The Sex+Health podcast from the American Sexual Health Association covers all aspects of sexual health. Featuring interviews with medical professionals and experts in the field of sexuality, Sex+Health aims to offer information and resources to with the goal of helping people take charge of their sexual health and understand its importance to overall well being.
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The latest statistics on STIs offer some good news—chlamydia cases are down for the second year and gonorrhea cases are down for a third year. Unfortunately, congenital syphilis increased for the 12th year in a row. Fred Wyand reflects on this news with ASHA interim CEO Becca Karpinski, in a wide ranging discussion on the current state of STIs in the U.S. Listen to learn about new options in STI…
In this episode we chat with Dr. Suelyn Hall, author of How To Get A-Head, Secrets to Male Sexual Pleasure From a Female Urologist . The book goes into more than just technique, as Dr. Hall looks at what drives male pleasure on every level, even considering how cultural norms, mental health, and our own history converge in the wonderful, sometimes chaotic mind-body dynamic. (Don't worry, we talk…
Welcome to our master class with Keosha T. Bond, EdD, MPH, CHES. Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Social Medicine at CUNY School of Medicine, Dr. Bond has centered her work on the complex intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and racial equity among marginalized populations. In this episode, she discusses her award-winning research that highlights the impact of…
The American Cancer Society recently released new guidelines for cervical cancer screening that include HPV testing with self collected samples. In this episode, we talk to Rebecca Perkins, MD, MSc, from Tufts University Medical School about what's different in these new guidelines and how HPV testing with self collection can help get more women screened. Resources American Cancer Society Updated…
The FDA recently approved two new medications to treat gonorrhea and they are sorely needed. Give a listen as infectious diseases expert Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo explains why the new drugs are so important in providing a more convenient, oral treatment option against an infection that is increasingly resistant to other therapies. About our guest: In 2023, Dr. Marrazzo was appointed as the sixth…
With HPV vaccination and regular screening, we have the tools we need to eliminate cervical cancer. Now we have a new tool—HPV screening with self collected samples. We invited Dr. Rebecca Perkins from Tufts University Medical School to talk about this new screening tool and its potential to help get more women screened and prevent cervical cancer. Learn more about HPV screening with self…
This episode focuses on the state of boys and young men, with a special look at their mental health. Give a listen to our conversation with Dennis Barbour as we discuss the challenges male youth seem to be grappling with as they navigate contemporary society. Mr. Barbour is the President and CEO of the Partnership for Male Youth, the only national organization that has a singular focus on the…
People use apps to find someone to date or hook up, nothing new there, but what about using apps to notify someone when they need to think about STI testing and prevention services? It's happening (permission based, of course), and we're exploring this today with Morgan Finke, the Communications Coordinator with Public Health Madison & Dane County in Wisconsin, and we want to talk to Morgan…
We've had a lot of discussions on this podcast around syphilis, especially the alarming rates of the infection in newborns, but today we're talking about syphilis and ocular (or eye) infections, in particular syphilitic uveitis , a disease affecting the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. It's not very common, but it has been increasing in recent years and can severely damage one's vision if not…
Today we're talking about Native Americans and sexual health, with an emphasis on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). With any group, conversations on these topics can always come around to a discussion of culture, societal norms and expectations, and so on but there is really a great deal we can explore when talking about Native communities because of the rich diversity within this population…
Compared to the U.S. overall, Native Americans/Alaska Natives have higher rates of syphilis but the disparity is most shocking with congenital syphilis (when newborns contract the infection). What's driving these infections in Native communities, and what can we do to reverse the tide? We explore this with our guest, Meghan Curry O'Connell, a citizen of the Cherokee nation, who's a physician and…
Is romance dead? Is sex passé? How do we even start talking with our partners about intimacy and pleasure? Let's add a convo about STI testing and prevention to the mix, too. Who can guide us to talk about all this? Julia Fowlkes, aka Sex Ed Miss Frizzle , that's who! Join us for a humorous and informative journey with our guest, who describes herself as "Just a broad who wants to talk about the…
In this episode of our doxy PEP series, we continue the conversation with Maxfield Haynes, discussing how to talk with your provider and how to know if doxy PEP is right for you. Doxy PEP—or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis—is a sexual health strategy that involves taking an oral antibiotic after sex to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Doxy PEP is the first new prevention method…
Doxy PEP —or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis—is a sexual health strategy that involves taking an oral antibiotic after sex to prevent chlamydia , gonorrhea , and syphilis . Doxy PEP is the first new prevention method for bacterial STIs, and many experts believe it will be an important tool in our fight against this epidemic. In this episode, we speak to Oscar Alexis to get the patient's…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
There's a new way to screen for cervical cancer with self-collection. People can take a sample of cells from their own vagina to test for HPV. The FDA recently approved this for use in providers offices. There's no pelvic exam stirrups or speculum involved. Research has shown that the results are just as accurate as when samples are collected by a clinician. Self-collection has the potential to…
There's a new way to screen for cervical cancer with self-collection. People can take a sample of cells from their own vagina to test for HPV. The FDA recently approved this for use in providers offices. There's no pelvic exam stirrups or speculum involved. Research has shown that the results are just as accurate as when samples are collected by a clinician. Self-collection has the potential to…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
In honor of Cervical Health Awareness Month, the National Cervical Cancer Coalition presents the Cervical Cancer Survivor Series. Across eight episodes, we share stories from cervical cancer survivors across the country, touching on topics including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, as well as advice for others whose lives are impacted by this preventable disease. We also talked to providers…
More than 2.4 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in the U.S. in 2023. Still, the numbers show the cases of reportable STIs tended to decrease, or at least saw a sharp decline in the rate by which they increased. In this episode of the Sex+Health podcast, we talk with Bradley Stoner, MD, PhD, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of…
On this episode of the Sex+Health podcast we talk with Jaylan Daniels, who tells us all about doxy PEP and why he chose to include it as part of his health care regimen.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published guidelines on use of doxy PEP – taking a prescribed dose of the antibiotic doxycycline shortly after sex – to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis in men who have sex with men and transgendered women. This is huge, the first new STI prevention tool in years, and we get the scoop on the promise of doxy PEP from Dr. Philip…
In this episode we talk with Lillian Kreppel, whose diagnosis with stage III anal cancer led her to become a passionate advocate for patients. She's the Executive Director and co-founder of the HPV Cancers Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of the spectrum of HPV-associated cancers, including among the medical community. HPV Cancers Alliance:…
More than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in the U.S. in 2022. In this episode of the Sex+Health podcast, we talk with Laura H. Bachmann, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FACP, Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of STD Prevention, for her thoughts on what's driving the epidemic and why sexually transmitted infections much be treated as a…
In part three of our Disability & Sexual Health Series, we chat with Laura Graham Holmes, Ph.D., about health disparities, sexuality, and research. Dr. Laura Graham Holmes is a clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor at CUNY Hunter College in the Silberman School of Social Work. She is a nationally recognized expert on sexuality and relationships for autistic people. She has published 30…
In part two of our Disability & Sexual Health Series, we chat with Nellie Galindo, MSW, MPH, and AASECT Professional Member, about implicit bias and ableism. She is the founder of Accessible Sexual Health, which is a mission-driven organization that seeks to advance access to comprehensive sex education for people with disabilities. She provides training, resources, and consultation for…
In part one of our Disability & Sexual Health Series, we chat with Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed., AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator, about sex education. She is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Trainer for Elevatus Training. As a national expert on sexuality and intellectual and developmental disabilities, she trains professionals, parents, and individuals to become sexual self-advocates and peer…
In this episode we chat with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kristal DeSantis, M.A., about men, relationships, and masculinity in the modern world. Ms. DeSantis, a psychotherapist and sex educator, is author of the book STRONG: The Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man. LINKS: Kristals DeSantis: https://www.austinstrongrbc.com/meet-kristal Krista's Book:…
In this episode we chat about HPV and head and neck cancers, specifically those of the oropharynx (the area of the throat just behind the oral cavity, so the base of the tongue, soft palate, the tonsils and the walls of the throat) with none other than SupermanHPV himself, Jason Mendelsohn. Listen as Mr. Mendelsohn shares his experiences as a patient with stage 4 HPV-related tonsil cancer - chemo,…
In this episode we chat with Helen Epstein, the author of Getting Through It: My Year of Cancer During Covid in which she chronicles her diagnosis with endometrial cancer and dealing with treatment and its aftermath as a pandemic gripped the world. Resources: Ms. Epstein's website is http://www.helenepstein.com Getting Through It: My Year of Cancer During Covid:…
In this episode we talk with cervical cancer survivor Jolene Whisler, the leader of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition's Peoria, IL chapter. Listen to Ms. Whisler's insights for patients on making treatment easier, talking effectively with the medical team and practicing self-care. Jolene Whisler's NCCC chapter page: https://www.nccc-online.org/nccc-central-illinois-peoria-chapter NCCC's…
The fourth installment in our series on trichomoniasis ("trich") infections focuses on the psychosocial impact of trich. In our conversation with Ina Park, MD, we explore common questions that emerge following a trich diagnosis including how long may one have had the infection before it was detected, what partners need to know in terms of testing and treatment, and how patients and health…
We continue our series on trichomoniasis ("trich") infections with a detailed focus on treatment options. With estimates of more than two million cases annually in the U.S., trich is often without obvious symptoms but, undetected and untreated, can lead to health issues including a greater risk of contracting or transmitting HIV and pregnancy complications including early delivery and low-birth…
Trichomoniasis ("trich") is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection globally, affecting all demographics but with a disproportionate impact on women and marginalized communities. We're chatting in this episode with Denise Linton, DNS, RN, FNP, FAANP about the systemic reasons behind the high rates of trich and other STIs in under-served populations and what we can do to promote…
With roughly two million cases in the U.S., trichomoniasis ("trich") is the most common STI you've never heard of. Most cases don't have obvious symptoms but undetected trich can make it more like to contract or transmit other STIs (like HIV) and the infection is linked to pre-term delivery and low-birth weight babies. Today we chat with Dr. Bobbie Van Der Pol, a professor in the schools of…
If you're a sexually active person— or even if you're not right now—you probably have questions about your sexual health. Like, should I be tested for STIs? Which ones? Or what are my options for preventing pregnancy? You also might have questions about your libido and why it's so low…or so high, and whether that's normal. Or why sex is painful, or getting an erection is so difficult. It's not…
This is one of the most powerful stories we've bring able to chronicle. In this episode we're joined by a very special guest, Eve McDavid, a Google Strategy Executive and Femtech entrepreneur who was diagnosed with stage IIb cervical cancer in January 2020 just one month before her second child was due and two months before COVID shut down much of the country! Come along with us as Eve recounts…
Award-winning actress Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black and Better Things) talks with NCCC about preventing cervical cancer through education and activism
Elle Smith, the newly crowned Miss USA, is also an NCCC chapter leader! Elle is using her reign to promote cervical cancer awareness and chatted with us about her exciting plans for 2022. Elle's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellesmithtv?s=20
Cervical cancer is preventable and that's something to celebrate. We still have work to do though as some communities - especially people of color and rural residents - tend to be diagnosed with cervical cancer more frequently (and often with a more advanced stage). In this episode with chat with Denise Linton, DNS, RN, FNP, FAANP to explore ways to make medical care more accessible and welcoming…
Continuing our two-part series on head and neck cancer today we talk with Dr. Michael Moore, a professor and physician with the Indiana University School of Medicine and president of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. Dr. Moore discusses the connection between HPV and certain head and neck tumors; symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment; prevention strategies including vaccination against HPV; and how…
There are about 61 million women of reproductive age in the United States, many of whom will use some type of birth control for several decades. There are lots of options available, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this episode we're talking with Dr. Noor Dasouki Abu-Alnadi, known as "Dr. Noor" to her patients, to explore what's available including several new and exciting…
Head and neck cancers are increasing in number and one type - oropharyngeal cancers found in the area of the throat just behind the oral cavity, the base of the tongue, soft palate, the tonsils and the walls of the throat - is primarily caused by HPV. In this episode we're talking with Mr. Bob Cupps, who very recently underwent treatment for oropharyngeal cancer talks with us about his…
Cervical cancers can be as unique as the patients in whom they're diagnosed so there's no one size fits all approach to treatment. In this episode we talk with Dr. Leslie Randall, Division Head of Gynecologic Oncology with the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. In addition to current treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation Dr. Randall discusses innovations like…
Ina Park, MD, MS, is the author of Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. In this second part of our conversation with Dr. Park we cover topics including the modern phenomenon of pubic landscaping and how to steer clear of so-called hygiene products you probably don't need. Find the book at www.inapark.net.
