Bacterial Infections

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• QWhat are some reasons that I should wait before starting a family?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  There are a number of reasons why you may want to wait before starting a family. Children are expensive. That's why it's not unreasonable for you to want to wait to get pregnant until you feel confident that your career and finances are stable enough to start a family. When you're in your twenties, you may still be establishing yourself or figuring out a career path. You may have debts like college loans to pay off. And if you take time off to have a baby when you're young, it may be hard to get back on track. 

  When you have a child later in life, you can potentially earn more and have more career opportunities at your feet. Also, younger couples may not be ready for the sacrifices and patience required to parent kids, who can be emotionally and physically taxing. When you have kids at an older age, you're likely more willing to accept the changes that come with having a child. You also may bring more wisdom and perspective to the table.

  Having a child can take its toll on your marriage, especially if you're young. You lack the life experience to know that the tough, early days with a baby are temporary. Mom may feel overwhelmed and Dad may feel abandoned because his wife is now spending all her time with a baby. 

  It's okay if you want to tackle some tasks and experiences before you try to get pregnant. Maybe that means traveling as much as possible, owning a two-door convertible sports car, eating at five-star restaurants, sleeping in on the weekends or seeing movies on opening night. Doing such things before you have kids may leave you with fewer regrets after you start a family. 

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhat is an ovulation kit?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  An ovulation kit is an over-the-counter test that helps women track ovulation. It measures the levels of LH, or luteinizing hormone, in the urine. LH, which is produced by the pituitary gland, is made all the time. More LH is produced 24 to 48 hours before ovulation, and that LH surge triggers ovulation. The test should be done the same time each day for a few days to get optimal results. Ovulation kits are not 100 percent accurate. Some health conditions can cause a false positive and some medications can lower LH levels.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhat are some tips for discussing sexual assault with my child in college?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  When discussing sexual assault with your child in college, here are some topics you may want to touch on:

  • Make sure both girls and boys understand what "consent" means.
  • Discuss campus safety options, like safe rides or escorts, emergency phones and crime reporting procedures.
  • Talk about campus medical and mental health services and the university staff that may be available to help, from resident advisors and student deans to campus police.
  • Provide information about national hotlines that offer help with things like physical or substance abuse or anxiety and depression.
  • Talk about how sexual assaults most often occur between people who know each other. Discuss what your child can do to be safe in social and dating situations.
  • Rather than telling your teens not to go to parties or drink or do drugs, discuss the potential consequences of those actions. Talk about what they can do to avoid being vulnerable, like never leaving a drink unwatched and having a buddy system to make sure they get home safely.
  • Emphasize that if something does occur, it is never the victim's fault. Tell them they can always come to you when they need help or feel uncomfortable about a situation involving them or someone they know.

  And remind them to always trust their gut.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QDo rape survivors often experience PTSD?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  A study of women who were raped found that 94 out of 100 experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the two weeks following the event. But the feelings can linger long beyond that: Nine months later, almost one-third were still dealing with the pattern of symptoms that included nightmares, jumpiness, irritability, difficulty sleeping and concentrating and negative thoughts and feelings.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhat is sexual coercion?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Sexual coercion is unwanted sexual activity that happens after someone is tricked, pressured or forced nonphysically.

  Examples include:

  • Lying or threatening to spread rumors about a person
  • Making a person feel like it's too late to say no
  • Threatening a person's children, relatives, job, school, home or career

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QCan I have sex while being treated for bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  If you're being treated for bacterial vaginosis (BV) it's best to wait about seven days after treatment ends to resume sexual relations. Check with your healthcare provider to confirm you're cleared to have sex.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhat are some common misconceptions about bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  There are some common misconceptions about bacterial vaginosis (BV). To be clear, BV:

  • Is not a matter of poor hygiene
  • Can only be treated with the right diagnosis
  • Can occur even if a person has never had intercourse

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhat are the risk factors for bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  The following factors put a woman at greater risk for bacterial vaginosis (BV):

  • Having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners (although it is possible to get the infection if a woman has never had sex)
  • Douching
  • Not using condoms
  • Being African American or Latino
  • Pregnancy

  One in four pregnant women will develop BV, which can occur at any point during pregnancy. Ignoring symptoms and not being treated can increase the risk of preterm labor and birth, as well as having a low birth weight baby.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QDo pregnant women need to be routinely screened for BV?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  There's no evidence that pregnant women need to be routinely screened for bacterial vaginosis (BV). However, if a pregnant woman has symptoms of BV, she should be tested and treated immediately with the same antibiotic used for women who aren't pregnant. Left untreated, BV can cause low birth weight babies (less than 5.5 pounds) and premature delivery.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

• QWhat can happen if I don't seek treatment for my bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Left untreated, bacterial vaginosis (BV) can lead to other problems and complications, which may include:

  • Having an increased risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
  • Having an increased risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of a woman's organs that may lead to infertility
  • Having a higher likelihood of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if you have sex with an infected person

  Pregnant women with BV that is left untreated are at risk for premature birth or having a low birth weight baby weighing less than 5.5 pounds. Pregnant women can be safely treated, at any stage of pregnancy, with the same antibiotic given to women who are not pregnant.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.