Question:
I’ve just delivered my first child a few weeks ago. I was told by my friends and colleagues that I can resume sexual activity after 40 days (or after the blood has dried up). However, my elderly relatives advised me that 60-100 days would be the best as the body needs plenty of time to heal. My husband and I were pretty active sexually before this and I don’t think we want to wait that long. How long exactly should the period of abstinence last?
Confined, Petaling Jaya
Answer:
So far not many women complain of the prolonged period of abstinence after childbirth, the so called ‘pantang’ period (also known as the puerperal period) except the husband who might have to gear up after the long absence of good sex.6 weeks are more than enough and that’s exactly what most Obstetricians would recommend and that too the women need to go for a postnatal check up before the green light is given. For most women who breastfed the lochia (the discharge from the uterus of blood, mucus and tissue during the puerperal period) dry up within 3 weeks and for those women who cannot breastfeed for some reasons or other the lochia will dry in 5-6 weeks. The post partum check up is still important before the woman can resume sex.

Question:
My name is Boon. I always feel itchy on my scrotum, especially at night, it has been half a year, scrotum’s skin is fine, however I could see my scrotum has more wrinkles and darker in color. What can I do?

Answer:
The scrotal skin is made up of fine non –keratinized skin (skin that is not hardened) without fatty layer but a layer of smooth muscle known as the Dartos layer that gives the wrinkle to the skin when the muscle contract. The scrotal skin is so fine that you can actually see the fines blood vessels underneath. It also has a pigmented layer that gives the darker shade to the skin when compared to the other parts of the body. If the skin is dry it becomes itchy and when you start to scratch, it gets irritated and the skin becomes hardened (appeared wrinkled) and darker. If the irritation subsides then the scrotal skin will return to its normal condition. Dryness cans cause irritation and it is advisable to keep the scrotal skin moist by applying moisturizer after bath. If the itchiness area of the skin is moist you probably have eczema and you probably will have to see your family doctor for treatment. Another condition that can cause scrotal itchiness is ‘jock itch’ which is caused by fungus or bacteria. This also needs consultation with the doctor.

Question:
I have been married for 3 years. In the first year my husband and I had sex very often but recently my husband finds it difficult to get an erection. We’ve talked about it and he confessed that his penis feels weak. He says that his work has been giving him more stress than usual and he feels a little run down. Could this be the problem or do we need to get really worried? My husband is 30.

Answer:
When the penis is not sufficiently firm for vaginal penetration then the person is said to have erectile dysfunction or ED. If this happens on and off and persists for 6 months then the ED is a mild one. If this happens very often and persists for 6 months then the ED is of moderate form and if there is no erection and this persists for 6 months then this is known as total ED.
If a man can achieved morning erection more often than none then he has normal penile function. Lack of sleep and stress can interferes with normal penile function. ED has been associated with smoking, drinking, weight problems, lack of physical exercises and stress. Studies have shown that men with chronic ED might have health problems and it would be wise to see a doctor to get a good physical. ED can be treated with oral medications like PDE-5 Inhibitors like sildenafil citrate (Viagra), Tadafil (Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra) or Udenafil(Zydena). Traditional therapy is not a good option since the focus is on the penis. Medical treatment focuses on the total man and not only his penis!

Question:
My friend told me that having sex when you’re drunk or high is thrilling and intensely pleasurable. Is this true?

Answer:
Imagine eating something that is suppose to be good is not realized when the taste buds are numb. You end up not knowing what you have eaten and this will not register in your memory bank. The same thing goes for sex when one does it while drunk. You do not know what you did and with whom you finally did it because all memory of the event is not registered and when your sobered down you suddenly realized that you have made a fool of yourself. Sexual relationship is a shared experience with someone very special. Wouldn’t you want to cherish this and keep it alive in your memory bank?

Question:
I’m 22 and I’ve just been sexually active about two months ago. Recently I noticed an unpleasant fishy smell coming from my vaginal discharge during intercourse. My husband notices it too and I’m beginning to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about it. What is it and how do I get rid of it?

Answer:
It is alright to be sexually active and better still to have a good and a healthy sexual relationship. Having vaginal discharge which can interfere with lovemaking is very daunting and especially if the discharge foul smells. Natural discharge is not foul smell and anything else may well be the result of some infection. Bacterial infection where the source of infection comes from the anal passage may be the culprit. However the discharge is somewhat grayish and has a mousy odor. Infection by a parasitic single celled organism known as Tricomonas gives a greenish yellow discharge and a fishy odor. It would be wise to see a doctor, who may need to have a look to confirm the infection and if the vaginal wall has fine raspberry spots that may indicate trichomonas infection and an appropriate antibiotic will be provided.