Sexual Health

By Andrew Kantor

There have been news stories lately (here’s one) about how the rates of STDs among America’s (clearly) active seniors has skyrocketed lately. We’re talking a 24% jump from 2020 to 2023 among patients 65 and older, and about a 16% increase in those 55 to 64.

Clearly “Golden Girls” needs an TV-MA update.

That said, there wasn’t a lot of explanation for the jump. Better health overall? Better medications for sexual health? Infrequent condom use? Discounts on Barry White albums?

But now there’s an answer —

By Zoom H. Heaton, RPh., CDCES, ABAAHP, FAAMFM

Healthcare practitioners often encounter patients presenting with vaginal discomfort and discharge. Two common culprits behind these symptoms are bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections (candidiasis). Although these conditions share similar symptoms, their etiologies, treatments, and implications can vary significantly.

Understanding bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of the vaginal flora. It occurs when an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, including Gardnerella vaginalis, overwhelms the beneficial lactobacilli. BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age.

Clinical presentation

• Thin, grayish-white, homogeneous vaginal discharge
• Fishy odor, especially after intercourse
• Vaginal itching or irritation (less common)

By Andrew Kantor

Hormone treatment — and hormonal birth control — can be life changing for women. But, as with any medication, sometimes there are side effects (especially with medications designed for everyone rather than custom-made).

If you’re curious why “ovarian hormones” can affect mood, for example, a University of Michigan psychologist has the answer with a great explanation of how hormones like birth control affect so many other bodily functions, notably in the brain.

“Estrogen and progesterone have broad effects on neurons and cellular processes that have nothing to do with reproduction,” she explains. In fact, “Estrogen and progesterone also regulate the stress response — the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction.”

That’s why it’s so important to make sure

By Emily Durham, MS, CPhT, Vice President of Business Development, Revelation Pharma Corporation

Would it surprise you to know that as far back as 4,000 years ago, intentional castration was used to create eunuchs and control sexual function? What if I told you the ancient Romans ingested animal testes to promote fertility and strength?

It is apparent that ancient societies understood the effect of testicular function on energy, libido, sexual function, and masculinity. It wasn’t until 40 centuries later, in 1929, that testosterone was first isolated, and four years after that in 1935 that the first studies were published on the chemical synthesis of testosterone. This led to the introduction of testosterone injections and pellets for use in male patients for energy, strength, fertility, and erectile function — what we call testosterone deficiency today.

Great news for the fellas, but probably not for the ladies, right? Not so fast! As