Pregnancy, childbirth, and becoming a mother can all have an effect on a woman’s sexual function. Breastfeeding may also impact a woman’s sex life. While past studies have shown conflicting results on whether breastfeeding has an overall positive or negative effect on one’s sex life, the following are some of the ways in which it may have an impact.

For women who are going through or are survivors of breast or gynecological cancer, sexual dysfunction can be a very unwelcome side effect. Common sexual health complaints for women after cancer treatment are vaginal dryness, low sexual desire, and pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). Cancer and its treatments can also give rise to concerns about a partner’s sexual satisfaction and feelings of low self-esteem. 

Many people occasionally view pornography to enhance a masturbation experience or a partnered sexual interaction. For the most part, studies have indicated that recreational pornography use is not associated with any form of sexual dysfunction or sexual difficulties.

Menopause is the point in a woman’s life when she permanently stops having her period. Specifically, it occurs 12 months after a woman’s last period, but most women go through a transition called perimenopause that lasts several years.

Aphrodisiacs are foods or substances that are thought to increase a person’s sexual desire, arousal, performance, or pleasure. The name is derived from Aphrodite, who was the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

The BDSM (bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and/or sadism-masochism) community has often faced stigma for their sexual preferences. In fact, past and present medical literature has described BDSM (or kink) as “bizarre,” “unusual,” and even indicative of a mental disorder or dysfunction.

Peyronie’s disease is a medical condition in which scarring develops on the penis, causing it to bend or curve during erections. It occurs in two phases: the acute phase and the chronic phase. These two phases have distinct characteristics and should be handled differently, so it is important to know how to tell one from the other.

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, have become an increasingly popular method of consuming nicotine in recent years, especially among young adults. Designed to look similar to actual cigarettes, e-cigarettes are electronic devices that hold a solution containing nicotine and other flavored ingredients. This solution is turned into vapor when people activate the device and inhale, which is why the practice is known as “vaping.”

Orgasm is an enjoyable outcome of sexual encounters. However, there are several myths around orgasm that should be debunked. Here are some of the most common myths around orgasm as well as the facts:

Phalloplasty is a surgery in which the surgical team creates a penis and scrotum for the patient, the creation of which is known as a neophallus. This surgery may be used for men who have lost their penises due to injury or illness, but it is also a type of gender-affirming surgery for transgender men who wish to transition their genitals to align with their gender identity.