ASHA's Sex+Health podcast covers all aspects of sexual health. Featuring interviews with medical professionals and experts in the field of sexuality, Sex+Health aims to offer information and resources to with the goal of helping people take charge of their sexual health and understand its importance to overall well being. Listen to episodes here or subscribe on iTunes. The Quickie is ASHA’s latest podcast series looking at current issues in sexual health in a short (less than five minute) format so you can get your fix get a move ... Continue Reading
Our Experts
James Allen, MD, MPH James R. Allen is a former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA). During his career, Dr. Allen has held key positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services, as well as with a number of other organizations, including the American Medical Association serving as Vice President for Science, Medical Technology, and Public Health. He has participated extensively in ... Continue Reading
Recognize Problems
It's important to know how your body works, and be able to recognize when something isn't quite right. If something changes or doesn’t seem quite right, get checked by a qualified healthcare provider. If you have any symptoms that you’re just not sure about, get evaluated. But you don’t have to have a symptom to get checked, though. All sexually active women under age 26 are recommended to be tested yearly for chlamydia. Older women with risk factors (new or several partners) should also be tested. If you have questions about testing for ... Continue Reading
Sexual Health Glossary
Glossary E-I Glossary J-Q Glossary R-Z A Abdomen—The part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines, liver, reproductive organs, and other organs. Abortion- The intentional termination of a pregnancy. Abstinence—Choosing not to have any kind of sexual activity. Someone who practices sexual abstinence does not run any risk of contracting a STD/STI or having an unwanted pregnancy. See also selective abstinence. Acute—Refers to intense, short-term symptoms or illnesses that either resolve or evolve into long-lasting, chronic ... Continue Reading
STIs
Do you have a question about sexually transmitted infections that you'd like to ask our experts? Email us and then check back to see if your question has been chosen. Please note that not all questions will be selected. After having lots of pain when I’d urinate, I was worried I might have something like gonorrhea so I went to my clinic and was diagnosed with Mycoplasma genitalium. What is it? I never heard of it! How do you get it? Does it go away? What can it do to you? As a gay man I hear a lot about testing for HIV and hepatitis; ... Continue Reading
Vaginal Health
The vagina is designed to keep itself clean with natural, healthy vaginal secretions. You can keep your vagina healthy with the same things that keep your whole body healthy—regular hygiene and a good diet. There are some basic dos and don’ts you can follow: DON’T douche—it upsets the natural balance of the vagina. Most doctors and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggest that women steer clear of douching. Douching may make a woman more prone to vaginal infections. DO wash your vaginal area with mild, ... Continue Reading
Understanding Women’s Experiences with Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common gynecologic infection, affecting nearly 29 percent of women in the U.S. While not all women with BV have symptoms, those that do may experience an abnormal vaginal discharge that may be white or gray, watery, and may also have a strong fish-like odor, or vaginal itching and irritation. Left undiagnosed and untreated, BV can increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. BV also increases the risk of pre-term birth and low birth weight, which can negatively impact the overall ... Continue Reading