DR Jeff Foster is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident doctor and is here to help YOU.
Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women.
See h3health.co.uk and email at drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.
Q) I AM a 43-year-old woman with two children.
I have recently been diagnosed with deeply invasive endometriosis.
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It isn’t really causing me any pain so I wasn’t going to go for a hysterectomy but I have read that it could spread to other organs like my bladder and bowel.
Obviously I don’t want this to happen. Is it likely to spread?
Laura Bancroft, Higham, Lancs
A) Endometriosis affects women in different ways.
The endometrium is the lining of the uterus.
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue is found in places it should not be, in particular the pelvis.
Depending on where it is situated it can cause bowel and bladder symptoms, sexual dysfunction or pain.
The cause is not known but there are theories it is due to genetic risk, factors affecting your immune system or changes in hormones.
Because it is so variable there is no “one treatment for everyone”, and I would certainly not just go straight for a hysterectomy.
While a hysterectomy may be an option, I would opt for other treatments first including watchful waiting, monitoring or hormonal treatments such as pills, injections or the coil.
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You need a discussion with your gynaecologist.
Q) MY wife is beautiful and I love her but I don’t think about sex at all.
It has been like this for years.
It makes her feel like I’m not attracted to her.
I am a 40-year-old man and run my own business.
My wife works too plus does most of the caring for our two children.
I am attracted to my wife, I just have zero interest in sex now.
My penis does work, but my brain just doesn’t have the inclination to want to bother. What’s wrong with me?
Luke Riley, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
A) There are many reasons why men lose their sex drive, from lifestyle factors (working too hard, not being physically active or getting enough sleep), to relationship issues (life taken up being a parent) and medical causes (anaemia, diabetes, thyroid disease or testosterone deficiency).
Studies show 25 per cent of all men will have low testosterone at some point which mimics some of the symptoms of menopause such as less energy, tiredness, irritability, brain fog, weight gain, muscle loss and a drop in sex drive.
A blood test can check for low testosterone.
Treatment is a gel, cream or injection to replace what it is missing.
The correct diagnosis can change a man’s life.
Ask for a referral to a hormone specialist or men’s health doctor – like me.