Women's Sex And Sexual Health

Women's Sex

Good sex has a beneficial effect on overall health, and besides, it can be fun. It can strengthen your immune system, improve your circulation, decrease tension and irritability, decrease migraines, diminish arthritis, strengthen your stamina, reduce insomnia, and just make you feel good all over. Many studies show that people who reported a fulfilling sex life rated themselves as less hostile, anxious, and more content.

Sexual wellness depends upon six factors:
1. Positive sexual self-concept; seeing oneself as valuable sexually.
2. Knowledge about sexuality.
3. Positive relationships with your intimate partner.
4. The ability to communicate with your partner about likes and dislikes.
5. Coping with barriers and limitations (social, environmental, physical, and emotional).
6. Maintaining the best possible physical and sexual health.

Sex Facts

• Improving orgasm. 25% of all women find it difficult to achieve orgasm.
  Strengthen your pelvic floor muscles can help you. Clench your pelvic muscles (as if you want to stop yourself passing urine) ten times in quick succession (repeat up to ten times a day). Also you can focus on foreplay and experiment with sexual positions that stimulate the clitoris and G spot. Some women never achieve orgasm but still have satisfying sex lives.

  
  

• The female G spot. The G spot is a small spongy pad of tissue a couple of inches up on the anterior wall of the vagina.
  Stimulation of the G spot produces very intense feelings which are pleasurable for most women but can be too intense for others. It can also help you achieve the illusive multiple orgasm. Experiment with sexual positions and find the ones that hit your G spot. The missionary position will rarely hit the mark. You're more likely to achieve success if the man enters the woman's vagina from behind.

  
  

• Keep sex interesting. When you've been with a partner for a while it's easy for sex to become routine but remember, variety is the spice of life. Try to retain some spontaneity. Use your imagination and occasionally surprise your partner with something new. For example, share a few fantasies with them and try a few out. You can also try some toys.

  
  

• The best form of contraception. Other than abstinence, there is no such thing as perfect contraception. All methods have failure rates.
  If you want to avoid pregnancy, a hormonal method might be best. The pill is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy but you must take it daily. If you're forgetful, the hormonal injection only needs to be given every 12 weeks. The coil is also a good choice. Modern coils are small, easy to insert and you can offer protection from pregnancy for up to 5 years. To prevent infection and pregnancy, condoms are the best, if used properly.

Women's Sexual Health

Both men and women should make sexual health exams apart of their general health routine. Some exams can be done at home, while others require a visit to your gynecologist or urologist. As always, if you notice anything that concerns you, don't wait for your annual appointment. Contact your doctor's office about any suspicious findings. Remember, that many diseases can be treated better, if they are detected earlier (like breast cancer).

Sexual Health recommendations:

• Make an annual appointment with your physician for a complete gynecological exam. Some women think if they have had a complete hysterectomy (removal of uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries) that this exam is unnecessary. This is not true! Cancer can still occur in the remaining structures or (rarely) in remnants of ovarian tissue.

• Regular breast self examinations and regular visits to the doctor for mammography and physical examination may lead to early detection and treatment of breast cancer or other cancers, and consequently increase your chances to defeat it.

Women's Sexual Issues

Dyspareunia is the clinical name for painful intercourse. The pain can be felt as burning, sharp, searing or cramping. It can be external, within the vagina, or deep in the pelvic region or abdomen.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can cause infertility. The symptoms of sexually transmitted infections can vary from a change in vaginal discharge, irritation, to pain felt while having sex or during a menstrual period.

Yeast Infection is an overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that occurs naturally in our bodies in the gut, skin, and vagina. Under normal circumstances, it is kept under control by other 'friendly' bacteria in the body.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an umbrella term for any inflammation of the organs in the pelvis and it is normally caused by an infection in any of the reproductive organs, including the womb, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, womb lining, and/or vagina.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is the most common form of female sexual dissatisfaction (FSD) and occurs when there is a persistent lack of desire or absence of sexual fantasies.

In Women's Sexual Issues, one part of the More Women's Health Issues page, you can read about causes, symptoms of and treatments for the issues above and much more!