19: Looking at Men s Issues in .NET framework

Drawer Quick Response Code in .NET framework 19: Looking at Men s Issues

If you lose interest in sex for a while with no signs of improvement and you can t figure out the reason, consider speaking to your GP about the problem and to obtain advice on locally available sources of help and support Also, the charity Relate has lots of useful information on its website (wwwrelate orguk): you can find out about telephone or online counselling and where to find a sex counsellor

A number of infections transmitted through sexual intercourse (commonly referred to as sexually transmitted infections, or STIs) are mainly due to viruses or bacteria that may be present in semen, vaginal fluid or blood Many people choose a variety of different activities to have a fulfilling sex life, some of which carry a higher risk of transmitting STIs than others

Many myths about STIs exist, so here I cover some of the activities that put you at higher risk and those that don t: You can pass on STIs even if your penis doesn t fully enter your partner s vagina or you don t come (called ejaculate), because your pre-come (that is, your preejaculate fluid) also contains the organisms that cause STIs You and your partner are at risk of passing on STIs even if you only insert your penis slightly (sometimes referred to as dipping) You can also pass on STIs if you give or receive oral sex If one of you has an STI, the risk of spreading this is even higher if either of you have any sores or cuts around the mouth, genitals or anus You re probably at lower risk if you receive oral sex than when you give it this is because if you receive oral sex you don t come into contact with your partner s genital fluid (such as vaginal fluid or semen), although some risk of infection always remains The risk of spreading STIs is higher in anal sex because the lining of the anus is thin, making it more vulnerable to damage, which opens up the route for infections You can also pass on STIs through sharing sex toys Although the chances of spreading STIs from inserting your fingers into your partner s vagina or anus is relatively small, the risk is there particularly if either of you have any cuts on your hands

The most important thing you can do to prevent STIs is to use condoms when you engage in sexual activities Only use water-based lubricants (which you can get from your pharmacist), as oil-based ones can damage condoms, making them less effective Also make sure you always wash sex toys (that is, any object that you use during sexual activities) between users, and use a new condom to cover them

Some STIs are common in the UK, whereas others are quite rare However, having unprotected sex with a new partner abroad can put you at much higher risk of contracting an STI Here s the low-down on some STIs that are worth knowing about: Acquired immune-deficiency syndrome: Safer sex can help prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, which can lead to the acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, or AIDS You can find more information about HIV infection and AIDS in 7 Chlamydia: Chlamydia is a common infection that can cause infertility (which means you can t father children) if not treated, and so get checked over if you notice a clear or yellowish discharge from your penis Treatment is simple (with antibiotics) and usually effective Genital warts: Genital warts are common and caused by viruses that you can pass on through sexual contact The virus may not necessarily lead to infection, however in fact, many people don t develop any problems, or if they do the virus goes away on its own Therefore, you may not know whether you ve contracted the infection or not Lesions may break out from about three weeks up to many months or even years after you ve come into contact with the virus Small fleshy bumps in your genital area or around your anus are typical Antibiotics aren t effective with genital warts, so treatment aims to reduce the number of lesions by means of creams, toxic solutions, heat, freezing, surgery or laser, which is normally offered in specialist clinics only unless your GP has special expertise in this field Gonorrhoea: A yellow to white or even greenish irritating discharge from your penis or anus is typical for gonorrhoea, which isn t particularly common Your testicles and prostate gland may also become inflamed, causing pain inside your scrotum, deep behind the base of your penis and close to your anus You may also get some pain or discomfort when you pass urine, and in rare cases particularly if you had oral sex with an infected partner you may get a throat or eye infection, too