SEXUAL HEALTH

If you are sexually active, it is important that you maintain your sexual and cervical health. Regular check ups and cervical screening will help you stay healthy.

Occasionally, medical conditions can cause difficulty in achieving a satisfying sex life. The following articles contain information on causes of sexual dysfunction and other issues that can affect your sexual enjoyment.

Atrophic Vaginitis:  Is an inflammation or irritation of the vagina caused by the thinning of the vaginal lining and by a decrease in lubricating secretions of the vagina.

Inhibited Sexual Desire:  Also called hypoactive sexual desire, sexual apathy, and sexual aversion. A lack of interest or aversion to sex that may have either physical or emotional causes.

Intercourse After Delivery:  Women can resume sexual intercourse approximately 6 weeks after delivery.

Painful Intercourse: Is also known as dyspareunia. Causes of painful intercourse range from simple problems that are easy to treat, to more complex problems that may require extensive testing and treatment.

Sexual Dysfunction:  Causes of sexual dysfunction involve emotions that inhibit appropriate responses, and often involve both physical and psychological issues.
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Vaginal Dryness:  A decrease in female hormone levels, or estrogen, brought about by a variety of reasons, is the primary cause of vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness affects more than 25 million women at one time or another.

STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

If you are sexually active, you can get an STI – even if you practice safe sex most of the time. There are many different STI's and not all of them have obvious symptoms, so there is a chance that you or your partner could have an STI without knowing it. Most STI's are curable and all are treatable. But if left untreated, STIs can have long term effects on your body. 
If you are sexually active, it’s important to get an STI test at least once a year, especially if you notice symptoms after having sex without a condom or dental dam; if the condom broke or slipped off during sex; or when you start a new relationship. In most cases, a simple blood or urine sample is all that's needed. 

Condoms
Condoms offer the best available protection against STI's by acting as a physical barrier to prevent the exchange of semen, vaginal fluids or blood between partners. Safe sex is also called ‘safer sex’ to highlight the fact that condoms and other barrier methods are not 100 per cent effective in preventing STI's. However, condoms do offer the best available protection when used correctly. For vaginal, anal and oral sex, you should use condoms.
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Douching
Douching is washing or cleaning out the vagina with water or other mixtures of fluids. Doctors recommend that you do not douche. Douching can lead to many health problems, including problems getting pregnant. Douching is also linked to vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections (STI's).

STI's

Vaginitis
Vaginitis is usually characterized by a vaginal discharge or by vulvar itching and irritation; a vaginal odor may be present.Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmissible infection. If it is left untreated, chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which can lead to chronic pain and infertility. If it is detected early, chlamydia may be treated with a single doe of antibiotics..
Genital Warts
Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases among young people today. There are over 100 strains of HPV, but only some affect the genitals and not all cause warts. Treatment for genital warts does not get rid of the virus, it only treats the visible warts, treatments include cryotherapy, podophyllotoxin, imiquimod cream or laser or diathermy treatment.Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and may affect the genital area, or the mouth and lips. The usual symptoms are painful lesions.Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. It is probably under-reported among teenagers and young adults.Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors, such as alcohol abuse, some medications, and trauma.Human Papilloma Virus
The most common sexually transmitted disease is the human papilloma virus or HPV, which is three times more common than herpes.Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
The most serious and common complication of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among women is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the upper genital tract.Syphilis
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, can be effectively treated with antibiotic therapy.What Is AIDS?
AIDS is the acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).