Sexual Health Medical Reference

Blue balls, or epididymal hypertension, can cause discomfort or pain in the testicles. Learn what causes it, how serious it is, and how to get relief.

Tucking is a practice among some transgender women before they have gender-affirming surgery. Learn more about it.

Find out about threesomes, their pros and cons, and how to safely have your first threesome.

Learn all you need to know about blowjobs. Discover how to do one, how to feel comfortable during the act, and the risks associated with it.

Find out what you need to know about intersex differences and their causes.

What is sexual coercion, and how can you tell if you've experienced it? Find out all you need about this form of sexual assault in our guide.

Find out what you need to know about blue vulva syndrome, including its symptoms, treatments, and how it differs from blue balls.

Having anal sex for the first time can seem daunting. Discover how you can make it easy on yourself and on your partner.

Deadnaming refers to when someone fails to call you by your real name and calls you by an old name. It can be especially painful for transgender or gender nonconforming people. Learn more here.

If you're transgender and/or nonbinary, you may experience misgendering. Learn more about the impacts it has on people's health.

Sexual grooming is when a person slowly manipulates you to gain trust and sexual favors. Most often, children and teens are victims of sexual grooming. But it can happen to adults, too.

Nonbinary people identify as being a gender that’s not strictly male or female. Learn about the pronouns they use, the challenges they face, and more.

Anal douching is a cleansing process in which you use a device to gently squirt water into your butt. This might be done to help you feel cleaner or before you have anal sex.

These treatments include a variety of therapies to help a person's outward traits match their gender identity.

Many condoms are made of latex. If you’re allergic to latex, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms when using latex condoms during sex.

What is stealthing? It’s when a man purposely removes a condom during sexual contact without telling his partner.

What causes postcoital dysphoria? Mental health and past trauma can play a role in sadness after sex.

What are your legal rights to have an abortion, get a prescription for birth control, or get a vasectomy or other sterilization surgery? Reproductive rights cover your legal ability to decide when, if, and how you have a child. Find out how different states’ laws could affect your access to reproductive health treatments.

With persistent genital arousal disorder, arousal happens for women often and for a long time, but there’s nothing triggering the desire.

Can minors consent to sexual activity with an adult or even another teen? Consent laws were created to protect children from statutory rape, or sex with adults, but they still don’t protect everyone. Find out what consent is and how it can apply to people older than 18 too.

Learn about urinary tract infections and how to prevent them by urinating after sexual intercourse.

Find out how being celibate affects your mental health.

Tantric sex is an ancient practice that has spiritual and erotic roots. Here’s what you need to know about what it is and how it works.

Fluid describes a person whose gender identity fluctuates. Learn more about fluidity and what it means in relationships.

Spooning is a form of cuddling where two people face the same direction. Learn more about spooning, how it works, the difference between spooning and cuddling, and what to consider before spooning.

Wheelbarrow sex position is when a standing partner pulls the other partners hips and legs off the floor with their hands supporting from the floor. Learn more about safety considerations and how to try it.

Piledriver sex position means the receiving partner lies on their back raising up until just their shoulders are on the bed with their legs in the air, and the giving partner stands over top them for insertion. Learn more about safety considerations and variations.

ASMR sex is the erotic use of certain visual and auditory triggers. Learn more about ASMR sex and what it means in relationships.

Sex pillows help leverage your body for better sexual experiences. Learn more about what they do and how to use them.

Period sex is a type of sexual intercourse where at least one of the sexual partners is menstruating. Learn more about period sex and how to explore it safely.

Gynosexuality means being attracted to people with female qualities. Learn more about gynosexuality and what it means in relationships.

Nipple play means touching, rubbing, or pinching your nipples during sex. Learn more about nipple play and what it means in relationships.

Being biromantic means you are romantically attracted to people of two specific and distinct gender identities. Learn more about biromanticism and what it means in relationships.

Kinky sex is a broad term for consensual sexual practices that involve fantasy, role play, or power dynamics. Learn more about kinky sex and what it means in relationships.

Exhibitionism means getting sexual gratification from showing one’s genitals or private areas to others. Learn more about exhibitionism and what it means in relationships.

The scissoring sex position, also known as tribbing, happens when two partners intertwine their legs and touch each other’s genitals together for sexual stimulation.

Oral sex means a person receives stimulation from their partner’s mouth. Learn more about how to discuss oral sex with your partner and stay safe.

Abrosexual means a person who experiences fluctuating sexual orientations over time. Learn more about abrosexuality and how it differs from pansexuality and asexuality.

Prostate vibrators are sex toys that use vibration to help stimulate the prostate. Learn more about what they do and how to use them.

Reverse cowgirl is a variation of the cowgirl sex position where the person on top faces their partner’s feet. Learn more about reverse cowgirl and how to do it safely.

Sex swings are devices that elevate a partner to allow for different positions during sex. Learn more about what they are and how to use them.

Sex ramps provide physical support during sex and increase the ease, comfort, or pleasure of some positions. Learn more about what they do and how to use them.

For most people, it’s safe to try regular sex positions during pregnancy, with a little extra caution and communication. Learn more about safety considerations and myths.

A hands-free orgasm can happen solo or with a partner. There are many ways to do it. Learn more about safety considerations and variations.

Male masturbation is the stimulation of one’s own genitals, usually to orgasm. Learn more about masturbation for males and what it means in relationships.

Androsexual, or androphilic, means having an attraction to men, males, or masculinity. Learn more about androsexual and what it means in relationships.

Homosexuality means being attracted to people who are the same sex. Learn more about homosexuality and what it means in relationships.

The 69 position is a sex position between two people who simultaneously perform oral sex on each other. Learn about variations and safety considerations.

Kama Sutra is an ancient Hindu text popularly known for detailing intricate sex positions, but it is much more than that. Learn its history, what’s in it, and how to incorporate some of it into your life.