Q Doctor, I don't know how to tell you this, but last week I did something real stupid. I accidentally allowed my little girl to swallow one of my contraceptive pills.

Normally, my pills are safe in their special pack, which has little 'blisters' on it, with one tablet in each blister. But on that particular day I had taken a pill out and put it on the table, ready to take when I had my coffee.

Before I knew what had happened, my little girl walked by, thought the pill was some kind of candy - and swallowed it.

Well, I rushed her to the doctor. He checked her out, then laughed and told me that she was OK.

But is that really so? Could there be any long-term consequences of my mistake in leaving the pill lying around? Will my child be harmed by my carelessness?

A I have seen this sort of thing happen on a number of occasions. And in every case the child was OK.

I certainly would not recommend allowing children to swallow their parents' tablets. And I think you should keep your contraceptive pills LOCKED UP in, future. Remember that the 'blister pack' which they are supplied in can only offer a certain amount of protection against prying childhood fingers.

Nevertheless, the fact is that the dose of hormones in today's pills is very low. As a result, a single tablet is unlikely to do anyone any serious harm - even a child. I would add that I have searched the medical literature, and have been unable to find a single case of a child dying from an overdose of contraceptive pills.

However, it is probable that if your daughter had swallowed three or four pills - instead of just one - she might have become quite sick, and maybe developed vaginal bleeding. So please, please: do lock those tablets away in future.

QGood day, doc. I wrote to you some months ago about my severe back pain. I noted your reply to me in Outlook, in which you said you thought it was a 'disc problem'.

So, I went to my family doctor, and he checked me over and then sent me for an 'MRI'.

The result was, as you said, that I do have a disc abnormality, at a level called 'L3 to L4'.

What do you think I should do now? I am in a lot of pain, and I am due to go to see the hospital specialist shortly.

AWell, the pain is occurring because a bulging disc (which many people call 'a slipped disc') is pressing on nerve roots, down in the lower part of your spine.

You must keep that hospital appointment. The specialist will tell you whether it would be possible to operate on the bulging disc, and take it away. Alternatively, it may be possible to help you with injections, or with some type of manipulation. I wish you well.

Q I am female, age 36, and I a have always considered myself quite a sexy lady. However, some years ago I gave up on unwise sexual behaviour, and since then I have not had a relationship with a man.

However, doc, a new guy has come into my life. He is a successful businessman, age 47, and he seems to like me a lot. Indeed, he has been talking about getting married. By the way, he is single, and has no children.

I like him, and the idea of settling down with him and leading a comfortable life is pretty attractive. But one thing bothers me, doc.

He seems to have little or no 'physical interest' in me. Sure, he gives me a hug when we meet, and he kisses me 'goodnight' after a date. But he has never made the slightest effort to get me into bed.

Also, when he hugs me, he never tries to touch my breasts or my bottom. This seems completely unlike every other guy I have been out with. Also, when I have managed to prolong a hug for a minute or two, I have noticed that he does NOT get an erection.

In the past, my experience was that any man who hugged me would soon become erect.

What do you think, doc? I would like to marry this man, but I am wondering if he is suffering from some kind of hormone deficiency, or something.

A A hormone deficiency is unlikely - unless he speaks with a high-pitched voice and has no facial hair. There are several possibilities:

He may be very religious and, therefore, firmly opposed to sex before marriage.

He may be real shy about sexual matters, and need some encouragement from you.

He may be homosexual.

To be frank, I think that the last answer is the most likely one. I have seen many cases in which a gay guy reached middle age and then decided it was time to marry a lady 'for the sake of appearances'. Rather surprisingly, some of these marriages have worked out reasonably well — though they are mainly sexless unions.

My best suggestion is that you tell this guy that you want to have a frank, undisturbed talk with him, over a period of at least an hour. Ask him to be completely honest with you about his sexuality, and about his sexual feelings for you - or lack of them.

If you are not satisfied with his answers, then I feel that you should definitely NOT rush into matrimony with him. Good luck.

Q I am a guy of 34, and with some embarrassment I have to admit to you that when I was a young man I was treated for gonorrhoea.

I am considering getting married early next year. Can I assume that I am now completely free of this disease, doc? And should I tell my fiancée about it?

AIf you were properly and fully treated with the right antibiotics all those years ago, and if you had the correct tests afterwards, then the gonorrhoea 'bug' should have completely gone from your system. However, if you have any doubt, please go to a doc as soon as possible and have a check-up.

If the doctor found any evidence that you still have 'the clap', then, of course, you would have to tell your fiancée. But if he says that you have no trace of the disease, then it would be up to your conscience to decide whether you tell her or not. This is something I cannot decide for you.

Q I am considering going on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But is it true that it can cause thrombosis in the blood?

AYes, that is true. Latest research suggests that HRT does indeed increase a woman's risk of getting a clot in a vein.

The risk is not very great. However, if you have a 'family tendency' to abnormal clotting, you should probably avoid hormone replacement therapy. The same is true if you are a heavy smoker - because cigarettes greatly increase the chances of getting a thrombosis.

I shall return to the subject of HRT soon.

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