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Almost everyone around the world are concerned about the Omicron variant of COVID-19. We’ve collected the latest expert information about this new variant and will continue to update this article as more information becomes available. Omicron variant The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been called a variant of concern by WHO based on the evidence that it has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves. There is still substantial uncertainty regarding Omicron and a lot of research underway to evaluate its transmissibility, severity and reinfection risk. How it Developed When a virus is circulating widely and causing numerous infections, the likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more opportunities a virus has to spread, the more opportunities it has to undergo changes. New variants like Omicron are a reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. It is therefore essential that people get the vaccine when available to them and continu...

Treatment may not be necessary if you have fibroids but do not have any symptoms, or if you only have minor symptoms that are not significantly affecting your everyday activities. Fibroids often shrink after the menopause, and your symptoms will usually either ease or disappear completely. If you have fibroids that need treatment, a GP may recommend medicine to help relieve your symptoms. But you may need to see a gynaecologist (a specialist in the female reproductive system) for further medicine or surgery if these are ineffective. See a GP to discuss the best treatment plan for you. The various treatments for fibroids include: Medicine for symptoms Medicines are available that can be used to reduce heavy periods, but they can be less effective the larger your fibroids are. These medicines are described below. Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) Th...

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus). Fibroids are tumors made of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue. They develop in the uterus. It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime — however, not everyone will develop symptoms or require treatment. The most important characteristic of fibroids is that they’re almost always benign, or noncancerous. That said, some fibroids begin as cancer — but benign fibroids can’t become cancer. Cancerous fibroids are very rare. Because of this fact, it’s reasonable for women without symptoms to opt for observation rather than treatment. Studies show that fibroids grow at different rates, even when a woman has more than one. They can range from the size of a pea to (occasionally) the size of a watermelon. Even if fibroids grow that large, we offer timely and effective treatment to provide relief. The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue...

Low sperm count means that the fluid (semen) you ejaculate during an orgasm contains fewer sperm than normal. A low sperm count is also called oligospermia (ol-ih-go-SPUR-me-uh). A complete absence of sperm is called azoospermia. Your sperm count is considered lower than normal if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Having a low sperm count decreases the odds that one of your sperm will fertilize your partner's egg, resulting in pregnancy. Nonetheless, many men who have a low sperm count are still able to father a child. Symptoms The main sign of low sperm count is the inability to conceive a child. There might be no other obvious signs or symptoms. In some men, an underlying problem such as an inherited chromosomal abnormality, a hormonal imbalance, dilated testicular veins or a condition that blocks the passage of sperm may cause signs and symptoms. Low sperm count symptoms might include: Problems with sexual function — for example, low sex driv...

Frequent Urination If you find yourself making running to the bathroom to relieve that constantly full bladder throughout the day—and night—you could be dealing with a symptom called frequent urination. This inconvenient symptom can be caused by many conditions. Even though it’s disruptive, and can be stressful, it’s also treatable and can be managed with the help of a healthcare provider. What is frequent urination? Inconvenient and disruptive to your daily life, frequent urination is when you need to urinate many times throughout a 24-hour period. This is a symptom of many different conditions and can have a wide variety of solutions. At some points in your life, like during pregnancy, you may need to pee more frequently. This can be a normal symptom of something like pregnancy and it usually passes after birth. However, frequent urination can be linked to other health issues that aren’t normal parts of life and don’t fade over time. It can be a symptom of more serious cond...

What is a bacterial infection? A bacterial infection occurs when bacteria enter your body and begin to multiply. Not all bacteria are bad. In fact, various species of bacteria begin to colonize our bodies shortly after we’re born. These bacteria are harmless and can offer us benefits sometimes, like helping with digestion. Some types of bacteria, referred to as pathogenic bacteria, are harmful to us. When they infect us, they can cause disease. Some of these infections can become serious, so be sure to see your doctor if you think you have a bacterial infection. For example, a minor skin infection may develop into cellulitis if left untreated. Additionally, some infections can lead to a life-threatening condition called sepsis. It’s an extreme response by your body to an infection. Below, we’ll explore some of the signs and symptoms of a bacterial infection in cuts, burns, and within the body. Signs of infection Signs and symptoms of a bacterial infection may vary dependin...

“I would actively encourage any woman to get vaccinated while planning pregnancy and at any point during pregnancy or during breastfeeding,” says Laura. “What we do know is that for those women who have had their vaccine during the early stages of pregnancy, there has been no increased risk of miscarriage or other concerns.” Emma adds “women who catch COVID-19 in their third trimester are also more likely to have severe COVID and to need hospital, as well as all the potential complications this causes”. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recognises that some people do feel uncertain about being vaccinated in the first trimester of pregnancy, and may want to wait until 14 weeks of pregnancy (the end of the first trimester) to receive their first jab. However, women can catch COVID at any time during their pregnancy, so waiting to get a jab means that they might not have the best possible chance of preventing severe infection. “The most important thing is to...

There is a long, established history of giving vaccines during pregnancy, including for infections, such as whooping cough and flu. In the UK, advice for vaccination during pregnancy comes from different bodies of medical, nursing and midwifery experts, including The British Fertility Society, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and The Royal College of Midwives. Another key source of expertise is the UK Teratology Information Service (teratology is the study of birth defects) which studies the safety of drugs, vaccinations and exposure to other things during pregnancy. These organisations and others, have come together in discussion and together, they recommend COVID vaccination in pregnancy. Also, they advise that all women of reproductive age be offered and encouraged to have the vaccine. “There’s no evidence that having the COVID vaccine during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, early birth or smaller birth weight. This data are very reassuring and a...

Everyone who is pregnant always hope for a healthy outcome, which is not always what happens at the end. “It’s important for everyone to be aware that up to 20% of recognised pregnancies - one in five - end in a miscarriage, even if the person who is pregnant is fit and well,” explains Laura. There are several reports of women suffering a miscarriage in their first trimester, just after catching COVID-19. However, while this is concerning, COVID-19 and miscarriage are both common, therefore they may occur together by chance alone. A review of recent studies showed that there is no increased risk of pregnancy loss in the first trimester in women with COVID-19, compared with those without. However, this changes later on in pregnancy. A large UK study of hospital data found that having COVID near the time of birth increased the chances of the mother having problems with their blood pressure, giving birth early, needing a cesarean birth, and of their baby needing some neonatal (newb...

Even with the misinformation circulating online, there is no evidence that COVID vaccines affect the fertility of women. This misinformation may have first started because an important protein in the development of the placenta (Syncytin-1) has some similarities to the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. “A false claim was made that the antibodies the vaccine would generate might also be directed towards the placenta,” Laura says. However, since then, there have been many detailed studies comparing the structures of the Syncitin and spike proteins. While some parts of the structures do look the same, they’re no more similar than many other proteins found in our bodies, so it’s highly unlikely that there would be a biological effect. What’s more, there is no evidence so far to show that COVID vaccines can interfere with fertility. “Even though pregnant women were not planned to be part of the initial vaccine trials, we learned a lot fr...

As with all viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes COVID-19 is rapidly evolving both its ability to spread and infect people, as well as the symptoms it causes. We have managed to identify the current top 5 symptoms that have emerged in recent weeks, and they differ depending on if you’ve been vaccinated, and how many doses you’ve had. The symptoms rankings below are based on your reports in the app alone and do not take into account which variant caused the virus or demographic information. There are a few reasons why symptoms may be changing, including the fact that those who have been vaccinated experience less severe symptoms, as well as more cases being reported by younger people, who we have found experience different, less severe symptoms as well. The symptoms of COVID-19 if you’re fully vaccinated. Generally, we saw similar symptoms of COVID-19 being reported overall in the app by people who had and hadn’t been vaccinated. However, fewer symptoms were reporte...