Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

There is no universal normal number of times per week; a healthy sex drive is defined by what feels right for your body, life, and well-being, and it naturally shifts with biology, mental and emotional health, relationship dynamics, stress, medications, and life stage. There are several factors to consider, and some changes or symptoms merit medical attention, so see below for the complete details, including what counts as healthy, warning signs, practical partner conversation tips, and when to speak with a clinician.

The best sex is driven more by the brain and emotional connection than by anatomy, because feeling safe, trusting, focused, and less stressed lets the body respond with arousal, pleasure, and satisfaction. There are several factors to consider, including past experiences, distraction, hormones, medications, and health conditions; if you have pain, loss of sensation, sudden changes, or distress, talk to a clinician. See the complete answer below for many more important details, practical steps to improve intimacy, screening tools, and guidance on when to seek specialized care.

Magnesium is the key mineral that often eases menopause leg cramps and anxiety by relaxing muscles, calming the nervous system, improving sleep, and moderating stress hormones, and many women in peri and post menopause fall short on it. There are several factors to consider, including better absorbed forms like magnesium glycinate or citrate, typical dosing around 310 to 320 mg daily, possible medication and kidney cautions, and warning signs that need prompt care. See below for complete details and next steps to decide if magnesium is right for you and what else to evaluate if symptoms persist.

Chronic stress raises cortisol, which suppresses sex hormones, alters brain chemistry, disrupts sleep and mood, and can cause erection issues, vaginal dryness, pain, and reduced arousal, leading to low libido in all genders. There are several factors to consider. See the complete answer below for key signs it is cortisol related, simple ways to lower it, when to see a doctor, and how trauma, thyroid problems, or medications might change your next steps.

Vaginal dryness is a very common, fixable cause of pain with sex, and relief can be immediate with a high quality water or silicone based lubricant, slower arousal and gentler positions, plus routine vaginal moisturizers. There are several factors to consider, from hormonal shifts and medications to health conditions and emotional trauma; seek care if symptoms persist, worsen, or include bleeding, fever, discharge, or pelvic pain. For important details that may affect your next steps, including medical treatments like low dose vaginal estrogen, non hormonal options, pelvic floor physical therapy, and medication review, see below.

NAD+ boosters like NR and NMN can raise NAD+ levels and may modestly support cellular energy, metabolic health, and mental clarity, but they do not restore youth or replace sleep, nutrition, exercise, or medical care. There are several factors to consider, and results vary by person. Safety and root-cause evaluation matter, especially with cancer history, liver or kidney disease, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or overlapping issues like peri or post menopause, thyroid problems, anemia, or sleep apnea; see the complete guidance and next-step recommendations below.

Just 5 to 10 minutes of outdoor morning light within an hour of waking can anchor your circadian rhythm, turning off melatonin, improving sleep, stabilizing blood sugar, supporting heart and brain health, and promoting healthier aging. There are several factors to consider like being outside rather than behind glass, adjusting time on cloudy days, minimizing sunglasses during this brief exposure, and precautions if you have photosensitivity or certain medical conditions; see complete details below to guide your next steps.

Attraction can change over time for many people, a normal, research-recognized pattern called sexual fluidity that reflects biology, hormones, emotional bonds, life experiences, and social context rather than a disorder or a choice. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand how attraction, behavior, and identity can align or differ, and what this may mean for self-labels and relationships. Important safety notes and next steps are also covered below, including when changes with distress, trauma, sudden personality or neurological symptoms, severe mood shifts, medication effects, fatigue, or pain suggest talking with a healthcare professional.

There are several factors to consider. Great sex is not about minutes of penetration but about connection, arousal, and satisfaction, and the timer should start long before penetration because foreplay prepares the body and mind. Research finds penetration often lasts 3 to 13 minutes and longer is not automatically better; see below for practical ways to shift focus, health and trauma factors that affect desire, and when to speak with a doctor.

Sex often elevates heart rate into the moderate-intensity zone, roughly 90 to 130 beats per minute, and burns about 3 to 6 calories per minute, delivering interval-like cardio plus muscle engagement and stress-lowering hormones that can match or outperform a quick walk. It is a valuable addition, not a stand-alone workout, and people with warning symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or emotional distress should speak with a doctor; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below.

Sex during pregnancy is usually safe, and while prostaglandins in semen and oxytocin from orgasm may cause temporary tightening, it only sometimes nudges labor when you are full term and already ripening, so it is not a reliable induction method. Avoid sex if you have placenta previa, unexplained bleeding, preterm labor risk, ruptured membranes, cervical insufficiency, or certain infections, and seek care for heavy bleeding, severe pain, regular contractions that do not stop, or fluid leakage. There are several factors to consider, including emotional comfort and safer positioning, so see below for the complete guidance that could shape your next steps.

Most midlife forgetfulness is more likely menopause brain fog than early dementia; brain fog tends to be inconsistent and improves with sleep and symptom management, while dementia is progressive, persistent, and disrupts daily function. There are several factors to consider. See below for specific warning signs, self-care and treatment options, and when to seek medical evaluation, which can guide your next steps.

There are several factors to consider: large surveys show fewer than half of high school students have ever had sex, the average first sex is in the mid to late teens, and rates have declined, so waiting is statistically normal. Peer pressure is often overestimated; choices are driven more by personal values, family communication, mental health, relationship quality, and accurate sex education. See below for crucial details on consent and emotional readiness, actual health risks, recognizing coercion, and when to talk to a doctor that may guide your next steps.

Sex too soon after treating a yeast infection can trigger a rebound because healing tissue is easily irritated by friction, semen temporarily raises vaginal pH, and some condoms or lubricants can inflame tissue, with occasional reinfection between partners. Most clinicians advise waiting until all symptoms are gone and treatment is complete, then adding a 3 to 7 day buffer, often at least 7 days after single dose fluconazole or 1 to 3 day regimens. There are several factors to consider, including product choices and partner issues; see below for important details that could influence your next steps.

Oral sex is lower risk than vaginal or anal sex, but not risk free: herpes, HPV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and rarely HIV can spread to the mouth or throat, often without symptoms through tiny cuts or sores. There are several factors to consider, including barriers like condoms or dental dams, avoiding contact during sores or bleeding gums or with ejaculation in the mouth, and asking for throat-specific STI testing; see details below to understand risks, protection strategies, and when to seek care so you can choose the right next steps.

Bone loss after menopause is a silent threat: the drop in estrogen speeds up bone breakdown, making fractures more likely and leading to as much as 20 percent bone loss in the first 5 to 7 years if no action is taken. There are several factors to consider. See below for key risk factors, when to get a DEXA scan, evidence-based nutrition and exercise to protect bone, possible hormone or other treatments, and how to decide the right next steps with your clinician.

Up to 75% of women with chlamydia have no symptoms because this infection is often silent; when signs do appear they are easy to miss or mistake for UTIs, normal discharge, or period-related changes, so routine screening not symptoms is the safest way to catch it early. There are several factors to consider that can affect your next steps, including who should be screened, potential complications like PID and infertility, how testing and treatment work, and when to see a clinician. See the complete answer below for the details.

Running slower at a steady Zone 2 pace is linked to a longer, healthier life by strengthening mitochondria, protecting the heart and blood vessels, lowering chronic inflammation, supporting brain function, and being sustainable enough to build consistency. Aim for conversational-effort sessions about 60 to 70 percent of max heart rate for 30 to 90 minutes, 3 to 5 times weekly, using high intensity sparingly, but there are several factors to consider, including recovery needs, pain signals, and when to talk to a doctor, so see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Regular self-pleasure can lower stress by reducing cortisol, boosting feel-good hormones, improving sleep, and may support pelvic floor function, menstrual cramp relief, and prostate health while remaining a safer sexual outlet. There are several factors to consider. See below for health-focused how-to basics, hygiene and comfort tips, myth-busting, trauma-aware guidance, and when to pause or speak with a clinician, as these details can affect your next steps.

Chronic stress and everyday habits can literally shorten your telomeres, the protective caps on your DNA, speeding cellular aging and raising risks for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, immune dysfunction, and earlier age-related conditions. This acceleration happens through inflammation, oxidative stress, disrupted sleep, and immune changes, and is worsened by poor sleep, prolonged sitting, highly processed diets, smoking, heavy alcohol use, social isolation, and ongoing work or emotional stress. There are several factors to consider, including practical steps that support telomere health like consistent sleep, moderate exercise, balanced nutrition, stress management, and strong social ties, plus warning signs that may need medical evaluation; see below for complete details and next steps that could influence your healthcare decisions.

The five often-overlooked green flags are emotional safety, low-fear open communication, ongoing consent that feels natural, flexibility that adapts to life changes, and intimacy that helps you feel more like yourself over time. There are several factors to consider, including why frequency or performance are not required for sexual health and when symptoms like pain, bleeding, anxiety, or persistent function changes should prompt medical care; for important nuances and next-step guidance supported by medical and psychological research, see the complete details below.

Adults 65 and older are experiencing a clear rise in STIs driven by more sexual activity, lower condom use, missed or subtle symptoms, and less routine screening, with age-related conditions increasing the risk of serious complications. Prevention and care are effective at any age with condoms, testing before new relationships, appropriate vaccines, and proactive conversations with clinicians, but there are several factors to consider. See complete guidance below for symptom checklists, when to seek urgent care, how to navigate stigma and emotional health, and steps that may change your next move.

There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Most standard annual physicals do not include an STI panel by default, because evidence-based guidelines use risk-based screening that depends on your age, sexual activity, number and type of partners, symptoms or exposures, and pregnancy status, and because coverage rules and brief visits influence what is ordered; ask your clinician which tests and testing frequency fit you, especially with new partners, unprotected sex, symptoms, or a known exposure, and see the details below.

High-dose antioxidant supplements can backfire for mitochondrial health by blocking helpful ROS signals, blunting exercise gains, slowing mitochondrial biogenesis, and impairing insulin sensitivity, while food-based antioxidants behave differently. There are several factors to consider, including timing around workouts, dosage, and your individual health status. For safer next steps, focus on whole foods, sleep, and training, and use targeted supplements only with confirmed deficiencies and medical guidance; see below for who should be cautious and when to speak to a doctor, as these details could change your healthcare decisions.

HRT does not automatically cause cancer; the absolute risk is usually small and depends on the hormone used, dose, route, and timing, with estrogen-only showing no increase in breast cancer and combined therapy adding a small, time-related increase that falls after stopping. There are several factors to consider, including benefits like symptom relief and bone and heart protection, and cancer nuances such as endometrial safety when progestogen is added and possible colorectal risk reduction. See the complete answer below for who should avoid HRT, how modern options change risk, and how to weigh your personal next steps.

A cellular flush starts with your body's own cleanup systems apoptosis and immune clearance supported by regular exercise, balanced nutrition, sensible metabolic rest, sleep, and stress control. Senolytics may help in research settings, but they are not a magic fix, human evidence is early, and most options are not FDA approved. There are several factors to consider, including risks of unregulated products and when to seek care; see below for the fuller guidance that can shape safer next steps and potential clinical options.

There is no single normal sexual frequency for couples; chasing averages often turns comparison into pressure, disappointment, and resentment. Research shows wide, healthy variation, and satisfaction depends more on quality, communication, and agreement than on counts. There are several factors to consider, including health, medications, stress, and trauma, and important details below explain signs to watch, when to talk to a clinician, and next steps that could shape your healthcare journey.

Avoiding sex talks can quietly damage a relationship by fostering unmet needs, emotional distance, shame, and missed medical issues or unresolved trauma, while open communication rebuilds trust, safety, and satisfaction. There are several factors to consider and practical next steps, including how to start the conversation, when to involve a clinician or sex therapist, and tools like a sexual trauma symptom check; see below for complete guidance that could shape your next move in care.

Bleeding after sex or even what seems like a normal period makes pregnancy less likely but does not rule it out 100 percent, because not all bleeding is a true period, ovulation can shift, sperm can live up to 5 days, and early pregnancy bleeding is common. There are several factors to consider; see below for key details on distinguishing true periods from other bleeding, the best time to test (typically 14 days after sex or after a missed period), and red flags that mean you should contact a clinician.

Most at-home DNA biological age tests are not clinically validated, often oversimplify a complex process, and can yield inconsistent, nonactionable scores that should not guide medical decisions. There are several factors to consider, including how these tests can mislead health choices and what evidence-based assessments and next steps to use instead; see below for important details that could affect your healthcare decisions.