13 Myths About Semen

 13 Myths About Semen

‘The thicker the semen, the better the fertility’, ‘The more semen, the more likely it is to conceive’, ‘As soon as the semen is ejaculated, it swims like a marathon runner and reaches the vagina faster!’ These are common myths about semen, which have no rhyme or reason.

Here, some such myths are debunked.

Myth: The thicker the semen, the better the fertility.

Truth — The thicker or thicker the semen does not necessarily affect fertility. It is good for semen to be slightly thicker. However, if it is too thick, it cannot reach the vagina as easily.

Myth: Sperm quality does not decrease with age.

Truth — When a man crosses the age of 40, his sperm quality continues to decline. This does not mean that an old man cannot father a child. However, the chances of pregnancy decrease due to the decline in sperm quality and the increase in abnormally shaped sperm.

Myth: The sperm runs as fast as an athlete.

Truth - There is a widespread myth about semen - that is, semen runs as fast as an athlete. Which is wrong. Semen does not move at the same speed. It enters at different speeds depending on the man. The woman's vaginal fluid is required for its movement.

Myths: The more semen, the more likely the baby will be born.

Truth - The amount of semen is not required to conceive. Rather, the semen must be healthy. It is not just about healthy semen. For conception to occur, the woman's egg must also be released. Only the union of semen and the ovary is there a chance of conception.

Myth: Semen is alive for a short time.

Truth - Semen only survives for a few hours or a few minutes after ejaculation. However, this is not the case. Semen can survive in a woman's vagina for up to three days after ejaculation. However, it can die in the external environment within a few minutes. How long it should survive also depends on one's physical condition.

Myth: The cause of infertility in men is poor semen quality.

Truth — Overall health affects fertility. Sperm quality is an important factor in male fertility. However, it is not the only factor. Hormone levels, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and some medications can negatively affect fertility.

Myth: Masturbation affects semen production.

Truth — Masturbation does not affect semen production or sperm production at all. It does not affect its quality either.

Myth: Radiation from mobile phones or laptops does not affect sperm.

Truth — Various studies have shown that sitting near these devices for a long time affects sperm health.

Myth: Alcohol and smoking do not affect semen quality. On the contrary, alcohol gives more energy.

Truth — The factors that affect semen the most are alcohol and smoking. It affects the number, production, and quality of sperm. It has also been proven by science that some men have infertility problems.

Myth: Regular sexual intercourse reduces the quality of semen.

Truth — There is no truth in this statement. Regular sexual intercourse does not affect the quality of semen and fertility. Rather, the number of semen may be slightly lower.

Myth: A hot environment does not affect semen.

Truth — No, heat can negatively affect semen. The male reproductive system, especially the testicles, is designed to function at a temperature of about 2-3 degrees Celsius lower than body temperature. An increase in temperature can negatively affect the production, quality, and motility of semen.

Myth: The color of semen indicates health status.

Truth — The color of semen is not an indicator of health. It can only vary for various reasons. Which is normal.

Myth: Fertility is possible with every ejaculation.

Truth — Healthy semen is necessary for reproduction. Weak semen makes it difficult to conceive. Semen contains many unhealthy and incompetent sperm. Only the strongest and healthiest of them go for fertilization.

10 myths and facts about rabies

 10 myths and facts about rabies

In Nepal too, Rabies Day is being celebrated by organizing various programs with the basic slogan of 'Adoption of one health, zero death from rabies'. The World Health Organization's Global Strategic Plan aims to reduce human deaths from dog-bite rabies to zero by 2030. In this context, let's analyze the misconceptions and scientific facts about rabies in our society.

Myth-1: Rabies occurs when bitten by a dog or other animal that is aggressive and has fins in its mouth.

Fact: It's normal for dogs to bite when they feel unsafe and scared. This is a natural behavior of dogs. But dogs with rabies will bite any person for no reason. It is also not true that aggressiveness and foaming at the mouth is rabies. While most rabies-infected animals are aggressive, some animals may appear very passive at first. Symptoms such as fever and fatigue are early signs of rabies in animals or humans. An infected animal may have difficulty standing and may suffer from lameness and paralysis.

Myth-2: Rabies is transmitted only through bites.

Fact: Rabies can be transmitted not only by the bite of a dog or other animal with rabies, but also if the saliva of the suspected animal comes into contact with different membranes or wounds of the body.

Misconception-3: If a mouse or rabbit bites you at home, you get rabies.

Fact: Rabies is rarely transmitted to humans from rats and rabbits. Therefore, post-bite rabies vaccine is not required for domestic rabbit and rat bites. However, if bitten by a wild rabbit, mouse or rat species, it is advisable to vaccinate on the advice of an infectious disease specialist.

Myth-4: There is no cure for rabies.

Fact: Rabies is preventable. Vaccines are available for both humans and animals to prevent the spread of rabies. If you have been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, the wound should be immediately cleaned thoroughly with soap and water for 10-15 minutes and vaccinated within 24 hours of the bite. But after seeing the symptoms of the disease, it is not possible to treat the rabies disease.

Myth-5: I do not need a post-exposure human rabies vaccine if I am bitten by a vaccinated dog.

Fact: Although this is theoretically true, if the quality of the vaccine, the time of administration, the method and the physical condition of the dog are not suitable, even after vaccination, the dog may develop rabies. Therefore, even if the dog is vaccinated against rabies, it should be consulted by a doctor. A doctor will evaluate the bite wound to determine if a post-exposure vaccine is needed.

  Myth-6: Some people still think that 20 or more abdominal shots are required to treat rabies.

Fact: In today's treatment system, depending on the condition, three vaccinations are usually done on the arm on the day of the bite, on the third day and on the seventh day.

  Misconception-7: Vaccination against rabies in humans increases the risk of getting sick and also affects memory.

Fact: Older human vaccines had some side effects but the new human vaccine that is currently available does not have side effects.

  Myth-8: Pets and non-exposed dogs and cats do not need to be vaccinated against rabies.

Fact: Domesticated dogs can also be at risk of rabies from sneaking out of the house and from wild animals in the neighborhood. Bats or other small wild animals infected with rabies can enter your home and come into contact with your dog at any time. Since rabies is a fatal disease, it is advisable to vaccinate pets and non-exposed dogs and cats against rabies.

Myth-9: Vaccination against rabies in pregnant and lactating women has negative effects on children and should not be vaccinated.

Fact: All modern vaccines are inactivated, safe and effective, so pregnant and lactating women can get the rabies vaccine without harm to the baby.

Myth-10: Young puppies do not need to be vaccinated for bites.

Fact: Puppies born to dogs that have been vaccinated against rabies and have fully developed immunity to rabies have the ability to fight the disease for at least three months of age. Therefore, in general, a dog under three months of age does not need to be vaccinated, but since we do not know much about the mother of the dog we have adopted, it is wise to get vaccinated against rabies even if a young child is bitten by a dog.

7 myths and facts about IVF

 7 myths and facts about IVF

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology developed by medical science is a boon for couples who cannot conceive naturally. Many couples have achieved child happiness through this technique.

But some misconceptions related to IVF are prevalent in the society. India-based Birla Fertility and IVF consultant Dr. Swati Mishra has tried to tear it down.

Myth 1: IVF results in more babies

Fact: According to international practice, the probability of multiple pregnancy in IVF is 20 percent. If you don't get pregnant the first time after IVF, this complication increases. If the woman is older or if IVF is repeatedly failing, more than one embryo is transferred. In this way, multiple babies are likely to be born when the transferred embryos are in all the wombs.

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Myth 2: IVF carries a risk of cancer

Fact: No study or medical research has established any link between cancer and IVF. Men or women can undergo IVF (fertility treatment) without any risk of cancer. In this process, the child in the womb is at risk of cancer, nor is the risk of cancer even after the child grows up.

Myth 3: IVF is a painful procedure

Fact: Pain, suffering and problems are more common in IVF than in natural. For the first few days, women have to take hormone injections daily, so it may be painful, but now with the development of medicine, it has become easier.

Myth 4: Babies born through IVF are at risk of birth defects

Fact: The IVF procedure does not increase the risk of birth defects. Conversely, pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos rules out congenital defects or chromosomal defects in high-risk cases. This includes women over 35 years of age or men over 50 years of age or family history of genetic disorders.

Embryo 5: If the first IVF fails, all future possibilities are lost

Fact: If a couple's first IVF fails for some reason, it does not mean that the woman will not be able to get pregnant in the future. Rather, by understanding why this happened, treatment can be done to make IVF successful in the future. Similarly, there are many women who have conceived only after IVF four to five times. For this, laser assisted hatching or platelet rich plasma is kept in the uterus and a balanced diet rich in antioxidants is given.

Fetus 6 : IVF causes many complications during pregnancy

Fact: The best age for pregnancy for women is less than 33 years. After the age of 37, it decreases. During pregnancy, the risk increases for both the mother and the child. But in the process of IVF, complications due to age do not come much. However, if a patient suffering from infertility receives IVF treatment at the right time, the chances of getting pregnant are high.

Embryo 7 : IVF can completely solve the problem of infertility

Fact: This is not true. The success rate of IVF in couples under the age of 35 is about 40 percent. Also, its success depends on many factors. Such as the age of the woman, the cause of infertility and the hormonal status of the woman. In addition, there are many types of assisted reproductive procedures, including ovulation induction (OI) drugs, intrauterine insemination (IVF), etc. It also helps in conception.

Adapted from Femina Magazine

Myths and facts about rabies

Myths and facts about rabies

September 28, Rabies Day is being celebrated by organizing various programs with the basic slogan of 'Adoption of one health, zero death from rabies'. The World Health Organization's Global Strategic Plan aims to reduce human deaths from dog-bite rabies to zero by 2030. In this context, let's analyze the misconceptions and scientific facts about rabies in our society.