Jamaica Gleaner News - Doctor's advice - At her wits' end - Sunday

Q. Doctor, I am female and 28 years of age. For the last year, I have suffered with a recurrent discharge. I have been to a doctor, and he said I might have a yeast infection. So I have been given medications, such as Canesten. However, the discharge keeps coming back. I am really at my wits' end on this issue, and don't know what to do. I am hereby requesting your advice on this problem. I am going to explain the nature of the discharge to you, so you can give me your opinion. It is white, odourless, thick and creamy. It itches occasionally. If you suspect it is a yeast infection, what advice could you give me?

A. Sorry to hear about this. 'Yeast infections' of the vagina are extremely common. They are caused by a fungus infection. The fungus is also known as 'candida' or 'monilia.'

And they are usually treated with Canesten or similar drugs.

Yeast infections produce a white, 'cheesy' discharge, which is usually accompanied by intense itching. But you say that you only have 'occasional' itching, which makes me wonder whether this really is a candida (yeast) infection.

So, what you should do now is to consult a doc who can send a vaginal swab to the lab to check for yeasts. If the test shows that they really are there, then you will need another course of drug treatment.

However, you also need to take the following 'anti-yeast' hygiene measures:

Avoid hot showers - only have cool ones.

Do not wear tight, hot underwear - choose cool, cotton pants.

Avoid tights (pantyhose).

Make your partner use anti-yeast cream.

Finally, get your urine checked for sugar - in case you have diabetes.

But what if the test is negative for yeasts? This would suggest that you don't have a candida infection at all.

It could well be that you actually have another common condition called 'bacterial vaginosis' (BV). In that case, you would need treatment with a different antibiotic, such as metronidazole.

I hope this advice helps. Do please email me again if you are still having trouble.

Q. I am a 47-year-old man, and I am embarrassed by the fact that these days when I pass urine, there is always 'a little left' when I thought I had finished. So, my clothes get slightly messed up. Please advise.

A. My guess is that you may have a little enlargement of the prostate gland. Please go and see a doc, taking with you a small specimen of urine for him to test. He will need to examine your prostate, by putting a finger into the bottom.

Q. Doctor, I wonder if you could advise me about a problem with my marriage? My husband and I have been together for more than 20 years, and though we love each other things have become a little dull recently. I mean in the bed department.

But now something has happened which has kind of inflamed our desires. It all started at a party, around a month ago.

The two of us were dancing, and we finished the last number of the evening by getting into a romantic clinch. While we were standing there on the dance floor, kissing and swaying together, my best friend came over and said something like "What a lovely sight."

Then she threw her arms around the two of us, and kissed me on the left cheek - then did the same to my husband on his right cheek. Somehow or other, he then kissed her on the lips. Next, to my astonishment, she kissed ME on the mouth too.

It was dark in the room, and nobody else realised what was happening. So, for several minutes, the three of us just stood there, embracing and kissing.

When my husband and I went home that night, we were both real 'turned on' by what had occurred, and we had very intense and satisfying sex. Before we went to sleep, we talked about the idea of having a 'threesome' which would involve my friend.

Doctor, I should explain that she is someone I have known from I was small. She and I have no secrets at all from each other. We are very close.

So, a few days later, I talked with her about what had happened. I told her what my husband has said about having a threesome. Instead of being shocked, she said she would "think it over".

Last week, she dropped in for a cup of coffee. After we had been chatting for a while, she told me quite frankly that she was willing to agree to the suggestion. That night, I informed my husband. And he was delighted.

Doc, I am feeling kind of confused. I love my husband. And my friend is very dear to me. And now I am in a situation where I find that I have sexual feelings for them both. So, what should I do? Could we just try having that 'threesome' thing once, and see what happens?

A. I have seen a number of cases like this, in which a couple decided to take a female friend into their bed. To be frank with you, things have usually worked out badly.

Humans have very powerful emotions, and when you start playing around with those emotions, you never know what may happen. Jealousy and even violence may result.

I recall one instance in which a husband and wife got involved in a three-in-a-bed situation with another woman. The two ladies 'fell for' each other, and eventually ran away together to another country, while the husband committed suicide.

In another case, the wife became very resentful of the other woman, and ended up by chopping her - even though they had once been good friends.

I know that you are thinking of trying a threesome 'just once'. But would it really be just once? Or would the three of you be tempted to keep on experimenting?

My advice to you is NOT to go ahead with this plan. It would be wisest if you and your husband avoided seeing your friend for a while - maybe for six months - by which time things may have cooled off. Meantime, maybe your man could take you away on a little holiday, during which you could try to rekindle the romance and love between you.

Q. My son is two years old. Since birth, he had a nanny taking care of him, so it is only now that I have noticed that the foreskin on his penis cannot roll back. So I can't wash under it, as I did with my first son. Should I get him circumcised? Would this harm him in any way? His grandmother thinks that he should be left alone until he is older.

A. His grandmother is right. The circumcision operation is NOT something that one should rush into, because it can sometimes go badly wrong.

In a child as young as two, there is no need to try to roll the foreskin back. If the child can pass urine without difficulty, then it is best just to leave him alone.

Please send your questions and comments for our doctor to: editor@gleanerjm.com.