Q: What is your advice to men who think they can keep their wives from going out with another man by making sure they have babies after babies? (Steve, Gerehu)

A: Women who have babies one after the other will age faster, their bodies will wear out faster, and they are at risk of dying quicker from pregnancy complications.Who is going to look after all those children if she dies? Husbands must support their wives to space their children,2 years. Husbands and wives must trust each other . Partners having sex outside of marriage are more likely to get STI’ s / HIV AIDS and may die from it.(BE FAITHFUL TO EACH OTHER).

Q: Is it true that taking depo will make you fat or increase your appetite? (TJay, Gerehu)

A:Depo provera (DP) improves appetite by acting on the appetite centre in the brain . Therefore women on D.P. tend to eat more than they use to resulting in weight gain. Women on D.P. must exercise regularly and control their eating habits to avoid weight gain.

Q: When the vasectomy is carried out and the tube is not cut off completely will it make the woman pregnant?

A: Men’s tubes are very small. Cutting it is not a problem. However health worker might cut the wrong thing (e.g.) blood vessel or men do not follow instructions properly e.g.: no sex for 3 months after vasectomy or use another back up method of FP eg, condom or DPx1 for three months protection to allow sperm to die off.

Q: If a woman is on pills is it still safe to sleep with her husband on unsafe days?

A: If the woman takes the pills regularly all the time every day she can be prevented from pregnancy. It is safe to have sex during unsafe days because egg has not been released. Pills prevent release of eggs.

Q: If an underage girl is pregnant will there be any side effects and too will it affect her growth? (Kundan)

A: Teenage pregnancy has many risks e.g. – girls pelvic bones are too small so baby cannot be delivered – obstructed labour. She may develop fistula (torn bladder or rectum)-she may even die from labour complications – she may have physical , mental, social problems in life

Q:My wife has her left ovary cut; will she be able to conceive with only one ovary?

A:Women can still get pregnant with one ovary. Each ovary has turn in releasing egg every month.

Q: Can you clarify on TL because many women are scared of its side effects? (Mary, Murray Barracks)

A: Tubal ligation (T.L)-a small cut 2-3cm close to umbilicus if woman just delivered or along pubic hairline if delivered >1 wk ago- Woman can go home next day or stay in hospital a couple of days Slight pain for a few days which can be relieved with panadol. Side effects-uncommon = pain , infection ,hematoma.

Q: Dr. Elijah do you know of any methods to get a woman’s cycle back to normal after being on the depo? (nigel –goroka)

A: Cycles can be regulated using the normal (OCP ) contraceptive pill which is similar to the natural hormones produced by women.

Q: I have been married for four yrs and have no children but my wife is having these severe abdominal pains every 15 minutes for the last 4 days. What can I do? (Phillip)

A: Pain in the laver abdomen (pelvic region) may be due to infection in the pelvis. You and your wife should go and see a doctor in hospital.

Q: Please can you explain when not the right time for a woman to get pregnant is? (David)

A: Women have periods every month (on average 28 days). Women release eggs to make baby in the middle of the month, ie day 14 before the next period. Unsafe days are 3 days before + 3 days after day 14.

Q: Do you at family planning help fertile couples to have babies? (Goroka)

A: The provincial hospitals can investigate why a couple is infertile. How we treat depends on the cause of the infertility.

Q: If a mother is on depo for the last 6-8 yrs will there be any side effects and will she be able to conceive again?

A: Yes she can conceive again but fertility may be delayed for a while. If she does not fall pregnant, it may be due to other reasons.

Q: I am a young mother and want to be on depo but my husband says the injection will make me fat and wants me to try the pill. Are there any side effects on the depo?

A: If you get DP and exercise and watch your diet, you should not gain weight. Periods may change slightly when you start. It may stop altogether because of effect of hormone. This is not dangerous. OCP Pills and DP are both hormones.

Q: I was born without any ovaries and am married for 7 yrs, I now adopt a son and my husband has an another wife whom we all live together and she has two children. Is it normal to be born without ovaries or am I going to face problems later in life? I have never had any menstrual period. (NCD)

A: You had a congenital problem (you were born with). It is not common. Because you have no ovaries – you will not make eggs for making babies. Also you have no hormones to make periods come or may be your uterus ( bilum)is small or not developed.

Q: I have only one daughter who is 18 yrs old and can not conceive again, is there anything wrong with me? (Fransisca)

A: You may have developed infertility after your first child. Commonest cause of infertility is pelvic infection.

Q: I just gave birth to my baby 3 weeks ago, when do you think I can start on one of the family planning methods? (Ruth)

A: Please go to FPC ASAP. You might fall pregnant soon.

Q: People will make fun of us the young who want to seek family planning; can some male officers work in family planning clinics? (Mark , Mt Hagen)

A: NDOH is encouraging service providers to make their facilities’ user friendly. Provinces are now working on youth centers which will also provide health services.

Q: My wife is 4 months pregnant and urine just flows out and am concerned my wife maybe having problems. (Peter)

A: This couple need to go and see a doctor ASAP.