Sexual Health Advice

A state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being with regards to sexuality is what is commonly referred to as sexual health. It not only requires that one’s approach to sexuality and sexual relationships is positive and respectful but that one can have safe and pleasurable sexual experiences that are not violent and are free from coercion.

In order to enjoy a healthy sexual life that will fulfill one’s needs for many years, there are some precautions that should be followed. For example, not engaging in sex for a period of time due to lack of a partner or other reasons can be good and help to make the next sexual experience more pleasurable.

If one has a partner, it is important to talk with one’s partner so each is aware of the other’s needs on many issues, such as physical desires and emotional needs. Partners should also talk about sexually transmitted infections and whether either party has had one in the past or been tested for one. Birth control is another issue that should be addressed and what methods will be used if pregnancy is not a desired outcome of the sexual relationship. The use of condoms should also be discussed as they can not only prevent pregnancy but guard against sexually transmitted infections. Rarely discussed but equally important as the other issues is the act itself; what are the boundaries for exploration of each other’s bodies.

If two people are engaged in sexual relations, it is important that the relationship between the two people is a healthy one. This means that each person treats the other with kindness and respect, is honest with each other at all times, likes to spend time with each other, can speak honestly about their feelings and is interested in things that are important to the other person.

Filed Under: Sexual Health, Sexual Life Tagged With: , ,

Birth Control Options

Birth control, also known as contraception, is a means of preventing pregnancy. There are many options for employing control but the one that is best for an individual depends on personal beliefs and preferences, a desire to protect against disease and on individual’s health. One should speak with one’s doctor about exploring the different options but it is important to remember that the chosen method will work best if it used correctly and consistently.

One method of birth control that is 100% effective is not to engage in sexual relations. This not only guarantees not getting pregnant but also insures the prevention of getting a sexually transmitted disease. The risks of these events occurring may outweigh the pleasure that can be received from having sexual relations.

If one does plan to engage in sexual relations, then are various methods from which one can choose. Blocking sperm from getting into the uterus is known as a barrier method. Devices included in this method are the cervical cap, contraceptive sponge and condoms. Protection with these devices requires that they be used every time every time sex is to occur. If a woman decides to use a cervical cap or diaphragm, she must be fitted for this by her doctor. These devices may increase the risk of urinary tract infections or cause allergic reactions in some women.

If the man is the one using birth control, condoms are a good choice. They are available at any local drugstore and not expensive. They can be used alone or in combination with other methods of birth control. Using condoms is a wise choice if partners using the condoms are having sex with other people or if either one has had sex with other people in the past. Condoms are most effective against the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. One should stay away from using a spermicide with condoms as this can not only decrease one’s protection against sexually transmitted infections but can also cause genital irritation. Female condoms do exist but they have found to be less effective than the condoms used by men.

Filed Under: Advice, Pregnancy Tagged With: , ,

Birth Control Options Using Hormones

Birth control is used primarily to prevent pregnancy but can also be an effective means to prevent the spreading of sexually transmitted infections. A doctor’s prescription is needed for those women who want to use hormones as a means of birth control. There are many types of birth control that use hormones, in addition to the pill, and it is important to find which method is the best one in any given situation.

One method of using hormones for birth control is to use a patch. It is typically small, thin and flexible and is placed on the buttocks, stomach, chest or most commonly on the upper arm. The patch is worn for one week and then replaced with another over a period of three weeks. On the fourth week, the patch is not worn and a woman will get her period.

The side effects of wearing the patch include nausea, headaches, an increase in blood pressure, gaining of some weight and bloating. During the first two months a woman may experience tenderness in the breasts or overall breast discomfort. The skin around the patch can also show signs of irritation. The risks of side effects which are more serious such as blood clots can occur if women smoke while wearing the patch.

Another method of using hormones for birth control is to get a shot in the arm. This procedure is performed by a doctor once every three months. The side effects of this method are minimal and may include headaches and changes in the menstrual cycle, one’s weight and one’s moods.

A hormone implant can also be used and it is a piece of plastic that is thin and flexible and the size of a matchstick. It is placed under the skin of the upper arm by a doctor. One advantage of the implant is that it can prevent pregnancy for up to three years. Irregular bleeding or spotting or periods that have lighter or heavier flows of blood are typical side effects of the implant.

Filed Under: Contraception, Prenatal Care Tagged With: , ,

Common Causes of Vaginal Bleeding After Sex

Something that a lot of women experience after they have made love is vaginal bleeding. It can be scary and disconcerting, especially if you are not a virgin and it’s not your first time. here are some of the common causes of vaginal bleeding after sex.

  • Cervical dysplasia – This is changes of a woman’s epithelial cells that are found in the lining of the cervix and these are precancerous. This often happens when a woman has more than one sexual partner, it happens hewn a woman has sex before the age of 18, childbirth prior to 16, and a history in the past of STDs.  The treatment for this is usually conisation or cryosurgery.
  • Chlamydia – This is an infection that’s bacterial in nature and it’s usually transmitted through blood, vaginal fluid, semen, or sex.
  • Gonorrhea – This is a disease that is usually transmitted through sex and it’s caused by bacteria. There are treatments at the pharmacy that are available.
  • Cervicitis or Vaginitis –Infection and swelling or inflammation of the cervix or vagina. The treatment needed is going to depend on what caused it.
  • Cervical polyps – These are smooth, purple or red, growths that resemble fingers that are growing from the cervix’s mucus layer or the canal of the cervix. They are very fragile, they extend out of a cervix, and they’re painlessly and easily removed.
  • Yeast Infection – When a woman has a lot of the yeast in her vagina, she will get a yeast infection. The symptoms are things such as a discharge that’s white and odorless that looks like cheese, burning, and itching.

These are some of the things that can cause vaginal bleeding after sex.  If you have this problem, it’s a good idea to go to the doctor to find out what is causing it so that you can start treatment.

Filed Under: Sexual Health Tagged With: ,

STD Symptoms in Men

Just like it is in women, there are often symptoms that men are going to notice before they ever know that they have a sexually transmitted disease. For men, having one of the below symptoms could mean that they have an STD and that they should go and see a doctor as soon as possible. Even if they don’t have an STD, when a man the below symptoms point to something that is brewing and that should be checked out so that treatment can start as soon as possible.  If you find that you have one of the symptoms below, you need to take some time to be checked out so that treatment can start.

  • Pain when you urinate – this is usually one of the first symptoms
  • Fever
  • Urine that is cloudy
  • An abnormal kind of discharge from your penis.
  • Blisters, warts, rashes, lumps, and sores around your genitalia
  • Tenderness, swelling, or pain in your scrotum
  • Pain, burning, tingling and itching in your genitalia
  • Pain deep in your pelvis

If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms, it’s important for you to go to the doctor and be examined.  Not only is it important for your own health but for the health of your partner.  A lot of people don’t get checked out when they think they might have a sexually transmitted disease because they are embarrassed. But when a man doesn’t go to the doctor to find out if they have an STD they are risking the illness getting worse and they are risking that their partner could also be infected as well.

If you think that there’s something wrong, please go and have it checked out.  Putting it off will just make it worse and put yourself and those you love at risk. Sexually transmitted diseases are not something that you should fool around with.

Filed Under: Sexual Health Tagged With: ,

STD Symptoms in Women

Is it an STD or is it something else? A lot of women don’t know how to tell the difference and therefore they don’t go and get checked. Therefore, there STD or their other problem becomes worse until they are so sick that they don’t know what to do about it. Here are some of the symptoms that women might experience if they have an STD.

  • Vaginal discharge that is thick, foul smelling, or discolored.  The symptoms can get worse from a few days to two weeks.
  • Burning, itching, or pain while the woman urinates which lasts for more than 24 hours.
  • Fever
  • Pain while having sexual intercourse
  • Heavy feeling or pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis
  • Pain, itching, burning, or tingling in the genital area.
  • Warts, rashes, lumps, sores, or blisters around or on the genitals
  • Bleeding or spotting after having sex
  • Other infection symptoms like fatigue, swollen glands, rash, fever, or low energy.

It’s important for any woman who has any of the above symptoms to go and see her doctor.  Most of the sexually transmitted diseases that are out there are treatable and manageable. But it’s important for her to go and be checked out so that treatment can begin.

Sexually transmitted diseases are something that is scary, but they can be prevented when the proper precautions are taken. Condoms are one of the best ways that partners can prevent both pregnancy and the spread of an STD.  Some people think that condoms are not romantic. But how romantic are STDs or pregnant bellies? Better to be protected than to have to deal with the consequences of not taking the proper precautions.

STDs don’t have to be a part of sexual life when the right precautions are taken and observed during sex. The sooner you get treatment for an STD, the better of you’ll be.

Filed Under: Sexual Health Tagged With:

Confidential Health Advice and Services For Teens

Some teens enjoy a completely open and honest relationship with their parents in which they can discuss anything. But many teenage girls, especially sexually active ones, simply can’t bring this subject up, even with their moms. As many times as their parent may have said “you can ask me anything”, most teenagers are understandably uncomfortable discussing their sexual experience with their parents.

This can lead to problems if young women have concerns about pregnancy, birth control, or sexually transmitted diseases. They may also need to talk about relationship issues such as pressure to become sexually active, or other intimate problems.

Most cities have a Planned Parenthood office, which is available to anyone who needs access to information regarding women’s health and welfare. In addition to being completely confidential, Planned Parenthood staff is highly sensitive to the needs of young women, particularly those who have nowhere else to turn. In addition to providing birth control contraceptive education, the clinics also offer a wide variety of counseling and informative services.

Teens with any concerns about their sexual heath and welfare should always feel safe contacting a Planned Parenthood office. It can be scary to sort out birth control options on their own, and they may not feel comfortable talking to their family physician. Planned Parenthood provides basic gynecological exams and testing for STDs, pregnancy, and other female issues. For young women who may be worried about body image, depression or substance abuse, Planned Parenthood counselors can openly and honestly discuss these issues and provide women with referrals and information.

Sometimes all she needs is adult reassurance that everything going on with her body is normal. Planned Parenthood has been providing these confidential services for nearly 100 years. Teens should never hesitate to start at Planned Parenthood for any concerns about sexuality or gynecological issues.

Filed Under: Advice, Prenatal Care, Sexual Health Tagged With: , ,

Is Planned Parenthood Just For Sexually Active Teens?

There is a common misperception that Planned Parenthood is simply a place where teenage girls can get free birth control. While it is often the only resource for women to obtain, Planned Parenthood is more than a dispensary for pills and condoms.

Although it was founded on the premise that women should have control over their reproductive health, Planned Parenthood provides many more valuable services to a wide range of people.

This century-old organization is one of the leaders in providing sexual health education and resources. Although many women first begin going there when they become sexually active, teens are only a percentage of their client base. Patients do not need to be sexually active to make use of their services, and do not even need to be in a relationship. Many women continue to use their health services throughout their lives.

Women of all ages use Planned Parenthood when they do not have access to a primary care physician or gynecologist. In addition to contraceptives, women may need pregnancy testing, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, cancer screenings or simply an annual pelvic exam. These women may be old or young, married or single, and even in long periods of abstinence. Some clinics provide prenatal care as well.

While Planned Parenthood is an important resource for sexually active teens, most of their patients are in their twenties and thirties. Not everyone is sexually active in their teenage years. Many women choose to wit until they are older. They may seek contraceptive advice before beginning sexual activity. Others may have had little or no sexual health education in their younger years

Women of all ages, sexually active or not, choose Planned Parenthood because it is easily accessible and affordable. The organization is committed to providing these services to everyone regardless of age, and provides many services beyond birth control education.

Filed Under: Parenthood, Planning, Sexual Life Tagged With: , ,

Finally Open in Long Beach: Planned Parenthood for Teens

After a drawn-out process of expansion, Long Beach finally has its own Planned Parenthood center. The community desire and need for health services such as cancer screenings, annual check-ups, and sexually transmitted disease screenings, will finally be met by this branch of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. Adrianne Black, the co-CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles remarked that the community need has been remarkable in Long Beach, and that the community members are relieved to have these services available to their youth.

The rate of contracted sexually transmitted diseases in Los Angeles County is bad, compared to national statistics, but it’s nothing compared to Long Beach’s reports. The Planned Parenthood at the Lakewood Center is nearest to Long Beach, and for many years it has been the busiest of the 18 branches in the Los Angeles County region. Many of the people visiting the Lakewood Center admit that they drove from Long Beach for services like birth control. Without affordable contraceptives and birth control, many teens are forced to take changes and risk their futures on luck.

The Long Beach facility opened in February, but did not start operating full time until September. A private open house exhibit of informational materials will take place in September on the 22nd. During this economic recession, hardships have befallen families that would usually not require Planned Parenthood services. The services available at the 19 facilities in Los Angeles County are able to fill the need for contraceptives and check-ups, in addition to advising people on how to qualify for Medicaid, and where to seek additional services.

Wellness exams for women are among the most popular services that community members request, in addition to sexually transmitted diseases screenings, and birth control. Only 14% of customers at Planned Parenthood are male, and usually those are accompanied by females.

Filed Under: Sexual Health, Sexual Orientation Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Fault of Parents in Teen Pregnancy

Anti-teenage pregnancy III
Image by Polina Sergeeva via Flickr

Being a sexually active teen is no longer anything to be surprised by. Sadly, being a sexually active teen is the norm in the world these days. Kids are having sex and being sexually active at a younger age and their exposure to sex topics are a big part of the reason. But there might be an even bigger reason why kids are having sex and getting pregnant these days. Too few parents are discussing family planning with their children. Part of this discussion involves sex, but parents need to talk about finding good Phoenix apartments since the new baby will need a home, paying the rent for Phoenix apartments, or paying for basic needs.

It might have to do with the involvement of the parents. These days, there more distance between parents and children, and this creates a communication barrier that makes education about these problems increasingly difficult.

Parents these days have a very tough job. There are many woman who are single mothers and there are many fathers who must work long hours to support for their families. This makes staying on top of what is going on in their kids life increasingly difficult. It’s also more difficult when kids are secretive about what is going on in their own life.

But this behavior doesn’t mean that it absolves parents from having to do their job when it comes to talking to their kids about sex. The truth is that parents must make it a priority to communicate all their feelings and concerns to their kids, even if their kids aren’t forthcoming with their own thoughts, fears, and concerns. When searching for Phoenix apartments, a renter wouldn’t refuse to ask a question because the seller isn’t offering up the information. It’s the whole reason to ask a question at all.

Parents must create an open dialogue with their children. If they cannot create the dialogue they need to, at least, let them know that it is wanted. Communicating with a child could prevent them from becoming sexually active before they are fully ready for it.

Filed Under: Advice, General, Parenthood Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts