Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Oral sex can transmit STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, HPV, and less commonly HIV, and while the risk is generally lower than with vaginal or anal sex, it is not zero and infections may have no symptoms. Protection with condoms or dental dams, regular testing including throat swabs, and vaccination for HPV and hepatitis A and B reduce risk. There are several factors to consider and warning signs for when to seek care, so see the complete guidance below for important details that could change your next steps.

Armpit pain is most often caused by swollen lymph nodes, cysts or blocked sweat glands, skin irritation from shaving or ingrown hairs, or muscle strain, and it usually improves with warm compresses, gentle skin care, rest, and safe over the counter pain relief. See a doctor if a lump lasts more than 2 to 3 weeks, grows, feels hard or fixed, or if you have severe pain, fever, night sweats, weight loss, red streaks, or pus, as rare but serious causes like cancer or severe infection can be involved. There are several factors to consider, including symptoms after vaccination, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, new breast changes, or recurrent lumps; see below to understand more.

Left arm pain is most often from muscle, joint, or nerve issues that worsen with movement or touch, but it can signal heart stress if it feels deep or pressure-like and comes with chest discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, or unusual fatigue. There are several factors to consider; see below for key differences, red flags for women and people with diabetes, and how risk factors can change urgency. If symptoms are severe, crushing, or paired with chest symptoms, seek emergency care now; if pain clearly follows strain and improves with rest or pressing, monitoring with routine follow-up may be reasonable. Complete guidance on next steps, including when to call emergency services and what doctors may check, is outlined below.

Pain under the left rib cage has many causes, most often gas, indigestion, or a muscle strain, but it can also come from the stomach, spleen, pancreas, left kidney, ribs or cartilage, or even the heart. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like sudden severe pain, pain after injury, shortness of breath, fever, vomiting blood, or black stools need urgent care; see below for detailed causes, what to do next, when to go to the ER vs schedule a visit, tests doctors use, and safe home steps.

Pain under the right rib in pregnancy is often from baby kicks that feel sharp and positional and ease with movement, but constant or worsening pain that does not change with position, especially with headache, vision changes, swelling, shortness of breath, or high blood pressure, can indicate preeclampsia and deserves prompt medical care. There are several factors to consider; see the complete answer below for key differences, other possible causes like gallbladder issues or heartburn, red flags that require urgent help, and what tests and next steps your clinician may recommend.

Pain under your left armpit is usually from muscle strain, costochondritis, swollen lymph nodes, or minor nerve irritation, especially if it’s tender to touch, worse with arm movement, and improves with rest; heart-related pain is less common but more concerning when it feels like deep pressure and comes with chest tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or spreads to the jaw or arm. There are several factors to consider, including your age and heart risk factors, when to try home care versus when to seek urgent evaluation, and how to tell muscle stress from heart symptoms, so see the complete guidance below for important details that can affect your next steps.

Partner wellness during pregnancy matters, and this guide explains how to recognize and relieve a male partner's testicular pain with rest, supportive underwear, cold packs, and stress reduction, and when red flags like sudden severe pain, swelling, fever, or nausea require urgent care. There are several factors to consider. See below for infection signs that need antibiotics, how intimacy and emotional stress can influence symptoms, preventive health steps for both partners, and when to contact a clinician.

Normal pregnancy changes include fatigue, nausea, a faster heart rate, mild shortness of breath, ankle swelling, constipation and heartburn, frequent urination with mild leakage, increased milky discharge, breast and skin changes, and back or pelvic aches. There are several factors to consider, and certain symptoms need urgent care, including severe pain, heavy bleeding, sudden swelling of the face or hands, chest pain, persistent vomiting or fever, decreased fetal movement, or a gush or continuous leak of clear fluid. For practical tips, what helps, and when to call your clinician, see the complete details below.

Pneumonia during pregnancy can be more serious due to immune and lung changes; while pneumonia itself is not typically contagious, the viruses or bacteria that cause it often are, so early evaluation and treatments that are safe in pregnancy, plus vaccines and good hygiene, help protect you and your developing baby. There are several factors and urgent warning signs to consider, along with who is higher risk and exactly when to seek immediate care. See below for complete details that can guide your next healthcare steps.

Pregnancy stretches your abdomen in healthy but lasting ways, and postpartum changes like a soft belly, diastasis recti, and lower belly fullness or “FUPA” often improve over months with gentle core rehab, gradual activity, and supportive nutrition. There are several factors to consider, including warning signs that need medical care, C-section scar effects, and when pelvic floor therapy or, rarely, surgery may help; see the complete guidance below to choose safe next steps.

Know the pregnancy danger signs that need urgent care: heavy vaginal bleeding, sharp or constant abdominal pain, severe headache with vision changes or sudden swelling, chest pain or trouble breathing, fever 100.4°F or higher, relentless vomiting with dehydration, decreased or absent fetal movements, sudden fluid leakage, signs of a blood clot, or seizures or fainting. Act immediately by calling your provider or emergency services, since early treatment can protect you and your baby. There are important nuances, timing, and thresholds that can change your next steps, so see the complete details below.

MCV on a CBC measures the average size of red blood cells; in pregnancy and childhood, low MCV often signals iron deficiency and high MCV often points to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, which can impact oxygen delivery and a baby’s brain and body development. There are several factors to consider. See below for age-specific ranges, red flags, the exact follow up tests to ask for, and safe treatment options that could change your next steps.

Left rib pain often comes from muscle strain or costochondritis, but organs under the left ribs like the stomach, spleen, pancreas, lungs, and heart can also be involved, so while most causes are not dangerous, some require urgent evaluation. There are several factors to consider, including the pain pattern and red flags like chest pressure, shortness of breath, fever, trauma, spreading shoulder or arm pain, or vomiting blood, so see below for detailed causes, what to do at home, and when to seek immediate care.

Right shoulder aches can signal gallbladder trouble or, in those who are or could be pregnant, a dangerous ectopic pregnancy due to referred pain from diaphragm irritation. There are several factors to consider; red flags like right upper abdominal pain, fever or jaundice after fatty meals, or shoulder pain with dizziness, fainting, or vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy need urgent care, and key distinctions from muscle strain plus next steps are explained below.

Right-sided headaches are most often from migraine, tension, or cluster headaches, but sinus problems, neck issues, stress, posture, poor sleep, dehydration, certain foods, and hormones can also trigger them. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand key patterns, hallmark symptoms, and ways to track and reduce your triggers. Seek urgent care for a sudden worst headache, head injury, fever with stiff neck, new confusion or speech trouble, weakness or numbness, vision loss, seizures, or pain that keeps worsening, and review the details below to decide when self care is reasonable versus when to see a clinician and which treatments may help.

Safe anal sex requires preparation and communication, plenty of water or silicone-based lubricant, a slow pace to allow the sphincter to relax, and STI protection with condoms, with PrEP considered for higher HIV risk. Basic hygiene is usually enough, avoid oil-based lubes with latex condoms, and change condoms between anal and vaginal sex or partners. Minor soreness can be normal, but stop and seek care for heavy or ongoing bleeding, severe pain, fever, discharge, or loss of bowel control; there are several factors to consider. See the complete guidance on lube choices, step-by-step prep, toy safety, hemorrhoids, and common myths below.

Most healthy adults should keep total acetaminophen under 3,000 mg in 24 hours and never exceed 4,000 mg, and you must add up every source, including combo cold, flu, and pain products labeled acetaminophen or APAP. There are several factors to consider. Re-dosing is typically every 4 to 6 hours for regular strength, every 6 hours for extra strength, and every 8 hours for extended release, and some people need lower limits around 2,000 mg or less if they have liver disease, drink heavily, are older, or are underweight; see complete details below, as they can affect your next steps. Children require weight-based dosing.

In most healthy pregnancies, sex is safe until labor or water breaks and will not harm the baby or cause miscarriage; comfort often improves with supportive positions, and libido can rise or fall by trimester. There are several factors to consider. Conditions like placenta previa, unexplained bleeding, risk of preterm labor, or leaking fluid may mean avoiding sex, and red flags after sex such as heavy bleeding, severe pain, regular contractions, fluid leakage, or decreased fetal movement require prompt care; see below for details on when to avoid sex or follow pelvic rest, oral and anal sex precautions, STI protection, and when to resume sex after delivery.

Oral sex is mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-anal contact; it has no pregnancy risk and generally lower HIV risk than vaginal or anal sex, but it can still spread herpes, HPV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis A, B, and C, and rarely HIV, and some HPV strains are linked to throat cancer. Your risk depends on using protection, partner STI status, and whether there are sores, cuts, or gum disease. Reduce risk with condoms or dental dams, avoiding contact during outbreaks, HPV and hepatitis A and B vaccination, regular STI testing, good oral health, and knowing when to seek care for symptoms; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Sharp pain in the upper left abdomen can come from the stomach or the spleen, with stomach pain often burning and tied to meals, and spleen pain feeling deeper and sharper, sometimes reaching the left shoulder, especially after injury. Seek urgent care for severe or worsening pain, pain after trauma, fever, dizziness or fainting, vomiting blood, or black stools, and see a doctor if pain lasts more than a few days. There are several factors to consider that could change your next steps, so see the complete details below.

Sharp pain under the right ribs is often linked to gallstones or liver inflammation; gallstones typically cause sudden, intense attacks after fatty meals that can radiate to the shoulder, while liver issues more often cause a steady ache with fatigue or jaundice. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like fever, persistent vomiting, or yellowing of the skin that require urgent care, and the right next step may involve ultrasound and blood tests. See the complete guidance below for key details that can change what you do next, including risks, other possible causes, and when surgery or lifestyle changes are recommended.

Cellulitis in pregnancy is a bacterial skin infection that typically causes spreading redness, warmth, swelling, and pain in one area, often the leg, and it is usually treatable with pregnancy-safe antibiotics like penicillins or cephalosporins. Seek urgent care for rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, fever 100.4 F or higher, red streaks, facial involvement, or infection near a surgical wound; elevating the limb and using acetaminophen for pain are generally safe interim steps. There are several factors to consider that could influence your next steps, including risks, prevention, and how to use online tools for triage, so see the complete guidance below.

Pregnancy-safe sore throat relief includes saltwater gargles and warm teas like ginger, lemon with pasteurized honey, and peppermint, with chamomile in moderation; also hydrate, use a cool-mist humidifier, and rest. There are several factors to consider, including herbs to avoid such as licorice root and medicinal sage, the exact gargle recipe and frequency, safe OTC options, and red-flag symptoms that warrant prompt medical care like fever above 100.4 F or symptoms beyond 5 to 7 days; see the complete guidance below.

Sore nipples are usually temporary and most often due to hormonal shifts like PMS or early pregnancy, breastfeeding latch issues, friction from exercise such as jogger’s nipple, skin irritation, or minor infections. Seek care if you have fever, rapid swelling or redness, bloody discharge, a new lump, persistent one-sided pain, or a rash that does not improve; there are several factors to consider, and the complete guidance on causes, prevention, relief tips, and next steps is provided below.

Sore nipples are most often from friction, hormonal shifts, pregnancy, breastfeeding latch issues, or skin irritation, but infections, medication effects, and rare conditions like Paget’s disease can also be causes. There are several factors to consider that can change your next steps; see below for red flags like persistent or one-sided pain, discharge, fever, new lumps, or skin changes, plus detailed self-care options and when to see a doctor.

There are several factors to consider, from hormonal shifts and friction to pregnancy or breastfeeding issues, skin conditions, infections, medication effects, benign cysts, and rarely Paget's disease or inflammatory breast cancer; see below to understand more. Seek care for persistent or one sided pain, a new lump, nipple discharge, fever, or skin changes, and check the full guidance below for red flags and specific home care steps that could affect your next healthcare decisions.

Most sore throats in pregnancy are viral and mild, but strep throat needs testing and prompt antibiotics to protect you and your baby. Get tested if you have fever, severe throat pain or trouble swallowing, swollen neck glands or white patches on the tonsils, symptoms lasting more than 3 to 5 days, or close exposure to strep; seek urgent care for breathing trouble, drooling, severe neck swelling, or persistent high fever. There are several factors to consider, including safe symptom relief and which antibiotics are pregnancy-safe, so see the complete guidance below before deciding your next step.

Sore, sensitive nipples are often the first sign your body is changing, most commonly from hormonal shifts related to your menstrual cycle, early pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause, medication changes, or simple friction and skin irritation. There are several factors to consider, including breastfeeding issues, fibrocystic breast changes, and red flags like one-sided persistent pain, new lumps, discharge, fever, or skin changes that need prompt medical attention. See below for complete guidance on what to check next, home relief, how long symptoms typically last, and when to test for pregnancy or contact a clinician.

Spotting before a period is common and often harmless, most often due to natural hormonal shifts, birth control changes, ovulation, or implantation if pregnancy is possible. Pattern and timing matter, and there are several factors to consider; see below for clues, when to take a pregnancy test, and what steps to take. Seek medical care if it repeats over several cycles, gets heavy, occurs after sex or after menopause, or comes with severe pelvic or shoulder pain, dizziness, fever, unusual discharge, or pregnancy symptoms, as some causes need prompt or urgent evaluation.

Upper left abdominal discomfort can stem from common causes like gas, reflux, constipation, or muscle strain, and pregnancy-related shifts can make these more noticeable. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand how meal timing, movement, and associated symptoms help tell stomach pain from something more serious. Because severe, persistent, or symptom-linked pain can signal pancreatitis, spleen injury, kidney infection or stones, or pregnancy complications that require urgent care, the important details below could affect your next steps, including when to seek immediate help versus home care.