Baby Accident Is Still Haunting Me

Oct 5 2008 Dr Gareth Smith

Years After Abortion I Can't Get Pregnant

Q I HAD a termination three years ago after I became pregnant by accident to my last boyfriend. I have since married and my husband and I are trying for a baby. It's been eight months now and still no pregnancy. Has the abortion made me infertile?

A TERMINATIONS themselves don't cause fertility problems but women can have chlamydia at the time of the termination that causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes. Most hospitals check for chlamydia and treat it before going ahead with the termination. I suggest you and your husband discuss your concerns with a GP, who may refer you to a specialist or tell you to wait four months before he refers you. Some couples can take up to 18 months to fall pregnant, so hang in there.

Q MY son has just started school and is tired all the time. How much sleep is normal for a five-year-old?

A THE more physically active a child is, the more tired he or she will be at bedtime. In general, young schoolchildren need about 10 hours sleep a night. Your son may be more tired because he is adjusting to a new routine. Ask his teacher about how alert he is in class. If you are still worried, take him for a check-up at the doctor.

Q I NOTICED a swelling in my young son's scrotum and took him to the doctor. He said it was a hydrocele and it should be removed. I am worried about it because I don't want anything bad to happen that affects his future.

A HYDROCELES are benign swellings in the scrotum that occur frequently in boys. They only need to be removed if they cause discomfort and many of them will disappear spontaneously. When a baby is in the womb the testes move from the abdomen into the scrotum down a slim channel. If this doesn't close properly, fluid builds around the testicle and causes the hydrocele. The operation to remove it is simple and won't affect fertility.

Q I HAD an operation on my thyroid gland to remove a swelling and was told later my parathyroid glands had been damaged and I would need to take medicine for the rest of my life. Can I complain?

A IT is very common for parathyroid glands to be damaged during thyroid surgery. They are very small glands that sit on either side of the thyroid in the neck and control the amount of calcium released into the blood stream. If your doctor didn't warn you about potential damage, then you may have grounds for complaint. The tablets are to make sure you don't run low on calcium.