Sexual Health
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Sexual health can be hard to talk about at any age. But knowing the types of common problems that can occur and what you can do to treat them might make talking about this sensitive subject a little easier.
Women's sexual health issues are often related to menstrual cycles, sex, infection, birth control methods, aging, medicines, or changes after pregnancy. Men's sexual health issues can range from erection problems to sexually transmitted infections to genital injuries. No matter what the problem, our topics can help you learn more about sexual health and what you can do to maintain it.
To get started, explore these topics:
Health Topics
- Adenomyosis
- Barrier Methods of Birth Control
- Bioidentical Hormones
- Birth Control
- Birth Control Pills: Missed or Skipped Periods
- Birth Control: How to Use a Diaphragm
- Birth Control: How to Use the Patch
- Birth Control: How to Use the Vaginal Ring
- Birth Control: Myths About Sex and Pregnancy
- Body Image After Cancer Treatment
- Breast-Feeding as Birth Control
- Cardiovascular Syphilis
- Cervical Cap for Birth Control
- Chlamydia
- Chronic Female Pelvic Pain
- Closure of the Vagina (Vaginal Obliteration)
- Common Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality
- Congenital Syphilis
- Contraceptive Sponge for Birth Control
- COPD and Sexual Activity
- Counseling for Women's Sexual Problems
- Cryotherapy (Cryosurgery) for Genital Warts
- Diabetic Neuropathy: Treatment for Sexual Problems
- Diaphragm for Birth Control
- Dilation and Curettage (D&C) for Bleeding During Menopause
- Domestic Abuse
- Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- Effectiveness Rate of Birth Control Methods
- Elder Abuse
- Electrocautery for Genital Warts
- Erection Problems (Erectile Dysfunction)
- Erection Problems: Questions Your Doctor May Ask
- Erection Problems: Surgery on Penile Blood Vessels
- Erection Problems: Talking With Your Partner
- Exposure to Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Fallopian Tube Procedures for Infertility
- Family Life Cycle
- Female Condoms
- Female Genital Problems and Injuries
- Fertility Problems
- Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome
- Gender Identity and Transgender Issues
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Self-Examination
- Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
- Getting Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control
- Gonorrhea
- Healthy Aging
- Heart Failure and Sexual Activity
- High-Risk Sexual Behavior
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Infection
- HIV: Risks of Sexual Contact
- Hormonal Birth Control: Risk of Blood Clots
- Hormonal Factors in Erection Problems
- How Birth Control Methods Prevent Pregnancy
- How Erections Occur
- How Pregnancy (Conception) Occurs
- How to Take Birth Control Pills
- How to Use a Male Condom
- Hysterectomy for Ovarian Cancer
- Hysterectomy: Concerns About Sex
- In Vitro Fertilization for Infertility
- Induction Abortion
- Infertility Tests
- Insemination Procedures for Infertility
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection for Infertility
- Intrauterine Device (IUD) for Birth Control
- IUD Insertion
- Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling (Ovarian Diathermy) for PCOS
- Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis
- Laparoscopic Tubal Ligation
- Laser Surgery for Genital Warts
- Levonorgestrel (LNg) IUD
- Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) for Genital Warts
- Low Back Pain and Sex
- Male Condoms
- Male Genital Problems and Injuries
- Medicines for Erection Problems: Reactions With Nitrate
- Menarche
- Menopause and Perimenopause
- Military Sexual Trauma
- Missed or Irregular Periods
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Myomectomy
- Neurosyphilis
- Normal Menstrual Cycle
- Object in the Vagina
- Oophorectomy
- Other Health Problems Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Criteria for Diagnosis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Draining an Abscess
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Tubo-Ovarian Abscess
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Penile Implants for Erection Problems
- Peyronie's Disease
- PMS: Ways to Record Your Symptoms
- Premature Ejaculation
- Psychotherapy for Erection Problems
- Repair of Vaginal Wall Prolapse (Vaginal Vault Prolapse)
- Resuming Sexual Activity After a Heart Attack
- Risk Factors for HIV Infection
- Safer Sex
- Saw Palmetto
- Sensual Exercises for Erection Problems
- Sex and Your Heart
- Sex Therapy for Erection Problems
- Sexual Abuse or Assault (Rape)
- Sexual Dysfunction Causes: Medical Conditions
- Sexual Dysfunction Causes: Medicines
- Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Sexual Problems: Questions About Your Sexual History
- Sexuality and Physical Changes With Aging
- Sexuality While Breast-Feeding
- Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: Genital Exam for Men
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: Symptoms in Women
- Sexually Transmitted Infections: Treatment
- Spermicide for Birth Control
- Spinal Cord Injury: Sensual Exercises
- Spinal Cord Injury: Talking With Your Partner About Sex
- Stages of Syphilis
- Surgical Removal of Genital Warts by Excision
- Symptoms of Pelvic Infection
- Symptoms of Pregnancy
- Syphilis
- Syphilis: Chancre
- Syphilis: Gummata
- Talking With Your Child About Sex
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation and Tubal Implants
- Tubal Ligation Reversal
- Types of Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs)
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
- Vacuum Devices for Erection Problems
- Vaginal Pessaries
- Vaginal Rashes and Sores
- Vaginal Yeast Infections
- Varicocele Repair for Infertility
- Vasectomy
- Vasectomy Reversal (Vasovasostomy)
- Your Teen's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Medical Tests
- Chlamydia Tests
- Fertility Awareness
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
- Gonorrhea Test
- Herpes Tests
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test
- Pap Test
- Pelvic Examination
- Postcoital Test
- Prostate Biopsy
- Semen Analysis
- Sperm Penetration Tests
- Syphilis Tests
- Testosterone
- Tests for Bacterial Vaginosis
- Tests for Erection Problems
- Vaginal Self-Examination (VSE)
Medications
- Alprazolam for PMS-Related Anxiety
- Antibiotics for Chlamydia
- Antibiotics for Gonorrhea
- Antibiotics for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Antibiotics for Syphilis
- Antidepressants for Hot Flashes
- Antiviral Medicines for Genital Herpes
- Birth Control Pills, Patch, or Ring
- Bromocriptine or Cabergoline for Infertility
- Clomiphene for Infertility
- Clonidine for Treating Hot Flashes
- Danazol for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
- Estrogen Therapy (ET)
- Fluorouracil (5-FU) for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
- Gabapentin for Hot Flashes
- Gonadotropin Treatment for Infertility
- Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) for Infertility
- Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist (GnRH-a) for Severe PMS
- Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogues for Infertility
- Hormonal Therapy for Erection Problems
- Hormone Therapy (HT)
- Imiquimod
- Injected Medicines for Erection Problems
- Interferon for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
- Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogen for Dryness and Atrophy
- Metformin (Glucophage) for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- MUSE for Erection Problems
- Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors (PDE-5 Inhibitors) for Erection Problems and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Podophyllin Resin or Podofilox for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
- Progestin for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- Progestin for Emergency Contraception
- Progestin-Only Hormonal Methods (Mini-Pills, Implants, and Shots)
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) for PMS and PMDD
- Spironolactone for PMS
- Testosterone for Women
- Trichloroacetic Acid or Bichloroacetic Acid for Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants for Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Ulipristal for Emergency Contraception
Last Revised: February 1, 2013
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
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