Doctors Note Logo

Ubie mascot holding a Q&A card

Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Get expert advice from current physicians on your health concerns, treatment options, and effective management strategies.

Need answers about current symptoms?

Common Questions

Q

The Newborn Safety Guide: How to Protect Your Infant During RSV Season

Protecting your newborn during RSV season centers on layered prevention like strict hand hygiene, limiting sick contacts and crowds, cleaning shared items, avoiding smoke, and watching for early and urgent breathing or dehydration signs. There are several factors to consider, including breastfeeding benefits, eligibility for maternal RSV vaccination or infant antibody protection, and when to seek immediate care, so see the complete guidance below to understand key details that can affect your next steps.

Q

The Partner Warning: Can You Pass a Yeast Infection Back and Forth?

Although yeast infections are not classified as STIs, yeast can sometimes be passed between partners, and reinfection can happen if you have sex before the infection is fully treated. To reduce risk, finish treatment and wait until all symptoms are gone before having sex, often at least 7 days after starting treatment; have symptomatic partners evaluated and treated, and remember that condoms and clean sex toys help but are not perfect. There are several factors to consider, including type of sexual contact, irritation, toy hygiene, and health conditions that raise risk, which can change your timing and next best step; see below for full guidance on prevention, when to resume sex, and when to see a clinician.

Q

The Pornography Pitfall: Why Digital Content Can Skew Your Natural Response

There are several factors to consider. Highly stimulating, novelty-rich digital porn can condition the brain’s reward system through supernormal stimuli and dopamine desensitization, making real-life touch and connection feel less arousing and contributing to reduced sensitivity, delayed orgasm, and reliance on screens. The good news is that these patterns are often reversible with mindful masturbation, breaks from digital content, overall health support, and, when needed, medical care. See below for practical steps, signs it is time to rebalance, and when to consult a clinician, as important details there may affect your next healthcare decisions.

Q

The Red Flags: Early Warning Signs of Psychosis You Can't Afford to Ignore

Psychosis is a treatable symptom, not a diagnosis, and early red flags include new confusion or unusual beliefs, hearing or seeing things others do not, emotional shifts, social withdrawal, decline in work or self-care, and significant sleep changes. There are several factors to consider, including personal risk, possible medical or substance causes, and urgent danger signs like suicidal thoughts or rapidly losing touch with reality; see below for complete details and clear next steps on when to seek routine versus urgent care.

Q

The Risk of Rushing: Why Ignoring Post-Surgical Pain Can Lead to Complications

Ignoring post-surgical pain, especially after a C-section, can lead to delayed healing, infection, poor scar formation and adhesions, pelvic floor problems, chronic pelvic or abdominal pain, and emotional distress; pain is information that your body may need more time or medical evaluation. Sex after C-section should follow your body rather than a six-week rule, and any new or worsening pain, bleeding, fever, or distress should prompt medical advice; there are several factors to consider, with key warning signs, safer intimacy strategies, and next-step guidance detailed below.

Q

The RSV Warning List: When a Household Virus Becomes a Medical Emergency

RSV is usually a mild cold, but it becomes an emergency when breathing is rapid or labored, there are pauses or blue lips, hydration is failing such as few wet diapers or dry mouth, or alertness is reduced. Call emergency services or go to the ER if these occur. Infants, premature babies, older adults, and people with heart, lung, or immune problems are at highest risk; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below for specific red flags, how to manage mild cases at home, and exactly when to seek urgent medical care.

Q

The Safety Risk: Why Rushing Into Sex Without the "Talk" Is a Medical Gamble

The real safety issue is not how many dates but whether you have the talk first; skipping it raises risks from asymptomatic STIs, unintended pregnancy, and emotional distress, and protection helps but cannot replace shared testing, contraception planning, and clear consent. There are several factors to consider. See below for a practical checklist, when to get tested, when to speak to a doctor, and other details that could shape your next steps.

Q

The Science of Female Arousal: Biological Triggers and Lubrication

There are several factors to consider; vaginal lubrication is a biological response driven by brain signaling, the parasympathetic nervous system, estrogen, and blood flow, so desire and wetness can mismatch and dryness may stem from stress, medications, hormonal shifts, health conditions, or trauma. Helpful steps include taking more time, staying hydrated and rested, prioritizing comfort and safety, and using lubricants, while seeking medical care for persistent dryness, pain, burning, bleeding, or sudden changes; see the complete guidance below to understand nuances that can shape your next healthcare steps.

Q

The Secret Symptom: Why Your "UTI" Might Actually Be a Common STI

Your UTI-like symptoms might actually be a common STI: burning, frequent urination, and pelvic discomfort can also be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, or early herpes, especially when antibiotics fail, cultures are negative, or symptoms quickly return after a new partner. There are several factors to consider, including which tests distinguish UTIs from STIs, warning signs, and how to prevent complications and protect partners; see below for the complete answer and the next steps to take.

Q

The Silent Danger: Why No Symptoms Doesn't Mean You're "Clean"

No symptoms does not mean you are free of STIs; infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, HIV, and hepatitis B often stay silent, can still spread, and may lead to serious problems such as infertility or cancer. Testing based on risk, using protection, and timely care are what confirm your status and prevent complications; there are several factors to consider, and the key details that could change your next steps are explained below.

Q

The Silent Thief: What Doctors Wish You Knew About Bone Loss Before a Fracture

Osteoporosis silently weakens bones for years until a minor fall or even a cough causes a fracture; doctors urge early DXA screening when appropriate and proactive steps like adequate calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing and balance exercise, and avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol to protect mobility and independence. There are several factors to consider. See below for who is at risk, early warning signs, when to test, and which evidence-based treatments and fall-prevention strategies can lower your chance of a first or repeat fracture and guide your next steps.

Q

The Toddler Stomach Bug: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Dehydration

During a toddler stomach bug, preventing dehydration is the top priority: offer small, frequent sips of oral rehydration solution, avoid sugary drinks, and watch for red flags like no urination for 8 hours, dry mouth, sunken eyes, lethargy, persistent vomiting, or blood in the stool. There are several factors to consider, including when to reintroduce foods, which medicines to avoid, hygiene steps to limit spread, and exactly when to call the doctor or seek urgent care; see the complete guidance below for details that could affect your next steps.

Q

The Ugly Duckling Sign: The Secret to Spotting Melanoma Before It Spreads

Learn how the Ugly Duckling Sign helps you spot melanoma early: look for any mole that looks different from your other moles and pay attention to new or changing spots, since early detection often means simpler treatment and better outcomes. There are several factors to consider, including who is at higher risk, how to do a monthly skin check, which body areas are often missed, what changes matter most, and when to contact a doctor. See below for complete guidance and next steps that could influence your healthcare decisions.

Q

The Vaccine Debate: What Happens if You Skip the Shingles Shot?

Skipping the shingles vaccine raises your chances of getting shingles and of severe, long-lasting nerve pain, with risks climbing after age 50 and in people with chronic or immune conditions. There are several factors to consider; see below for details on how vaccination greatly lowers your risk and severity, possible side effects, complications to watch for, treatment options and timing, and when to talk to a doctor so you can choose your next steps.

Q

Thinning Skin and Eczema: Why Senior Skincare Requires a Different Approach

Aging skin thins and dries, weakening the barrier and changing how eczema behaves in seniors, with more sensitivity, slower healing, and higher risk of tears and infection; care should shift to gentle cleansing with lukewarm water, daily fragrance-free moisturizers with barrier-supporting ingredients, trigger control, and cautious use of lower-strength medicated creams reviewed by a clinician. There are several factors to consider, including when to seek medical help for infection or persistent flares and how to tailor products and bathing habits to fragile skin. See below to understand more and to guide your next steps with your healthcare provider.

Q

Tracking Your Cycle: A Woman's Guide to Ovulation Windows and Safety

There are several factors to consider: pregnancy is uncommon after a true, on-time period, but irregular cycles, late ovulation, or implantation bleeding can blur the picture, and the fertile window spans the 5 days before ovulation plus the day of ovulation, with sperm living up to 5 days and an egg 12 to 24 hours. See below to understand more. For safety, test after a missed period or 14 days after sex, rely on contraception rather than apps alone, and seek care for heavy bleeding or pain; there are important details below on timing, signs, emergency contraception, and when to talk to a clinician that could influence your next steps.

Q

Understanding Psoriasis: An In-Depth Guide to Plaque, Guttate, and Systemic Care

Psoriasis is an immune mediated, noncontagious condition with flares; plaque psoriasis shows raised, scaly, well defined patches on elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, while guttate psoriasis presents as sudden small drop like spots often after strep throat. There are several factors to consider when systemic care is needed for widespread disease, life impact, or joint pain, with options such as light therapy, oral medicines, and biologics; see below for psoriatic arthritis and heart risk considerations, red flags, and step by step guidance to choose your next care steps.

Q

Values and Boundaries: A Young Woman's Guide to Deciding Your Own Timeline

There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. There is no single right number of dates before sex, and the healthiest timeline is the one that aligns with your values, emotional readiness, trust, enthusiastic consent, and health planning like contraception, STI testing, and safety. The full guide below covers how to set and communicate boundaries, recognize pressure, decide when waiting or moving forward is best for you, and when to contact a clinician for pain, bleeding, distress, or pregnancy or STI concerns.

Q

When "Great Sex" Isn't Enough: Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Sexual Dynamic

Great sex does not guarantee a healthy sexual relationship; red flags include pressure or guilt around sex, boundary pushing, using sex to avoid conflict, control over when and how sex happens, feeling empty or anxious afterward, and trauma triggers, while healthy sex is marked by clear consent, mutual desire, open communication, emotional safety, respect for boundaries, balanced power, and caring aftercare. There are several factors to consider that can shape your next steps. See below for details on how to reflect, talk with a partner if safe, and when to seek counseling or speak to a doctor about distress, pain, or trauma symptoms.

Q

When "Natural" Isn't Better: Common Eczema Home Remedies to Avoid

Avoid these eczema home remedies that can worsen flares: essential oils, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, lemon or other citrus, raw garlic, raw honey, herbal or DIY salves, and for some people coconut oil, because they can sting, burn, trigger allergies, or disrupt the skin barrier. Safer options include fragrance-free moisturizers, short lukewarm showers, gentle non-soap cleansers, and prescribed treatments when needed; there are several factors to consider, including when to see a doctor for infection or severe symptoms, so see below for important details that may affect your next steps.

Q

When Stopping Diarrhea Is a Mistake: The Risks of Over-the-Counter Fixes

Stopping diarrhea too quickly with over the counter medicines can be a mistake, especially when infection is possible, because slowing the gut can trap bacteria and toxins. The bigger immediate danger is dehydration, so prioritize fluids and oral rehydration first. Avoid antidiarrheals if there is fever, blood or black stools, severe abdominal pain, recent travel, antibiotic use, or in infants, older adults, and people with weakened immunity, and seek medical care if symptoms last more than 2 to 3 days; there are several factors to consider, so see below to understand more.

Q

Why "Aphrodisiacs" Fail: The Truth About Supplements and Sexual Interest

Aphrodisiac supplements rarely boost desire because sexual interest is complex and individualized, most products are not proven effective, benefits are often placebo, and some carry medication interactions and other safety risks. What works better is addressing sleep, stress, medical or medication issues, relationship and emotional safety including trauma, and seeking medical guidance, with targeted nutrients only if you are truly deficient. There are several factors to consider, and important details that can affect your next steps, so see the complete guidance below.

Q

Why "Boosting Your Testosterone" Naturally Might Be a Dangerous Waste of Money

Natural testosterone boosters are often a dangerous waste of money because poorly regulated supplements rarely raise levels in a meaningful way, can cause side effects or interactions, and distract from far more common causes of low libido like sleep problems, stress, mental health, medications, metabolic issues, and relationship factors. There are several important details that can change your next steps, including when to get proper testing, why doctor-supervised therapy is only for confirmed deficiency, safer evidence-based strategies, and warning signs of hidden conditions that should not be missed; see complete guidance below.

Q

Why "Scheduled Sex" Isn't the Enemy: The Risks of Waiting for Spontaneity

Scheduled intimacy can strengthen desire and connection, while waiting for spontaneity often creates distance, pressure, and less initiation. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Health and history can play a role, including hormones, medications, pain, sleep issues, anxiety, or past trauma, so if intimacy feels confusing or painful, speak with a clinician and review the details below to guide your next steps.

Q

Why BMI Is a Lie: The Critical Metrics Your Doctor Is Actually Looking For

BMI is an overvalued screening tool that often mislabels health because it ignores muscle, fat distribution, age, sex, and ethnicity; doctors focus more on waist size and waist-to-height ratio, blood pressure, blood sugar and HbA1c, cholesterol and triglycerides, body composition, and overall fitness. There are several factors to consider, including risk thresholds, trends to track, and when to seek care, which can change your next steps; see below for practical details, red flags, and tools to guide a better conversation with your clinician.

Q

Why Calcium Supplements Aren't Enough: The Dangers of Ignoring Resistance Training

Calcium supplements can fill dietary gaps, but on their own they do not stimulate new bone growth, stop age-related bone loss, or strengthen the muscles that prevent falls. Regular resistance training provides the mechanical loading bones need, improves balance, and works best as part of a complete plan with vitamin D, weight-bearing activity, and healthy habits. There are several factors to consider, including safety, how to start, and when supplements make sense; see below for the complete answer with details that could influence your next steps in care.

Q

Women's Sleep Needs: Why am I sleepy all day? What doctors wish you knew

All-day sleepiness in women has several common causes doctors want you to know about, including hormone shifts across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, plus insufficient or poor-quality sleep, sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless legs, or insomnia, mental health conditions, medical issues such as hypothyroidism or anemia, medication effects, and lifestyle habits. See below for practical fixes, key warning signs that mean you should talk with a doctor, and how to choose next steps like a symptom check, sleep study, or blood tests, since details like snoring, gasping, leg crawling sensations, mood changes, or where you are in your cycle can change what you should do next.

Q

Young Men and Performance Anxiety: Navigating the Impact of Modern Media

Performance anxiety in young men is common and strongly shaped by modern media, where pornography, social feeds, fitness influencers, and hustle content promote unrealistic standards for sex, body, and success, raising stress that can undermine confidence and sexual function. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Effective steps include reframing expectations, setting media boundaries, using breathing and mindfulness, and talking early with partners, therapists, or a clinician, with medical evaluation for persistent or worrying symptoms and attention to contributors like depression, medications, hormones, or past trauma; full guidance and next step options are outlined below.

Q

“Hip Dips” Aren’t a Flaw—They’re a Body Feature You’ve Been Lied About

Hip dips are normal anatomy determined by bone structure and natural fat and muscle distribution, not a flaw or health problem, and exercise cannot remove them though strength work can support hip function. There are several factors to consider, including risks of cosmetic procedures and why social media has exaggerated concern. If you have hip pain, stiffness, or red flags like sudden severe pain or trouble walking, seek medical care, and see the details below for symptoms to watch, safer exercises, and how to decide your next steps.

Q

Are Hip Dips Normal? What Doctors Want You to Know About Body Shape

Yes, hip dips are normal and mainly reflect your bone structure and genetics; they are not a medical problem, do not signal hormonal or nutritional issues, and while exercise builds strength and stability it will not erase them. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand when hip pain needs evaluation, how body image pressures and cosmetic procedures carry real risks, and practical doctor-backed tips plus a free hip pain symptom check to guide your next steps.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

smily Shiba-inu looking

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

AI Symptom Check

Try our AI-based symptom checker

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get a free AI-powered report on possible causes


Tips to try:

  • Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
  • Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
  • Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.