Sexual health

Chlamydia — the most common STI in the UK: symptoms, testing, NHS treatment with antibiotics, and why partners must be treated.

Erectile dysfunction is common and usually treatable — and can flag heart health issues. What works, and when to see a GP. Reviewed by UK doctors.

Genital herpes (HSV) — symptoms, outbreaks, transmission, NHS antiviral treatment, and living with recurrent herpes.

Gonorrhoea — symptoms, testing, antibiotic treatment on the NHS, and why drug-resistant strains need specialist care.

HIV — transmission, testing, modern treatment (undetectable = untransmittable), PrEP, and NHS sexual health services.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) — how it spreads, link to cervical and other cancers, NHS vaccination programme, and testing through cervical screening.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — symptoms, link to chlamydia and gonorrhoea, NHS antibiotic treatment, and fertility risks if untreated.

Premature ejaculation (PE) — causes, lifelong vs acquired, NHS treatments including behavioural techniques, creams, and medicines, and when to see a GP.

Syphilis — stages, symptoms, blood testing, NHS antibiotic treatment, and why cases are rising in the UK.

A plain-English guide to thrush — oral and vaginal symptoms, causes, treatment, and when to see a GP or pharmacist.

Pain when peeing (dysuria) is most often caused by a urinary tract infection and needs same-day GP review, as most bacterial UTIs require antibiotics.

Pelvic pain is pain in the lower tummy with many causes, from period pain and UTIs to endometriosis; sudden severe pain with fever needs emergency care.

Vaginal bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause needs GP review; common causes like fibroids and polyps are usually treatable.

Vaginal discharge is normal fluid from the cervix and vagina, but a change in colour, smell or amount can signal thrush, BV or an STI needing a GP check.

Aciclovir, valaciclovir and famciclovir — treating cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles on the NHS: doses, side effects, and when to start.

Antifungal medicines treat fungal infections like athlete's foot, ringworm and thrush, available as creams, sprays, tablets and pessaries from pharmacies.

The contraceptive pill prevents pregnancy using hormones. Combined and progestogen-only types differ in how they work, plus their benefits and risks.

Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex using the morning after pill (up to 120 hours) or the more effective copper IUD (up to 5 days).

PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction — Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil): how they work, dosing, NHS access, side effects, and safety with heart medicines.

Cervical screening checks for high-risk HPV and abnormal cells to prevent cervical cancer; those aged 25 to 64 with a cervix are invited every 3 to 5 years.

A pregnancy test detects the hormone hCG in urine or blood, and most home pregnancy tests are accurate from the first day of a missed period.