FAQs

Gauteng Department of Health urges women to have safe abortions

In South Africa women who choose to terminate a pregnancy are protected by the law.

FAQs

Can you fall pregnant when you're already pregnant?

Superfetation... The cases are as rare as the word sounds, but it is in fact possible to get pregnant when you're already pregnant. We unpack this rare condition.

FAQs

Single women and fertility treatment: a specialist answers all our questions

We sat down with Cape Town-based reproductive health specialist Dr Klaus Wiswedel to ask questions about freezing eggs, single parenthood by choice and the rise of fertility treatment in South Africa.

FAQs

Q&A: Increasing fertility

I am 23 years old and my fiance is 27 years old. For about a year we have been trying to have a baby and even though we are both healthy, I ams till not falling pregnant. Is there anything we can both take to increase our chances of falling pregnant?

FAQs

Q&A: My husband's sperm count is low, what can we do?

My husbands' sperm count is low, what can we do about it?

FAQs

Q&A: Struggling to have a child for the past 7 years

I am a 35 year old woman who has been struggling to have a child for the past 7 years. I had 7 miscarriages and no explanantions why, only with my last pregnancy at 18 weeks I was diagnosed with incompetent cervix. The other pregnancies ended between 4-6 weeks. I had another miscarriage, the ultrasound showed a flat sac. I feel drained and tired of all this. I'm also scared of pregnancy. My gynae suggested I go and see a fertility specialist but I can't go due to financial constraints. 

FAQs

Q&A: Was I pregnant and then miscarried?

My period was due on 22 August, but it didn't come. Then two weeks later, my period did come. What could this mean? Was I pregnant and then miscarried? Or was it a case of my cycle being irregular? The thing is that I have never had an irregular period before so this worries me. 

FAQs

Q&A: What are the chances of me losing my baby again?

I lost my daughter at 38 weeks in January this year to something they call toxoplasmosis, even though the doctor was not 100% sure that it was the reason. She was perfect in every way. Now I have just found out that I am 5 weeks pregnant and I am so excited yet so nervous. What are the chances of me losing my baby again? I do not know how to feel or what to do. Could you please help me?

FAQs

Q&A: Did I have a miscarriage?

Last year I went to see my doctor and he confirmed that I was pregnant, he assumed that I was 3 weeks pregnant. A few days later I had burning pain on my right ovary and I went to a private hospital were they did a sonar and could not see anything, they then took my blood and the results came back positive. Two days later I started bleeding and clotting and I went back to the hospital for an ultrasound that said I was not pregnant - I think I miscarried. I'm concerned that he did not clean me and said if he did my womb will stick like glue. The only thing that could prove that I was expecting was my sensitive breasts and the bloodtest.

FAQs

Q&A: Dealing with losing a baby

I am 39 years old and I don't have children. In March 2006 I had a miscarriage at 4 weeks. In August last year the doctor confirmed that I was 6 months pregnant, but when I went for a check-up a month later he said the baby had stopped growing and no heartbeat was detected. How can I cope? I do have support from my family and friends but when I'm alone it's so hard.

FAQs

Q&A: How do I help my partner cope with the loss of our baby?

I am 31 years old and ten weeks into my pregnancy I lost my baby. I feel so lost and blame myself for not taking care of the baby. My partner and I were looking forward to having this child. We didn’t have a name yet as we didn’t know the sex. I feel as if a part of me has been taken away and I can never get it back. My boyfriend was so excited about the pregnancy as it would have been his first child. He is so hurt and I don’t know how to comfort him. He says it is too early and he has nothing to say – but I know he is hurting as much as I am. What can I do for him?

FAQs

Q&A: How does endometriosis impact my fertility?

I have endometriosis. How does it impact on my fertility and how can I treat it?

FAQs

Q&A: No heartbeat...

I'm a 29-year-old mother to a two-year-old and when I was pregnant with my second baby, I could not hear the heartbeat. When I went for my second check-up at 20 weeks, the doctor told me that my baby had stopped growing at 17 weeks. But I had gone for a check-up at 17 weeks and she had never detected that. What caused it and how is it possible that she missed it? I am now concerned about how long I can wait to try for another baby.

FAQs

Q&A: Is breastfeeding a natural contraceptive?

I am 26 years old and 18 weeks pregnant with my first child. I am one of 7 children, because my mother conceived so easily, does that mean I should be careful after my baby is born and is breastfeeding a natural contraceptive?

FAQs

Q&A: Stopped taking the pill

I stopped taking my pill after 5 years and have't gotten a period since. I did many pregnancy tests and went for a scan due to bladder problems and there was nothing. My husband and I are anxious to have a baby and would like to know what could help because no period means no eggs to be fertilised.

FAQs

Q&A: Conception

What is the best time to have sex after my wife has had her menstruation to make her fall pregnant? What I have heard was that my wife and I should try on the 14th day after the 1st day of her menstruation.