English summary · Published
The first-ever episode of HPE Talks brings Dr. Hernold Paul E together with Dr. Gigi Samsheer, a gynaecologist and laparoscopic and robotic surgeon at Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi. Over more than an hour, she answers the questions Malayali women and couples most often hesitate to ask a doctor in person: about periods, family planning, fertility, pregnancy, delivery and life after childbirth.
Menstrual health
The conversation starts with the basics: what a normal menstrual cycle looks like, the signs that a cycle is irregular, and when ovarian cysts in young girls need attention. Dr. Gigi explains pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), common period symptoms and the safe use of pain-relief tablets, and why a partner's support during periods matters.
- Choosing between pads, tampons and menstrual cups
- Common doubts and myths about menstrual cups, and how to use one
- Practical menstrual hygiene tips
Marriage, family planning and fertility
Dr. Hernold and Dr. Gigi discuss the ideal age for marriage, how couples can understand the fertile window to improve the chance of pregnancy, and which tests are worth doing before deciding to delay a pregnancy. She explains why infertility appears to be rising, natural ways to support fertility, and how night shifts, stress and poor sleep can affect conception. The episode also addresses the social pressure many Kerala couples face to have children.
Contraception and screening
The episode compares contraceptive options and clears up misunderstandings about the Copper T, explains the benefits of a hormonal IUD (Mirena), and explains why cervical cancer screening with a Pap smear is important.
Pregnancy, delivery and after
- When to share pregnancy news, and which months need extra care
- Safe physical activity and diet during pregnancy
- How the baby develops, and myths about predicting the baby's gender
- The ideal gap between pregnancies, and the chance of a normal delivery after a caesarean
- Normal delivery versus caesarean, complications to watch for, and true versus false labour pain
- Postnatal care and recognising postpartum depression
Who should watch
- Young women who want to understand their cycle and period products.
- Couples planning a pregnancy or thinking about delaying one.
- Expecting parents preparing for pregnancy, delivery and the weeks after.
- Partners and family members who want to support the women in their lives.