woman’S HEALTH

WOMEN HEALTH

Full name: Abigail Jemedze

Occupation Gynecologist

Professional Qualifications

1)Bachelor of Science Degree (UZ) 2) Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery(UZ) 3) Masters of Medicine Degree (Specialising in obstetrics and gynecology) 4)Masters in Business Administration (UZ)

I am a wife and a mother of 3, 2 girls and a boy. I am lately a grandmother. I did Bachelor of Science degree, bachelor of medicine and surgery, masters of medicine degree specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology and lastly masters in business administration. All at University of Zimbabwe between 1995 to 2016.

I have always wanted to become a doctor however the dream would not have materialized without my husband’s support who at a greater part of our lives had to play both the mother and father role.

Currently iam fully in private practice in Harare CBD practicing as a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician. I am however doing public health social responsibility by doing regular radio program at Star FM on Thursdays titled The Nest with Tariro (Mai Juda).

Article by Abigail Jemedze

What is a gynaecologist?

Gynaecologists are doctors who specialize in women’s health, with a focus on the female reproductive system.

What does a gynaecologist do?

They deal with a wide range of issues, including obstetrics, or pregnancy and childbirth, menstruation and fertility issues, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hormone disorders, and others.

What is the work place of a gynaecologist like?

Obstetricians and Gynaecologists usually work in public hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities. Many of them also set up their own private practices.it has a receiving area, waiting area, a procedure room to measure blood pressure, temperature, weight, height and any other procedure that might need to be done. There is a consultation room where the doctor sees individual patients in private.

What kind of personality should a gynaecologist have?

A person who desires to become a gynaecologist must have some of the following traits in significantly greater amounts; sociability, a fondness for demanding and difficult work, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, persistence, cooperativeness, and being reward-dependent. The work is highly unpredictable and sometimes very demanding.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a gynaecologist?

Being a gynaecologist has the advantage of subspecializing into many areas if one wishes. As a general gynaecologist you have an opportunity to be both

a physician and a surgeon all at once.

Question and Answer segment

What is the appropriate age of getting pregnant?

Women are most fertile and have the best chance of getting pregnant in their 20s. This is the time when you have the highest number of good quality eggs available and your pregnancy risks are lowest, however age is not the only determinant for getting pregnant. Ability to care for the baby is a very strong determinant.

SUBFERTILITY/ INFERTILITY

This is one of the commonest reasons, why couples visit a gynaecologist. By definition subfertility is failure by a couple having regular intercourse for a period of 12 months. 85% of couples will conceive in the first year and half of the remainder will conceive by 24 months. trouble conceiving may be due to problems with male or female infertility, or a combination of both. In some cases, the cause is unknown. Male and female factors each account for approximately 35% of cases. Often, there is more than one factor, with male and female factors

combined causing 20% of infertility. In the remaining 10% of cases, the aetiology is unknown.30% of couples failing to conceive the reason is unknown. Subfertility can be divided into primary or secondary. Primary subfertility is when a couple has never had children whilst secondary subfertility is a couple who have children and then fail to have more when they want.

Causes of subfertility

Many couples trying to conceive get stressed and upset about how hard it can be to get pregnant. The stress will lead to further delay in getting pregnant. The most common causes of female infertility include problems with ovulation, damage to fallopian tubes or uterus, or problems with the cervix. Age can contribute to infertility because as a woman ages, her fertility naturally tends to decrease.

Ovulation problems

Ovulation issues may be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, or This is a hormonal imbalance that can interfere with normal ovulation. Weight gain due to insulin resistance. Primary ovarian insufficiency (also known as premature ovarian failure, or POI) can also cause ovulation problems. POI is when your ovaries stop working properly before age 40, affecting your release of eggs and chances of pregnancy. Hyperprolactinemia is where you have too much prolactin, the hormone that stimulates breast milk, and that may also interfere with ovulation. Thyroid issues—like too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism)—can affect your menstrual cycle, too. Hyperprolactinemia and thyroid conditions can be easily treated, so it’s important to seek diagnosis.

Fallopian tube blockage

Fallopian tube blockage prevents the egg from meeting the sperm. It can be caused by: Endometriosis which is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus causing pelvic swelling and chronic pelvic pain.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which might be a result of untreated sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia or gonorrhoea.

Scar tissue from a previous surgery, such as a surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Problems with the uterus or cervix

The uterus, also called the womb, is where your baby grows. Abnormalities or defects in the uterus can interfere with your ability to get pregnant. This can include congenital uterine conditions, which are present at birth, or an issue that develops later like fibroids.

Some uterine conditions include:

Septate uterus in which a band of tissue divides the uterus into two sections Bicornuate uterus, in which the uterus has two cavities instead of one, resembling the shape of a heart

Double uterus, in which the uterus has two small cavities, each with its own opening Fibroids, which are abnormal growths inside or on the uterus.

Problems with sperm production or function

Abnormal sperm production or function can cause subfertility. This can be caused by a number of conditions and factors, including:

Sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhoea, chlamydia and HIV. Other infections include mumps. Male medical condition like diabetes, cancer and cancer treatment. Enlarged veins in the testes, called varicocele. Some genetic defects may also affect sperm production extra genetic material.

Problems with the delivery of sperm can make it difficult to conceive. This can be caused by a number of things, including: damage or injury to the testes, premature ejaculation or other problems of sperm motility.

Who is at risk of subfertility

Many of the risk factors are the same for male and female subfertility. These include: • being a female over the age of 35 being a male over the age of 40 being overweight or underweight smoking tobacco or marijuana excessive use of alcohol excessive physical or emotional stress exposure to radiation certain medications exposure to environmental toxins, such as lead and pesticide

what to expect when you visit a gynaecologist with subfertility.

A gynaecologist can help diagnose the cause of subfertility. A doctor will begin by asking medical and sexual history of both partners. The doctor will also perform a physical examination, including a pelvic examination for women and an examination of the genitals for men. This is why it is important to for a couple to consult together.

A fertility evaluation will also include a number of tests. Tests that may be ordered for women include:

•

blood tests to measure hormone levels related to ovulation tests to evaluate the condition of the fallopian tubes and uterus • ovarian reserve testing to check the quality and quantity of eggs Tests for men may include: • semen analysis blood tests to determine hormone levels, including testosterone • imaging tests, such as a testicular ultrasound scan genetic testing to check for genetic defects that can affect fertility • testicular biopsy to identify abnormali

ties

How can one improve chances for conception?

Here are some lifestyle changes and tips that can increase your chances of conceiving naturally: •

Avoid smoking, which can affect male and female fertility. •

Stop drinking alcohol.

Maintain a healthy weight, as being underweight or overweight can affect fertility. •

Use ovulation predictor kits to figure out the best time during your cycle to have intercourse.

Avoid excessive heat, such as saunas, which can affect sperm production and motility. •

Speak to a doctor about your medications, as some are known to affect fertility.

Medical treatment will depend on the cause of subfertility. Children are gifts from God. There are other options of having children including adoption Dr Abigael Jemedze 0772730901

Hydration is an important aspect of human existence. Every cell in the human body counts on water to function.

Therefore drinking clean purified water . helps improve concentration, cognition and maintains memory function. It also helps balance your mood, emotions & helps in reducing stress. In addition we also supply 2.5kg and 5kg Ice

Packs.

We do door to door delivery and we are open for business Monday to Saturday from 8am to 3pm.

Another positive effect of drinking clean purified water is an increase of blood flow and oxygen to your brain preventing headaches and reducing stress.Its also linked to weight loss,DE toxicity maintenance and recovery of healthy muscles, digestion, skin and lots more!

“So rethink your lifestyle, drink clean purified water everyday.

We at Ravine Water (Pvt) Ltd caters for all our customers from all walks of life.

Our clean purified water comes in different packages from 250ml plastic packets, 500mls bottles, 5 litre bottles to 18.9litre bottles.