What Is an Erection?

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Got questions about erections? Like why do they happen, and usually at the most random times?

Or what the heck is dribbling out of it? And what’s up with raging semis?

Keep reading, because we’re answering all of your burning questions here. (Not that your boner should burn, BTW.)

So, what exactly is it?

An erection — or boner, wood, or chubby, if you prefer — is a hardening of the penis.

Most of the time, the penis is flaccid and just hangs around minding its own business.

During an erection, it becomes temporarily engorged with blood and enlarged. This makes it feel stiff and causes it to stand up and away from the body.

Why does it happen?

Sexual arousal is often the reason, which is caused by seeing, feeling, or even thinking of something that turns you on.

Erections can also happen for no particular reason. There’s actually a name for these random boners: spontaneous erections.

So if you get a stiffy while watching a documentary on slugs, it’s just a penis doing what a penis does and it’s NBD.

It’s also normal to wake up with morning wood, whether you’ve had a sex dream or not.

How does it work?

To know how an erection works, we need to start with a little lesson on penis anatomy.

There are two chambers that run the length of your penis called the corpora cavernosa. Each contains a maze of blood vessels that create sponge-like spaces.

When those blood vessels relax and open, blood rushes through and fills them, causing the penis to engorge, creating an erection.

A membrane around the corpora cavernosa helps trap the blood so your D stays hard.

Erections aren’t just about the penis, though. Your brain plays a role, too.

When you get aroused, your brain sends signals to your penis that cause the muscles in it to relax and let the blood in.

Does everyone get them?

Everyone with a penis does.

That said, certain lifestyle factors can make it difficult for you to get an erection, like being tired, stressed, or intoxicated.

Certain medications and medical conditions can also cause erectile dysfunction.

Does it hurt?

It shouldn’t. Mostly boners just make you super aware of your D when you don’t generally really feel it or think about it otherwise.

However, there are some instances when an erection might be uncomfortable.

Pee boners are an example of this. They happen because your penis is designed to not let you wet yourself. It’s quite marvelous, really. Try to pee when you’re still hard and you’ll feel the burn.

Excessive or especially vigorous masturbation can also cause some discomfort down there. So, if your pain starts after you’ve been especially heavy-handed lately, giving your penis a rest should help.

Otherwise, an underlying medical condition or injury can cause painful erections. If you have penis pain, a trip to a healthcare provider is in order.

What if stuff starts coming out?  Is that normal?

Totally normal — assuming that what’s coming out isn’t bloody, green, or yellow, or has a dank stank to it. (Those are all signs of an STI or other infection.)

Barring those things, what you’re seeing is either ejaculate or pre-ejaculate — or precum, as most people call it.

Ejaculation typically happens during orgasm. This is when your arousal builds and leads to an intense, feels-so-good release that’s accompanied by ejaculate shooting from your penis.

That said, it’s possible to orgasm without ejaculating. It’s also possible to ejaculate without having an O.

That thin, slippery fluid that dribbles out of your D when you’re hard before ejaculation is called precum. It happens to anyone with a penis and is no biggie.

An FYI about precum: It can contain a small amount of sperm and therefore can cause pregnancy.

What’s the point of all this?

The point of an erection is so you can partake in penetrative sex.

Granted, you don’t need to have penetrative sex if you don’t want to, but in order to be able to get it in there — whether there is a vagina or anus — you need to at least be a bit hard.

Penetration without an erection is kind of like pushing rope.

How do you make it go away?

The penis is designed to lose an erection once you’ve ejaculated, so that’s one way.

Other than ejaculating, you may be able to able to make it go away by eliminating the source of stimulation, like:

• shifting positions (or your boner) so your jeans or thighs aren’t rubbing it
• thinking about something else, preferably something nonsexual
• distracting yourself by reading anything in sight or counting backward

You can also just wait it out and hide it in the meantime by holding something over it, like your bag or jacket. If your shirt is long enough, you can try untucking it (the shirt, not the boner).

For a menacing rager that pops up at a particularly inopportune time, hightailing it to the nearest exit or washroom might be your best bet.

How often are you supposed to get one?

There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to how many erections a person should get.

People with penises have an average of 11 erections per day and three to five more each night, but everyone is different.

There are numerous factors that can affect how often you get hard, like your age, hormone levels, and lifestyle.

If you’re concerned about your ability to get or maintain an erection, talk to a healthcare provider. Same if you feel like you’re hard more often than not or have an erection that persists for more than 2 hours straight.

Is there anything you can do to prevent it from happening?

Not really.

Erections are a normal part of having a penis. They’re bound to happen whether you want them to or not.

Using some of the methods we gave to stop an erection might also help you prevent one, but it’s not a sure thing, especially if you have an especially sensitive penis.

What if you want to make it happen?

Now we’re talkin’!

The key to getting an erection is being relaxed and allowing yourself to get aroused.

Here are some things that can help things along:

• Fantasize about something you find sexually stimulating.
• Look at images you find arousing.
• Read erotica.
• Touch yourself anywhere it feels good, not just your penis.
• Try a sex toy.

How do you know if you’re doing it right?

As long as it’s not causing you — or anyone — pain or distress, then it’s all good.

Sexual arousal should feel good. Erections shouldn’t be a source of discomfort or guilt.

If you’re concerned about your erections or are struggling with negative feelings about your sexuality, you may find it helpful to talk to a professional.

You can speak to your primary care provider or find a sexual health professional in your area through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) directory.

What’s the bottom line?

Erections are natural and just part of owning a penis. As inconvenient as they may be when they come up spontaneously, the ability to have them is a sign of health.

Their main purpose may be to facilitate penetrative sex, but no pressure. Your erection, your choice.

  Please, don’t be selfish with this post, try and share with friends. 

               

                        BEST REGARD BY.., 

                                                  DR.H2O.,            

Serious effects (How to fix) of lack of sex in marriage.

Serious effects of lack of sex in marriage.

If you are not having sex at all in your marriage or you are having very little numbers of sex with your partner, probably ones, or few times in a while, then your marriage can be classified as a sexless marriage and there are so many effects of lack of sex in marriage which I will show you in this post.

Sex is known to be at the top of the list of the keys to a successful marriage and it is also purely an indispensable factor in any relationship.

That means, you have to have it no matter what, especially if you want to have a good marriage, or if you don’t want to have the effects of lack of sex in marriage.

A recent study has clearly shown that so many couples (as much as 15%) are going through some effects of lack of sex in marriage in their relationship which has resulted in so many other negative things in the relationship.

In her book (The sex-starved marriage) written by Weiner Davis, she described extensively how important sex is to a marriage, why sexless marriage fails, and the emotional effects of sexless marriage.

She also said that “when sex is good, couples have great opportunities to receive and give physical pleasures and to connect spiritually, physically and emotionally.”

Good sex engenders closeness, intimacy, and also makes both of you feel attached to each other

The question is: Can a marriage survive without sex? And again if sex could help your marriage succeed and also make you enjoy closeness physically and emotionally with your partner, then why did you stop having sex?

Many couples can’t even guess what made their marriage sexless; however, it is good to know that many long-term couples are usually likely to experience this dryness at some points in their marriage.

Shannon Chavez, a sex psychologist said that “it is more common when a couple encounters a period of “sexlessness”.

                                        Here are the mains causes of sex in marriage.     

psychological/ medically 

Most times, the main causes of diminished sex in marriage could be attributed to psychological or health reasons. For example, hormonal imbalance in women, menopause, and childbirth could also be a great cause for no sex vaginal pains (due to vaginal dryness), illness, or chronic pain; also drugs like (antidepressants, child control pills) contribute to it.

Stress and tiredness

The couple goes through a lot on the daily basis (taking care of the children, daily hustle,s, and domestic chores) and becomes so weak after going through such and with little or no energy left for sex. Also, infertility and other life stressors affect our sex life.

Financial stress

If there are money problems, it could also affect couples’ sex life, especially when it causes many arguments between couples.

 Sex rejection

When there’s a great difference in couples’ sexual drive, there tend to be some problems; one person may be rejected sexually for a long time that he or she starts withdrawing from sex.

Sexual addictions

Many couples are turning to phonographs and masturbation or even cheating. This sometimes causes a disconnect, especially when they become addicted to the acts.

 Personality disorder

Anyone with “schizoid” personality disorder can display so many signs. They either love to be left alone (have no close friends) or they don’t want to have sex (no feeling of sexual activities). They are always emotionally cold people and don’t give attention to sex.

       What Happens When You Don’t Have Sex For a Long Time In Marriage?

Not having sex in a marriage is a serious business and the longer you allow it to linger, the more things are getting damaged. Here, I want to show you some effects of the lack of sex in a marriage.

Serious effects of lack of sex in marriage

1) Cheating

There are many reasons why people cheat; however, the lack of sex in a marriage is one of the reasons. Sometimes, when you ask a cheater, you’ll realize that they still love their partner so much, but, they cheated because they can’t live without sex.

Although there’s no good reason to cheat on your partner especially when you consider the effects on your marriage, when he/she is not getting the satisfaction desired in sex, there’s bound to be infidelity.

That’s why you should hurry up and fix your boring marriage sex.

2) Relationship loss

If sex disappears in a relationship, it can cause disconnection, separation, and eventually divorce. I have seen marriages break because the man’s sex organ is relatively small, think about when there’s no sex at all.

Although some couple claims lack of sex is not the reason they separated, 33% of them also said they wanted to leave their relationships because of sex problems.

3) Self Esteem lowered

One partner usually feels less wanted, unloved, and rejected when sex disappears in a relationship. It makes them feel they are no good at all and their self-esteem is a great effect.

4) Feeling failed

Many couples believed that without sex, a relationship can’t work. To an extent it is true, but so many relationships also survived without sex. However, when people think that way, and they are not fulfilling their sexual obligations to their partner, they feel somewhat failed. But they should know that marriage can as well thrive without sex.

5) Feeling depressed and anger

To the serious lovers of sex, when they are not getting or giving sex the way they desire from their marriage or spouse, they feel depressed internally, but physically they exert their anger on their partners.

6) You feel trapped

Sometimes, when you have gone deep into a relationship and realize sex is lacking all of a sudden and you know you love your partner and do not want your marriage to fail, you will start feeling trapped without clues of what to do next.

Now you’ve to know the causes of lack of sex in a marriage, as well as how it affects a relationship, let’s now look at what you should do to heal your marriage from it.

How to fix a Sexless Marriage.

Know the cause

You must try to understand what the real problems for the lack of sex are before trying to fix it. There may be a reason why you want sex more, and why your wife is withholding sex. You should that out first.

Michael Moore, a professional marriage counselor says” The common stereotype of a husband who wants more sex and the wife who is holding out is approaching the myth statute”. What he is saying is that understanding the cause is paramount to solving it.

Of course, there may be testosterone issue as in the men or hormonal imbalance, pain, etc in women,

The first step is to know what the reasons are, and you are on the track to fix it.

The next step will be to talk about it with your partner. It’s therefore important you find out the best time to discuss with your partner to know how to fix it.

Understand your relationship needs

You should understand that relationship changes with time. There will be years when things will look alright and not alright as well. But, what you should not fail to do is to always reassess the emotional and physical needs as partners.

It’s also imperative to not let your partner’s past problems stand in the way. Stop punishing him because of what was said or done in the past, especially when you have talked about it.

Things have changed and you are no more who you both were before you got married. Embrace the new changes and continue bringing innovations that will improve your relationship.

As you allow yourself to change, your marriage will also change and your sex life too.

Your sex organ is not all you have and so work around your erectile dysfunction

Laurel Steinberg, a New York-based psychotherapist said that “Erectile dysfunctions like premature ejaculations or lack of vaginal lubrication often make partners apprehensive about having sex”. The reason is that they don’t want either to let their partner down sexually or have a discouraging sexual experience.

However, to deal with the issues of lack of sex, the couple should try and change their mindset and understand that the body doesn’t always work exactly as the mind wishes.
Laurel also says that couples should always try and expand their views about what quality sex is all about.

It is also important that couples understand that there are other ways to delight each other sexually without even using the sex organ, I mean your hand and other parts of your body.

If you also see those as your sex tools, then you wouldn’t be depending on only sex to satisfy your partner.

              Please, don’t be selfish with this post, try and share with friends. 

               

                        BEST REGARD BY.., 

                                                  DR.H2O.,            

Vaginal Douching: Helpful or Harmful?

Vaginal Douching

IN THIS BLOG    

      What Is Douche? 

                         Advantages  

                              Disadvantages

                                          Should You Douche?

                                                                                   

An estimated 20% to 40% of American women between ages 15 and 44 say they use a vaginal douche. Higher rates are seen in teens and African-American and Hispanic women. Besides making themselves feel fresher, women say they douche to get rid of unpleasant odors, wash away menstrual blood after their period, avoid getting sexually transmitted diseases, and prevent a pregnancy after intercourse.

Yet, health experts say douching is not effective for any of these purposes. They also warn that it can actually increase the risk of infections, pregnancy complications, and other health problems.

What Is Douching?

The word ''douche'' is French for ''wash'' or ''soak.'' It is a method to wash out the vagina, usually with a mixture of water and vinegar. Douches that are sold in drugstores and supermarkets contain antiseptics and fragrances. A douche comes in a bottle or bag and is sprayed through a tube upward into the vagina.

Advantages

Some women say douching makes them feel cleaner. There is, though, very little scientific evidence of benefit from douching.

Disadvantages

Overall, the risks of douching far outweigh the benefits.

Vaginal infections(bacterial vaginosis). Douching upsets the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina (called vaginal flora). These changes make the environment more favorable for the growth of bacteria that cause infection. Studies have found that women who stopped douching were less likely to have bacterial vaginosis. Having bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of preterm labor and sexually transmitted infections.

Pelvic inflammatory disease(PID). PID is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. Research has found that women who douche may have a 73% higher risk of getting PID.

Pregnancy complications. Women who douche more than once a week have more difficulty getting pregnant than those who don't douche. Douching may also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy by as much as 76%. With an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo implants outside the uterus. The more a woman douches, the greater the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.

Cervical cancer. Douching at least once a week has been linked to a possible increased chance of developing cervical cancer.

Should You Douche?

According to health experts, including those at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), you should avoid douching. Having some vaginal odor is normal. However, if you notice a very strong odor, it could be a sign of infection. The acidity of the vagina will naturally control bacteria, and simply washing the vulva externally with warm water and mild soap is enough to keep clean.

THANKS FOR READING THIS BLOG .,

                    Sex-Drive Killers    

 Depression

Being depressed can shut off pleasure in many things, including sex. That's one of many reasons to get help. If your treatment involves medication, tell your doctor if your sex drive is low, since some (but not all) depression drugs lower sex drive. Talk about it with your therapist, too.  

Depression

Stress

Some people do many things well when they're stressed. Feeling sexy usually isn't one of them. Stress at work, home, or in relationships can happen to anyone. Learning how to handle it in a healthy way really helps. You can do a lot of it yourself, and a counselor or doctor can also help.

Stress

 Medication

Some drugs can turn down desire. They include some of these types of medications:

Medication

Antidepressants

Blood pressure medications

Birth control pills (some studies show a link; others don't)

Chemotherapy

Anti-HIV drugs

Finasteride

Switching drugs or dosages may help -- ask your doctor about that and never stop taking any medicine on your own. Tell your doctor, too, if  your sex drive stalls soon after you start taking a new drug.

Alcohol

A drink may make you feel more open to sex. But too much alcohol can numb your sex drive. Being drunk can also be a turn-off for your partner. If you have trouble drinking less, seek help.

Alcohol

 Partner Problems

Problems with your partner are among the top sex-drive killers. For women, feeling close is a major part of desire. For both sexes, watch for fallout from fights, poor communication, feeling betrayed, or other trust issues. If it's tricky to get back on track, reach out to a couples counselor.

Partner Problems

Too Little Sleep

If your sexual get-up-and-go is gone, maybe you're not getting enough sleep. Do you go to bed too late or rise too early? Do you have a sleep problem like trouble falling or staying asleep, or a condition such as sleep apnea? Anything that messes with a good night's rest can mess with sex. Fatigue saps sexy feelings. Work on your sleep habits, and if that doesn't help, talk to your doctor.

Too Little Sleep

 Having Kids

You don't lose your sex drive once you're a parent. However, you do lose some time to be close with kids under foot. Hire a babysitter to nurture some time to be partners as well as parents. New baby? Try sex during baby's nap time.

 Having Kids

Poor Body Image

Feeling sexy is easier if you like how you look. Work on accepting your body as it is today, even if you're working to get in shape. Feeling good about yourself can put you in the mood. If your partner has low esteem, assure them that they're sexy.

Poor Body Image

 Obesity

When you're overweight or obese, desire often dims. It could be that you don't enjoy sex, can't perform like you want to, or are held back by low self-esteem. Working on how you feel about yourself, with a counselor if needed, may make a big difference.

Obesity

 Erection Problems

Men with ED (erectile dysfunction) often worry about how they will be able to perform sexually, and that worry can drain their desire. ED can be treated, and couples can also work to keep it from affecting their relationship.

 Erection Problems

 Low T

The "T" hormone, testosterone, fuels sex drive. As men age, their T levels may drop a bit. Not all lose the desire for sex as this happens, but some do. Many other things -- from relationships to weight -- also affect a man's sex drive and testosterone levels, so there's not a one-size-fits-all answer for every man.

 Low T

 Menopause

For many women, sex drive dims around menopause. That's partly about symptoms such as vaginal dryness and pain during sex. But every woman is different, and it's possible to have a great sex life after menopause by tending to your relationship, self esteem, and overall health.

Menopause

Lack of Closeness

Sex without feeling close can slay desire. Intimacy is more than just sex. If your sex life is idling, try spending more non-sexual time together, just the two of you. Talk, snuggle, trade massages. Find ways to express love without having sex. Getting closer can rebuild your sex drive.

Lack of Closeness

How Sex Drive Changes Through the Years

 How Sex Drive Changes Through the Years

 What Is Sex Drive?

It seems like a simple question, but scientists still can’t agree on exactly what makes up sex drive or how to measure it in men or women. While hormones play a role, it’s not always clear how much of a difference they make. But other factors -- psychological, social, and physical -- also work together to create your libido.

What Is Sex Drive?

                                                                  

 Men: Your 20s

Testosterone, a hormone men need for sexual arousal, is typically high in your 20s, and so is your sex drive. But it’s also a time when you could be anxious about sex because of inexperience. That might be part of why 8%, and possibly more, of men in their 20s report erectile dysfunction (ED). The condition can happen because of a medical or mental health issue or even be a sign that you’re at risk for heart disease. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

 Men: Your 20s

 Women: Your 20s

You’re likely to be more fertile from your teens to late 20s than you are in the years that follow. This may make you choosier about if and when you have sex, though it’s not clear exactly why. In fact, scientists think that female desire might go up just as fertility starts to decline toward the end of your 20s.

Women: Your 20s

 Men: 30s and Early 40s

Many men continue to have a strong sex drive through these years, though testosterone starts to slowly decrease around age 35. It typically goes down by about 1% per year, but it could be faster for some men. This could have some effect on your sex drive. Plus, for many men, the stress of work, family, and other commitments can affect how interested you are in sex.

Men: 30s and Early 40s

 Women: 30s and Early 40s

This time of life may be when your sex drive is strongest. One study showed that women between 27 and 45 had more frequent and more intense sexual fantasies than younger or older women. They also had more sex and were more likely to have it sooner in a relationship.

Women: 30s and Early 40s

Women: Having Kids

At any age, pregnancy and childbirth have a big impact on your sex life, but it’s different for everyone. Your body and hormones change throughout pregnancy. That may mean a boost in libido at times, especially during the second trimester, and a lack of desire at others.You also may be anxious about whether it’s safe to have sex while you’re pregnant. (It usually is, but ask your doctor if you’re unsure.) Breastfeeding, raising kids, and other work can also affect the time, energy, and interest you have in sex. 

Women: Having Kids

Men: 50s and Beyond

If you’re in good physical and mental health, there’s no reason you shouldn’t continue to enjoy your sex life as you get older. ED does become more common as you age. Your erections may happen less often and may be less firm. But it’s not age itself that causes the problem as much as health problems that become more common with age, like heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity, and the drugs that treat them.  Your doctor can talk to you about your options for treating ED.

Men: 50s and Beyond

Women: 50s and Beyond

Around age 50, an “empty nest” or less worry about getting pregnant might make some women more interested in sex.  But as you head toward menopause, estrogen levels drop, which might cool your libido down a bit and lead to vaginal dryness. Hot flashes, anxiety, weight gain, and sleep problems also can make you less in the mood. Ask your doctor about medicines, hormones, lubrication, and other treatment. 

Women: 50s and Beyond

 Men: It’s Not Just Testosterone

You need some testosterone to get aroused, but it’s not clear how much. It may vary from person to person. And though it’s true your levels decline with age, scientists don’t know exactly how this affects sex drive. Some men with “low” testosterone show normal sex drive, while others with high levels have sexual problems. Other medical issues, physical fitness, and mental health could be more important factors.

 Men: It’s Not Just Testosterone

Your Doctor Can Help

Talk to your doctor about any issues with your sex drive, as they could be a sign of a medical condition. If your physical response is the problem, your doctor may prescribe hormones that can increase overall sex drive (estrogen for women, testosterone for men), or drugs that boost sexual arousal: sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) for men, and bremelanotide (Vyleesi) andflibanserin (Addyi) for women.

Your Doctor Can Help

Talk About It

Ask your partner about their needs and desires, and talk about yours, too. Don’t be afraid to try new things as your bodies evolve and your stage of life changes. This can help keep you and your partner engaged and interested in sex. Be honest about your physical and emotional satisfaction. It might even be a good idea to set aside certain times to be intimate.

Talk About It

 Things You Should (and Shouldn't) Do After Sex

Wash Up

You don’t have to hop out of bed and into the shower right away. But gently cleaning yourself after sex can protect men and women from infections, like of the urinary tract (UTIs). Wash the area around (not inside) your genitals with plain warm water. You can try mild soaps, but if you have sensitive skin or you already have an infection, they might dry out or irritate the area. Men with foreskin should gently pull it back and wash underneath.   

Wash Up

 Don’t Douche

Some women think they need to clean inside their vagina after sex with water or prepackaged fluids. But douching can lead to more infections. That’s because it upsets the natural balance of bacteria that protect your vagina. The best way to take care of your vagina after sex is to leave it alone -- it cleans itself naturally. Also, keep in mind that a mild smell is normal and may not be a sign of a problem.

Don’t Douche

 Keep Clean-up Simple

Along with douches, drug stores offer lots of wipes, creams, and sprays that claim to help you “freshen up” your personal areas. Some of them are made with harsh soaps, detergents, shampoos, perfumes, or lotions that can make your skin break out. Just stick to a gentle rinse with warm water after sex. And avoid scented tampons, pads, powders, and sprays, especially if you tend to get infections.

 Keep Clean-up Simple

 Empty Your Bladder

During sex, bacteria can get into your urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body. That can raise your chances of an infection. When you pee, you flush those germs out. So enjoy some cuddle time with your partner, then head to the bathroom. If you're a woman, when you wipe, do it from front to back to stop the spread of bacteria.

Empty Your Bladder

 Drink a Glass of Water

Since it’s a good idea to pee after a roll in the hay, don’t forget to drink water. When you stay hydrated, you’ll pee more, which means that more bacteria will wash out of your body before infections can flare up.

Drink a Glass of Water

Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing

Hot, sweaty places are the perfect spots for bacteria and yeast to thrive. So wear underwear and clothes that let air in. Women should avoid pantyhose, girdles, and panties that are too tight. Cotton undies work well for men and women -- they’re breathable and absorb moisture. Or skip underwear altogether when you go to bed.

Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing

 Wash Your Hands

It’s the best way to get rid of bacteria you might pick up from touching your or your partner’s genitals. That’s key to stop infections from spreading. Wash with soap and water, and make it part of your post-sex clean-up routine.

Wash Your Hands after sex

 Clean Your Sex Toys

After you’re done with them, bacteria, viruses, and fungi can hang around. That means your toys could spread STDs and other infections. Clean each toy after every use -- check the packaging for cleaning instructions. It’s better not to share toys with others -- that can send germs back and forth. If you do plan to share, try to cover the toy with a new condom each time you use it.

Clean Your Sex Toys

Take Care of Any Yeast Infections

Partners can pass these back and forth during sex. (Yes, guys get yeast infections, too.) So if you notice the symptoms -- itching, burning, or a thick, white discharge from the vagina or penis -- treat it before the next time you get busy. Talk to your doctor if you think you have one.

Take Care of Any Yeast Infections

Think About Getting Tested

If you’re sexually active, especially if you’ve been with a new partner, it’s a good idea to get tested for STDs. Most of the time, these infections have no symptoms, so testing is the only way to know for sure if you have one. You can also watch for symptoms, like discharge, pain, blisters, sores, spots, or lumps around your genitals.

Think About Getting Tested

 Pregnant? Take Extra Care

Sex is usually safe during pregnancy, but you are more likely to get infections like UTIs during this time. So it’s even more important to take care of the basics after sex -- pee afterward, wash around your vagina, and drink water. Encourage your partner to do the same.

Pregnant? Take Extra Care