Menopause is a natural transition that occurs when a person has gone at least 12 months in a row without menstruating (without birth control intervention). This is due to all of the oocytes (egg cells) in the ovaries being released, and usually occurs around age 50, with transitional symptoms (perimenopause) beginning in the mid-40s (U.S. averages). In some cases of oophorectomy, when both ovaries are removed, menopause may begin early.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition that primarily affects women, but also a handful of men. Of the roughly 6 million Americans affected, around 80-85% of them are women of childbearing age. POTS is a type of dysautonomia, which is a group of neurologic disorders that affect the system that regulates the processes related to blood flow, heart rate, sexual arousal, and digestion. Specifically, when someone with POTS stands up, the body will release more adrenaline than normal to account for an above normal amount of blood pooling below the heart, which for an unknown reason, their blood vessels do not respond to very well. However, the heart still responds the same as a non-POTS person, leading to an increase in heartbeat without the right amount of blood flow. Due to this imbalance, lightheadedness, dizziness, and sometimes fainting can occur.

Testicular torsion is what occurs when the testicle rotates inside the scrotum, which then twists the spermatic cord, cutting off blood flow to the testicle. Often, this will present as severe pain and swelling, as well as a testicle that’s positioned higher than normal or at an unusual angle. This can be accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, discoloration, or a visible lump. While rare, testicular torsion is considered a medical emergency, and anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. If blood flow does not return to the testicle within 6 hours, there can be serious consequences, and the longer you wait for treatment, the more likely it is that you may lose the affected testicle.

Feelings of guilt after sexual intercourse may be distressing or alarming, and they may even prevent someone from attempting to partake in sexual activity. However, there are explainable reasons for these feelings, and ways to help mitigate overall feelings of uneasiness, guilt, and shame that may be associated with sexual activity.

Emergency contraception consists of hormonal medications or other methods that can be taken to help prevent pregnancy in the case of unprotected intercourse, birth control failure, or non-consensual intercourse. There are several types of emergency contraception offered by healthcare services and recommended by global health organizations.

A.D.A.M., or Androgen Deficiency in the Ageing Male, has been equated to the male version of menopause. However, there are quite a few differences between A.D.A.M. and menopause. For example, menopause is often sudden, typically within the first 12 months after the end of ovulation and an almost immediate drop in estrogen after perimenopause, where estrogen loss is more gradual. Whereas A.D.A.M. is a more gradual reduction of testosterone over time due to an imbalance in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, the part of the brain and related system that regulates male reproductive function.

A fear of semen may be attributed to several other conditions. One common reason is related to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Specifically, the contamination subcategory of OCD, in which obsessions (unwanted thoughts, feelings, urges, etc.) and compulsions (actions taken to relieve distress from obsessions) center on germs, illness, or contamination. These compulsions are fueled by disgust, which is a defensive reflex the body uses to avoid contamination. However, with OCD, that disgust is exacerbated by obsessions.

Intersex is a term that refers to individuals that were born with genitalia, chromosomes, or hormonal imbalances that fit outside of the sexual binary of male and female. For example, an individual may have genitals that are associated with being female, but at the same time have an internal reproductive system or hormones associated with being male, such as hidden testes and testosterone. They may also have variations in chromosomes, such as XXY (as opposed to the male XY and female XX), or a mix of XY and XX throughout cells, or just one X chromosome. Intersexuality does not always present at birth, and may show during puberty, adulthood, or sometimes not at all.

An individual’s sexual history consists of their sexual experiences, previous partners, sexual preferences, and uses of contraceptives, amongst other things. It’s important to discuss sexual history with a new sexual partner for a variety of reasons, mainly sexual health and safety. For example, if a new partner has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that they have not disclosed, then your sexual health would be at-risk – even more so if protection such as condoms are not used.

Sensation in one's sex organs can be important for experiencing sexual pleasure, reaching orgasm, and feeling sexually healthy. That's why it can be so distressing to lose these sensations, and it may lead to sexual dysfunction, such as anorgasmia (the inability to orgasm), erectile dysfunction, or other issues. Penile and clitoral numbness can both be described as a loss of sensation in the genital area. Each can be distressing in its own right, and each has their own set of implications for sexual health.

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes most or all of the uterus, and sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries as well. It may be done for a variety of reasons, including severe endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic pain, and cancer. The average age of women that receive a hysterectomy is around 50, and depending on the type of surgery, menopause may start immediately. Alternatively, women who get a hysterectomy may already be going through menopause. Both cases can affect overall sexual functioning, whether in positive or negative ways.

Bariatric surgery essentially translates to weight loss surgery and is most commonly one of two types: gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve. Surgery is typically recommended when diet and exercise haven’t been working, or when there are serious health problems due to obesity. Obesity is a disease categorized by body mass index (BMI); typically, bariatric surgeries are recommended for obesity class III (BMI 40 or over), otherwise known as extreme obesity. Otherwise, if BMI is around 35 and there are other serious weight-related problems (such as diabetes or heart problems), then bariatric surgery may be suggested.