MD
Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji Hicham is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist with around 20 years of experience in the field. Having worked in various Moroccan hospitals, he currently runs a private practice. Dr. Hicham specializes in rejuvenation and cosmetic gynecology, medically assisted reproduction, breast and gynecological cancers, HPV diseases, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and hormonal disorders.
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The initial months of pregnancy are crucial to help a fetus develop and decide whether it will be a viable/non-viable pregnancy. The viability of pregnancy depends on several factors, and it is essential for you to understand them. It is also vital for mothers and their partners to understand the importance of prenatal screenings and…
Postpartum edema (swelling) is a common condition characterized by swelling around the face, belly, and ankles. But what are the causes of edema? Some women may also experience swollen hands, legs, and feet (1). It may persist until a week or beyond after delivery. One may also notice swelling around the incision if they underwent…
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) pregnancy is a type of pregnancy in which the sperm is placed into the uterus by a fertility specialist. This procedure is mainly used when a couple cannot conceive on their own. In this process, the sperm is given a headstart to travel its course and fertilize the egg in the fallopian…
Most women naturally go into labor when they reach their due date. However, a doctor may need to speed up labor if a mother has passed her due date and still has no labor pains (1). Alternatively, when a mother has medical conditions like obstetric cholestasis (bile acid buildup), pregnancy-induced hypertensioniXHigh blood pressure, characterized by…
Ovulation occurs when the ovaries release the mature ovum (egg) during the menstrual cycle. Women planning to conceive may wonder — how long does ovulation last? The ovulation usually occurs on the 14th day of a 28-day menstrual cycle and lasts for a day. It is roughly around the middle of a monthly period. Nevertheless,…
Women's bodies undergo various physiological changes during pregnancy, and nosebleeds often result from them. You may have strong or light bleeding from one or both nostrils during a nosebleed, and the duration of the bleeding may range from a few seconds to more than ten minutes. Pregnancy nosebleeds are mostly brought on by changes in…
The use of retinol while breastfeeding lacks extensive studies, so little is known about its safety in lactating mothers. Retinol and retinoids are a group of compounds that are usually found in several skincare products for acne, skin pigmentation problems, fine lines, and wrinkles. They are available in topical and oral forms (1). Retinol and…
Cold sores or fever blisters erupt inside the lips or cheeks, around the mouth, or near the nose and chin. These itchy and tingly sores might sometimes be painful too. Usually, cold sores are likely to disappear in a couple of weeks. But what happens when they occur during pregnancy? What should you do about…
Mucinex is an over-the-counter medication to treat colds and coughs. If you are taking Mucinex while pregnant, you need to be cautious. Varying in composition and strength, the range of medicines includes tablets, capsules, and syrups. Contracting a common cold and cough during pregnancy can keep you ill for longer or make you feel more…
Pregnancy can bring out a range of emotions, and it is not unusual to experience several overwhelming thoughts when one is planning pregnancy after a miscarriage. While some women want to embrace motherhood as soon as possible after a loss, others may take some time to recover from it. Each pregnancy and body is different. How soon you can get pregnant…
Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a common condition that leads to whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and oily skin. Irrespective of its severity, acne during pregnancy does not affect the growing baby. The various hormonal changes during pregnancy may make pregnant women prone to acne. It is considered that around half of pregnant women experience…
Gas, burps, and flatulence – could be embarrassing. Most people pass gas ten to 20 times a day on average (1). And if we look at the average passing of gas during pregnancy, this number seems to go many notches up. But do not fret! Here are some easy ways of reducing gas and bloating…
Pregnancy challenges sleep in many ways, leaving you often exhausted. However, exploring the various sleep positions when pregnant may help you find the most comfortable one, ensuring you get adequate rest. Many women may be able to sleep in their usual sleeping positions early in pregnancy. But you need to adopt new positions to sleep…
Stretch marks are part and parcel of your motherhood journey. While most women embrace them, preventing stretch marks when pregnant is a preferable option for some and is completely normal. Stretch marks are pregnancy-related changes that cause small tears of the elastic supportive tissue beneath the skin and often appear as purple, reddish-brown, or dark…
A dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, occurs when the salivary glands in the mouth produce low or no saliva (1). A dry mouth during pregnancy generally occurs due to hormonal changes (2) (3) (4). However, some underlying issues, such as dehydration, could also contribute to the problem. Saliva is a vital fluid that keeps…
Pregnancy brings a lot of changes to your life. While some changes are immediately noticeable, others aren't. On the other hand, some changes, such as blood in stool during pregnancy, may alarm you. While the condition may cause severe concern, it is usually not a serious problem unless the amount is significant or it occurs…
The 3rd-week pregnancy symptoms may seem faint or barely noticeable to some mothers. Despite that, it is one of the crucial phases of pregnancy. It is when the fetus begins to develop the neural tubeiXA hollow structure in a developing embryo that forms the brain and spinal cord. , which leads to the formation of…
According to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), around 14 to 23% of women experience depression during pregnancy (1). It is normal for pregnant women to go through emotional highs and lows due to hormonal changes. However, if the lows persist for longer and start inferring in the daily activities, it can be…
The fourth week of pregnancy is when most women find out that they are pregnant. When you are four weeks pregnant, your baby is around the size of a poppy seed and is developing in the inner lining of your womb (1). Most pregnancy symptoms are not clearly visible except for a few, such as…
Bicornuate uterus (BU) is a congenital uterine abnormality or a Mullerian duct anomaly where the uterus (womb) is heart-shaped and has two horns. The uterus is normally pear-shaped, but the partial fusion of the Mullerian ducts (analogs of female reproductive organs) in the developmental phase can give rise to the heart shape. The bicornuate uterus…
The luteal phaseiXThe second phase of the menstrual cycle, characterized by the development of corpus luteum, that starts with ovulation and ends with menstruation of the menstrual cycle witnesses significant temperature fluctuations (1), one of which is the implantation dip. A slight decrease in basal body temperature will likely occur about one week after ovulation.…
If you are three months pregnant, it is the completion of your first trimester. However, there is still a long way to go in your pregnancy journey. In order to make that journey as easy and smooth as possible, you should start prenatal check-ups in the third month and keep up with all of your…
Like dermaplaning and chemical exfoliation, chemical peels are popular cosmetic treatments that help in skin rejuvenation. However, the use of chemical peels during pregnancy may raise safety concerns. These may work effectively to reduce wrinkles, blemishesiXNoticeable modifications in the skin’s appearance caused by scars, patches, or discolorations. , and sun damage, and so are quite…
An adequate intake of vitamin A in pregnancy can benefit maternal and fetal well-being. The nutrient plays a crucial role in fetal development and keeps the mother healthy. You can get vitamin A through various food items. Vitamin A supplements may also be considered if your doctor prescribes them. Despite the benefits of vitamin A,…
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a disorder of the intestines that leads to frequent abdominal pain and discomfort (1). IBS is different from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBS and pregnancy may co-exist, especially in women who already had the disorder. The pregnancy condition causes changes in bowel movement and gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, usually with…
Low-dose birth control pills are hormonal contraceptives with lower concentrations of synthetic hormones (estrogen and progestin) than traditional pills. When used correctly, these are just as effective as conventional pills in preventing unwanted pregnancies. Besides, they are considered safer and may have fewer side effects due to lower hormone levels (1). However, their use may…
Not all women respond similarly to being pregnant. While some are ecstatic about experiencing early pregnancy signs, for others, the lack of pregnancy symptoms could be bothersome. If you are the latter one, you may be holding on to a regular pregnancy test to reassure yourself. Though uncommon, most women may not experience any symptoms…
Puerperal infections, also called postpartum infections or Puerperal fever, include a wide range of infections that occur up to six weeks after childbirth. The most common postpartum infections are endometritis, urinary tract infection (UTI), wound infection, and mastitis. Puerperal infections may affect 5-24% of mothers and are common causes of prolonged hospitalization after childbirth. If…
Childbirth is a natural physiological process that alters a woman's body in a variety of ways. Therefore, the body may take days or even weeks for complete recovery after birth and return to normalcy. Whether you had a simple or complicated delivery, vaginal or cesarean (C-section) birth, or the labor lasted a few hours to…