk of general health problems such as high blood pressure and miscarriage especially in women above 35 years.

“There is also the risk of having twins which itself is associated with elevated risk of complications.

“Old age pregnancy is associated with risk of complications during delivery, such as prolonged labour as well as still birth and placenta problems,’’ he said.

The gynaecologist however admonished older women planning conception to be fully informed, maintain a healthy weight as well eat healthy diet in order to curb complications associated with it.

Yakubu also suggested administering of daily 400mg of folic acid before and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in order to prevent birth defects.

He further noted that careful medical monitoring; appropriate medication starting from conception and throughout pregnancy would help reduce the risk associated with old age pregnancy.

The e pery therefore enjoined older women planning conception or pregnancy to ensure that their health was in an optimal position, saying that it is key in managing the pregnancy as well as safe delivery. (NAN)
CSO/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Gynaecologist allays fear of high blood pressure during pregnancy

Gynaecologist allays fear of high blood pressure during pregnancy
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Pregnancy
Lagos, May 21, 2019 (NAN) Dr Adebayo Bamisebi, a Gynaecologist, says high blood pressure during pregnancy is not deathly, if managed properly.
Bamisebi of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, Akodo, Lagos State, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
He however advised women suffering high blood pressure to avoid stress, eat balanced meal and exercise, so as to lower their blood pressure before becoming pregnant.
According to him, high blood pressure during pregnancy is not unsafe if well managed.
“For a woman who has high blood pressure and planning pregnancy, she must maintain her blood sugar by eating smaller, more frequent meals so as to prevent future headaches.
“She has to reduce her weight if overweight, she has to quit smoking if she smokes, she must exercise, reduce her salt intake and stress.
“If she eventually becomes pregnant, she has to regularly see a doctor for check-up so as to know the state of her condition,’’ Bamisebi said.
The gynaecologist explained that high blood pressure, also known as `preeclampsia’, could intensify during pregnancy when not regularly checked.
He also said it could affect a baby’s growth and reduce the nutrient flow through the placenta, urging mothers to always keep track of their baby’s daily movements.
He said the condition which could be fatal, could cause serious damage to the woman’s brain and kidney if left untreated.
Bamisebi also said that it could cause a woman unexplainable headache.
“Headache is not part of symptoms of pregnancy in anyway, but it is most common between the first and third trimester.
“Headache can be part of some other problems like malaria, upper respiratory tract infection and stress, among others,’’ said the expert.
Bamisebi therefore enjoined pregnant women to own a blood pressure monitor to accurately read their blood pressure.
He advised that they took the blood pressure readings at the same arm and time every day while seated with their legs uncross. (NAN)
LED/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Go for scan when pregnancy is suspected – Gynaecologist

Go for scan, when pregnancy is suspected – Gynaecologist
By Jacinta Nwachukwu/Uche Bibilari
Pregnancy
Abuja, Nov. 14, 2018 (NAN) Dr Nathaniel Adewole, a Gynaecologist, has advised pregnant women to go for proper scanning instead of self medication to avoid ectopic pregnancy.
Adewole of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, gave the advice on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He enjoined women to go for scan once they suspect pregnancy to ensure the rightful location of the pregnancy.
He described ectopic pregnancy as one of the leading causes of maternal death among women of bearing age, adding that it might represent 0.2 per cent of five pregnancies.
“ Ectopic pregnancy is the location of pregnancy outside the normal internal cavity or womb and it could be in the abdomen, pelvic, ovary or in the tube especially.
“When it is not ruptured, it could lead to anaemia, internal bleeding, and even to death,” he said.
According to him, it usually presents with abdominal pain due to the location, saying that sometime the woman may not know that she has missed her menstrual period.
The gynaecologist explained that when the pregnancy was located in the womb (the normal cavity), it would expand up to 1,000 times of the normal size and it would be accommodated.
“But when it is located in the tube, there will be a problem because the tube cannot expand,” he said.
Adewole identified infection, pelvic inflammatory disease as well as abnormality of the tube as the predisposing factors to ectopic pregnancy.
“If the tube is totally blocked, unable to transport the fertilised egg to the womb, it could lead to ectopic pregnancy.’’
He also said that ectopic pregnancy was common among women of bearing age and contributed to the rate of maternal death in the country.
“This is because a woman might collapse and die in some places as a result of the kind of pregnancy she experienced.”
Adewole, however, said that treatment of ectopic pregnancy could be by operation, if it had not ruptured, adding that sometime it can melt by itself before the person noticed it.
He said that proper diagnosis and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease would prevent infertility and ectopic pregnancy in future. (NAN)
JIN/UU/MOL/DUA/MST
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Gynaecologist decries high rate of death resulting from pregnancy, childbirth

Gynaecologist decries high rate of death resulting from pregnancy, childbirth
By Ummul Idris
Deaths
Abuja, Sept. 21, 2018 (NAN) Dr Liman Mohammed, a Gynecologist based in Abuja, has decried the high rate of deaths resulting from pregnancy and childbirth in the country.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that about 287,000 women die every year as a result of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth or postpartum across the world.
He noted that almost all 98 per cent of these preventable deaths occur in developing countries.
According to him, the difference in maternal mortality rates between developed and developing countries are the biggest global health inequity today.
He said: “Every year more than 8 million children under five years of age die from preventable causes and many 40 per cent within the first 28 days of life.’’
Mohammed said that concentrating on addressing the direct obstetric causes of maternal mortality was insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
The physician noted that maternal and newborn mortality in low- and middle-income countries was heavily impaired by neglected diseases.
He said “taken together HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis are among the leading causes of maternal mortality’’.
He stated that maternal mortality was unacceptably high, adding that about 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day.
According to him, it is estimated that in 2015, roughly 303,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth.
“Almost all of these deaths occurred in lost resource settings, and most could have been prevented.
“The high number of maternal deaths in some areas of the world reflects inequities in access to health services, and highlights the gap between rich and poor.
“The major complications that account for nearly 75 per cent of all maternal deaths are severe bleeding which is mostly bleeding after childbirth, infections which are usually after childbirth.
“Others include high blood pressure during pregnancy, complications from delivery and unsafe abortion,’’ said the expert. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Surgical removal of fibroid not treatment – Gynaecologist

Surgical removal of fibroid not treatment – Gynaecologist
By Chinenye Offor
Fibroid
Abuja, Aug. 30, 2018 (NAN) Dr Ibrahim Yakubu, a Gynaecologist based in Abuja, has said that surgical removal of fibroid was not the final solution in treating the condition.
Yakubu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
He explained that there could be possible re-growth and complications after myomectomy, adding that there are also chances of tubes blockage which could possibly cause infertility.
Myomectomy refers to a surgical removal of fibroid.
The expert emphasised that surgical removal of fibroid should be the last option if it was not causing any possible problems such as heavy flow, constipation and bloating among others.
He however challenged medical experts on comprehensive counselling and adequate information for patients on the complications that may arise during and after surgery.
According to him, it is better to leave the fibroid if it is not problematic to the patient.
“There are other medical ways of reducing the size such as an injection for every three months, six months, others to help shrink it,’’ he said.
Yakubu however cautioned that the injection could cause a patient to experience signs of menopause, adding that it does not usher a patient into early menopause.
The gynaecologist further noted the availability of a contraceptive device that could be used in preventing re-growth of fibroid for patients that had undergone surgical removal of fibroid.
He said: “Such contraceptive device will be inserted for two to five years and be removed when the patient is ready to start bearing children.’’ (NAN)
CSO/COO/MST
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Gynaecologist cautions women against abuse of de-worming drugs

Gynaecologist cautions women against abuse of de-worming drugs
By Mustapha Sumaila
Deworming
Abuja, July 18, 2018 (NAN) Dr Rahina Adejumoh, a Gynaecologist with Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital, Dutse, Jigawa, has cautioned women against abuse of de-worming tablets to facilitate conception.
Adejumoh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday that there was no direct connection with worm and pregnancy.
NAN reports that some women seeking to have a child have now developed habit of taking de-worming tablets to get pregnant.
She flayed the ugly development among desperate women in search of child, saying that no direct link between worm and conception.
The gynaecologist explained that worm could cause loss of iron and anaemia which could prevent women from getting pregnant or cause miscarriages.
“Worm has no direct link with conception but indirectly, which only occurs when it causes anaemia to the patient.
“Women who are seeking to have a child or trying to conceive should always seek medical advice but not to indulge in self-medication,’’ she advised.
Adejumoh stated that a professional like a gynaecologist was always available and willing to prescribe the right drugs and treatment for those with challenges of child bearing. (NAN)
MS/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Female circumcision has no effect on sexuality – Gynaecologist

Female circumcision has no effect on sexuality – Gynaecologist
NAN-HG-4
Circumcision
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Feb. 13, 2018 (NAN) Dr Victor Amamasi, a gynecologist with St. Raphael Hospital, Ago-Okota, Lagos, says female circumcision has no effect on female sexuality and has not stopped women from being promiscuous.
Amamasi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that a woman’s sexuality was influenced by gene, peer group, sexual orientation, values and environment.
NAN reports that female circumcision is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all the external female genitalia.
Sexuality refers to the way people experience and express themselves sexually; this involves biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviours; it is different from the act of sexual intercourse.
Amamasi said: “So, my advice for people is that they should stop such practice; it has no effect on female sexuality.
“It does not stop a woman from being a lesbian or homosexual, prostitute, being involved in incest or masturbation.
“Female circumcision reduces a woman’s sexual feeling by only three per cent when compared to an uncircumcised woman.
“A woman’s sexuality is influenced by upbringing, gene, peer group and environment,’’ he said.
Besides, he said that female circumcision could cause other risks including chronic pelvic infections, infiltration (wound) to other organs of the body, genital ulcer, keloid (scar), as well as bleeding which could lead to death.
According to him, female circumcision can also cause painful intercourse, difficulty in passing urine, labia fusion and adhesions, depression, stress and long term Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), which could only be corrected through surgery.
Amamasi said there were three types of circumcision.
“One of them is clitoridectomy, which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris.
“Another one is excision, which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris with labia minora (vaginal lips).
“And, the third one is infibulation, suturing or narrowing the entrance of the vagina, leaving space for menstruation flow.
“All these are aimed at destroying a woman’s feelings for sex,’’ he said. (NAN)
LED/HS/VIV/MST
Edited by Halima Sheji/Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Unsafe abortions killing women, damaging wombs in Nigeria – Gynaecologist

NAN-HG-3

Blessing Odega

Abortions

Jos, Aug. 9, 2017 (NAN) Dr. Godwin Akaba, a Gynaecologist with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, has described as “alarming”, the rate of deaths caused by unsafe abortions in the country.

Akaba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos that many lives were lost on a daily basis to crude abortions, and described the trend as “scary”.

The expert said that many of those who survived often suffer acute complications such as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which could lead to secondary infertility, systemic infection and ectopic pregnancies.

“Some women even remain maimed for life by the instruments used to procure the abortion,” he said.

Akaba, who quoted a report from a survey conducted by Guttmacher, a U.S.-based research institute, lamented that 40 per cent of women, who undergo unsafe abortion in Nigeria, experience severe complications.

He explained that the complications around the pelvic, if left untreated or poorly treated, could lead to the blockage of the Fallopian tube resulting into infertility.

“When the infection spreads through the Fallopian tubes and ovaries, PID may develop; that could lead to chronic pelvic pain, bilateral tubal occlusion due to scars formed around the uterus, and secondary infertility,” he explained.

He defined secondary infertility as failure to conceive again, after an established pregnancy.

“Based on research, 20 to 30 per cent of unsafe abortion procedures result in reproductive tract infections which lead to secondary infertility.

“Unless the tubes are unblocked via surgery, the chances of conception are very slim because the Fallopian tube serves as a passage for the ovum (egg cell) from the ovary to the uterus, where it meets with the sperm for fertilization.

“Tubal blockage is what essentially leads to infertility; even if it does not lead to the complete blockage of the Fallopian tube, it could make the endometrium (the lining of the uterus were the fetus stays) very hostile and predispose the woman to recurrent miscarriage,” he said.

He defined PID as an infection of the female reproductive organ, ascending from the outer urinary tract into the inner urinary tract.

“This occurs when infection spreads upwards through the genital tract, causing damage to the Fallopian tubes and ovaries,” he said.

According to him, PID is one of the most serious complications of unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted disease in women.

He said that it could also lead to ectopic pregnancy where a fetus grows outside the womb and, if not detected early, could lead to the death of the mother.

Akaba attributed the alarming rates of unsafe abortion to Nigeria’s restrictive laws which prohibited induced abortion, except when the life of the mother was in danger.

“The situation has forced many women to patronize quacks which has often proved to be dangerous,” he said. (NAN)

UBO/ETS

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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin