PAINFUL SEX Painful sex involving the vagina, vulva or pelvic area is a common problem, and 3 out of 4 people with a vagina will experience it at some stage in their life. For some, this may be temporary, while for others it may be a long-term problem. Sex is a normal and enjoyable part of many people’s lives and is often an important part of a relationship. Pain with sex can be very upsetting and can lead to avoiding sex and intimacy, which in turn can affect your relationship. WHERE CAN THE PAIN OCCUR? Pain with sex can occur on the outside (the vulva), in the area surrounding the vagina,...

Vaginal thrush (also known as vulvovaginal candidiasis) is a common syndrome caused by an overgrowth of yeast organisms which live naturally in the bowel and also in small numbers in the vagina. Candida is the name of the most common of these organisms. They are mostly harmless, but symptoms can develop if numbers in the vagina increase. Thrush needs the hormone oestrogen to thrive, so it rarely occurs before puberty or after menopause (unless you are using hormone replacement therapy that contains oestrogen).  A vaginal thrush infection can be acute (a single episode) or chronic (recurring...

WHAT IS MYCOPLASMA GENITALIUM? Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium that can cause infection of the cervix, urethra (penis), and anus. It is a sexually transmissible infection and is like chlamydia, but less common There are currently no recommendations for routine testing for mycoplasma genitalium in people who have no symptoms.   HOW DO YOU GET IT? You can get mycoplasma genitalium by having anal or vaginal sex without a condom with someone who has the infection. Some people may not have any symptoms but can still pass on the infection. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? If you have a vagina, symptoms...

WHAT IS BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS  Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge. One in ten will have BV at some time in their life.  WHAT CAUSES BV? BV is caused by a change in the number and type of bacteria found in the vagina. A healthy vagina contains many different kinds of bacteria. In BV, there is a decrease in the number of a particular bacteria called lactobacillus and an increase in other bacteria called anaerobic bacteria. The most common of these anaerobic bacteria is Gardnerella.  The increase in the anaerobic bacteria in the vagina changes the...

WHAT IS THE CERVICAL SCREENING TEST? The Cervical Screening Test (CST) aims to prevent cancer of the cervix (also called cervical cancer). Cervical cancer is preventable with regular cervical screening because pre-cancerous changes can be found and easily treated, so cancer does not develop. Most people who do develop cervical cancer have either never had cervical screening or have had screening less often then recommended. Cervical screening saves lives! WHAT IS THE CERVIX AND WHERE IS IT? The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) and is located at the top of the vagina. [ID:...

WHAT IS THE DIAPHRAGM? The diaphragm is a barrier method of contraception. It is a dome of soft silicone with a flexible rim that is placed inside the vagina to cover the cervix (the lower part of the uterus or womb). The diaphragm forms a barrier which prevents sperm from getting into the uterus. It is inserted before intercourse and left in place for a minimum of 6 hours after intercourse. It takes 6 hours for all sperm to die in the acid environment of the vagina. The Caya® diaphragm, which is a single size diaphragm, is the only one available in Australia. HOW DO I USE THE DIAPHRAGM? You...

V-juice, vovey-goo, vu-dew… there are many ways to describe the natural fluid that comes out of the vagina. It varies in consistency, texture, smell, taste and volume in the same woman from day to day, week to week, month to month and beyond.   During puberty, several hormones act together to grow the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and external genitals. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone contribute most to the evolution of the glorious ecosystem that is the adult vagina.

WHAT IS A COPPER IUD? An intrauterine device (IUD) is a small plastic device that is inserted into the uterus (womb) and is used to prevent pregnancy. IUDs are a highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive. There are two different types of IUDs- hormonal and copper. The copper IUD is an IUD that has copper wrapped around its stem and arms. It does not contain any hormones. HOW DOES IT WORK? The copper IUD works mainly by preventing fertilisation. It does this by being toxic to the egg and sperm and by interfering with sperm movement. It also prevents the implantation of a fertilised...