Body & health
Anatomy, hormones, cycles and common conditions, explained plainly. Health entries cite public-health sources and are general information, not individual medical advice.
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Entries in this topic are written from public-health sources and are general information, not medical advice.
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- ArousalSexual arousal is the combination of mental excitement and physical changes, such as increased blood flow to the genitals, that happens in response to sexual thoughts or stimulation.
- Bacterial vaginosisBacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in which the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina shifts, often causing thin grey-white discharge with a fishy smell.
- BalanitisInflammation of the head of the penis, which becomes swollen, sore or itchy. It is common, usually not serious, and treatable.
- Bartholin's cystA fluid-filled lump near the opening of the vagina, caused when one of the small Bartholin's glands becomes blocked.
- Cervical screeningCervical screening is a routine test that checks cells from the cervix for high-risk HPV and early changes that could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.
- CervixThe cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that opens into the top of the vagina. It lets menstrual blood out, produces mucus, and widens during childbirth.
- CircumcisionCircumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. It is done for religious, cultural or medical reasons, or as part of HIV prevention programmes in some regions.
- ClitorisThe clitoris is a highly sensitive organ of the vulva whose main known function is sexual pleasure. Only its small tip, the glans, is visible; most of it lies beneath the skin.
- DyspareuniaDyspareunia is the medical term for persistent or recurring pain before, during or after sex.
- EndometriosisEndometriosis is a long-term condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, most often in the pelvis, causing inflammation, pain and sometimes fertility problems.
- EpididymitisSwelling and pain in the epididymis, the coiled tube behind each testicle, usually caused by an infection.
- Erectile dysfunctionErectile dysfunction is an ongoing difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for the sex a person wants. Occasional difficulty is normal and not the same thing.
- EstrogenEstrogen (oestrogen) is a group of hormones, produced mainly by the ovaries, that regulate the menstrual cycle and support bone, heart, skin and vaginal health.
- Fallopian tubesThe fallopian tubes are two narrow tubes that carry an egg from each ovary towards the uterus. Fertilisation usually happens inside one of them.
- Female genital mutilationFemale genital mutilation (FGM) covers procedures that injure or remove part of the external female genitals for non-medical reasons. It has no health benefits and is recognised internationally as a human rights violation.
- FertilityFertility is the natural ability to conceive a pregnancy or to contribute to one. It depends on healthy eggs, sperm, reproductive organs and hormones.
- ForeskinThe foreskin is the retractable fold of skin that covers the glans (tip) of the penis in people who have not been circumcised.
- HymenThe hymen is a thin, flexible fold of tissue at or just inside the vaginal opening. Its shape varies widely and it cannot show whether someone has had sex.
- Hypoactive sexual desireHypoactive sexual desire (HSDD) is a clinical term for a persistent lack of sexual thoughts or interest in sex that causes the person significant distress.
- InfertilityInfertility is the inability to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex. It affects people of all genders and is common worldwide.
- Kegel exercisesKegel exercises are repeated squeezes and releases of the pelvic floor muscles, used to strengthen them and improve bladder control.
- LabiaThe labia are the folds of skin of the vulva: the outer labia (labia majora) and the inner labia (labia minora), which surround and protect the vaginal and urethral openings.
- LibidoLibido is a person's overall interest in or desire for sexual activity. It varies widely between people and changes over a lifetime.
- LubricantA lubricant is a gel or liquid used to reduce friction and dryness during sex or medical examinations, making touch more comfortable and lowering the risk of condoms breaking or skin tearing.
- MasturbationMasturbation is touching or stimulating your own body for sexual pleasure. It is a common, normal part of sexuality at all ages and in and out of relationships.
- MenopauseMenopause is the point when periods stop permanently because the ovaries no longer release eggs, confirmed after 12 months without a period. It most often happens between about 45 and 55.
- Menstrual cycleThe menstrual cycle is the roughly monthly sequence of hormonal changes that prepares the body for a possible pregnancy, counted from the first day of one period to the day before the next.
- MenstruationMenstruation, or having a period, is the monthly shedding of the uterine lining through the vagina when a pregnancy has not occurred.
- Nocturnal emissionA nocturnal emission, or wet dream, is ejaculation or genital arousal that happens during sleep. It is a normal part of puberty and can continue into adulthood.
- OrgasmAn orgasm is the peak of sexual response, usually felt as an intense release of built-up tension with rhythmic muscle contractions in the pelvic area, followed by relaxation.
- OvariesThe ovaries are two small organs on either side of the uterus that store and release eggs and produce hormones, mainly estrogen and progesterone.
- OvulationOvulation is the release of a mature egg from an ovary, usually about 10 to 16 days before the next period. It is the time in the cycle when pregnancy is possible.
- PCOSPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that can cause irregular or absent periods, higher levels of androgens, and many small follicles on the ovaries.
- Pelvic floorThe pelvic floor is a hammock-like group of muscles and connective tissue at the base of the pelvis that supports the bladder, bowel and, where present, the uterus.
- PenisThe penis is an external genital organ in people typically assigned male at birth. It carries urine and semen out of the body through the urethra and becomes erect when its spongy tissue fills with blood.
- PerimenopausePerimenopause is the transition before menopause, often lasting several years, when hormone levels fluctuate and periods become irregular.
- PerineumThe perineum is the area of skin and muscle between the genitals and the anus. It supports the pelvic organs and is part of the pelvic floor.
- Peyronie's diseasePeyronie's disease is a condition in which scar tissue (plaque) forms inside the penis, causing it to bend or narrow when erect and sometimes causing pain.
- PMDDPremenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual distress in which depression, anxiety, anger or mood swings in the days before a period significantly disrupt life.
- Premature ejaculationPremature ejaculation means regularly ejaculating sooner than a person or their partner would like, with little sense of control, in a way that causes distress.
- Premenstrual syndromePremenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of physical and emotional symptoms, such as bloating, breast tenderness, irritability or low mood, that appear in the days before a period and ease once it starts.
- PriapismA long-lasting, often painful erection that is not caused by sexual arousal and does not go away. It can be a medical emergency.
- ProstateThe prostate is a walnut-sized gland below the bladder, in people typically assigned male at birth, that makes part of the fluid in semen.
- PubertyPuberty is the stage of development when a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, driven by rising sex hormones.
- Refractory periodThe refractory period is the recovery time after orgasm during which a person is less responsive to sexual stimulation and, for people with a penis, usually cannot get another erection.
- ScrotumThe scrotum is the pouch of skin and muscle behind the penis that holds the testicles and helps keep them at the right temperature.
- Sexual dysfunctionSexual dysfunction is a broad term for persistent problems with desire, arousal, orgasm or pain that cause a person distress.
- Sexual health checkA sexual health check is a routine visit, often to a sexual health clinic, to test for STIs and talk about contraception, vaccines, PrEP and any concerns about sexual or reproductive health.
- TesticlesThe testicles are two oval glands held in the scrotum that produce sperm and the hormone testosterone.
- Testicular self-examinationTesticular self-examination means regularly feeling your testicles so you know what is normal for you and can notice new lumps, swelling or changes early.
- TestosteroneTestosterone is a hormone, the main androgen, produced mostly by the testicles and in smaller amounts by the ovaries and adrenal glands. It influences sex drive, muscle, bone, hair growth and sperm production.
- ThrushThrush is a common yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida fungi, leading to itching, soreness and sometimes thick white discharge. It can affect the vulva and vagina or the penis.
- Urinary tract infectionA urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection anywhere in the urinary system, most often the bladder, causing a burning feeling when urinating and needing to go often.
- UterusThe uterus, or womb, is a hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis where a fertilised egg can implant and a pregnancy develops. Its lining is shed each month as a period when there is no pregnancy.
- VaginaThe vagina is a muscular, elastic canal that connects the vulva on the outside of the body with the cervix and uterus inside.
- Vaginal dischargeVaginal discharge is fluid made by glands in the vagina and cervix that keeps the vagina clean and moist. Its amount and texture normally change through the menstrual cycle.
- VaginismusVaginismus is an involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina when something is about to enter it, making penetration of any kind painful or impossible.
- VulvaThe vulva is the external part of the genitals in people typically assigned female at birth, including the labia, the clitoral glans, and the openings of the urethra and vagina.
- VulvodyniaVulvodynia is long-lasting pain, burning or stinging in the vulva, lasting at least three months, without an obvious cause such as an infection or skin condition.