Every man knows the power of testosterone. It’s a vital building block of masculinity, responsible for defining male characteristics, influencing puberty, and regulating sex drive. It’s the hormone responsible for regulating and developing both primary and secondary male characteristics. But as men age, their testosterone levels inevitably decline. The body ages, pituitary function declines, and men don’t produce as much hormone as they did when they were younger. To increase testosterone production, many men turn to working out and eating protein rich diets. Even a good night’s sleep can hel ..read more

What is chlamydia? Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual contact (semen or vaginal fluid). Infection can occur via vaginal, anal, and oral sex and even when a man does not ejaculate. It is treated with antibiotic, usually azithromycin or doxycycline. Who is at risk of infection? Anyone who has had unprotected sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). It can also be transmitted by shared sex toys. Women can also pass the infection to their babies during childbirth. Always use a condom – when used correctly the risk of transmission of chlamydia is much reduced. Shou ..read more

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is looking to speak to women to discuss the reclassification of medicines used for hormone replacement and oral contraception from prescription-only to medicines that can instead be purchased under the supervision of a pharmacist. They are looking for women: Aged over 18 Who use oral contraceptives And/or are experiencing menopause Why take part? You will have the opportunity to reflect your personal experiences and ensure the patient voice is heard when safety issues concerning medicines are identified, plus you’ll get to contr ..read more

Cervical Screening Awareness Week aims to highlight the importance of regular cervical screening for women’s health. It’s an annual event – which runs from 10th to 16th June 2019 this year  – and is organised by Jo’s Trust, a charity dedicated to women affected by cervical cancer or abnormalities. Cervical cancer – the statistics Cervical cancer is one of the most deadly but most preventable forms of cancer in women. It is the most common cancer in women under 35.  It kills two women every day in the UK. Screening pays off However, regular cervical screening appointments can prevent ..read more

If you’ve missed the latest health news from the week beginning 29th July, catch up now in our roundup. Butter, red meat & cheese increase heart attack & stroke risks Too much butter, red meat and cheese are actually bad for you, experts warn. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition says eating high levels of saturated fat is risky and people should opt for unsaturated oils, such as avocado, olive oil and fish, such as salmon and mackerel instead. Find out more Birth rates reach record low Official figures show that the birth rate in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest p ..read more

STDs hold the rare distinction of being both extremely common and deeply misunderstood. Indeed, while sexually transmitted infections occur frequently, many people don’t know the signs and symptoms associated with these conditions. The good news is, modern medicine has made significant inroads in this field. In fact, London scientists recently discovered what many are calling a cure for HIV. Still, STDs are potentially dangerous (even fatal), so knowing how to identify them before they become a problem is important. Make sure to keep an eye out for these five signs and symptoms of STDs: Painfu ..read more

What women suffering from recurring cystitis need to know It may not be top of your priority list when you’ve just had sex, but anyone who’s experienced recurrent cystitis will tell you that a quick trip to the toilet as soon as possible is well worth the effort. Cystitis is a urinary tract infection (UTI) experienced by roughly 40% of women in the UK. It occurs when bacteria which live harmlessly on the skin or in the rectum get into the urethra and travel up the urinary tract, causing irritation and inflammation of the bladder. Escherichia coli (E.Coli) lives in the rectum and perineal area ..read more

Happy Internation Women’s Day! If you’ve not had time to catch up on all the latest health news this week (4th March), we’ve summarised some of the key stories for you. Public Health England Launch Cervical Cancer TV Campaign The government has launched a Cervical Cancer TV advert campaign, as smear tests hit a 20-year low. Two women every day in England die from cervical cancer and more than 200,000 women every year are diagnosed with abnormal cell changes, which could lead to the disease. Surveys show that young women, in particular, are putting off their smear tests because they are em ..read more

Every year we run an Online Clinic on Gynaecology. And this year our clinic is sponsored by Babystart, Sylk Intimate and Promensil.  We are also delighted our clinic is being supported by The Eve Appeal and Womb Cancer Support UK charities. Meet our gynaecology experts As always, we have a fantastic panel of medical experts on hand to answer your questions. Our experts include Mr Hugh Byrne, Dr Heather Currie, Mr Radwan Faraj, Mr Peter Greenhouse, Debbie Holloway and Mr Khalil Razvi. All our experts are specialists in gynaecology and sexual health. You can speak t ..read more

This week in health – 18 January 2019. This week we look at diet, portion size, research into concussion with premiership footballers, and teenage cancer and more. A snapshot of some of the key stories in health can be found below. What’s the correct portion size? The British Nutrition Foundation have compiled a new guide, based on studying portion sizes. They have looked at global portions and at what is available in the supermarkets in the UK. The guide enables you to measure your portion size using your hands, thumbs and fists instead of scales. It’s hoped that the new guide will lead us a ..read more