Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it can pass between people through vaginal, anal, or oral sex (NHS). The part that surprises most people is that it can spread even when nothing looks or feels wrong, outbreaks tend to come back after the first one, and antiviral … Read more
Start with the base, then apply the two hard rules Every lubricant you pick belongs to one of three base families, and classifying the product first tells you which compatibility rule applies. Water-based personal lubricants have water-based formulas, are water-soluble, and are the most popular type of personal lubricant as of 2025 (Personal lubricant). Silicone … Read more
When a check-up is worth arranging A sexual health check-up is a set of tests you arrange when you want to know your status, not a single test that covers everything. The practical trigger is a change in your situation: a new partner, a partner whose status you don’t know, a condom that failed, or … Read more
HIV is a virus that weakens your immune system and raises your risk of serious illness (NHS). The practical facts you need are these: it spreads through a small set of body fluids, not through everyday contact. A test taken too early can miss an infection. And treatment keeps the virus suppressed so that most … Read more
Start with the symptom pattern, then pick the material If a condom leaves you itchy, burning, or red, the first useful question is whether the reaction looks like an allergy or plain irritation, because the fix is different. Latex allergy is a medical term for a range of allergic reactions to the proteins in natural … Read more
If you need a non-latex condom, the two synthetic materials to know are polyurethane and polyisoprene. External condoms are typically made from latex and, less commonly, from polyurethane, polyisoprene, or lamb intestine (Condom). For most people who are avoiding latex but still want a synthetic rubber feel, polyisoprene is the closer match. Polyurethane is the … Read more
The short answer: same condom, different rules For anal sex, the condom itself does not change: you use a standard condom, the same kind you would use for any other sex act. Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches worn on the penis during sex (Planned Parenthood). What changes is everything around the condom: you need more … Read more
What syphilis is and how it spreads Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems without treatment (CDC). It develops in stages. Primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Which is why the same infection can look very different depending on when you catch it (CDC). It spreads through sexual contact, and … Read more
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the upper part of the female reproductive system. Mainly the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and inside of the pelvis (Wikipedia). It is caused by bacteria that spread from the vagina and cervix (Wikipedia), and it is treatable: if it’s diagnosed early, it can be easily treated … Read more
What bacterial vaginosis is and how it spreads Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria (Wikipedia). It is not usually serious, but if you have it you may need to be treated with antibiotics (NHS). That single sentence answers the core of your question: BV is a … Read more