A reader poses an intriguing and very personal question to our resident sex therapist who, for once, needs to call for help to answer it.

Dear Doctor Dick

I read an interesting article the other day about the theory of nominative determinism – the idea that people tend to enter jobs or professions that reflect their names.

For example, it’s claimed that there is an unusually high number of dentists whose surname is Tooth, or builders with the family name Carpenter and the like.

I was wondering if you thought there was any validity to the theory.

Just in case you are wondering, I am a middle-aged man who works as a piano accompanist for a well-known local drag queen and although I have been in show business all my life I have always performed under my actual birth names.

Mr Nancy Gaylord-Liberace

Albion, Brisbane

Doctor Dick replies:

Dear Nancy

I am aware of the theory of nominative determinism but despite my own name and my long career in the area of sex advice, I have not made a study of the theory.

However, a very dear friend and colleague of mine – a gynaecologist specialising in pain relief for women experiencing extreme discomfort during sex – has taken an interest in the idea and has read a lot of material on it.

So I think it is best that I hand you over to him…….

Hello Nancy,

First of all thank you Doctor Dick for allowing me to answer this question.

To be frank, Nancy, I have made an extensive study of nominative determinism and have concluded that the whole idea is  total bullshit. Just forget all about it.

Yours sincerely

Doctor Mike Hunt-Hertz