Libido refers to your sex drive. Normal levels of libido and sex drive are different for each person and there is no standard that anyone should be compared to. Loss of libido is a type of sexual dysfunction and means a drop in your normal sex drive (not just lower than another person's). It is a common thing for people to experience and can be due to many different things, such as fatigue, stress, symptoms of mental health conditions like depression, difficult personal circumstances, relationship difficulties, physical health conditions or side effects of certain medications.

Tinea cruris (jock itch) is a common fungal skin infection of the groin. Sometimes doctors call it the medical term tinea cruris or ringworm - we should be clear it has nothing to do with worms! This fungal infection usually occurs in warm, moist areas such as the groin or in the armpit area or feet (where it is called tinea pedis or athletes foot). It produces symptoms of a rash that is usually red, sore and itchy and has clear edges that can form a ring-like pattern. It is commonly found in athletes and the elderly but can affect anyone. It is often found in the crease of the groin and can spread a short way down the upper thigh. The majority of cases are mild and can be treated easily with over the counter antifungal creams available from your pharmacist. If the medication is for a child you will be asked to see the doctor first rather than getting an over the counter cream. There are a number of different antifungal creams available (you will see names such as terbinafine, clotrimazole, econazole and miconazole so check the directions that come with each cream as it will tell you how often and how long to use the cream for. Apply the cream to the affected area and to the non-affected skin that is up to 5cm around the affected area.

Erectile dysfunction is when you are unable to get an erection or maintain an erection in order to have sex. It can sometimes be referred to as impotence or shortened to ED, and it is a very common symptom men can experience from time to time. In most cases, there is no serious underlying cause and may improve on its own, although it is important to know there is a treatment that can help. It is especially common in older men with around 1 in 2 men over the age of 40 experiencing ED at some point. Some of the things that can contribute to erectile dysfunction include tiredness, stress or excessive alcohol. The causes of longer-term erectile dysfunction can be split into 3 main types which are psychological, physical health and medication-induced. Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction include stress, performance anxiety (or any anxiety around having sex), relationship issues, or mental health conditions such as depression. With psychological causes, erectile dysfunction usually starts suddenly, not gradually, and it is best to treat the cause (e.g. the mood symptoms) rather than treating the symptom of erectile dysfunction. Treat the mood symptoms, and the erectile dysfunction will hopefully improve. Physical causes are usually the reason for ED in men over 40, with reduced blood flow to the penis being at the top of that list. The arteries in the penis become too narrow for enough blood flow to cause an erection. Men who smoke, have high blood pressure or have high cholesterol levels are more at risk of developing this. With physical causes, erectile dysfunction tends to occur more gradually over time rather. Chronic health conditions that affect nerves or blood flow such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis can also cause ED as well as any damage to the penis or low testosterone levels however these are less common. Some medications can cause or erectile dysfunction worse. These include some of the medications used to treat depression, high blood pressure and prostate problems. It is best to discuss with your doctor if you think this might be the case. Don’t stop taking the medication before speaking with your doctor.

Finasteride (also known by the brand name Propecia) is a medication used to treat hair loss in men. It is also used to manage urinary symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finasteride is used to manage the most common type of hair loss, often associated with ageing, called male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It is commonly used alongside minoxidil liquid or foam, another hair loss medication. Unlike minoxidil, which can only facilitate hair regrowth, finasteride can prevent hair loss as well. Finasteride is considered most effective on the crown area of the scalp, although studies have shown it can benefit all areas of the scalp affected by male pattern baldness. Finasteride is mainly available as tablets to be taken once a day. The best results are seen when the medication is taken every day, and it can take around six to nine months before you see the full effects. Many people that take finasteride experience a shedding phase early on in their treatment (usually in the first few months). This phase causes you to lose more hair than normal as older damaged hairs are lost. These are then replaced by newer and stronger hairs. Shedding is nothing to worry about, and it shows the medication is working. Although finasteride can cause hair regrowth, it is considered to be more of a preventative medication for further hair loss. Therefore, it is best to begin finasteride treatment when you first start to notice signs of male pattern baldness. If you have already lost most of your hair, finasteride is unlikely to be useful as it is not usually associated with massive amounts of hair regrowth. Also, any regrowth that you gain is not permanent; if you stop taking finasteride, this hair will fall out again.

You are never far from sexual health services in the UK. Dedicated clinics are there for phone consultations or visits, online services can post out testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and your GP is also a source of advice, testing and prescriptions. Needs can vary widely, but most people request access to STI tests such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis, emergency contraception, regular contraception. They may offer hepatitis B vaccination if you are at risk, or emergency HIV treatment, if you think you’ve been exposed. They can also advise on safe sex, high risk behaviour, sexual assault or rape, and anonymous contact tracing for a sexual partner or partners if you have tested positive for an STI.