What this is: A central resource connecting you to everything we've written about sexual health, from hormones and libido to pain during sex, pelvic floor health, managing medication side effects, and navigating the health system. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you need it.
Sex education in this country gave most of us a diagram of a uterus, a brief mention of condoms, and absolutely nothing about pleasure, pain, hormones, or what happens to your body in the decades after school. The rest, we've had to figure out alone. This resource centre is for all the questions you've been meaning to look up, the ones you've been too embarrassed to ask your GP, and the ones you didn't know you had until something changed.
How to use this page
This is a hub. It connects to detailed guides on specific topics. Each guide is written to stand alone, you can read whichever ones are relevant to you right now and skip the rest. They're not sequential, and there's no required reading order. Pick what applies, read it, and come back for more when life throws you something new.
Every guide includes a direct answer at the top (no scrolling required), frequently asked questions, cited sources, and links to relevant health services. We've written each one in plain language because medical jargon helps nobody when you're trying to understand your own body.
Your body through life stages
Your sexual health doesn't stay the same. It shifts with age, hormones, life events, medications, and a dozen other factors that nobody warns you about in advance. Here's where to start depending on what's going on.
Periods and sex
Periods affect your sex life in ways that go beyond the obvious. Hormonal fluctuations throughout your cycle change arousal, sensitivity, lubrication, and comfort levels. Some people want more sex around ovulation. Some find period sex relieves cramps. Some want to be left entirely alone. All of it is normal. Read: Sex and your period.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 women and people with uteruses during their reproductive years, and it can make sex painful, exhausting, or both. Understanding why and what you can do about it makes a real difference. Read: Endometriosis and intimacy.
Menopause
Declining oestrogen affects vaginal tissue, lubrication, arousal, and sensitivity. None of this means your sex life is over, it means it's changing, and there are practical things you can do. Read: Sex during menopause.
After having a baby
Postpartum bodies are recovering, hormones are recalibrating, sleep is nonexistent, and the pressure to "get back to normal" is unhelpful. There's a wide range of normal when it comes to returning to sex after birth. Read: Postpartum sexuality.
Your body and how it works
Hormones and desire
Testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol, they all play a role in how much you want sex and how your body responds when you have it. Understanding the hormonal picture helps you make sense of why your sex drive isn't constant, and why that's completely fine. Read: Hormones and your sex drive: what's really going on.
The pelvic floor
Your pelvic floor muscles affect orgasm intensity, arousal, continence, and comfort during penetration. They weaken with age, pregnancy, and inactivity, and they can also be too tight, which causes its own problems. Read: The pelvic floor and sex: what the connection actually looks like.
When sex hurts
Pain during sex is common (research suggests up to 75% of women experience it at some point) and it's almost always treatable. The problem is that people don't talk about it, so they assume it's normal or that nothing can be done. Neither is true. Read: When sex hurts: causes, solutions, and when to see someone.
Your body and medication
Antidepressants
SSRIs and SNRIs are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world, and sexual side effects, reduced desire, difficulty with arousal, delayed or absent orgasm, are among their most common side effects. Between 40-65% of people on SSRIs experience some form of sexual dysfunction. There are strategies for managing this, and you shouldn't have to choose between your mental health and your sex life. Read: Antidepressants and your sex drive: the side effect nobody prepares you for.
Protecting your sexual health
STIs
Sexually transmitted infections are common, mostly treatable, and far less scary when you actually understand them. Regular testing is the baseline, and knowing your status is the most responsible thing you can do for yourself and anyone you're sleeping with. Read: STIs guide.
Navigating sexual health services in the UK
Knowing what's available and how to access it is half the challenge. We've put together a guide to help you navigate the sexual health system in the UK, what's free, what's subsidised, how to find a provider, and what to expect at an appointment. Read: Your guide to NHS sexual health services (and how to actually use them).
Talking to your partner about sexual health
Sexual health isn't a solo project when you're in a relationship. And yet, bringing it up feels awkward for most people. Here's the reality: partners who communicate about sexual health have better outcomes, fewer infections, and more satisfying sex lives. Research consistently shows that couples who discuss testing, contraception, and preferences openly are more likely to use protection consistently and to seek help when something's not right.
You don't need a script. You need honesty. "I want to get tested before we stop using condoms" is a complete sentence. "Sex has been hurting and I'm going to see someone about it" is information your partner deserves. "My sex drive has been low since I started medication" is an explanation, not an apology.
If you're not sure how to start these conversations, the articles linked above each include guidance on communicating with partners about that specific topic.
When to seek professional help
Not every sexual health concern requires a doctor. But some do. Here's when to book an appointment:
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Pain during sex that doesn't resolve with lubrication and position changes
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Any new symptoms in the genital area (unusual discharge, sores, lumps, itching, bleeding)
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A significant change in your sex drive that's affecting your quality of life or relationship
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Difficulty with orgasm that wasn't previously an issue
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Suspicion of STI exposure (even without symptoms)
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Ongoing difficulty with arousal despite feeling mentally interested
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Any sexual health concern that's causing you anxiety or distress
Starting with your GP is usually the right move. From there, they can refer you to specialists (gynaecologists, pelvic floor physiotherapists, psychologists, endocrinologists) depending on what's going on. In the UK, NHS Sexual Health Services can also point you toward relevant services.
Where pleasure and health meet
We sell vibrators. We know that. But we also know that sexual wellness is bigger than the products. Understanding your body, knowing when something's off, feeling confident enough to seek help, and having access to good information, that's the foundation. The products are better when the foundation is solid.
Everything VUSH makes is designed with body safety in mind: medical-grade silicone, properly tested, clearly materials-listed. If you're looking for something that works with your body rather than against it, browse the collection.
Things we wish everyone knew
If we could sit every person down and tell them a few things about sexual health, it would be these:
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Your sex drive is not a fixed trait. It changes with age, hormones, stress, medication, sleep, relationship dynamics, and life stage. Fluctuation is the norm, not the exception.
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Pain during sex is never something to push through. It's treatable in almost every case. Please see someone.
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STI testing is not a big deal, and getting tested regularly is the responsible baseline for anyone who's sexually active with new or changing partners.
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Your body is yours. You don't owe anyone sex. You don't owe anyone an explanation for what you want or don't want. Boundaries are not rejections — they're self-respect.
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Pleasure is not frivolous. Pursuing what feels good in your body is a legitimate, healthy part of being human. There's nothing guilty about it.
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Talking about sex, with partners, with healthcare providers, with yourself — gets easier the more you do it. The first conversation is the hardest. It gets better from there.
A note on language
We write these guides using language like "women" and "people with uteruses" and "people with penises" depending on context. We're trying to be accurate without being clinical or exclusionary. If you have a body, these guides are for you. The anatomy is the anatomy; who it belongs to is your business.
Related reads
All guides in this series: STIs Guide · Sex and Your Period · Endometriosis and Intimacy · Sex During Menopause · Postpartum Sexuality · Pelvic Floor and Sex · Hormones and Sex Drive · When Sex Hurts · Antidepressants and Sex Drive · Your guide to NHS sexual health services (and how to actually use them)
FAQs
Is this page medical advice?
No. Everything here is educational, written from reviewed research and clinical guidelines. It's meant to inform, not diagnose or replace a conversation with your doctor or sexual health provider. If something feels off, see a professional. NHS Sexual Health Services is a good starting point if you're in the UK.
Why does a vibrator company write about sexual health?
Because sexual wellness includes sexual health, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. We talk to thousands of people about their bodies and their pleasure every week. The questions that come up aren't just about products, they're about pain, hormones, medications, shame, and not knowing where to go for help. We'd rather answer those questions properly than pretend they don't exist.
Who writes these guides?
The VUSH content team, with research drawn from peer-reviewed studies, clinical guidelines, and established sexual health organisations. We cite our sources in every article. We're not doctors, and we say so clearly. But we are committed to getting the facts right.
Can I share these guides?
Please do. The more people who have access to clear, non-judgemental sexual health information, the better. Send a link, screenshot a section, forward the page to someone who needs it.
Sources
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World Health Organisation (2006). Defining sexual health: report of a technical consultation.
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Mitchell, K.R. et al. (2013). Sexual function in Britain: findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. The Lancet, 382(9907), 1817-1829.
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Shifren, J.L. et al. (2008). Sexual problems and distress in United States women. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 112(5), 970-978.
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NHS Sexual Health Services — sexual health support in the UK.