How does Clomid help you get pregnant? Clovis is what we call an estrogen receptor agonist. In other words it turns on the estrogen receptor. In order to ovulate there needs to be a "surge" of estrogen that your brain sees. When you have that surge you ovulate. The manner in which clinic is given is important. It is suppose to mimic that surge of estrogen so that your body will respond to produce a mature egg and then ovulate. Judy READ MORE

Birth control for acne? Birth control can help with acne, though depending on the type, some more than others. The primary and most common pathway is through increasing sex binding hormone production which will capture more testosterone, the primary hormone related to acne, limiting its effects. There are are also brands which are specifically "anti-androgenic" and thus go further to block testosterone and its effects. READ MORE

Why is there a foul smell in my white discharge? You could have an infection with either bacteria or with a parasite. I recommend that you see your physician to have proper tests done. Judy READ MORE

I'm pregnant, and I feel like I'm gaining a lot of weight. Is there anything I can do? Depending on your BMI (body mass index), you may need to gain a certain amount of weight. I recommend talking to your OB physician about your weight gain before discussing any other plans. Judy READ MORE

Longevity of HPV Virus This is a great question, but also difficult to be specific. In general, HPV is a virus that spreads via contact. In other words a cell with HPV can spread the HPV only to the cells which surround it. Thus if there are no cells with HPV on your skin, there will be no warts. However if there is HPV in a cell, it may be dormant and not active. So even though you currently do not have a wart, the potential to activate the HPV and have a wart resurface is still present. Unfortunately, there is no way to know exactly which cells have hpv and which no do not. Wart "treatment" is imprecise and cannot give you any guarantee. READ MORE

I have soreness around my vagina after sex. What is causing this? This forum, unfortunately, is not the best place to answer this question. Primarily, pain associated with sex, immediately prior to sex, or after sex, can have a multitude of reasons that range from 1. Physical anatomy, hormonal status, infectious status, age, experience, etc. I recommend speaking with your personal gynecologist. READ MORE

What foods should I avoid during my pregnancy? We recommend avoiding all raw meats and seafood, all large ocean fish (i.e., large tuna, swordfish, sole, etc.) even if cooked. Additionally, I recommend washing all vegetables, even if pre-washed. READ MORE

Why do I have severe vaginal itching and soreness during my periods? It is difficult to answer this question without more details as well as without an exam. There are multiple reasons one can have itching on a routine basis: hormonal changes, other medical problems, new lifestyle changes, emotional stress, etc. I would recommend an open discussion with your physician to further delineate the most likely cause in your case. Judy READ MORE

Will a miscarriage affect my chances of getting pregnant again? A miscarriage will not affect your chance of getting pregnant, but it may affect your risk of having another miscarriage. It is always best to have an early evaluation should you believe that you are pregnant. Judy READ MORE

Can a home pregnancy test show a wrong reading? Depending upon the brand and the expiration date, a home pregnancy test can be incorrect. It is always best to have a home pregnancy test confirmed by your physician's exam and investigation. READ MORE

When is the best time to take my pregnancy test? Usually we recommend taking a pregnancy test after the first missed menses. In others, if your period does not come when you expect it to come - I would recommend you taking a pregnancy test. READ MORE

My periods are irregular. What could be the reason for this? There are many reasons why a menstrual cycle can change. The first and most common is pregnancy. Even if you believe you are experiencing a "period" bleed, it would be reasonable to check a pregnancy test if they are different from your norm. Beyond a pregnancy, other possibilities include changes in hormonal levels/hormonal responses. These changes can be secondary to things as dramatic weight change, stress, thyroid changes, new medical diseases, etc. For these, it is always best to seek formal medical evaluation. READ MORE

Ovulation pain Most likely, your pain during ovulation is related to the physical processes related to ovulation. When a woman ovulates, it is the process of releasing a mature egg from the surface of the ovary into the abdominal space at which time the fallopian tubes detect it and then pick it up. In releasing a mature egg, the ovary will "rupture" the tissue which contains the mature egg. This "rupture" will cause some bleeding. Blood within the abdominal space will always cause pain, thus having pain with ovulation. There is a formal word for this process: Mittelschmerz. READ MORE

What could be the reason behind sudden pain around my right ovary? It is always better to have a consultation face to face with your physician concerning any new worrisome symptoms. Judy READ MORE

How popular are water births? I am, probably, unqualified to answer this question since this is not an option I have ever given to patients. I would seek another opinion. Judy God ... has at the last of these days spoken to us in the Son .... Hebrews 1:1-2 READ MORE

Bed rest That is a difficult question, which I would recommend you discussing with your personal obstetrician. Bed rest is not specifically defined clinically but can range from confinement in bed to light house activities with the goal to stay off of one's feet as much as possible. READ MORE

If my pregnancy test is negative, why are my periods delayed? A delay in periods depends on a lot of things. Are your periods always regular? Recent changes in weight or stress level? Possibly a very early pregnancy that has not produced enough hormones for the pregnancy test you are using to turn positive. Usually, sex life activity does not impact timing of periods. READ MORE

How much Colace can I take while pregnant? In General colace is not my recommended drug for constipation. Most gasterointerologist also agree that colace is not effective in constipation. Rather I would recommend Metamucil, either daily or twice daily. Judy READ MORE

Skin rash during pregnancy? The rash may or may not be due to your pregnancy. I recommend bring evaluated by your OBGYN physician. As for other over the counter creams for hydration of your skin, there are no specifically recommended brands for general usage. READ MORE

Is my constipation normal? Whether your constipation is related to hormonal fluctuations depends upon when your periods occur in relation to your constipation. READ MORE

What if I miss a week straight of birth control pills? When you miss a whole week of pills the main consequence is that your ovaries may start to function again, so you are primarily at risk for getting pregnant if you are sexually active with a male partner. I recommend restarting your pills once a day and then using condoms along with your pills until your next period. It may throw off your bleeding cycle, but after another packet of pills, this should return very nearly to normal. READ MORE