She’s newly married.

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) after marriage often referred to as “honeymoon cystitis” are more common than many women realize.

💥But here’s the important part:

👉 It’s not just about “infection” 

 it’s about risk factors, habits, and prevention.

Why does it happen?

- Increased frequency of intercourse → mechanical irritation of the urethra

- Short female urethra → easier bacterial ascent (especially E. coli).

- Vaginal flora changes in early sexual activity

Inadequate lubrication → microtrauma.

- Poor or incorrect hygiene practices.

🤔 Common mistakes I see in practice:

Repeated empirical antibiotics without urine culture.

Ignoring post-coital habits (like voiding).

Overuse of harsh intimate washes disrupting normal flora.

Not considering differential diagnoses (e.g. vaginitis, STIs, interstitial cystitis).

👍 What actually helps (evidence-based):

✔️ Urinate soon after intercourse

✔️ Adequate hydration

✔️ Gentle hygiene (avoid over-cleansing)

✔️ Use of lubrication when needed

✔️ Consider urine culture in recurrent cases before treatment.

✔️ In selected cases: post-coital or prophylactic antibiotics (based on guidelines)

✔️ Evaluate for underlying causes if recurrent (>2 in 6 months or >3/year).

🧐 When to look deeper?

- Persistent symptoms despite treatment.

- Atypical symptoms (no dysuria, but pelvic pain).

- Hematuria

- Suspected resistant organisms.

🤲 Because not every “UTI” is truly a UTI.

💚A gentle reminder: 

This is common, treatable, and preventable.

But it deserves proper evaluation not assumptions. 

#DrRababCares

 #WomensHealth 

#UTI

 #NewlyMarried 

#Gynecology 

#PreventiveCare

 “Your scan is normal… but your bleeding is not.”

If you’ve ever been told “everything is fine” just because your ultrasound was normal…

this is for you.

Because in gynecology, a normal scan does not always mean a normal situation.

Let’s be clear:

Ultrasound is a powerful tool 

but it mainly detects structural problems.

And many causes of abnormal bleeding are functional, hormonal, or microscopic

→ meaning they won’t show up on a scan.

So what could be happening?

Even with a completely normal ultrasound, bleeding may be due to:

• Hormonal imbalance

Irregular estrogen & progesterone → unstable endometrium → irregular or heavy bleeding

(Common in PCOS, stress, weight changes, perimenopause)

• Anovulation

No ovulation = no progesterone balance → endometrial shedding becomes unpredictable.

• Endometrial disorders

Hyperplasia, infection, or subtle pathology not always visible on imaging.

• Early pregnancy-related causes

Very early miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy before it becomes visible

• Medications

Hormonal pills, injectables, emergency contraception, anticoagulants

• Systemic conditions

Thyroid disorders, bleeding disorders, chronic illnesses

When is bleeding NOT normal?

Don’t ignore it if you notice:

• Bleeding that is heavier than usual

• Bleeding between periods

• Bleeding after intercourse

• Bleeding after menopause

• Persistent or recurrent irregular cycles

• Associated fatigue, dizziness, or anemia

So what should we do?

A normal scan is just the beginning of the evaluation not the end.

Good care includes:

• Listening carefully to the patient’s story

• Identifying patterns in the cycle

• Requesting targeted investigations (not random tests)

• Treating the cause  not just stopping the bleeding

The real message:

Symptoms should never be ignored just because imaging is normal.

Medicine is not only about what we see…

It’s also about what we understand.

#DrRababCares 

#WomensHealth 

#AbnormalBleeding 

#Gynecology 

 #PatientCare

 🤰She was not trying to be cruel

She was just… scared.

A recent case in Zambia described a woman attempting to end a late pregnancy alone, unsupported, and afraid.

The baby survived.

Against every attempt. Against every odd.

But this is not just a story about survival.

It’s a story about what happens when a woman feels she has no safe place to turn.

As an Obstetrician & Gynecologist, I want to highlight something important:

Unsafe attempts to terminate pregnancy  especially in advanced gestation are medically dangerous and unpredictable.

At this stage, the uterus is already prepared for labour.

Interventions outside a proper medical setting can lead to: 

• Severe hemorrhage

• Uterine rupture

• Sepsis and life-threatening infections

• Incomplete delivery requiring emergency surgery

• Neonates born alive but in critical condition

And most importantly…

They put the mother’s life at real risk.

But behind the medical risks, there is always a story.

Women in these situations are often facing: 

• Fear of abandonment or partner rejection

• Financial instability

• Social stigma

• Mental and emotional distress

And when there is no support system…

fear takes control.

This is why early access to care matters.

This is why safe, confidential medical counselling matters.

This is why we  as healthcare providers  must create a space where women feel safe to speak before reaching a crisis.

Because prevention is not just medical.

It is emotional, social, and human.

Sometimes…

saving a life starts by simply listening.

#DrRababCares 

#WomensHealth 

#MaternalHealth 

#ObGyn 

#Zambia

 😳Menstrual Hygiene: Pads, Tampons, or Cups?

Menstrual hygiene is not just about what you use…

it’s about how you use it.

Many women grow up without proper guidance on this topic  and end up following habits that may not be the healthiest.

Recent guidance confirms that pads, tampons, and menstrual cups are all safe  when used correctly and with proper hygiene.

🔹 Pads

• Easy, accessible, and ideal for beginners
• Should be changed every 4–6 hours
• Prolonged use → moisture + friction → irritation or infection
• Choose breathable, unscented types when possible.

🔹 Tampons

• Offer more comfort with movement and daily activity
• Change every 4–6 hours
• Do not exceed 8 hours (absolute maximum)
• Avoid overnight prolonged use
• Always use the lowest absorbency needed
• Rare but serious risk: Toxic Shock Syndrome.

🔹 Menstrual Cups

Reusable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective long term

Can be used up to 8–12 hours depending on flow

Require proper insertion technique

Must be washed with clean water and sterilized between cycles.

May need guidance at the beginning, but many women find them very comfortable over time.

🧼 Daily Hygiene Matters More Than the Product.

Wash the external area gently with water (no douching)

Avoid harsh or scented products → they disrupt normal flora.

Keep the area dry as much as possible.

Prefer cotton underwear over synthetic fabrics

Change out of wet or sweaty clothes quickly.

Always wash hands before and after changing.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using one product for too long

Thinking “more cleaning = better hygiene”

Ignoring warning signs like itching, burning, unusual discharge, or strong odor

Using products that cause discomfort just because they are popular.

💡 The bottom line:

There is no “perfect” option.

The safest choice is the one that suits your body, your lifestyle… and is used correctly.

Because good hygiene is not about doing more…

it’s about doing what’s right.

#DrRababCares 

#WomensHealth 

#MenstrualHygiene 

#Gynecology

 🤔“All your tests are normal.”

But the pain is real.

Some women walk into the clinic carrying months… sometimes years… of pelvic pain,

after being told again and again: “Nothing is wrong.”

😥But something is wrong.

It might be Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) 

a condition that is often missed, simply because we are not looking for it.

🔍 What is PCS?

It’s not a mass.

Not a cyst.

Not endometriosis.

It’s a venous disorder where pelvic veins become dilated and incompetent, leading to congestion and chronic pain.

Think of it as varicose veins… but deep inside the pelvis.

⚠️ When should we suspect it?

Chronic dull pelvic pain (>6 months)

Worse after long standing

Worse before menstruation

Worse after intercourse (postcoital ache  a key clue)

Worse at the end of the day

Better when lying down

Associated symptoms may include:

Dyspareunia

Lower back heaviness

A feeling of pelvic pressure or fullness

Sometimes visible vulvar or perineal varicosities

🧠 Why it’s often missed Because:

It does not appear as a “typical gynecological lesion”

Early imaging can be misleading

It requires clinical suspicion, not just investigations

And most importantly…

👉 we are trained to look for masses, not veins.

🔎 How do we diagnose it properly?

Transvaginal Doppler ultrasound (looking specifically for dilated veins)

MRI / MR venography

Venography (gold standard — and can be therapeutic)

💊 What about medications like Venex or Vensomin? 

These are venoactive agents that may:

Improve venous tone

Reduce congestion-related discomfort

👉 They can help symptoms in mild cases

❌ But they do NOT treat the underlying venous reflux.

💉 So what actually works? 👉 Ovarian vein embolization (± internal iliac branches).

A minimally invasive procedure performed by interventional radiology,

targeting the source of venous reflux.

📊 Many patients experience significant symptom relief.

❗ Important clinical clarification Some

 patients report pain after

Current evidence shows:

It is not a proven cause of PCS

But it may unmask a pre-existing condition

💬 Why this matters Because labeling these women as:

“Normal”

“Hormonal”

Or “psychological”

…only delays the right diagnosis.

💡 Take-home message 

Not every pelvic pain is endometriosis.

Not every normal scan means nothing is wrong.

Sometimes…

the problem is not what we see.

It’s what we don’t think about.

#DrRababCares

#PelvicPain 

#WomensHealt 

#ChronicPain 

#MedicalAwareness

 💥Ectopic Pregnancy: When Medical Management Fails  What Next?

Ectopic pregnancy remains one of the most important gynecologic emergencies, where timely decision-making directly impacts both safety and future fertility.

In appropriately selected patients, Methotrexate is an effective first-line treatment.

However, close monitoring is essential.

🔹 A rising or non-declining β-hCG by Day 7 indicates treatment failure.

🔹 This should prompt a shift from medical to surgical management.

In surgical planning, several key factors must be assessed:

• Hemodynamic stability

• Location of the ectopic pregnancy

• Condition of the affected tube

• Status of the contralateral tube.

🧨In distal (fimbrial) ectopic pregnancies, conservative surgical approaches can be considered in selected cases.

🔸 Partial resection (fimbrial/segmental) may allow removal of the ectopic mass while preserving tubal structure.

🔸 This approach can help maintain future fertility potential, provided complete removal is achieved and follow-up is ensured.

🤗Postoperative care is equally critical:

• Serial β-hCG monitoring until complete resolution

• Early evaluation in future pregnancies to exclude recurrence.

🧠Clinical takeaway:

Management of ectopic pregnancy is not a single protocol 

it is a dynamic process requiring continuous reassessment and individualized decision-making.

#DrRababCares

#EctopicPregnancy

#WomensHealth

#Fertility

#ClinicalPractice

 🤐In clinic, I’ve noticed something important…

Sometimes what scares the patient is not the diagnosis itself 

but what they see.

💥Genital warts (Condylomata Acuminata)

may look alarming… especially when they grow large or multiple.

But medically, let’s be clear:

They are caused by HPV 

most commonly low-risk types 6 & 11

💡 Which means:

They are benign lesions

But they are also infectious and persistent

What many patients don’t realize is:

➡️ The virus can stay in the body even after removing the warts

➡️ Recurrence is therefore common

➡️ In some cases, lesions can grow rapidly if not treated early.

⚠️ Clinically, things change with:

Immunosuppression (HIV)

Diabetes

Delayed presentation

In these situations,

lesions tend to be larger, more resistant, and require procedural management.

🩺 Treatment is not “one approach fits all”:

Small lesions → topical therapy

Moderate lesions → cryotherapy (freezing the lesions)

Extensive lesions → cautery, excision, or laser

💥And one key message I always tell my patients:

We treat what we see…

but we also monitor what we cannot see

🛡️ Prevention is evolving

HPV vaccination is playing a major role

not only in prevention, but possibly in reducing recurrence.

🤍 Beyond all guidelines and protocols…

what matters most is early consultation, proper counseling, and removing the stigma around the condition.

Because understanding the condition

is just as important as treating it

#DrRababCares 

#HPV 

 #WomensHealth 

#PatientEducation