Sexual health is essential to overall well-being, yet healthcare providers often do not discuss it with patients, even when it may be relevant. Patients may hesitate to bring up sexual concerns due to worries about privacy, fear of offending or overstepping, doubts about the provider’s ability to handle the topic, or hoping the provider will address it if necessary. For people with anxiety disorders, these issues can be even more pronounced. Anxiety disorders are common globally and often correlate with sexual issues like lower satisfaction and increased dysfunction, which can negatively impact relationships and quality of life.

Labiaplasty is a cosmetic surgery to alter the labia minora, or the inner folds of skin around the vaginal opening. It’s the most common type of female genital cosmetic surgery and is becoming more popular. Women might consider this procedure due to aesthetic concerns, physical discomfort (e.g., chafing or issues with tight clothing), psychological impacts (like low self-esteem or fear of judgment), and sexual concerns. Some reported sexual concerns related to labiaplasty include entry pain during sex (dyspareunia), reduced sexual satisfaction, and embarrassment about genital appearance, which can affect one’s sexual experiences and confidence.

Sexual distress describes negative feelings like frustration or dissatisfaction about one’s sexual experiences. This is a common issue for those seeking sex therapy, and it often impacts mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Pornography use has risen significantly in recent years, with the internet making it easily accessible, affordable, and anonymous. For some, pornography is a casual activity, but for others, it can become a compulsive habit known by some experts as problematic pornography use (PPU). PPU can lead to negative impacts like depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and financial problems.

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual disorder affecting 14% to 30% of men. It can be categorized into four types: Lifelong PE (LPE), where ejaculation happens within 1 minute; Acquired PE (APE), where ejaculation time decreases to 3 minutes or less; Variable PE (VPE), where timing is inconsistent; and Subjective PE (SPE), where men feel they ejaculate quickly, but timing is normal.

During adolescence, people go through important physical and emotional changes as they discover their sexual identities and learn to navigate social relationships. This period is marked by curiosity and a desire for new experiences, but it also comes with the need for caution to avoid risky behaviors.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) and female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) are common issues for many women, affecting their desire for sexual activity. HSDD is when a woman has little or no motivation for sexual activity, including a lack of sexual thoughts, difficulty responding to sexual cues, or avoiding sexual situations altogether. It often causes distress, frustration, or sadness. FSAD involves trouble becoming or staying aroused during sexual activity. These conditions can happen together, making things even more challenging.

Endometriosis affects about 10% of women and individuals with a uterus, causing tissue similar to the uterine lining to grow outside the uterus. This can lead to severe menstrual cramps, pain during sex, and chronic pelvic pain. The pain comes from both local inflammation and changes in nerves around the endometriosis tissue, as well as from an overly sensitive nervous system that amplifies pain, which is known as central sensitization. Central sensitization can also contribute to anxiety or depression.

Traditional gender-affirming surgeries, like phalloplasty and penile inversion vaginoplasty, are designed to create genitalia that match a person’s identified gender, often as male or female. However, some people, such as those who identify as nonbinary, bigender, or agender, may want a unique approach that doesn’t follow this traditional binary model.

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition that affects the vulva, making everyday activities like sitting, putting in a tampon, or having sexual intercourse painful, and it impacts up to 8% of women by age 40. Women with this condition may have a weaker immune system compared to those without vulvar pain. Additionally, mental health issues like anxiety and depression are often linked to vulvodynia. Since mental health problems can trigger inflammation in the body, a recent study aimed to see if the connection between mental health and vulvodynia is influenced by other immune-related conditions.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver condition where fat builds up in the liver without the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other liver diseases. It ranges from mild to severe, potentially leading to liver cirrhosis or cancer. Major risk factors for NAFLD include obesity and type 2 diabetes, which also increase the chances of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, losing weight can improve the condition.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in older men, causing problems with urination that can significantly impact quality of life. These urinary issues are often linked to sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction (ED). In fact, men with more severe urinary symptoms are more likely to experience ED. Treatment for BPH is complicated by the fact that standard medications can worsen sexual dysfunction, and while surgical options like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) address urinary problems effectively, they may also result in sexual side effects, including ED.