Planning Your Pregnancy
Content Supplied by NHS Choices
The more you know about your pregnancy and your options, the more you are likely to feel in control. The information given here is based on The Pregnancy Book, which your midwife should give you at your first appointment.
Child Health 0-6 Years
Childs Health
Eight weeks old
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB Infanrix hexa Thigh Meningococcal group B (MenB) MenB Bexsero Left thigh Rotavirus gastroenteritis Rotavirus Rotarix By mouth
Twelve weeks old
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB Infanrix hexa Thigh Pneumococcal (13 serotypes) PCV Prevenar 13 Thigh Rotavirus Rotavirus Rotarix By mouth
Sixteen weeks old
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis B DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB Infanrix hexa Thigh MenB MenB Bexsero Left thigh
One year old (on or after the child’s first birthday)
Hib and MenC Hib/MenC Menitorix Upper arm/thigh Pneumococcal PCV booster Prevenar 13 Upper arm/thigh Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) MMR MMR VaxPRO 2 or Priorix Upper arm/thigh MenB MenB booster Bexsero Left thigh
Eligible paediatric age group
1 Influenza (each year from September) Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV2, 3 Fluenz Tetra2, 3 Both nostrils
Three years four months old or soon after
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio dTaP/IPV Repevax or Boostrix-IPV Upper arm Measles, mumps and rubella MMR (check first dose given) MMR VaxPRO 2 or Priorix Upper arm
Child Health 7-15 Years
Childs Health
Boys and girls aged twelve to thirteen years
Cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11) HPV (two doses 6-24 months apart) Gardasil Upper arm
Fourteen years old (school year 9)
Tetanus, diphtheria and polio Td/IPV (check MMR status) Revaxis Upper arm Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease MenACWY Nimenrix or Menveo Upper arm
Men
Men’s Health
Five health symptoms men should not ignore.
British men are paying the price for neglecting their health: more than 100,000 men a year die prematurely. On average, men go to their GP half as often as women. It’s important to be aware of changes to your health, and to see your GP immediately if you notice something that’s not right.
Prostate Cancer.
Each year about 36,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men. It mainly affects men aged over 50.
The prostate gland Symptoms:
Difficulty in starting to pass urine a weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine dribbling of urine before and after urinating a frequent or urgent need to pass urine rarely, blood in your urine or semen and pain when passing urine. These symptoms aren’t always caused by prostate cancer but if you have them, see your GP. Find out more about the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of prostate cancer by using the resources below.
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer, though the most common cancer in young men, it is still quite rare. With 2000 new cases being diagnosed each year, this makes it the biggest cause of cancer related death in 15 – 35-year-old males. It accounts for around 70 deaths a year within the UK alone.
What to Look Out For:
The most common symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a pea-sized lump in one of the testes (balls). There is no current screening test therefore it is important that you look out for the following signs and symptoms. A dull ache, or sharp pain, in your testicles, or scrotum, which may come and go.
A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum. A dull ache in your lower abdomen
A sudden collection of fluid in your scrotum, Fatigue, and generally feeling unwell.
Seniors
Seniors
Loneliness: If you are feeling lonely please contact the surgery, we have a wonderful Social Prescriber who can assess your needs and put you in touch with befriending groups, activity groups, get help for you if you are struggling with certain tasks. Let us know and we will help. Ask reception to refer you to the social prescribing team and they will call you.
Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Influenza: flu is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Health Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.
Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu: people aged 65 or over, people with a serious medical condition if you are pregnant people living in a residential or nursing home the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care.
For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab.
Seasonal Flu Factsheet
Eating Well, Exercise – helping you maintain a healthy body. We’re bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity ‘epidemic’. But a healthy body is determined by different factors for each of us.
Sexual Health
Sexual Health
Both men and women need to look after their sexual health and take time to understand the issues that surround contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). For instance there are some STIs, like chlamydia, that you could be carrying without having any symptoms. This infection can affect fertility, so it’s important to make use of the sexual health services available for free on the NHS.
Contraception
There are so many different types of contraception available that you should be able to find the right method. You may have to try several different things before you choose the one you like most
Women
Cervical Screening (Smear Tests)
Cervical screening is a method of preventing cervical cancer by detecting abnormal cells in the cervix (lower part of the womb). Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, but it is a test to check the health of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal. But for one in 20 women, the test will show some changes in the cells of the cervix. Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells will go back to normal on their own. In some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming a problem later.
NHS – Cervical Screening
The why, when, how guide to cervical screening
This factsheet is for women who would like information about having a cervical smear test for screening. This means having the test when you don’t have any symptoms.
HPV Vaccination
Since September 2008 there has been a national programme to vaccinate girls aged 12-13 against human papilloma virus (HPV). There is also a three-year catch up campaign that will offer the HPV vaccine (also known as the cervical cancer jab) to 13-18 year old girls. The programme is delivered largely through secondary schools, and consists of three injections that are given over a six-month period. In the UK, more than 1.4 million doses have been given since the vaccination programme started.
What is Human papilloma virus (HPV)
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name of a family of viruses that affect the skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as those in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat. These membranes are called the mucosa. There are more than 100 different types of HPV viruses, with about 40 types affecting the genital area. These are classed as high risk and low risk.
How you get HPV. Types of HPV that affect the skin can be passed on by skin contact with an affected person. The types of HPV that affect the mouth and throat can be passed on through kissing. Genital HPV is usually spread through intimate, skin to skin, contact during sex. You can have the genital HPV virus for years and not have any sign of it.
How HPV can cause cervical cancer? Most HPV infections are harmless or cause genital warts, however some types can cause cervical cancer. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix where it can stay for many years without you knowing.
The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer. The purpose of cervical screening (testing) is to detect these changes, which, if picked up early enough, can be treated to prevent cancer happening. If they are left untreated, cancer can develop and may lead to serious illness and death.
Breast Cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. About 46,000 women get breast cancer in the UK each year. Most of them (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases men, can also get breast cancer.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites over 2 million women for screening every year, and detects over 14,000 cancers. Dr Emma Pennery of Breast Cancer Care says: Breast X-rays, called mammograms, can detect tumours at a very early stage, before you feel a lump. The earlier it’s treated, the higher the survival rate.
NHS Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice