Women’s Health

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Oral sex – yuck?

31 Dec 2009 Posted by womentc in Sexual Dysfunction, Women's Health

To do it, or not? The following are common questions about oral sex, also known as cunnilingus: Is it enjoyable? Typically, yes. Is it safe? Yes, unless the do-er has oral herpes/cold sores/dental infection, etc.  Another precaution: if the man is uncircumcised, it is important to...

Anal intercourse

21 Nov 2009 Posted by womentc in Sexual Dysfunction, Women's Health

Heterosexual anal intercourse is not a favorite of women as it is of men, although it is being practiced more often than perceived. Is anal intercourse bad? As with every other sexual practice, anal intercourse is fine as long as it is done consensually (by agreement...

Mikvah & intercourse

01 Oct 2009 Posted by womentc in Sexual Dysfunction, Women's Health

Observant Jewish women follow the laws of Niddah, a time when she is considered ritually impure and must refrain from any physical contact with her husband, including sexual abstention. The end of Niddah is signified by going to the Mikvah (ritual bath) where she immerses in...

Voiding & sex

02 Aug 2009 Posted by womentc in Sexual Dysfunction, Women's Health

Many years ago it was believed that voiding (urinating) before and after having intercourse will guard against developing a urinary tract infection (UTI), sending women running in and out of bathrooms at a frantic pace. But was it urine in the system that caused the infection,...

Tampon removal

02 Jul 2009 Posted by womentc in Women's Health

Do I need to remove the tampon before going to the bathroom? The tampon sits in the vaginal canal and is not directly affected by either urination or defecation, but the string may get soiled.  That said, you can easily proceed with voiding first and changing...

Vaginal applicator – how to

18 May 2009 Posted by womentc in Menopause & Painful Sex, Women's Health

(This post was updated in December 2014, and again in May 2016)A vaginal applicator is used for inserting different preparations into the vagina: medication (i.e. Monistat for infection), hormones (i.e. estrogen, such as Premarin or Estrace), lubricants (i.e. Replens), etc.Some applicator come pre-loaded and are...

Intercourse & bleeding

06 May 2009 Posted by womentc in Menopause & Painful Sex, Painful Sex (Dyspareunia), Sexual Dysfunction, Vaginismus Blog, Women's Health

An updated version of this post dated November 11, 2020, is available here Not all bleeding/spotting after intercourse suggest a medical crisis. Common, everyday causes may include: Chafing irritation because of dryness/insufficient lubrication. You have vaginismus or dyspareunia -- your vagina is tight (nervous), causing chafing irritation. ...

Tampon – how to?

11 Apr 2009 Posted by womentc in Women's Health

How do you know that the tampon is in properly? Is the tampon in too deep? Not deep enough? Do these questions sound dumb? Not at all -- we hear them all day long from our patients.  Luckily, the answers are simple.  Consider these quick tips: Put some...

Clitoris & lubrication

25 Mar 2009 Posted by womentc in Sexual Dysfunction, Women's Health

The clitoris is the female's organ of sexual arousal.  We can only see its tip - glans clitoris - which is situated above the urethral and vaginal openings.  In other words, the clitoris IS NOT inside the vagina, a common misconception. The clitoris is shaped like...