The Sun UK asked my answers to 8 embarrassing female sex questions
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Health Women’s Health SEX-PLAINED
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We've got your embarrassing health questions covered so you don't have to leave your GPO red-faced
Credit: Getty - Contributor
We can all get a little bit shy about what goes on beneath the sheets. And experts recently revealed the answers to the taboo topics that men ask about when visiting their GP. In order to spare your blushes, we asked a bunch of experts some of the most embarrassing female health questions. If you're worried about your sexual health - or even if you want to know if your vagina is 'normal' the experts have got you covered. 1. I have no sex drive, is there something wrong with me? Jacqueline Van de Bilt, mental health care counsellor and author of How to overcome your vaginismus said there is nothing wrong with you - and having no sex drive is actually more common than you might think.
Speaking to The Sun she said: "Stress is one of the biggest causes of reduced sex drive, for both women and men, and often your sex drive will return when the stress subsides. "We all go through dry spells and it is perfectly normal. If this is not the case, you might need to use your imagination. "Start to think about what you like sexually and what turns you on - what you like, love and enjoy about sex – try to imagine this and imagine how it would make you feel. "And if you have a partner, how would you feel in connection with them? Try talking to your partner about what you want – and you can often find that just having a conversation about sex is sometimes enough to bring your sex drive back."
2. I think my vagina looks strange, am I normal?Sexual wellness brand LELO’s sex and relationship expert Kate Moyle said everyone's vagina is different as each individual is unique.
She explained: "The vagina is the internal canal from the cervix of the womb, down to the vulva.
"The vulva is the female external genitals - and like everything else about us, the genitals are different and unique. There are great resources like The Great Wall Of Vagina & The Vulva Gallery which show the huge diversity in how vulva's can look."
3. I feel like I might wet myself if I orgasm, is that right?If you're all caught up in the moment the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about wetting yourself.
Doctor and found of sexual wellness brand Hanx, Dr Sarah Welsh said that there are things you can do to quell this sensation.
She explained: "This can be a common sensation during sex or masturbation, as it can often put pressure on your bladder and urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the outside).
"During orgasm, some women ejaculate, also known as squirting, which can feel like you’re wetting yourself. If you pass urine uncontrollably, this is called urge incontinence, which is often caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles.
"You can help strengthen them by doing Kegel exercises - think of them like press ups for your pelvic floor.
"If you’re feeling worried, remember that there are ways your GP can help you tackle this, so make sure you seek help if you suffer incontinence of any kind."
4. Can I get pregnant from a loo seat?It might have you scared to sit down, but in actual fact, you cannot get pregnant from a toilet seat.
Jacqueline explained: "Imagine that sperm is still on the toilet seat and you sit on that seat. Then your buttocks sit on that sperm and it does not reach your vaginal opening.
"You will have to sit on a toilet seat very strangely to get the sperm to your vaginal opening. Even if that was possible, the sperm cells in semen on the toilet seat or on your legs would not live long enough to make it up the vaginal canal.
"So no, you definitely cannot get pregnant from sperm on toilet seat."
5. I struggle to get aroused, is that normal?This again, is a very normal thing to experience and Jaqueline said the key to this is taking your time.
She said you really need to think about what excites you - but adds that mental stimulation is just as important as physical stimulation - especially for women.
"Often we think more than feel. Don't be ashamed to ask your partner for what you want. – often talking about is enough to get you aroused."
6. Can I give my partner a UTI?A urinary tract infections (UTI) isn't a sexually transmitted disease but it can still be uncomfortable.
Dr. Naomi Beinart, PhD Medical Nutritionist said while it's not an STI you can pass the bacteria that causes a UTI between partners.
She explained: "A UTI occurs when unwanted bacteria, usually E.coli, enter the urinary tract and get into your bladder.
"If not treated, the bacteria can get to your kidneys and this can be very serious. Women have a shorter urethra than men, so the bacteria don’t have as far to travel to get to your bladder."
In order to treat a UTI she recommended using a supplement that contains natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as URALIX.
7. I have spots on my vagina, what can I do?Dr Sarah said that while you might not see it on Dr Pimple Popper’s feed, spots on the vulva are normal and often clear up on their own.
She said: "If you have a lingering spot, see your doctor for treatment options, which can include creams and sometimes oral medications to help clear it up.
"If you can feel spots on the inside of your vagina, definitely make an appointment to speak to your doctor, as this may be a sign of an infection or something else going on down there."
8. Sex hurts is that ok?Sex that is painful in a way that you don't like isn't ok.
While some people enjoy a little bit of pain during sex, everyone has their kinks, the consequences of continuing despite the pain can have bad very bad consequences – both physically and emotionally.
Jacqueline explained: "A vicious circle can develop, making the pain worse and the desire for intimacy and sex less and less. Stop when it is painful."
Ask yourself the following questions
"Vaginismus is a condition involving a muscle spasm in the pelvic floor muscles. It can make it painful, difficult, or impossible to have sexual intercourse, to undergo a gynecological exam, and even to insert a tampon.
"It is unclear how many women suffer from the condition, but studies show that almost one in 10 UK women aged between 16 and 74 have experienced pain during sex."
Pain during and after sex is also a key sign of cervical cancer - so it's important to get checked out if you are concerned.
Credit: Getty - Contributor
We can all get a little bit shy about what goes on beneath the sheets. And experts recently revealed the answers to the taboo topics that men ask about when visiting their GP. In order to spare your blushes, we asked a bunch of experts some of the most embarrassing female health questions. If you're worried about your sexual health - or even if you want to know if your vagina is 'normal' the experts have got you covered. 1. I have no sex drive, is there something wrong with me? Jacqueline Van de Bilt, mental health care counsellor and author of How to overcome your vaginismus said there is nothing wrong with you - and having no sex drive is actually more common than you might think.
Speaking to The Sun she said: "Stress is one of the biggest causes of reduced sex drive, for both women and men, and often your sex drive will return when the stress subsides. "We all go through dry spells and it is perfectly normal. If this is not the case, you might need to use your imagination. "Start to think about what you like sexually and what turns you on - what you like, love and enjoy about sex – try to imagine this and imagine how it would make you feel. "And if you have a partner, how would you feel in connection with them? Try talking to your partner about what you want – and you can often find that just having a conversation about sex is sometimes enough to bring your sex drive back."
2. I think my vagina looks strange, am I normal?Sexual wellness brand LELO’s sex and relationship expert Kate Moyle said everyone's vagina is different as each individual is unique.
She explained: "The vagina is the internal canal from the cervix of the womb, down to the vulva.
"The vulva is the female external genitals - and like everything else about us, the genitals are different and unique. There are great resources like The Great Wall Of Vagina & The Vulva Gallery which show the huge diversity in how vulva's can look."
3. I feel like I might wet myself if I orgasm, is that right?If you're all caught up in the moment the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about wetting yourself.
Doctor and found of sexual wellness brand Hanx, Dr Sarah Welsh said that there are things you can do to quell this sensation.
She explained: "This can be a common sensation during sex or masturbation, as it can often put pressure on your bladder and urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the outside).
"During orgasm, some women ejaculate, also known as squirting, which can feel like you’re wetting yourself. If you pass urine uncontrollably, this is called urge incontinence, which is often caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles.
"You can help strengthen them by doing Kegel exercises - think of them like press ups for your pelvic floor.
"If you’re feeling worried, remember that there are ways your GP can help you tackle this, so make sure you seek help if you suffer incontinence of any kind."
4. Can I get pregnant from a loo seat?It might have you scared to sit down, but in actual fact, you cannot get pregnant from a toilet seat.
Jacqueline explained: "Imagine that sperm is still on the toilet seat and you sit on that seat. Then your buttocks sit on that sperm and it does not reach your vaginal opening.
"You will have to sit on a toilet seat very strangely to get the sperm to your vaginal opening. Even if that was possible, the sperm cells in semen on the toilet seat or on your legs would not live long enough to make it up the vaginal canal.
"So no, you definitely cannot get pregnant from sperm on toilet seat."
5. I struggle to get aroused, is that normal?This again, is a very normal thing to experience and Jaqueline said the key to this is taking your time.
She said you really need to think about what excites you - but adds that mental stimulation is just as important as physical stimulation - especially for women.
"Often we think more than feel. Don't be ashamed to ask your partner for what you want. – often talking about is enough to get you aroused."
6. Can I give my partner a UTI?A urinary tract infections (UTI) isn't a sexually transmitted disease but it can still be uncomfortable.
Dr. Naomi Beinart, PhD Medical Nutritionist said while it's not an STI you can pass the bacteria that causes a UTI between partners.
She explained: "A UTI occurs when unwanted bacteria, usually E.coli, enter the urinary tract and get into your bladder.
"If not treated, the bacteria can get to your kidneys and this can be very serious. Women have a shorter urethra than men, so the bacteria don’t have as far to travel to get to your bladder."
In order to treat a UTI she recommended using a supplement that contains natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as URALIX.
7. I have spots on my vagina, what can I do?Dr Sarah said that while you might not see it on Dr Pimple Popper’s feed, spots on the vulva are normal and often clear up on their own.
She said: "If you have a lingering spot, see your doctor for treatment options, which can include creams and sometimes oral medications to help clear it up.
"If you can feel spots on the inside of your vagina, definitely make an appointment to speak to your doctor, as this may be a sign of an infection or something else going on down there."
8. Sex hurts is that ok?Sex that is painful in a way that you don't like isn't ok.
While some people enjoy a little bit of pain during sex, everyone has their kinks, the consequences of continuing despite the pain can have bad very bad consequences – both physically and emotionally.
Jacqueline explained: "A vicious circle can develop, making the pain worse and the desire for intimacy and sex less and less. Stop when it is painful."
Ask yourself the following questions
- Are you excited and moist enough?
- Are there wounds around your vaginal opening?
- Is your partner trying to have sex too soon?
- Do you become drier during intercourse, making it uncomfortable or painful?
- Do you feel that your finger or penis is pushing against something and can't go any further?
"Vaginismus is a condition involving a muscle spasm in the pelvic floor muscles. It can make it painful, difficult, or impossible to have sexual intercourse, to undergo a gynecological exam, and even to insert a tampon.
"It is unclear how many women suffer from the condition, but studies show that almost one in 10 UK women aged between 16 and 74 have experienced pain during sex."
Pain during and after sex is also a key sign of cervical cancer - so it's important to get checked out if you are concerned.
