Teething is a significant developmental milestone in your baby's early years, marking the arrival of their first teeth. As this natural process begins, it often brings with it a host of discomforts and challenges for both the baby and the parents. From the first signs of swollen gums to increased drooling and irritability, teething can be a difficult phase to navigate. Understanding the signs and symptoms of teething is crucial for providing effective relief and support. This article aims to guide you through the various indicators that your baby is teething, helping you to distinguish between typical teething symptoms and other health concerns. Additionally, we will explore practical strategies for alleviating teething pain and discomfort, including both over-the-counter remedies and natural approaches. One common concern among parents is the potential link between teething and gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhoea. We'll clarify this relationship and offer advice on how to manage your baby's symptoms effectively. By familiarising yourself with the signs of teething and the best ways to help your baby through this period, you can ensure a smoother transition and provide much-needed comfort during this developmental phase.

Gonorrhoea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. This can easily pass from person to person via unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex, or sharing sex toys. Condoms help to prevent catching gonorrhoea. This may cause no noticeable symptoms, or it can cause a yellow/green watery or pus-like discharge from the penis, vagina or rectum (back passage). It may cause pain on peeing, for women pain during sex, bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods, and for men, pain in the testicles. It can cause joint inflammation (reactive arthritis), eye symptoms (conjunctivitis) and, if left untreated, can cause infertility. Given the high stakes and the fact that you may have no symptoms at all, it’s important to get tested regularly. This is especially important if you are aged 16 to 25, as this is the highest-risk age group. Get an STI test at the change of any partner (use condoms until you both get the all-clear) and at least once a year.

Menopause is a significant transition in a woman's life, often accompanied by various physical changes. The increased incidence of joint pain and osteoarthritis is among the concerns. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis after menopause. Approximately 6 in 10 of postmenopausal women show radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis. Understanding the connection between menopause and osteoarthritis is crucial for women experiencing these symptoms and looking for effective management strategies.

Libido refers to your sex drive. Normal levels of libido and sex drive are different for each person and there is no standard that anyone should be compared to. Loss of libido is a type of sexual dysfunction and means a drop in your normal sex drive (not just lower than another person's). It is a common thing for people to experience and can be due to many different things, such as fatigue, stress, symptoms of mental health conditions like depression, difficult personal circumstances, relationship difficulties, physical health conditions or side effects of certain medications.

So you got that all-important positive on the pregnancy test? Congratulations! You’re at least three weeks into your 40 week journey! But where do you go next? Let’s take you through the process so you’re prepared.

The menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing eggs and is said to have occurred if you have not had a period for 12 months. It can vary in how it occurs with some people experiencing gradually changing periods, or missed periods, and others finding a sudden end to their periods. Once you have had one year without a period it can be confirmed that you have gone through the menopause. Natural menopause is due to increasing age, where over time your ovaries producing less of the hormone oestrogen which in turn means your ovaries don’t release an egg (so you can no longer conceive naturally) and your periods subsequently stop. It happens to all women, however, when exactly menopause occurs, and the symptoms people experience during this time vastly differ. In the UK, the average age of menopause is 51 and is said to be early if it occurs before the age of 45. Around 1% of will go through premature ovarian insufficiency, which is defined as the menopause occurring before the age of 40. You may also experience menopause due to having had surgery to remove your ovaries, having radiotherapy around the area of your ovaries, some chemotherapy treatment, or certain medical conditions.

If you find yourself pregnant and do not wish to keep the baby, you can seek an abortion to bring the pregnancy to an end. By law in England, Scotland and Wales, this is usually up to 24 weeks, although later in certain exceptional circumstances. It can be a difficult time, and you may feel confused about the right decision for you. Turning to those that know and love you – friends, family, your partner – can help, but if this is difficult, your GP can provide a good listening ear, and abortion clinics have counselling services to discuss options with you. An abortion carries less risk the earlier it is carried out. Earlier discussions also allow for more time to think about the right option for you.

Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition which occurs as a consequence of women drinking alcohol during their pregnancy. It covers a wide range of symptoms and affects each baby differently. Examples include facial changes and learning disabilities, trouble with coordination or attention and hyperactivity. It can also affect the kidneys, bones, and the heart, and cause growth problems. The term foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is often used interchangeably, but more specifically describes certain collections of symptoms related to damage by alcohol during pregnancy, of which FAS is the most severe end of the spectrum. Symptoms may be subtle and there may be no physical signs, but it’s thought to be underdiagnosed, and numbers have risen in recent years along with alcohol abuse.

Mastitis is inflammation of the tissues of the breast, leading it to become hot, painful, and swollen. It commonly occurs in women who are breastfeeding but non-lactating women and men can also get it. In breastfeeding women, it can occur when the milk builds up in the breast or from a blockage in the milk ducts. If you have sore or cracked nipples it also makes it easier for bacteria to enter the milk ducts and often sore/cracked nipples can be caused by incorrect feeding technique and latching position or wearing tight-fitting clothing. Other people at risk of this condition include smokers and those with a weakened immune system. Irritation or damage to the skin around the nipples, through plucking the hairs or nipple piercings as well as certain skin conditions like eczema or having breast implants can increase your risk of having mastitis.

Dr Kandi explains how often we should be getting a sexual health screening.

You may have been informed that a sexual partner or ex-partner has got an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and you may have been put at risk, so you require treatment. This can come as a shock, whether you hear it directly from your partner, an ex-partner texts you or you receive an anonymous text from a Sexual Health Clinic. But it’s better to know about this than be kept in the dark. STIs may or may not cause symptoms, but they can put you at risk of longer-term problems such as ongoing pain or infertility, and there are reliable treatments available. By getting treatment, even if you have no symptoms, this will protect you and future partners.

Tinea cruris (jock itch) is a common fungal skin infection of the groin. Sometimes doctors call it the medical term tinea cruris or ringworm - we should be clear it has nothing to do with worms! This fungal infection usually occurs in warm, moist areas such as the groin or in the armpit area or feet (where it is called tinea pedis or athletes foot). It produces symptoms of a rash that is usually red, sore and itchy and has clear edges that can form a ring-like pattern. It is commonly found in athletes and the elderly but can affect anyone. It is often found in the crease of the groin and can spread a short way down the upper thigh. The majority of cases are mild and can be treated easily with over the counter antifungal creams available from your pharmacist. If the medication is for a child you will be asked to see the doctor first rather than getting an over the counter cream. There are a number of different antifungal creams available (you will see names such as terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole and miconazole so check the directions that come with each cream as it will tell you how often and how long to use the cream for. Apply the cream to the affected area and to the non-affected skin that is up to 5cm around the affected area.

Pregnancy brings exciting new beginnings, but it can bring new problems, too, as your body changes under the influence of hormones and the physical size of a growing baby. Constipation is one of these – it's common in the general population, but even more common in pregnancy. Constipation describes either finding you are going less frequently, or straining to poo and producing hard pellets. Everyone is different – some go three times a day, others go twice a week. But the aim is to produce soft, easily passed stool every time.

Breast pain is very common and there can be many causes, but most cases are not a cause for concern. Cyclical breast pain can be a normal part of many women’s cycles, especially in the weeks before a period starts. Other causes of breast pain are the contraceptive pill, pregnancy, menopause, an infection in the breast such as mastitis, a muscle strain in the chest wall and injury to the area. Pain is not a common presentation of breast cancer; other signs that are more indicative of breast cancer such as changes in your breast shape, nipple or skin changes, or a breast lump that doesn't go away with your next period.

For most, the abundance of oestrogen causes a slowing down of hair shedding, and many women report increased volume and lustrous locks during pregnancy. But this isn’t so for all – the relative stress to the body in the first trimester may cause hair loss, but this is only evident later in the pregnancy. This will come back – you’ll notice regrowth two to four months after baby is delivered.

Some women may experience a missed period, and this can happen for many reasons, including a medical condition, medication or stress and lifestyle factors. With a one-off period that's missed, we may not find out the cause and hopefully your cycle returns to normal. Persistent missed periods will need investigating with your doctor.

Erectile dysfunction is when you are unable to get an erection or maintain an erection in order to have sex. It can sometimes be referred to as impotence or shortened to ED, and it is a very common symptom men can experience from time to time. In most cases, there is no serious underlying cause and may improve on its own, although it is important to know there is a treatment that can help. It is especially common in older men with around 1 in 2 men over the age of 40 experiencing ED at some point. Some of the things that can contribute to erectile dysfunction include tiredness, stress or excessive alcohol. The causes of longer-term erectile dysfunction can be split into 3 main types which are psychological, physical health and medication-induced. Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction include stress, performance anxiety (or any anxiety around having sex), relationship issues, or mental health conditions such as depression. With psychological causes, erectile dysfunction usually starts suddenly, not gradually, and it is best to treat the cause (e.g. the mood symptoms) rather than treating the symptom of erectile dysfunction. Treat the mood symptoms, and the erectile dysfunction will hopefully improve. Physical causes are usually the reason for ED in men over 40, with reduced blood flow to the penis being at the top of that list. The arteries in the penis become too narrow for enough blood flow to cause an erection. Men who smoke, have high blood pressure or have high cholesterol levels are more at risk of developing this. With physical causes, erectile dysfunction tends to occur more gradually over time rather. Chronic health conditions that affect nerves or blood flow such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis can also cause ED as well as any damage to the penis or low testosterone levels however these are less common. Some medications can cause or erectile dysfunction worse. These include some of the medications used to treat depression, high blood pressure and prostate problems. It is best to discuss with your doctor if you think this might be the case. Don’t stop taking the medication before speaking with your doctor.

You may have been put at risk of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) if you have had unprotected sex, the condom broke, split or slipped off during sex, or you have been told a partner has an STI. STIs include gonorrhoea, chlamydia, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. You may have no symptoms from these, or symptoms may take weeks or months to show. It’s best to get this checked out, and the best place is to attend a Sexual Health Clinic. Look online for services near you, and know that it’s all confidential. If a partner has said they have an STI, you need to get treated immediately and avoid sex until treated, otherwise, you can pass it back and forth to each other. Again, this is best done at a Sexual Health Clinic. Unprotected sex also leaves women at risk of pregnancy. You can buy a pregnancy test, and it can take up to 3 weeks after unprotected sex for any pregnancy test to turn positive.

Projectile vomiting is when vomit flies out of a baby’s mouth forcefully. It will project like an arc several feet back, and looks quite different to the undramatic dribble of possetting. One important cause of projectile vomiting is pyloric stenosis, which affects 2-4 in 1,000 newborn babies. Pyloric stenosis occurs when there is a progressive thickening of the lower aspect of the stomach, causing a tightening or narrowing of the outlet of the stomach where it goes into the small intestine. This tightening means food can’t leave the stomach, causing an obstruction, and it requires immediate medical attention and treatment. The symptoms often occur in the first 5 weeks of life. It is more common in children whose parents had pyloric stenosis as a child, and in first-born males.

Herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. There are two common places the herpes virus can be found, near the mouth (oral herpes), which is also commonly known as a cold sore, and around the genitals (genital herpes).) A herpes infection typically starts with a change in sensation - pain or tingling in a particular area - followed by small blisters that burst and leave small painful ulcers. If they are near the vagina, they can cause really nasty pain when going to the toilet. There are two forms of the herpes simplex virus, types 1 and 2. Type 1 is more commonly associated with oral herpes, and type 2 is more commonly associated with genital herpes. Although due to the fact the condition spreads via contact, and aided by oral sex, it is not uncommon to find either type in any location. There is no way to distinguish from symptoms, they present in the same way and require a test to see which type is causing trouble (although the type doesn't change anything clinically - treatment is given depending on where is infected). Oral herpes is commonly acquired in childhood and passed on via skin-to-skin contact, or via contact with fluid in the blisters from the area of infection. Genital herpes is also spread through skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal sex, anal sex and oral sex.

Breast engorgement happens when your breasts become too full up of milk. This causes them to feel tight and painful and hard and can be very uncomfortable for a mum. Engorgement can also affect the nipple, becoming stretched or flat and painful. This can be unsettling for babies as it becomes difficult for them to attach to the breast properly.  Breast engorgement happens when the supply and demand of milk are out of sync. Commonly it occurs in the early days when both mother and baby are getting used to each other's needs. But it can also happen later when the baby is older and begins reducing the amount or the frequency of their feeds, for example when transitioning to solids, cow’s milk, or formula milk, or if mum is away from home for longer than usual. 

Heavy menstrual bleeding is either when you lose a lot of blood or you bleed for a longer period of time. This can be associated with the passage of blood clots and pain, and if it occurs every month it is known medically as menorrhagia. All in all, it can cause a considerable disruption to everyday life and a toll on your mental wellbeing. It’s hard to know what a “normal” period is and it is often difficult to know if your period is lighter, heavier or the same as other women. Signs that you are bleeding more heavily than others may include that you soak through a sanitary towel or tampon at least every hour, that you need double protection (towel and pad) that you need to change in the middle of the night and flooding through to clothes or bedding. It may also include bleeding for more than 7 days, passing large blood clots, and generally a disturbance to your daily activities, work, studies or relationship from bleeding.

Hair is a huge part of a woman’s identity and we are constantly bombarded with images of long sleek locks with plenty of volume. Understandably loss of hair can cause women a great deal of anxiety. There can be telling signs that this is an inevitable part of an ageing process, so let’s talk through what to look for, and consider any reversible causes.

The progestogen-only pill (POP) is a type of contraception. It contains a progestogen hormone. The hormone closely resembles the progesterone hormone produced by a woman’s ovaries. Older (traditional) POPs contain either levonorgestrel (Norgeston) or norethisterone (Noriday). Newer POPs contain desogestrel; brands include Cerazette, Cerelle, Feanolla, and Zelleta. The POP is also referred to as the mini pill

Contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy. The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) is a type of contraception for women. The COCP is sometimes referred to as just the pill. It contains two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. These hormones closely resemble the oestrogen and progesterone hormones produced by a woman’s ovaries. There are lots of different COCPs available. Some COCPs contain 21 pills which are followed by a seven-day break. Other COCPs contain 28 pills, with seven inactive (dummy) pills at the end of the pack. You should try to take your tablets at the same time each day. If you do not take your pill within 12 hours of your regular pill-taking time, it is classed as a missed pill. Below we will look at steps you should take if you miss any pills. Note the guidance in this article does not apply to Zoely, Qlaira, and Eloine. Remember, the advice only applies to missed active pills. If you miss any inactive pills, you can just disregard these pills.

Pregnancy can leave you hot and bothered at the best of times, and you don’t want the added burden of hay fever symptoms. But lots of the products you’ve relied on before state they may not be safe in pregnancy. So how can you treat your symptoms? As practising GPs here at Healthwords, we’re used to weighing up risks and benefits – some products that are labelled as "unlicensed for pregnancy" may be an option after discussion with your doctor. Let’s arm you with the facts first, before you speak to your doctor. It’s also worth stating that hay fever, or allergic rhinitis (similar eye and nose symptoms to any allergen), is not known to cause any harm to you or your growing baby if left untreated. It’s for your comfort if you wish to pursue treatment for your symptoms.

Finasteride (also known by the brand name Propecia) is a medication used to treat hair loss in men. It is also used to manage urinary symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finasteride is used to manage the most common type of hair loss, often associated with ageing, called male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It is commonly used alongside minoxidil liquid or foam, another hair loss medication. Unlike minoxidil, which can only facilitate hair regrowth, finasteride can prevent hair loss as well. Finasteride is considered most effective on the crown area of the scalp, although studies have shown it can benefit all areas of the scalp affected by male pattern baldness. Finasteride is mainly available as tablets to be taken once a day. The best results are seen when the medication is taken every day, and it can take around six to nine months before you see the full effects. Many people that take finasteride experience a shedding phase early on in their treatment (usually in the first few months). This phase causes you to lose more hair than normal as older damaged hairs are lost. These are then replaced by newer and stronger hairs. Shedding is nothing to worry about, and it shows the medication is working. Although finasteride can cause hair regrowth, it is considered to be more of a preventative medication for further hair loss. Therefore, it is best to begin finasteride treatment when you first start to notice signs of male pattern baldness. If you have already lost most of your hair, finasteride is unlikely to be useful as it is not usually associated with massive amounts of hair regrowth. Also, any regrowth that you gain is not permanent; if you stop taking finasteride, this hair will fall out again.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is commonly referred to as cot death. It is the term for the sudden death of a healthy baby in its sleep that occurs without explanation or expectation. Thankfully, SIDS is rare with about 1 in 3,000 babies dying from it in the UK every year, but every death is one death too many, so the aim is to reduce the risk as much as possible

Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord called the meninges. You must be able to identify the symptoms of meningitis as it can develop into a life-threatening infection known as sepsis or septicaemia. It is critical to know that the symptoms of meningitis can occur in any order. Because of the severity, if you suspect that a family member or someone you know could have meningitis, you should seek urgent medical advice.

You are never far from sexual health services in the UK. Dedicated clinics are there for phone consultations or visits, online services can post out testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and your GP is also a source of advice, testing and prescriptions. Needs can vary widely, but most people request access to STI tests such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis, emergency contraception, regular contraception. They may offer hepatitis B vaccination if you are at risk, or emergency HIV treatment, if you think you’ve been exposed. They can also advise on safe sex, high risk behaviour, sexual assault or rape, and anonymous contact tracing for a sexual partner or partners if you have tested positive for an STI.

Colic - a small word with a big impact! You may be wondering, as you try every technique under the sun to soothe your crying newborn, why you haven’t heard of it before now, and why someone didn’t explain exactly what to do. But you’re here now and you are not alone: 1 in 5 babies suffer from colic. With qualifications of being a GP and a mother of two, I’ll talk you through what it is, what you can do about it and how long it will last. Colic is the word used for when babies cry for a consistent period of time without any obvious cause. It’s not well understood and there’s no consensus on the cause. One theory is that a baby’s gut is underdeveloped early on, making it harder for them to digest food and causing some temporary distress. Another theory is that it occurs with an overactive supply and let down when breastfeeding. How long does it last? Colic typically starts in the first six weeks of life. It fits the diagnosis if a baby cries for more than three hours a day, for at least three days a week. Most babies suffer from colic in the evening, but it can happen at any time of day. Colic usually goes away by itself after three to four months. But, of course, every baby is different: you may feel relieved if it’s short-lived, or you could be unlucky and it lasts for six months or so.