HOW soon can I use tampons after giving birth?

Women shouldn't use tampons for at least six weeks after giving birth.

This is because you will still have a wound at the site where the placenta joined with your uterine wall.

Inserting a tampon can increase the risk of you developing an infection in this wound.

Avoiding tampons will give your body a chance to heal itself.

After childbirth, women experience vaginal bleeding known as lochia.

Lochia is a lot like a menstrual period but it occurs when the uterus (womb) sheds cells and tissues remaining after childbirth.

It is advised that women should use sanitary towels during this time.

Lochia can last anywhere between two to six weeks.

The bleeding usually begins as bright red in colour and changes over time to pinkish-brown then cream.

The length of time that you experience discharge and the colour change is different for each woman.

Lochia is a normal postnatal experience.

IS Chlamydia only caught through sexual contact?

Chlamydia is usually caught through sexual contact.

However, if a pregnant woman has Chlamydia, she can pass the infection to her baby during childbirth.

It's one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK and is caused by bacteria, called Chlamydia trachomatis.

These bacteria are found in the semen and vaginal fluids of people with the disease.

You can catch Chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.

It can also be passed on if you share sex toys and don’t wash them or cover them with a condom each time they’re used.

It’s not clear whether it can be spread if infected semen or vaginal fluid on your fingers is transferred to another person’s genitals, or by rubbing female genitals together.

It's important to stress that you cannot catch it from kissing or sharing facilities such as toilets.

If you think you have it, you should contact your GP or local sexual health clinic for free, confidential advice.

It can be treated easily with antibiotics but if it's not treated, it can cause long-term problems for women and men, including infertility.

WHAT is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is caused by compression of one of the nerves in the hand which can lead to tingling, numbness and sometimes pain.

CTS is one of the most common conditions affecting the nerves of the hand.

Most cases arise in people who are between 45-64 years of age. CTS is also common in pregnancy, which may be due to fluid retention during pregnancy placing additional pressure on the carpal tunnel.

The exact reason why changes to the structure of the carpal tunnel occur in some people is unknown, but factors which seem to increase the risk of developing CTS include family history, pregnancy and certain injuries to the wrist.

The main symptoms are a tingling sensation, numbness and sometimes pain which can affect the thumb, index finger and middle finger. Symptoms tend to develop gradually and are often worse at night.

A common test to help diagnose CTS involves tapping your wrist lightly to see if it produces tingling or numbness in your affected hand. Another test involves flexing your wrist for 60 seconds to see if this produces symptoms.

A positive result for both tests would usually indicate that your median nerve is being compressed.

If your GP is unsure about the diagnosis, further testing to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms may be required. These include electromyography (using electrodes to measure the electrical activity of your muscles), or a nerve conduction study (using electrodes to look at how signals are transmitted through your nerves).

Symptoms for mild to moderate cases of CTS should pass within six months without the need for surgical treatment or medication.

If symptoms persist, there are a range of non-surgical and surgical treatments available that aim to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. Unless there is thought to be an immediate need for surgery, treatments such as wrist splints and corticosteroid injections are often recommended initially.

Wearing a wrist splint at night should help to reduce the compression on your median nerve. Surgery is usually only recommended for severe cases of CTS.