FitSugar

Sex Can Hurt

DearSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:00:00 PDT

Sex is supposed to feel good - we can all agree on that. The thing is though, in order for a woman to get sexually aroused, she's got to be into it emotionally. She needs to feel loved and wanted, and if that's not happening, usually the woman won't get excited, and if she's not excited, her lady business won't create the natural lubrication that's so necessary for making sex feel good.

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That's the whole purpose of foreplay - you've got to warm up the car before you take it for a spin! All that kissing, touching, eye contact, and exchange of loving words arouses women so they're ready for intercourse. If a woman is dry, sex will be painful for her. Also, if you are on hormonal birth control or allergy medicine, vaginal dryness can be one of the annoying side effects.

Whatever the reason for your dryness, there's a personal lubricant out there to help. Astroglide feels very much like what your body creates naturally, but you may feel embarrassed picking up a bottle with a name like that. KY also makes a lubricant that seems less about sex, their Touch Massage 2-in-1 warming and tingling products, that can be used all over your body. Whatever you choose, you'll be happy that you did - it'll make your experience so much better if you suffer from vaginal dryness.

Dear's Advice: Some condoms contain spermicidal lubricant, but I'd steer clear of these - they can cause painful irritation for some women. Look for the condoms that contain only the lubricant without the spermicide.

Allergy Medicine's Sexual Side Effects

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:45:00 PDT

Since seasonal allergies are upon us, many of you may be reaching for allergy pills to get rid of your stuffy or runny nose. These meds do an excellent job of drying up your runny nose, but that's not the only thing getting dried out. Doctors tend to leave out this little tidbit of information: Allergy medicine causes vaginal dryness. It's true and the truth truly hurts.

If you suffer from this problem, you should know allergy medicines containing decongestants are the ones to avoid. The "D" in Claritin D and Allegra D stands for decongestant, but you can buy them "D" free, which will help your dryness situation greatly.

You might also find that other allergy pills dry up your lady business as well such as Sudafed, Zyrtec and Benadryl, so you may want to switch to a nasal spray like Flonase to deal with just your allergy symptoms.

Fit's Tips: If you can't live without the allergy medicine you're taking, I completely understand, but you don't have to deal with annoying dryness either. Pick yourself up some lubricant such as Astroglide or KY personal lubricant and it will make a world of difference in the bedroom.

DrSugar Answers: What's Causing My Night Sweats?

DrSugar — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:54:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's discussing possible causes for night sweats.

Dear DrSugar,
I have been having night sweats and waking up soaking wet about two nights a week. I am only 32, so it better not be menopause! This all started about two months, and interestingly enough I started training for a marathon four months ago. I have been steadily increasing my weekly mileage and have lost some weight and gained some muscle. My period has been a bit lighter too. I still get it, but it is shorter by two days or so. Any idea of what is going on?
- Sweaty Sleeper

First of all, congratulations on training for your first marathon; what an accomplishment that will be! To answer your question, there could be a lot of things going on, and I don’t think I can single in on even a couple of diagnoses, as there are so many things that can cause lighter periods/irregular periods as well as night sweats. Since you mentioned menopause specifically, I will discuss premature menopause today, as well as the common causes of irregular periods and night sweats. I suggest you be seen by your primary care provider for further workup, as there are many diagnoses that would need to be entertained for your constellation of symptoms. To learn more, keep reading.

Don't Let These Meds Dampen Your Sex Drive

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:00:13 PDT

Sometimes we're just not in the mood for sex, but a persistent lack of sexual desire is a bigger issue. Numerous factors can contribute to low libido, including common prescription drugs.

If you've been battling a weak libido, maybe your meds are to blame. To see which drugs can decrease a woman's sex drive,

Allegra, Claritin, and other allergy meds. Certain antihistamines, both over the counter and prescription, can lead to vaginal dryness. If you use these drugs, you may need to supplement your sex with lubricants.
Antidepressants. SSRI drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft can prompt orgasmic dysfunction in women and lessen desire for sex. If you experience this side effect, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage. Since depression can also interfere with sex drive, you don't want your meds working against you!
Antianxiety drugs such as Xanax. Like antidepressants, too much of these medications could decrease sex drive and delay orgasms.
Hormonal birth control. In addition to other side effects, birth control pills and Depo Provera can decrease a woman's sexual desire and arousal. If this happens to you, consider switching to a nonhormonal birth control method.