Call Secretary +91 82828 67107

Dr. Sukhamoy Barik

MBBS (Cal), MS (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) FMAS
Consultant Gynaec Laparoscopic Surgeon and Infertility Specialist

Obstetrician in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I schedule my first prenatal visit?

If you’ve tested positive with a home pregnancy test, give us a call. We will schedule an appointment for you approximately eight weeks from your last menstrual period.

How do I know what is expected during pregnancy?

The changes of pregnancy are numerous and every woman has different experiences. It is recommended that any concerns or questions are discussed at your visits. It is helpful to make a list before each visit.

Can I travel during pregnancy?

Travel throughout most of the pregnancy is likely to be safe. If you choose to travel be sure to have easy access and contact details for a hospital that can provide the relevant services. No matter what stage in the pregnancy, it is important that you not sit for extended periods of times. Our recommendation is that if you will be sitting for an extended period of time, either in an airplane or in the car, you should get up to walk every hour in an effort to decrease the risk of blood clot development. The use of support stockings and keeping well hydrated is very important. If any concerns do not hesitate to make an appointment shortly before your departure.

Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy?

For most women, there is no medical reason not to have sex during pregnancy. Unless your pregnancy is classified as high risk or if there are other safety concerns, you and your partner can have sex without fear of harming your baby.

I experience cramping and moodiness during my period. Is there anything that i can do to help with this?

Since Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD, is very common for a lot of women, there are a variety of ways to ease its symptoms of bloating, irritability, and moodiness. Women are encouraged to avoid or decrease caffeine intake, limit salt, and to develop a healthy exercise routine, among other things. There are also vitamin supplements that are intended to specifically help with the symptoms of PMDD. If natural methods don't alleviate your symptoms, there are certain medications that can be prescribed by a physician.

I missed my period but the pregnancy test is negative. What should I do?

Women who miss a period but find their pregnancy test result to be negative should cautiously monitor the situation, as sometimes something as simple as an increase in stress can cause a woman to miss her period. However, if the same thing happens during the next cycle, you should contact your physician immediately to schedule an appointment; you may need to change your birth control.

I am experiencing vaginal discharge and some vaginal itching. Could I have an infection?

It's very common for most women to have some vaginal discharge, which may occur more or less at different times of the month, depending on the individual. However, it is important to note whether or not the vaginal discharge has a foul odor to it, as this may indicate a bacterial infection. Vaginal itching accompanied by a thick, white discharge could potentially indicate a yeast infection. It is advisable to seek out a gynecologist for a simple exam to confirm the diagnosis and for swift and effective treatment, as abnormal vaginal discharge can usually be treated with medication.

My daughter is 16 years old and her periods are very irregular. Is this normal?

In a normal menstrual cycle there is regular hormone production and thickening of the lining of the uterus. This cycle primes the endometrium (uterine lining) for implantation of a developing embryo. If no implantation occurs, the lining sheds, resulting in a menstrual period. There are two phases in the menstrual cycle: the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase occurs prior to ovulation and involves thickening of the lining of the uterus. This phase usually lasts 10 to 14 days. The luteal phase is the period of time from ovulation to the onset of menses when the lining of the uterus undergoes stabilization prior to menses. This phase usually lasts 14 days.

During the first 2 years after the onset of menstruation, cycles are often irregular. These early cycles are often anovulatory-there is no ovulation during the menstrual cycle and therefore the luteal phase does not occur properly. Because of this a woman will experience irregular bleeding. As long as the menstrual cycles are no longer than 35 days, no shorter than 21 days, and the duration of bleeding is no longer than 7 days, this is considered normal in a woman who has recently started menstruating.

If irregular bleeding lasts longer than 2 years or the blood flow is excessive, your physician may suggest further evaluation.

I am 28 years old and married. Sexual intercourse is painful for me. What could be causing this and what can I do to make the pain go away?

Painful intercourse is also known as dyspareunia.Causes of painful intercourse range from simple problems that are easy to treat, to more complex problems that may require extensive testing and treatment.

One of the most common causes of painful intercourse is lack of adequate lubrication. This situation can be remedied by longer foreplay prior to intercourse, or by using lubricating agents such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide.

Another common cause of painful intercourse is vaginal infection or irritation. Yeast infections, trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterial vaginosis may all have associated pain with intercourse. Also, certain douches, spermicides, and condoms have agents that are irritating and result in inflammation with associated painful intercourse.

Women who experience pain on deep penetration during intercourse may have a pelvic infection, pelvic mass, endometriosis, or bowel problems. If you have pain with deep penetration you should see your physician for further evaluation.

Finally, some women experience dyspareunia due to psychological factors. Factors leading to the pain may include prior unpleasant sexual experiences and/or prior sexual abuse. Relationship difficulties may also lead to pain with intercourse.

What are the effects of antibiotic use on birth control pills?

Some antibiotics and certain other medications have the potential to reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Some antibiotics slightly reduce the amount of hormones absorbed by the system.

Among the suspect antibiotics are those in the penicillin family, including penicillin, amoxicillin, and ampicillin; tetracycline, and related drugs such as doxycycline and erythromycin. Some epilepsy drugs, tranquilizers, barbiturates, anti-inflammatories, and laxatives may also reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. The same effect may also occur if you have an intestinal illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

What is the best time in a woman's cycle to get pregnant?

Most women ovulate approximately 14 days prior to the onset of their menstrual cycle. Therefore, if you have regular 28-day periods, you should be ovulating on approximately Day 14. The best chance of pregnancy is 3 to 4 days before ovulation and approximately 2 days after ovulation. Therefore, intercourse during this time frame would have the highest likelihood of being successful. There are ways to test for ovulation such as measuring your basal body temperature or testing your urine for a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. This may help a woman determine the time of ovulation if her cycle is irregular.

What is high-risk pregnancy care?

It is the situation when there are complications endangering the health of the mother or the baby or both. The critical condition is best managed by a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist and others to ensure favorable conditions of the mother and the baby. It may spring up due to various reasons including medical health condition of the mother during pregnancy, maternal age and soon.

Is there any additional advantage of the laparoscopic surgery over traditional incisions?

In the traditional surgery procedure, large incision is made to get access of the abdominal cavity, which requires a greater amount of sufferings for the patient relating pain and enhanced nursing requirements, longer duration of stay in hospitals, longer time taken in recover and presence of ugly scars on abdomen. It also suggests increased chances of infection and related side effects such as hernia and so on. The patient gets freedom from all these side effects in a considerable amount in a laparoscopic surgery.

What is the situation after the laparoscopic surgery?

The patient may have nominal discomfort feeling in the abdomen area after the laparoscopic surgery, which minimizes with a day or two. Normally, patients begin to receive the food on the same day as soon as the effect of anesthesia is over. The patient is substantially briefed about the process of care of surgical wounds and the date of reporting to the hospital for the removal of stitches. The recovery time is different for different patients. However, it is necessary to comply with the advice of the surgeon regarding physical activities, resting and joining the professional job.

What is hysteroscopy?

Hysteroscopy enables the surgeon in evaluating the condition of the uterine cavity and exercising an operation accordingly. The instrument is a narrow telescope fitted with an illuminated lens, which is initiated in the uterine cavity through the neck of the womb or cervix. The cavity is extended with gas or some kind of fluid to make the vision clear.

Is hysteroscopy a major surgical process?

Yes, it is. Necessary care is taken to avoid complications due to anesthetic problems and overloading of fluids. The diagnostic hysteroscopy is generally performed in outdoor department of hospitals.

What are ovaries and the relation with menopause?

Females have ovaries as males have testes. A female normally has two ovaries, the right and the left. Ovaries are expected to produce eggs and female hormones, related to usual menses until 46/47 years approximately, after which ovaries cease to function. The phase of menopause starts and many women begin to feel various kinds of adverse effects, which need proper gynecological consultation and treatment.