Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are increasingly popular vehicles of communication. Given their widespread use and influence on individuals and society, it is no wonder that these sites have an impact on various aspects of our lives. According to a recent study, social media may even have an effect on our sex lives.

Explicit motor imagery (EMI) is the technique of thinking about moving without actually moving. It is a method that is sometimes used for chronic pain management to help individuals gradually alter their brain’s response to pain.

Sexual aversion was defined as a disorder in the fourth, text-revised edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). By this definition, sexual aversion disorder was “a persistent or recurrent extreme aversion to, and avoidance of, all or almost all genital sexual contact with a sexual partner (Criterion A), causing marked distress or interpersonal difficulties (Criterion B).”

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. When a person has MS, their immune system attacks the protective covering of their nerves, damaging the avenues of communication between the brain and the body. Common symptoms of MS are vision problems, sensory loss, tingling, numbness, muscle spasms, tremors, lack of coordination, fatigue, dizziness, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction.

In some cases, testosterone-lowering medications may be considered for individuals who have committed sexual offenses in order to reduce their sex drive and the likelihood of them repeating the offense. Pharmacological interventions vary depending on the severity of the offense and the risk of reoffending, but some examples of medications used to reduce sex drive are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), cyproterone acetate (CPA), and gonadotropin-releasing-hormone (GnRH)-agonists. For very severe cases, GnRH-agonists may be used in combination with CPA.

For women who are going through or are survivors of breast or gynecological cancer, sexual dysfunction can be a very unwelcome side effect. Common sexual health complaints for women after cancer treatment are vaginal dryness, low sexual desire, and pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). Cancer and its treatments can also give rise to concerns about a partner’s sexual satisfaction and feelings of low self-esteem. 

Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when she permanently stops having her period. Specifically, it occurs 12 months after a woman’s last period, but most women go through a transition called perimenopause that lasts several years.

The BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and/or sadism-masochism) community has often faced stigma for their sexual preferences. In fact, past and present medical literature has described BDSM (or kink) as “bizarre,” “unusual,” and even indicative of a mental disorder or dysfunction.

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have become an increasingly popular method of consuming nicotine in recent years, especially among young adults. Designed to look similar to actual cigarettes, e-cigarettes are electronic devices that hold a solution containing nicotine and other flavored ingredients. This solution is turned into vapor when people activate the device and inhale, which is why the practice is known as “vaping.”

Phalloplasty is a surgery in which the surgical team creates a penis and scrotum for the patient, the creation of which is known as a neophallus. This surgery may be used for men who have lost their penises due to injury or illness, but it is also a type of gender-affirming surgery for transgender men who wish to transition their genitals to align with their gender identity.

Many women experience changes in their sexual function as they undergo menopause and the drop in estrogen that menopause causes. Estrogen is one of the main female sex hormones that supports vaginal lubrication and healthy vaginal tissues. As such, postmenopausal women may be more prone to vaginal dryness, decreased vaginal elasticity, vaginal itchiness, and discomfort or pain during sexual activity due to their decreased levels of estrogen.

Many experts acknowledge that sexual function is an important component of a person’s overall health and therefore something that should be assessed and treated by health care providers. Nevertheless, most medical definitions of sexual function and the validated tools used to measure sexual function remain very cisgendered and heteronormative (i.e., dealing only with cisgender heterosexual sex). This situation highlights a major gap in the evaluation and treatment of sexual dysfunction in transgender, non-binary, and other gender diverse individuals.