Sexual Wellness — information, not treatment

### About this concern

Sexual wellness is a normal part of health and ageing. In India, it is often surrounded by stigma, which means many people delay asking a doctor about real concerns. This page exists to share factual information, encourage hygiene and protection, and direct you to the right specialist when needed. We do not sell or recommend treatments for sexual function. For anything beyond hygiene and protection, please consult a qualified doctor.

### What we know

Sexual wellness has physical, hormonal, and emotional components. Hygiene, safe protection, lubrication, hormonal balance, mental health, sleep, stress, alcohol, smoking, certain medications, diabetes, thyroid, BP, and PCOS can all influence sexual health. Concerns are common, treatable, and absolutely worth discussing with a doctor — privately, without judgement. Across India, gynaecologists for women, urologists / andrologists for men, and trained sex-positive doctors and counsellors are all accessible in Chennai through major hospitals and online consultation platforms.

### What to watch for

• Pain during intercourse — new or persistent.
• Vaginal dryness or itching, especially around or after menopause.
• Unusual discharge, smell, bleeding between periods, or bleeding after intercourse.
• Recurrent urinary tract infections.
• New lumps, sores, ulcers, warts, or rashes in the genital area.
• Erectile difficulties, premature ejaculation, or marked drop in libido that is bothering you.
• Burning urine, fever, lower abdominal pain.
• Mood changes, performance anxiety, relationship distress affecting your sexual life.

These deserve a proper conversation with a doctor — not an OTC purchase.

### What you can do safely

• Wash the genital area daily with plain water; mild, fragrance-free intimate washes are fine if you prefer. Avoid harsh soaps and douching inside the vagina.
• Wear clean, breathable cotton underwear. Chennai humidity can encourage fungal growth — change after heavy sweating or swimming.
• Use a fresh condom every time for penetrative sex with new or non-monogamous partners. Use a water-based lubricant if there is dryness — oil-based products can damage latex condoms.
• Check the expiry date and storage of condoms; do not store them in your wallet or in a hot car for long.
• Stay hydrated and urinate after intercourse to reduce UTI risk.
• Get routine STI screening if you have new or multiple partners — done discreetly at many clinics.
• Look after sleep, exercise, and stress; alcohol and smoking both worsen sexual function over time.
• For women approaching menopause, vaginal dryness is common — please speak to a gynaecologist about safe, doctor-recommended options.

### When to see a doctor

Please consult a gynaecologist (for women), urologist or andrologist (for men), or a sex-positive doctor or counsellor for: persistent pain, dryness, libido changes, erection or ejaculation concerns, infertility worries, any unusual bleeding, discharge, ulcers, lumps, sores, or burning. Anyone who is pregnant, lactating, post-partum, on prescription medication for BP, diabetes, depression, or hormones — please raise sexual health concerns with your treating doctor. They have heard it all before and will help.

### What we do NOT recommend over the counter

We do not sell or recommend any product that claims to enhance performance, increase size, treat erectile dysfunction, treat premature ejaculation, or boost libido. We do not recommend self-prescribing testosterone, oestrogen creams, or any hormonal product. We do not recommend buying prescription medication for sexual function from random online sellers — counterfeit risk is high in India and so is the risk of dangerous interaction with BP or heart medicine. Hygiene and protection are sensible; everything else belongs in a doctor's office.