Q Is any side effect of masturbatiion?

Masturbation is the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure. It is a natural and harmless expression of sexuality for both men and women. It does not cause any physical injury or harm to the body, and can be performed in moderation throughout a persons lifetime as a part of normal sexual behavior. Masturbation is only considered a problem when it inhibits sexual activity with a partner, is done in public, or if it is done compulsively and/or interferes with daily life and activities. Hence, it is advisable to indulge in masturbation only when you are sexually excited and not as a daily habit.

Q What is the difference between being crazy and being eccentric?

The term crazy denotes madness or extreme enthusiasm. The term eccentric means unconventional , slightly strange or odd behaviour that deviates form accepted norms within a defined culture.

Q What are the characteristics of a pedophile?

Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder. It is characterised by a person who is 16 years of age or older and have primary or exclusively sexual interest in prepubescent children i.e generally 11 years or younger. The age gap should be at least 5 years or more to be diagnosed as pedophilia.

Q What is pelvic floor muscle dysfunction?

Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is a condition in which the muscles of the pelvic floor shows disability to work as they should be. Factors such as being over weight, pregnancy, menopause, disorder of the nerves in the pelvic region can lead to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Treatment will be determined by the underlying cause.

Q can sugar causes depression?

Studies suggest diet high in refined sugar can cause depression. Lots of refined sugar is linked with depression because it not only supply very little in the way of nutrients but they also use up the mood enhancing vitamin B. In fact, a study published in British Journal of Psychiatry found that those who had a diet which contained a lot of processed foods had a 58% increased risk for depression, whereas those whose diet could be described as containing more whole foods had a 26% reduced risk for depression.

Q My 10 year old daughter continues to wet the bed. Not every night, but i thought it would stop as she grows but still hasnt. I wonder if there is something medically wrong.

If you daughter has nocturnal enuresis sometimes, it may need further evaluation, as this is not so common in teenagers. There are some factors that may affect urine control in teens. These include excessive intake of caffeine drinks like tea or coffee, deep sleep pattern which can be a normal for growing teen, excessive emotional stress or fear of something, inconsistent sleep timings etc. These things can be corrected in order to fix the problem. Other things to give consideration are certain medications, diabetes of other medical diseases, family history of parents having the same problem, urinary tract infection, etc. If she is having this problem since her childhood, then this can be considered as primary nocturnal enuresis and she can be out of 2% of girls who continues with this till they reach their teen. This thing can be improved with proper counselling to her. Making her to use bathroom before going to bed. Limiting her fluid intake before going to bed. She can be effectively treated with moisture alarms while asleep. It will be less likely that she will need medications for this. Proper counselling and educating her may motivate her to take initiation to cure herself. You may take her to physician to rule out underlying disease if any.

Q What can you tell me about Borderline Personality Disorder?

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a Mental Health disorder that generates significant emotional instability. This can lead to a variety of other stressful mental and behavioral problems. When you have borderline personality disorder, you often have an insecure sense of who you are. Your self-image, self-identity or sense of self often rapidly changes. You may view yourself as evil or bad, and sometimes you may feel as if you dont exist at all. An unstable self-image often leads to frequent changes in jobs, friendships, goals and values. This is because people with borderline personality disorder often have difficulty accepting gray areas; things seem to be either black or white. The common symptom of borderline personality disorder are overwhelming feelings of distress, anxiety, worthlessness or anger, difficulty managing such feelings without self-harming, for example by abusing drugs and alcohol or taking overdoses, difficulty maintaining stable and close relationships, sometimes, periods of loss of contact with reality, in some cases, threats of harm to others. Treatment may involve a range of individual and group psychological therapies (psychotherapy) carried out by trained professionals.

Q I am 43 year old man and my wife 41 year we have 4 year and 6 month daughter. We are very confused whether to go for second child as my only daughter feels very lonely. Can you advice?

First, determine whether you and your wife are physically, mentally and financially ready to have a second child. It is definitely possible to conceive at this age; however there are many factors that you should take into account before arriving at a decision. A womans fertility decreases drastically in her forties so there is a major possibility that your wife may have to use donor eggs to achieve pregnancy. The risk of complications during pregnancy such as diabetes and high blood pressure increases. Moreover, there are higher chances of premature and still births. You may need to use assisted reproductive techniques thus escalating costs. I am not trying to discourage you, but giving you the facts. On the other hand, some women do get pregnant well into their 40s, and many of them have complication-free pregnancies and healthy babies. Both of you should make an informed decision after knowing all the pros and cons. For any further clarification, visit a gynaecologist who will brief you about all available options. Do consider the possibility of adoption too.

Q What are the key statistics about thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer are not the deadliest cancers. Thyroid cancer has a 5 year survival rate of about 97%. It is estimated that by the end of year 2015 there will be 62,450 new cases of thyroid cancer.

Q Shall I give my baby rotavirus vaccination?

Rotavirus vaccination is included in Indian Immunization schedule. So it is safe to give it to your child. The recommended age for the vaccination is 2 months, 4 months and 6 months. It is contraindicated in cases where the child has allergic reaction to rotavirus vaccine, has intussuception or sever combined immunodeficiency.