Understanding frustrating sexual health issues!

Sexual health is very important. Sometimes we have something wrong, but we don't know what it is or even how to describe it. Sometimes STD's can be confused with other sexual health issues. Below I have listed some of the other issues important to women's sexual health: cannot achieve orgasm, yeast infection, painful vagina, painful intercourse and urine leakage.

Anorgasmia or Orgasmic Dysfunction- (Can't have an orgasm)

Orgasmic dysfunction is an inhibition of the orgasmic phase of the sexual response cycle. The condition is referred to as primary when the female has never experienced orgasm through any means of stimulation. The problem is called secondary if the woman has attained orgasm in the past but is currently nonorgasmic.

Vaginitis or Bacterial Vaginosis (Yeast Infection)

Bacterial vaginosis, also called BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. It happens when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria. The vagina normally contains mostly “good” bacteria, and fewer “harmful” bacteria. BV develops when there is an increase in “harmful” bacteria and fewer “good” bacteria.

Vulvodynia (Painful Vagina)

Vulvodynia is a chronic vulvar discomfort or pain, characterized by burning, stinging, irritation or rawness of the female genitalia in cases in which there is no infection or skin disease of the vulva or vagina causing these symptoms.

Dysparnia (Painful Intercourse)

For both men and women, pain can occur in the pelvic area during or soon after sexual intercourse. It can happen at any time during sex -- for example, at the time of penetration, erection, or ejaculation. Eventually, if pain from intercourse is ongoing, you could lose interest in any sexual activity.

Incontinence is the inability to control the passage of urine. This can range from an occasional leakage of urine, to a complete inability to hold any urine.

The two main types of urinary incontinence are:

• Stress incontinence -- occurs during certain activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.
• Urge incontinence -- involves a strong, sudden need to urinate followed by instant bladder contraction and involuntary loss of urine. You don't have enough time between when you recognize the need to urinate and when you actually do urinate.