Q: MY husband and I have tried for the last 10 years to have a child without success. We've given up and are about to adopt a child from China. We have been told that we need thorough physical examinations and medical interviews. What exactly are they looking for? Even though both of us are healthy, we are anxious about this coming appointment. Dr Rose writes: The medical requirements for adoptive parents vary from country to country. Adoption agencies are interested in ensuring both of you are in good general physical and mental health, free of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases. In China, it appears authorities are specifically interested in potential adoptive parents being free of psychosis, leprosy, TB and AIDS. This should reassure them you are healthy and able to care for the child in the long term. Q: I am a male in my early 30s who has no history of health problems. I have been travelling to China almost weekly and been experiencing severe chest pains in the middle of my breast bone for several weeks now. They are sharp, stabbing, pains which usually last for about 10 minutes, and are sometimes associated with nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. They go away by themselves. One episode occurred while I was having sex. Can this be stress related? Dr Rose writes: There are many different diagnostic possibilities for chest pains in a young healthy male - the main ones being cardiac, musculo-skeletal and gastro-intestinal. The cardiac causes may indicate potentially serious disease and will require a thorough medical examination. However, because of your age, this would be an unlikely cause. People at a high-risk for cardiac problems include those with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and/or a family history of heart problems. The only way to be sure is to consult a physician. The majority of chest pains in young men are due to other, non-cardiac causes. Musculo-skeletal etiology includes inflammation of the breast bone cartilage or chest muscles and strained or pulled muscles. Gastro-intestinal causes are extensive and include ulcer, gastritis stomach spasms, hernias, gallbladder and pancreas problems. Because the pains resolve themselves is not an indication of mild disease since angina, or chest pains due to insufficient oxygen to the heart, often resolve themselves minutes after a decrease in activity level. Q: I have been happily married for over five years. However, something greatly irritates me. My wife does not allow me to fondle or kiss her breasts because she says excessive manipulation might lead to breast cancer. She said many of her friends believed this. Furthermore, she claimed her doctor also hinted that it was damaging to her health if I massage or play with her breasts excessively. I have never heard of this. Is there any truth in it? Dr Rose writes: A long time ago, stories of adverse health effects associated with self-induced sexual pleasures were invented probably to repress our ability to fully appreciate and enjoy sex. Similar stories have been circulated about male masturbation and blindness. There is no scientific basis for breast or other tumour formation, associated with fondling of the breast. In fact, one can argue that it is healthier for the breasts to be palpated periodically since this often leads to discovering masses by the partner, or the woman herself, during sexual foreplay or intercourse. Your wife should relax and learn to enjoy the pleasure that you can provide in exploring various parts of her body. Reassure her there is no harm at all in your touching or kissing her breasts. If her doctor implies there is an association between breast cancer with manual stimulation, he or she is wrong.
