Sex+health

In this episode we feature a conversation with Tamika Felder, a speaker who's appeared around the world to tell the story of her own cervical cancer journey and advocate for patients who often have difficulty finding their voices. She's the founder of Cervivor, a non-profit that supports cervical cancer patients, survivors, and loved one. She's also the author of Seriously, What Are You Waiting For? 13 Actions to IGNITE Your Life & Achieve the Ultimate Comeback.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is very common but often confused with yeast or other infections, leading many to self-treat ineffectively. Untreated BV can cause health issues so a proper diagnosis and prescribed treatment are both important. In this episode of the ASHA podcast Jenelle Marie Pierce, health educator and executive director of the TheSTIProject.com, shares her experiences in coping with BV and offers tips on talking with health care providers.

Sexual pleasure offers benefits beyond the obvious. With or without a partner, pleasure is not only feels good but it's good for you! Sometimes the medications we take to remain healthy have sexual side effects, though, and this can be especially vexing as we age. In this episode of our podcast we check in with Leah Johnson PharmD, RPh, a clinical consultant pharmacist supervisor. Think pharmacists simply count your pills and put them in a bottle? They are actually health care professionals and experts in medication issues. Dr. Johnson tells us what to do when medications interfere with our sex lives and spells out how your pharmacist can help.

Basketball coaches doubling as health instructors! Condoms as a teen-age status symbol! Adolescent wise-guys shouting Wrap your Willie! Get the scoop on why condoms are great and how, back in the day, they were a source of awe and great fun.

It used to be so simple: go for an annual Pap! The venerable Pap is now frequently used as a co-test along with a test for the Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. In this episode Dr. Latoya Patterson breaks down the current approaches to screening for cervical cancer including the newest option, HPV primary screening, where an HPV test is used without being paired with a Pap test. The Pap test still has a role, though, so tune in to find out all about it!

There are several contraceptive options available today and it can be pretty overwhelming trying to decide. This episode of the Sex+Health Podcast talks about how to make the right choice and how to have conversations with your teens about using contraceptives. Lynn Barclay, ASHA's CEO and President, talks with ASHA staff, Susan Reynolds, and her mother, Lisa Gardner, about having open and honest conversations about preventing pregnancy and STIs.

"Why are we waiting to begin discussing consent as young people enter college? It's important to begin young so kids learn to recognize abusive behaviors. This also allows consent to be instilled as a value rather than a lesson to be taught when they become sexually active" - ASHA intern Olivia Whitcomb on sexual assault and learning consent

You don’t even have to buy us dinner. The Quickie is ASHA’s latest podcast series looking at current issues in sexual health in a short (less than five minute) format so you can get your fix get a move on. We’ll debut a new episode each week during September so stream or download here. Week one: “Just say no” is lousy advice for a number of things, including sex!

In this episode, we're talking about bacterial vaginosis, or BV, the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44. Dr. Noor Abualnadi, a gynecologist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, helps break down the basic facts about BV, including why women get BV, how it’s diagnosed, and what treatment options are available. Most importantly, though, she talks about why self-diagnosis and home remedies can do more harm than good. So listen and learn why “less is more” should be the motto for vaginal health.

An estimated 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS and the CDC says about 1 in 7 don’t know their status. Testing is so important and thankfully we’ve seen great progress with the evolution of both HIV diagnostic technologies and the availability of effective treatment options. On HIV Testing Day 2019 we remember the clinical/medical side of things is only part of the HIV struggle: There remains much to do in the areas of justice, equality, and dealing with stigma. We end this episode with a wrap-up of Men’s Health Month and a free download of the Health is Power toolkit to help organizations communicate positive sexual health messages to young African-American men.

Since our last update on HPV and cervical cancer some big changes have occurred: HPV vaccination has been approved for use with males and females through age 45 and updated cervical cancer screening guidelines now include an option for HPV primary testing (translation: an HPV test done alone without a Pap as a co-test). In this episode Ina Park, MD, breaks all of this down and peeks at a future where we might actually be able to discuss the elimination of cervical cancer. Dr. Park is an associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine.

A Two-part Conversation on Herpes with Terri Warren, RN, ANP (Part 2: Psychosocial) by American Sexual Health Association

A Two-part Conversation on Herpes with Terri Warren, RN, ANP (Part 1: Diagnostics) by American Sexual Health Association

In this episode we chat with Dr. Logan Levkoff on the value of pleasure not only in a relationship but as part of our overall well-being. Whether alone or with a partner, sexual pleasure is good for you! Listen in as Dr. Levkoff dishes on everything from not only having more sex but better sex, and why sexual pleasure doesn’t need to involve a partner!

Beyond the physical discomfort they experience, women with chronic pelvic pain often have to navigate choppy waters emotionally and in their relationships. Dr. Karen Tang with the Gynecology Specialists of Philadelphia practice joins us to talk about the many possible causes of chronic pelvic pain and approaches to treatment. She offers practical advice not only for women but their partners, too. Visit http://philadelphiagyn.com/ for patient education resources including videos with Dr. Tang.

Treat Me Right: The Continued Evolution of Therapies for Cervical Cancer by American Sexual Health Association

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has published a draft of updated cervical cancer screening guidelines and some big changes are proposed. For insight on why check-ups for cervical cancer continue to change and move away from the traditional annual Pap, in this episode we chat with Mark H. Einstein, MD, MS, Professor and Chair of OB/GYN and Women’s Health at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Female sexual difficulties are more common than you think and impact couples inside and outside the bedroom. When sex isn’t easy how do you even begin this conversation with your partner or, for that matter, your healthcare provider? Sociologist, sexologist and relationship expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz joins our Sex+Health podcast for a three-part discussion on the range of female sexual difficulties and offers practical advice and resources for women (and their partners). You’re not alone! Episode One: How do female sexual difficulties (FSD) affect relationships in and out of the bedroom? Episode Two: Concerned your partner is no longer in the mood? It may be more than you think. Episode Three: Diving deeper into the most common female sexual difficulty (FSD), Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), and the other types of FSD that may be affecting your relationship.

Female sexual difficulties are more common than you think and impact couples inside and outside the bedroom. When sex isn’t easy how do you even begin this conversation with your partner or, for that matter, your healthcare provider? Sociologist, sexologist and relationship expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz joins our Sex+Health podcast for a three-part discussion on the range of female sexual difficulties and offers practical advice and resources for women (and their partners). You’re not alone! Episode One: How do female sexual difficulties (FSD) affect relationships in and out of the bedroom? Episode Two: Concerned your partner is no longer in the mood? It may be more than you think. Episode Three: Diving deeper into the most common female sexual difficulty (FSD), Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), and the other types of FSD that may be affecting your relationship.

Female sexual difficulties are more common than you think and impact couples inside and outside the bedroom. When sex isn’t easy how do you even begin this conversation with your partner or, for that matter, your healthcare provider? Sociologist, sexologist and relationship expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz joins our Sex+Health podcast for a three-part discussion on the range of female sexual difficulties and offers practical advice and resources for women (and their partners). You’re not alone! Episode One: How do female sexual difficulties (FSD) affect relationships in and out of the bedroom? Episode Two: Concerned your partner is no longer in the mood? It may be more than you think. Episode Three: Diving deeper into the most common female sexual difficulty (FSD), Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), and the other types of FSD that may be affecting your relationship.