Infertility. Endometriosis is a fairly common cause of infertility, with between 25 and 50 per cent of infertile women being found to have it, although in many the disease will be mild. It interrupts conception not only by the mechanical barriers it may produce (like scarring and cysts), but also through producing a hormonal effect [...]

Exercise. It makes sense to do some form of regular exercise, in order to be fit before, during and after pregnancy. If you didn’t exercise regularly before you became pregnant, you don’t suddenly have to become a triathlete, but it would be a good idea to incorporate some type of activity into your routine. If [...]

Inconclusive smear. If the cytologists are unable to interpret the smear, because of infection, an inadequate sample or cells, or blood cells obscuring the view, they may request a repeat smear fairly promptly. Treating more extensive disease. If the abnormal area is not completely destroyed by diathermy or laser, or if the area is too [...]

This is a particularly clever little bug. Able to infect without causing symptoms, able gradually to cause damage to unsuspecting fallopian tubes, able to render women infertile without very much fuss at all, really. Some commentators have referred to the ‘silent epidemic’ of chlamydia. Figures from the United States suggest a conservative estimate of three [...]

Sexual ‘arousal’ is a sense of excitement (physical and psychological), also called being ‘turned on’, which is a pretty good description. It may happen in response to a variety of things (but rarely buying a Joaf of bread). You may feel aroused by a person, a situation, a smell, a picture, a fantasy, a dream, [...]