Genital Herpes
Lubricants
While hearing the words “personal lubricant” may make some people feel uncomfortable, being comfortable daily and during sexual activity is important to quality of life. Unfortunately, embarrassment leaves many people unsure about which products might be right for them. Our guide will help you confidently, and discreetly, select the right personal lubricant to meet your needs. Keep the following in mind as you consider personal lubricant products:
- Common causes of vaginal dryness include peri-menopause and menopause, childbirth and breast-feeding, douching, and certain medications that treat allergies, colds, depression, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.
- Sudden vaginal dryness may signal a more serious health issue such as Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks moisture-producing cells in the body, so talk to your doctor if you are experiencing vaginal dryness for the first time.
- If itching or burning is your only symptom, your issue may not be dryness; you may have a treatable condition such as a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
- You may need more than one personal lubricant. A daily vaginal moisturizer can relieve burning and itching due to general vaginal dryness, while a thicker personal lubricant may be necessary to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable sex life.
- Do not use oil-based lubricants with condoms, as this type of lubricant can cause condoms to break.
- If a personal lubricant causes discomfort, itching, or burning, discontinue use immediately. You may be allergic to an ingredient in the product. If these symptoms do not resolve within a day, call your doctor.
Vaginal Moisturizers
What they are: Vaginal moisturizers are designed to mimic natural vaginal lubrication and to relieve generalized vaginal dryness.
Why to buy: If your vaginal dryness is due to ongoing or permanent hormonal changes, such as those caused by menopause or breast-feeding, using a vaginal moisturizer daily can greatly increase your comfort and relieve itching.
Things to consider: Vaginal moisturizers alone may not be enough to allow for comfortable and pain-free sexual activity. You may need an additional product to address this issue.
Personal Lubricants
What they are: Personal lubricants are designed to help women with or without vaginal dryness have a pain-free and more enjoyable sex life. These products are silicone-, oil- or water-based, and come as jellies or gels, often in a tube or squeezable container.
Why to buy: Inadequate lubrication before sexual activity can lead to painful intercourse. A personal lubricant can address this problem, making sex better for both partners.
Things to consider: Many people find that water-based lubricants feel more natural; however, they may not last as long or provide enough lubrication for longer or multiple sessions of sexual intercourse. Silicone-based lubricants often feel thicker and tend to last longer. Do not use oil lubricants with condoms, as they can cause condoms to fail.
Arousal Lubricants
What they are: Arousal lubricant products are designed to provide additional pleasurable sensations during sexual activity. For example, they may include a gel for each partner, which heat up upon contact with one another.
Why to buy: If you have difficulty maintaining arousal during sexual activity, or if you’re open to experimenting with new ways to spice up your sex life, you may enjoy an arousal lubricant product.
Things to consider: These products contain more ingredients than basic lubricants. More ingredients may mean a higher likelihood of an allergic or other unpleasant reaction; you may want to try out a product privately to make sure it works for you, before introducing it during sexual activity with your partner.
Pregnancy & Ovulation Tests
When it comes to pregnancy, many people want the news as soon as possible, and a trip to the doctor’s office isn’t always practical. This is where a home pregnancy test comes into the picture. And for couples trying for “perfect timing” to increase the odds of becoming pregnant, a fertility monitoring kit to track ovulation can be helpful. Our guide to home pregnancy and ovulation tests will help you pick the best product to meet your needs. Keep the following in mind as you consider which and fertility tracking products:
- If you’re trying to become pregnant for the first time, a visit with your doctor to ensure you’re in good health and getting the proper nutrition needed to support a healthy pregnancy is a good idea.
- Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of hCG in the urine of a pregnant woman. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the developing embryo just after a sperm fertilizes an egg. It is later produced by the placenta—the tissue that develops to nourish a growing baby. Urine hCG levels begin to increase quickly following implantation, which is when the embryo secures itself to the lining of the uterus. Urine hCG levels double about every two to three days after implantation for about ten weeks.
- Different brands of pregnancy tests have different levels of sensitivity. For example, a pregnancy test that can detect 20 units of hCG per milliliter (ml) of urine will detect a pregnancy sooner than a test that can detect the hormone only after the concentration has reached 100 units of hCG per ml of urine. This is why women can get a “false negative”—a pregnancy test indicating she isn’t pregnant when she is. It also explains why some pregnancy tests cost more than others. The more sensitive tests tend to be more expensive. Because urine hCG levels increase over time, the longer you wait to take a pregnancy test after a missed period, the more likely the test will detect hCG if you are pregnant.
- Many pregnancy tests suggest testing urine first thing in the morning, when urine is most concentrated. This can improve the odds of detecting a pregnancy.
- Urine pregnancy tests at the doctor’s office are similar to tests found in the pharmacy. If you must know whether you are pregnant as early as possible, a blood test at the doctor’s office is the best option.
Urine Stick Tests
What they are: Pregnancy urine stick tests include a stick that is placed into a stream of urine. After a few minutes, the test will display lines, dots, or colors to indicate whether you are pregnant or not pregnant. If the test detects hCG in your urine, it will indicate you are pregnant.
Why to buy: These tests are easy to use and relatively inexpensive. To get the most sensitive test, pick the one that detects the lowest level of hCG in urine.
Things to consider: Some people do not want to “interpret” the test. They may question whether they are seeing the lines, dots, or colors on the stick that indicate pregnancy.
Digital Urine Stick Tests
What they are: Digital urine stick tests are similar to regular urine sticks, except the stick displays the words “pregnant” or “not pregnant,” rather than other symbolization.
Why to buy: These tests are easy to use and, unlike regular urine stick tests, there is no guessing when you read the results. The digital display clearly indicates whether you are pregnant or not.
Things to consider: Digital urine stick tests are more expensive than other urine stick tests. As with regular urine sticks, the lower the level of hCG the test can detect, the more sensitive it will be.
Ovulation Tracking Tests
What they are: Ovulation kits include either several strips, which are placed into a container of urine, or several sticks, which are placed into the urine stream. You can read the tests after five minutes. Strips and sticks provide similar accuracy, so use whichever test you prefer.
Why to buy: Ovulation kits can help you increase the chances of becoming pregnant. By letting you know exactly when you are ovulating, the test lets you know your most fertile time in your menstrual cycle; this is the time you are most likely to become pregnant.
Things to consider: Ovulation kits can be pricey, so you may want to try charting your ovulation for a few months using other methods first. Ask your doctor or nurse how to use an ovulation calendar, track your daily temperatures (with a special thermometer), and/or examine your vaginal discharge to approximately track ovulation. Once you do this, you’ll have an idea of how best to use an ovulation kit once you purchase it. Ovulation kits work by detecting luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. Urine will be tested for several days around the time a woman believes she is ovulating. Just before ovulation, LH levels surge, so if you detect a higher-than-average level of LH on a particular day, you know that you are about to ovulate. For most women, a positive ovulation test result means she is fertile—more likely to become pregnant—over the next three days. Peak fertility is usually around 36 hours after the LH surge. Most ovulation kits suggest testing urine mid-afternoon. This can improve the odds of detecting the surge in LH which indicates you are about to ovulate. Ovulation kits may not work well if a woman has a health condition that affects levels of reproductive hormones, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome. It may be more difficult to use an ovulation kit to accurately predict ovulation if your periods are very irregular. To understand how to track ovulation, remember that “day 1” of a woman’s cycle is the first day of her period. So if a woman ovulates on “day 14,” this means she is ovulating 14 days after she first starts her period.
Combination Ovulation & Pregnancy Test Kits
What they are: Combination kits offer both ovulation tests and pregnancy tests all in one. This allows you to make one purchase and have what you need for one complete menstrual cycle when you are trying to get pregnant.
Why to buy: You’ll only need one trip to the drug store and one purchase to get both portions of the pregnancy picture—how best to become pregnant (the ovulation test) and whether you’ve been successful (the pregnancy test).
Things to consider: Complete kits can be expensive, so read all instructions carefully so that you maximize your chances of getting good results from each test. If you have any questions, call the manufacturer’s number or visit their website. These companies want you to have success with their products, so they are more than happy to help!
Condoms
Unfortunately, the embarrassment factor around buying condoms leaves many people unsure about which product may be right for them. Our guide should help you confidently, and discreetly, select the right condom. Keep the following in mind as you consider condoms:
- No sexual activity is 100% safe, however, condoms are the single best way to reduce the risk of being exposed to, or exposing others to sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, gonorrhea, and HIV (the virus which causes AIDS) during intercourse and oral sex.
- If a condom causes discomfort, itching, or burning, discontinue use immediately. You may be allergic to latex or another ingredient in the product. If these symptoms do not resolve within a day, consult your doctor.
- Lubricated condoms can work well if the female partner has vaginal dryness, but the addition of a separate personal lubricant product may be necessary for truly comfortable and pain-free sex.
- Do not use oil-based lubricants with condoms, as they may cause the condom to break.
- Condoms with spermicide are not proven to increase protection against pregnancy, and some women are allergic to this ingredient, so a plain option may work best. And some research suggests that because it can cause irritation, condoms with spermicide may increase the likelihood of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.
- Condoms do have expiration dates, so buy a smaller package if there’s a chance you won’t use them all within a few months. Carrying a condom in your wallet can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the product making it more susceptible to breaking during use, so avoid doing this if possible.
- Condoms are very stretchy, and most men can use the same size comfortably. Occasionally, a larger condom size may work better, but keep in mind that a too-large condom will decrease pleasurable sensations and may increase the chances of the condom slipping off.
Latex, Polyurethane, & Polyisoprene Condoms
What they are: Latex, polyurethane, and polyisoprene condoms are made from natural (latex) or synthetic (polyurethane and polyisoprene) material and are effective for minimizing the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Why to buy: These condoms come in various sizes, colors, textures, shapes, and flavors. Latex condoms are the least expensive option. Polyisoprene is the newest option and some people find this material feels the most “natural” and comfortable. Polyurethane and polyisoprene are good options for people with latex allergies.
Things to consider: Latex, polyurethane, and polyisoprene condoms are equally effective, so use whichever product works best for you and your partner.
Lambskin Condoms
What they are: Lambskin condoms are made from the intestinal membrane of a lamb.
Why to buy: Some people feel that lambskin feels more “natural” than latex and polyurethane, though the newer polyisoprene condoms may be worth a try for those who’ve used and liked lambskin in the past.
Things to consider: Lambskin condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted infections, because they have small pores through which viruses and bacteria can pass. They are effective for minimizing the chances of pregnancy, because sperm are too large to pass through the pores. Lambskin condoms are generally more expensive than latex, polyurethane, and polyisoprene.
Condoms with Pleasure Ingredients
What they are: Some latex, polyurethane, and polyisoprene condoms have added ingredients to increase pleasurable sensations during sexual activity, for example, substances that cause a warming sensation in the genitals. Other condoms may have added textures, such as ribs or ridges, which can increase pleasure during intercourse.
Why to buy: If you have difficulty maintaining arousal during sexual activity, or if you’re open to experimenting with new ways to spice up your sex life, you may enjoy a condom with added pleasure ingredients.
Things to consider: These products contain more ingredients than basic lubricated and non-lubricated condoms. More ingredients may mean a higher likelihood of an allergic or other unpleasant reaction. Check the ingredient list so you can avoid any of your known skin allergy triggers.
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