If you have just been sexually abused or assaulted, try to preserve any evidence of the attack. Do not change your clothes. Do not bathe, shower, brush your teeth, or clean up in any way. Do not eat or drink anything. Do not smoke. Write down everything you can remember about the assault and about the person who...

Sexual orientation means how you are attracted romantically and sexually to other people. There are different kinds of sexual orientation. For example, a person may be: Heterosexual—attracted only or almost only to the other binary (male/female) gender. "Binary" is the idea that there are only two genders, male and...

Talking with your partner may help your sexual function. Couples often assume that they each know what the other person likes when it comes to sex. Sometimes they are wrong. Don't assume. Tell your partner what does and doesn't give you pleasure. Make time outside of the bedroom to talk about your sex life together...

Childbirth and breastfeeding may affect your sexual desire. Exhaustion, breast soreness, your baby's demands, and recovery from childbirth may reduce your interest in intimacy with your partner. But you may feel more comfortable having sex after the baby is born. Each woman's experience is different. You can help...

Briefly discusses common sexually transmitted infections. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care.

During this exam for sexually transmitted infections, the doctor: Looks for discharge from your penis. The doctor may put a thin swab into the urethra and take a sample of fluid and cells to test for infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Checks your testicles for swelling and tenderness. May look at the end of your...

Treatment is available for all STIs. The kind of treatment depends on the STI. Some STIs can go away with treatment. Other STIs can be treated to relieve symptoms. But treatment won't make them go away. Some of the most common STIs—chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—are caused by bacteria. These STIs are treated with...

Stand with your hands lightly resting on a counter or chair in front of you. Put your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly bend your knees so that you squat down like you're going to sit in a chair. Make sure that your knees don't go in front of your toes. Lower yourself about 6 inches. Your heels should stay on the floor...

Sharing memories helps older adults relive past events in their lives. This is sometimes called life review or reminiscence. By sharing memories, older adults can explore their thoughts and feelings about the past. They can put their past experiences in perspective with what is happening to them in the present or what...

A shave skin biopsy is done to remove a growth from the skin. The doctor uses a local anesthetic to numb the area. Then the growth is shaved off using a surgical knife (scalpel) or special razor. The biopsy area is then covered with a bandage. After the growth is removed, a doctor trained to look at tissue samples...

"It wasn't that I was sick or anything. But I didn't have the energy I used to, and I was starting to worry about my future health." That worry is what led Shellie, 39, to take a good, long look at her daily habits. "Staying in shape takes time," she said. "And time is what I just don't have as a single mom with a...

What is shift work sleep disorder? What problems can it cause? Shift work sleep disorder is trouble sleeping because you work nights or rotating shifts. You also may have this problem if you have trouble staying awake or alert when you are supposed to work your shift. You may not be able to sleep during the day, and you...

Botanical names: Lentinus edodes How It Works Shiitake contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, soluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, shiitake’s key ingredient—found in the fruiting body—is a polysaccharide called lentinan. Commercial preparations employ the powdered mycelium of the mushroom before the cap...

What are shin splints? Shin splints are a condition that causes pain and sometimes swelling in the front part of the lower leg (shin). The pain is most likely from repeated stress on the shinbone (tibia) and the tissue that connects the muscle to the tibia. What causes them? Most people get shin splints from repeated...