Women like me, and, to be honest, doc, they usually give in to me. I have to admit that I have made many conquests.

But in the last year or so, I have been feeling rather tired. I have a difficult and demanding job, with a lot of travelling. And after a day's work, I sometimes find it almost impossible to summon up the energy for sex.

I do not have what you would call a regular partner at the moment, because I was divorced 18 months ago. But I do have girlfriends in Negril, Falmouth and Port Antonio.

Also, I spend a couple nights a week in Kingston, and there is usually some woman there who is pleased to go to bed with me. So I generally manage around four women per week.

I know this sounds like a real happy life! But my exhaustion is causing problems. To be honest, doc, I don't think that my erection is as firm as it used to be. Recently, there have been a few occasions when I did not really succeed in pleasing my partner.

So what do you think, doc? Am I beginning to lose my virility, or what?

A: Well, my feeling is that you have reached an age where nature is telling you to 'calm down' a little. For many years, you have been having sex with a rather alarming number of women; and the male human body cannot keep that up for ever.

It sounds to me like you should try and ease up a bit on work, as well as on sex. This constant driving around the island is clearly taking its toll on you.

I also think your should have a full check-up from a doctor - including a urine test for diabetes. It is quite possible that your recent exhaustion could be due to diabetes, or to some other physical problem.

Most important, are you smoking? And are you drinking too much?

Those two factors are notorious for making middle-age men less effective in bed, and for making them feel tired.

I doubt if you are 'losing your virility'. But it is clear that the time has come for you to start looking after your health - and to stop living a lifestyle which is both exhausting and risky.

A: The word 'dyspareunia' just means 'painful intercourse'. And the expression 'collision dyspareunia' means that the pain is caused by the end of the penis hitting the cervix. (The cervix is the lowest part of the womb, which sticks down into the upper part of the vagina.)

I think you should go back to your doctor and ask her why this 'collision dyspareunia' is occurring. My guess is that she means that you have some tender area on the end of the cervix - maybe an 'erosion,' which is treatable.

In the unlikely event that the problem cannot be cured, it is possible to obtain devices which can protect your cervix from being hit too hard by your partner's male organ.

For instance, you could be fitted with a contraceptive cap, or a diaphragm. Both provide a sort of 'cushioning' which protects the cervix from the collision.

A: Some experts think that before trying to conceive, you should wait a while - to get the pill's hormones out of your body. This is in order to protect the baby against the effects of those hormones.

My suggestion is that when you stop the pill, you should use some other method of contraception for a month - for instance, the condom.

A: Although there is still a certain amount of syphilis in Florida, I would say that statistically you are at more risk of catching gonorrhoea ('clap') or other sexually transmitted diseases.

However, since you ask about the symptoms of syphilis, here they are. Generally, the person gets a small, painless lump on the genitals. This occurs between nine and 90 days after exposure.

The little lump soon 'breaks down' and becomes a small raw patch - which is called an ulcer or 'chancre'. It, too, is painless, and has pus in the centre.

Before very long, this ulcer goes away. And that is one of the terrible things about syphilis - because the victim thinks that he or she is better. But that is not true!

The disease will usually come back at a later time, causing terrible havoc throughout the body.

So, anyone who has the slightest suspicion that he might have syphilis must go to a doctor or clinic for an examination and a blood test.

This disease is curable - IF it is caught early.

A: Almost certainly. Conception two years after menopause is very rare.

A: Very possibly. But the incidence of bowel cancer increases over the age of 50, so this kind of symptom must not be ignored!

Therefore, I urge you to see a doctor urgently - preferably tomorrow. It is vital that you have a rectal examination, so please do not delay.

My periods are regular. However, my husband and I have been trying to conceive, but to no avail.

Is this because too many years have gone by since I gave birth? Or could it be due to the fact that I had an abortion about nine years ago?

A: You not conceiving has nothing to do with the fact that it has been so long since you have given birth.

It is possible that your abortion led to an infection, which has blocked the tubes. But really, you and your husband need to have some tests done, as soon as possible. In particular, the lab should check your husband's sperm count. Good luck with your efforts.