Women's Health Concern

Focus on…
Sexual problems

Written exclusively for Women's Health Concern by Susan Quilliam, renowned relationship psychologist, broadcaster and author

When sex becomes a problem

We all deserve a whole lifetime of happy, fulfilled sex. And given better health in society, improved medical solutions and a greater understanding of the emotions that make for wonderful lovemaking, nowadays we can all potentially have exactly that.

Sadly, though, many of us do suffer sexual problems. We may find it impossible to feel desire at all. We may not be able to get aroused. We may find sex painful. We may not find it easy to climax. All these difficulties are upsetting – but the good news is that there are almost always ways to solve them.

In this Women's Health Concern Focus, we outline the main sexual problems that women experience – and we also briefly cover male sexual problems because these can obviously impact on women's enjoyment.

The Focus is not meant to be read as a whole piece from start to finish. The best way to use it is to:

1: Read about whatever difficulty you have to get background information on your condition and what might be triggering it.

2: Then read the relevant Solutions section for your difficulty, trying each of the ideas suggested until you find one – or a combination of ones – that help solve your problem

3: Once you've made progress, go to the Prevention section to find out how to maintain your improvement.

4: Throughout, use the section on Extra Help to get more information and further possibilities, particularly about counselling.

Remember that at any stage along the way you can contact Women's Health Concern for help and support.

Her Problems

Use this section to check out your particular problem and what may be triggering it, then to find the solution.

When (either of you) loses desire

Right now, not wanting sex the is most common sexual problem of all for women as well as for increasing numbers of men. It's a particularly upsetting issue because society is so sexualised that if you don't want to make love, it can seem as if you're not only failing, but also letting your partner down.

Why does it happen? It could be a natural occurrence. Some scientists think that the first lust you feel in a relationship is programmed by Mother Nature to inevitably die away after about 24 months – in other words, once you've fulfilled your genetic duty, got pregnant and had a child. Other scientific theories suggest that desire is automatically programmed to fade as you get older, so that it's the young, fit and healthy who make (healthy) babies.

But scientists are also realising that much falling desire isn't natural or inevitable – it happens because society expects older folk to be less sexual. Step outside that expectation and research suggests people can still feel sexually enthusiastic well into their eighties!

Researchers have also suggested that lack of desire may be down to boredom – as a relationship develops, couples get into a rut. And particularly for women – who may need lots of scene-setting, foreplay and encouragement – the fact that they don't always get an orgasm may mean they lose interest in sex altogether.

Finally, if a relationship isn't going well, then the undercurrent of anger between partners may kill desire; why make love with someone you hate? On the other hand, if a couple is very, very close they may not need sex to keep them together and so desire fades; sex needs just a bit of healthy distance in order to be exciting.

Solutions
  • Don't panic; desire will ebb and flow throughout life.
  • Don't accept long-term loss of desire; it doesn't have to be like that, even in your later years.
  • Get a medical checkup in case illness is triggering lack of desire.
  • Get your health professional to help you identify whether depression or anxiety may be the root cause.
  • Ask your health professional if you could benefit from any of the new medications that promise to help lack of desire.
  • If your symptoms started after a key life crisis such as job loss, retirement or bereavement, get specialist counselling for that crisis.
  • If your symptoms started after the birth of a baby, get as much support as you can, practical and emotional, to navigate this difficult life stage.
  • Try fantasising to kickstart your desire. If you're short of ideas, read erotic books or watch a sexy video.
  • Update your sexual technique. Needs change, and what turned you on a few years ago may not turn you on now.
  • Expand your sexual options. Over time you may have got into a routine – break that routine by doing different things, in a different order.
  • Make sure that both of you are reaching climax at least 50% of the time so you're motivated to have sex; the resources section lists helpful books.
  • Ask yourself if you are getting enough individual space. If not, negotiate with your partner to develop at least some of your own interests, and to get some regular breaks away from each other and from your family.
  • Make room for sex. Of course job and children are important – but taking time out from them occasionally will help keep you solid as a couple, which in turn will make you more able to work and look after your family. Don't just take a few hours – research suggests you need at least a long weekend to give desire room to return.
  • Face up to whether you are angry with your partner. If you are, resolve that.
  • Be honest; has lust died because the relationship is dying? Get counselling help; most relationships are rescuable, but the sooner you find support, the more likely it is you can turn things round.
  • If it is your partner who is lacking sexual desire, be patient. Given no obvious relationship problems, it's vital to try to persuade him (or her) to get a physical checkup as the cause is almost certainly a medical condition or depresssion.

When sex doesn't quite work

When you first meet your partner, the novelty of making love usually means it's exciting – and that makes up for any problems of knowledge or skill.

But over time, the gaps start to show. Maybe there's a lack of knowledge so that you're not doing the most pleasurable things in the most pleasurable order. Maybe one or both of you doesn't know how to turn the other on, or doesn't know what they themselves need in order to get turned on.

Maybe there's some embarrassment or even fear around sex, and that stops you trying new things, or stops you communicating well with each other. Even if you want to make love, sex becomes a vicious circle of disappointment.

Solutions
  • Build your confidence around sex so that you feel good about yourself in bed.
  • Build your knowledge of how to make the most of lovemaking – sex manuals can help here.
  • Learn from your partner. Everyone is different in bed, so ask him (or her) to show you what is a turn-on.
  • Teach your partner. He (or she) isn't a mind reader, so be prepared to show and tell, give guidance, ask for what you want.
  • If there are nasty memories of sex in your past, rethink them – probably with the help of a counsellor – and lay them to rest.
  • Prioritise communication with your partner, about sex and about your relationship. The best lovemaking is based on the best talking.

When sex is painful

What usually causes pain during lovemaking is infection, inflammation, or damage. Post-birth tearing, sexually transmitted infections, conditions such as endometriosis, can all mean sex feels very uncomfortable.

In particular, penetration can be difficult because you aren't lubricating properly. This could be because your hormones are imbalanced – perhaps after birth, during the menopause, because you are on the oral contraceptive pill, or because foreplay isn't long enough or of the right kind.

Finally, even if everything is fine physically and you're getting the right kind of lovemaking, your emotions may be causing the pain. Perhaps you can't let go and get fully aroused. Perhaps there's so much bad feeling in your relationship that penetration feels simply wrong.

Solutions
  • Use lots of lube; any good pharmacist will stock many varieties. Choose one that doesn't advertise as 'stimulating' or 'tingle' and if you are using condoms make sure to choose a lube that is condom friendly.
  • A good position is 'woman on top' so you can control the speed and depth of penetration. Lower yourself down slowly and try different angles to see which is the most comfortable.
  • If intercourse still hurts, take a break from it until the problem clears up; it will only make you more wary and so more likely to hurt. Don't take a break from lovemaking though – you still have the option of hand, tongue, a sex toy or simply cuddling.
  • Make sure you are fully aroused before penetration. Include lots of foreplay, and massage the vaginal entrance with lubricated fingers (yours or your partner's) to open yourself up.
  • See your GP. Get infections treated, hormones balanced. If you are coming up to or past the menopause, ask for hormonal medication to stop the vaginal tissues from losing their plumpness.
  • If there are no medical issues, then think about whether the pain you're feeling means you don't want to be penetrated. Is that because you don't trust your partner? Is it because you resent them? Talking to a counsellor about your emotions will help clear them and let you relax and enjoy sex.

When penetration is impossible

One estimate says that 20% of women will at some point be unable to allow penetration at all. The vagina spasms and blocks entry – the medical word for this is vaginismus.

Why this happens is unclear, but it's more likely to be down to psychological than medical causes. Perhaps a woman has got the message, early in life, that sex is dirty, bad or wrong; she might have had emotionally (or physically) painful sexual experiences in the past; she might be worried about getting pregnant and so be wary to have sex. All of these thoughts and feelings may trigger a kind of 'off-switch' that closes up her vagina.

Solutions
  • Rule out any medical causes with a visit to your GP.
  • Don't simply grit your teeth and carry on, even if you feel guilty or that you are letting your partner down; this will only make things worse by giving you more experience of the problem.
  • If you feel able, try these exercises to gradually get used to opening your vagina. Lubricate the tip of one finger and insert it just slightly. Bear down onto that finger, then push slightly in and bear down again. If you feel your muscles tightening, deliberately tense and then relax so you feel you have control over what is happening.
  • Over days and weeks, insert two then three fingers, then a vibrator or dildo. Always relax. Then get your partner to enter you with one, two and then three fingers, then his penis or a sex toy. When you feel ready, move to intercourse by using the 'woman on top' position and lowering yourself slowly onto your partner.
  • If you can't get this far, if you can't allow anything into your vagina, then don't give up. Get counselling, which will help you explore what you need to resolve the problem.

When you can't climax

If you've never been able to reach orgasm even by yourself the cause may well be physical. Sometimes it's caused by medical conditions, sometimes by medications (like antidepressants).

The cause may also be psychological. In particular, researchers have discovered that anxiety, depression and relationship problems affect a woman's orgasm. It's as if your body and mind have to be completely unworried and secure in order for you to relax enough to let go.

Many women can orgasm by themselves or when a partner stimulates their clitoris, but can't orgasm with penetration. This is absolutely normal. To climax, women usually need their clitoris stimulated – just as most men need their penis stimulated – and the way our bodies are designed means that intercourse automatically stimulates the penis but doesn't necessarily stimulate the clitoris. It may be upsetting, but it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you!

Solutions
  • Get a physical checkup in case your problem is hormonal imbalance or medical conditions.
  • If you've recently started taking a new form of medication, and your inability to orgasm has followed that, talk to your health professional about whether you can change to a different medication.
  • Stress can very quickly stop you climaxing. Instead, relax as much as possible, play music during lovemaking to help you concentrate on your sensations, drink (just a small amount of) alcohol to reduce tension.
  • If you get very anxious or feel guilty at the thought of orgasming, then that could cause a problem. Did someone in your past tell you that sexual pleasure was wrong? Did someone tell you thad bad things would happen if you enjoyed yourself? It may help to see a counsellor to rethink those messages. The resources section at the end of this Focus lists helpful organisations.
  • Don't fake it. If your partner doesn't know you're not having an orgasm, the two of you will never find ways to help you have one.
  • Try using a clitoral pump – available from sex shops and websites – which increases the blood flow to your clitoris and so makes the sensations stronger.
  • Try using a vibrator; the stimulation it creates could tip you over the edge.
  • Try stimulating lubrication gels; there are some new ones specially created to help women orgasm.
  • Communicate; once you know what you need in order to climax, tell your partner.
  • If you can climax alone but not during intercourse, experiment with different positions – particularly ones where you're in charge and can control what happens. If you have particular speeds, touches, rhythm or pelvic angles that work when you masturbate, use these in intercourse.
  • As most women can't orgasm without clitoral stimulation, learn to include this in intercourse. Reach down and touch yourself with a hand or a sex toy.
  • Try the Coital Alignment Technique (CAT) which some researchers claim gets a result for 77% of couples who try it. He goes on top in the missionary position, but rather than taking the weight on his elbows, lies on his partner so that his pubic bone touches her clitoris. Then he thrusts by sliding up and down her body, so that with each movement her clitoris is stimulated.
  • If you hardly ever climax or have never climaxed at all, teach yourself how to do so more easily. Try touching yourself with your fingertips, concentrating on your sensations; as they build, relax more and more, breathe deeply and angle your pelvis upwards. Practise this every day. More detailed suggestions can be found in the book How to Have an Orgasm, listed in the "Extra Help" section.

His Problems

Of course your male partner's sexual issues are going to impact on you. As well as the loss of desire mentioned above, he can suffer from the following

Erectile dysfunction, when he can't get it up.

Every man is going to experience this at some time – often if he's nervous about being with a new partner; there's no need to panic about a one-off hiccup. But if erectile dysfunction happens regularly, then it needs to be taken seriously.

In the past, health professionals used to think that it was always down to psychological or relationship issues. But be reassured – it's now clear that many erectile problems are down to medical conditions such as slow blood flow or early diabetes.

Solutions
  • With any erectile issue, be supportive. Blaming him – or yourself – will not help at all! The more you can reassure your partner that you still love him – and that you know he loves you
  • the easier it will be for him to get his confidence back and recover.
  • When the problem first happens, try immediate first aid. Stimulate him by hand; offer oral sex; lie spoons with him behind you and then ease his flaccid penis inside your vagina and move slowly. Sorting the issue immediately means he won't think himself into a panic loop next time you make love.
  • If his erection difficulty consistently follows a drinking bout, then cutting down on alcohol will help – as will stopping smoking and recreational drugs.
  • If the problem's long-lasting. support your partner to go for a checkup – remember that erectile dysfunction can be the first sign of a medical condition. Remind him that his GP will be used to seeing men with erectile dysfunction and typically will be able to both diagnose and treat quickly and easily.
  • If the problem isn't medical, also support your partner to get psychosexual therapy. Men in particular can be wary of seeing a counsellor; reassure him that it's no sign of failure but a very effective way of solving the issue.

Premature ejaculation, when he climaxes very quickly

If your partner doesn't last very long – the average, by the way, is about 5-7 minutes – that's going to be unsatisfying for him, and for you. If he's never been able to keep going, then the problem may be down to a genetic disposition or imbalanced hormones.

Or, on the psychological side, it could be that he's never learnt to notice and then respond to the signals of approaching climax so he simply doesn't hold back when he should. If he was once able to hold back and now can't, this could be down to a recent infection, a build up of stress or nervousness, or relationship issues.

Solutions
  • For instant first aid, you or he should grasp his penis firmly between thumb and forefinger and squeeze for about 30 seconds. This will soften his erection so he can carry on for longer.
  • Other ways to help are: making love when he's a bit tired; holding back on highly-arousing activities such as oral sex; stimulating his prostate to create a less-sensitive erection by inserting a clean finger into his anal passage and rubbing firmly on the side nearest his tummy.
  • Avoid the sex shop creams that claim to help; they're anaesthetic so reduce both his pleasure and yours.
  • If the problem has only happened recently but now happens all the time, get him talking to his GP. This pattern of premature ejaculation is often down to a developing medical condition or to a newly-prescribed medication that is triggering climax.
  • Get your partner doing 'stop start' exercises. Over a period of a few weeks, he should practise masturbating until he has an erection, then stop until it fades, then start again; this will help him learn to control his climax. The Resources section lists books that describe this exercise in more detail.
  • If he fnds it difficult to learn control on his own or from a book, suggest he sees a counsellor; even a few sessions can help.

Delayed ejaculation, when he takes for ever to climax.

Lasting for hours may not seem to be a problem – after all, isn't it great if a man can keep going for ages? But if it happens too long, too often, that's very frustrating for him – and for you if you have taken your orgasm and are bored waiting for him to finish.

Medically, the cause may be neurological damage, a disease such as diabetes, or the side effect of medication. Psychologically, delayed ejaculation may be down to guilt – he doesn't feel he deserves an orgasm; a fear of pregnancy – he doesn't want to climax in case he impregnates you; a need to please you – he wants to keep going as long as he can.

Solutions
  • If your partner has never been able to ejaculate, then he needs to see a medical specialist who will check out whether everything is in working order.
  • If he has temporary difficulty, then he may simply need more stimulation. Encourage him to fantasise more; offer more foreplay; offer hand or oral help; suggest positions that give him more friction, such as the missionary position.
  • He may have got into a vicious circle of not being able to orgasm because he's anxious. He should try masturbating alone – relaxing if he feels himself tensing up – until he can climax easily and without anxiety. When he's confident doing this, he can allow you in the room but watching... then cuddling him while he masturbates... then masturbating closer and closer to your vagina; keep practising until he can comfortably enter and ejaculate inside you. The Resources section lists books that describe this exercise in more detail.
  • If doing this exercise alone doesn't help, then support your partner to try sex therapy.

When sexual problems cause relationship problems

Whatever your (or your partner's) sexual difficulties, the impact on you might not just be sexual. You might both question your own attractiveness – particularly if you are not in the first flush of youth. You might both feel angry that things are going so wrong. You might question your partnership, think love is dying, and understandably get down about that.

Then trust starts to fail, and the bonds of affection loosen. You may panic and – without meaning to – turn what may simply be a medical problem into a relationship crisis.

Solutions
  • Try to spot immediately when sexual issues are causing tension and strain and nip this in the bud. The stronger and longer-lasting your negative feelings about your partner are, the harder it will be to solve the problem.
  • Try not to blame yourself if the problem is yours. Try not to blame your partner if the problem is theirs. Two-way acceptance, understanding and support are crucial.
  • Keep communicating. Tell each other your thoughts and feelings about what is happening. Discuss in detail what solutions you can find. Make solving this a joint project.
  • Keep cuddling. Even if you're not having sex, keep the physical contact to stay feeling close.
  • Go for counselling to support you through this difficult time. Getting help is not a sign that you're failing.

Prevention

Use this section to pinpoint ways that you (and your partner) can avoid sexual problems before they start, and keep problems at bay once you've solved them.

Keep healthy

Because many sexual issues are triggered by ill health, it's important to eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise, monitor your stress levels. In particular, only drink moderately and give up smoking completely.

Look after your sexual health too; even if you are past the age where you need to use contraception, you may need to use protection if you are in a new relationship. The Family Planning Association (details in our resources section) has lots of information about sexually transmitted infections and how to avoid and treat them.

Tackle medical conditions

With any sexual difficulty, begin by having a medical checkup. Many problems are down to illness rather than personal or relationship hiccups.

Manage any medical condition to reduce the impact on your sexuality. If you tire easily, make love early in the morning; if pain or stiffness is the issue, take pain killers or have a hot bath half-an-hour before lovemaking; use positions that take the weight off injured parts; if intercourse is painful, remember the possibilities of hand, mouth and sex toys.

If you notice a sudden problem after starting a particular sort of medication, talk to your health professional about alternatives.

Remember that illness not only makes it physically more difficult to have sex; it also lowers your self-confidence and your body image which in turn impacts on your sex life.

Challenge unhelpful thoughts

Some sexual problems are directly due to the way you think about sex – which in turn is probably due to the way you were brought up to think about sex. It could be that when you were young, sex was seen as bad or dirty – and that's why you can't enjoy yourself here and now.

What you need is to rethink any negative thoughts about your own body, about your partner's body, about sex itself and see all of these in a positive way. Learn 'sexual selfishness', so you can concentrate on your own sensations and your own pleasure as well as your partner's when you are making love.

Explore your preferences – through fantasising, masturbation, experimenting. Say no to what you don't like, and say a big yes to what you like.

Learn how

Making love takes knowledge, skill and some technique – and there are no lessons in all this. So sometimes people don't know the basics; often they don't have the confidence to try new things; occasionally watching porn movies leaves folk with completely the wrong idea about what what will please a partner. Plus, even if you've been making love for years, it's always worthwhile learning more and expanding your repertoire.

Get a good sex manual or browse the web for an inspirational rather than tacky website, and go through it, alone or together. Read aloud to your partner the things you suspect they didn't know. Highlight the games you'd like to try.

Make sex centre stage in your relationship

Sex is a hugely positive force in a relationship – it binds you together and keeps you together when the going gets tough. So learn to please your partner, allow him (or her) to please you – and learn to communicate what you like to each other. In particular, talk about sex before, during and after.

If your relationship starts to go wrong, that will impact on your sex life; so tackle any anger or resentment and if things are bad, get counselling help sooner rather than later.

And constantly update your sex lives; what pleases you will change over time, so let each other know regularly if you want something new or different.

Extra Help

Use this section to find the support you need to solve your problem yourself, or with the help of others.

Counselling

It can seem scary getting psychological help for your problems. You might think it means that you're not quite sane, or that you're to blame – or that it will involve pouring your heart out to a stranger or having sex in the therapy room. Actually, it means none of these things – and all the evidence is that with sexual issues, counselling (sometimes called therapy) often has very good results. To start you off, and reassure you, here are some basic answers to common questions.

When should I be thinking about counselling?

It's worthwhile trying counselling if you've had your problem for six months or longer; if you've had a medical checkup and there seems to be no physical cause; if you and your health professional have tried to solve the issue but haven't been able to. Or, if you feel that your problem is down to emotional causes, past negative experiences of sex, a lack of knowledge or skill, or relationship conflict.

What sort of counselling should I try?

There are three main kinds of counselling that might help – though they can overlap. Relationship counselling takes your partnership as a starting point and explores how that's affecting your sex life. Psychosexual therapy deals more directly with sexual problems, particularly those that are down to lack of knowledge or practice.

Sometimes, difficulties are triggered by a life event such as redundancy or bereavement – if so, then you can have counselling specifically aimed at helping you through that crisis. If you do begin with one sort of counselling, and it becomes clear that you might do better with the other sort, you can swap.

Does my partner need to come with me to counselling?

Particularly with sex therapy where both partners are likely to practise techniques as a couple, you'll get better results if you go together. That said, you can still get results from counselling if just one of you attends. The really important thing is that you're both willing – if you're not, then that will block the effectiveness of the counselling. If your partner really doesn't want to go, don't force it but simply go alone.

How do I start?

Your GP can often refer you, particularly if you've seen him or her about the sexual problem to begin with. Or you can make your own choice; Relate (see Resources section) offers excellent psychosexual therapy or you can log on to the British Association of Sexual and Relationship Therapists website to find a list of professionals in your area. Begin by meeting the counsellor for an initial 'no commitment' session to see if you get on – if you don't, then you probably won't feel at ease working with them. In particular, if you want a counsellor of your own gender, then hold out for that.

How much will it cost?

If you go to a counsellor working within your GP practice or local NHS hospital, the sessions will be free but may have a longer waiting list, less choice and a more limited number of sessions. If you go to a private counsellor or through a counselling organisation such as Relate, you will have to pay but can choose who you want to work with, and may get seen more quickly. Check out costs with your counsellor when you first phone to make an appointment.

How many sessions will I need?

How long is a piece of string? But most sessions are weekly or fortnightly, 50 minutes long, and you may need a few months of sessions. If your problems come from your relationship, you may need counselling for longer in order to uncover complex partnership issues.

What will I have to do?

In general or relationship counselling as opposed to psychosexual therapy, then the activity will be mostly talking. The counsellor may ask you to explore childhood memories, describe past relationships, say what you feel about your partner. This is all so that you can start thinking about yourself and your sexuality in a more helpful way – a way that lets you feel good about what you do in bed. You won't be pressed to talk about anything uncomfortable, or to reveal details that you don't want to reveal.

Once you've started to explore your feelings, the counsellor will then work with you to form an action plan. This may be to gain more knowledge about sex, to take on board information, to relax and feel less anxious. If the problem involves both you and your partner, the action plan may aim to help you to communicate well about what pleases you, to share your fantasies, or to negotiate what you want or don't want.

In more sexually-oriented counselling, the counsellor may suggest you do some practical exercises – perhaps learning to touch each other in a more relaxed way, or trying new positions. But you'll never be asked to do these exercises in the counselling room, only at home between sessions. If you find the tasks difficult, don't worry; talking about your embarrassment, or reluctance is part of the process of solving your problem. Remember, you'll never be pushed to do anything you don't want to do.

Won't the counsellor be shocked?

Counsellors typically see several clients or couples a week, and have often been seeing clients for decades. So they've heard it all before, they won't judge you or criticise you – and everything is always confidential.

Useful books

How to have an Orgasm... as often as you want, by Rachel Swift (published by Marlowe and Company).

Overcoming Sexual Problems, by Vicki Ford (published by Robinson publishing).

Rekindling Desire by Barry and Emily McCarthy (published by Brunner-Routledge).

Sleeping with ED, by Victoria Lehmann & Mike Kirby (published by National Services for Health Improvement).

The New Joy of Sex by Alex Comfort and Susan Quilliam (published by Mitchell Beazley).

The New Male Sexuality by Bernie Zilbergeld (published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing).

The Relate Guide to Sex in Later Life, by Marj Thoburn and Suzy Powling (published by Vermilion).

The Relate Guide to Sex in Loving Relationships, by Sarah Litvinoff (published by Vermilion).

Useful organisations and websites

Family Planning Association www.fpa.org.uk 0845 122 8690 provides advice on contraception and sexually transmitted infections.

Relate www.relate.org.uk or 03001001234 offers relationship and psychosexual counselling at local centres.

The British Association of Sex and Relationship Therapy (BASRT) www.basrt.org.uk or 0208 543 2707 can refer to relationship and psychosexual counsellors.

The Sexual Dysfunction Association www.sda.uk.net provides a number of self help services and referrals.

www.queery.org.uk is an online directory listing resources and organisations for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

www.outsiders.org.uk gives advice, support and help to all disabled people who want a sexual life.

www.vaginismus-awareness-network.org offers detailed information for women.

This article has been produced by Women's Health Concern and reviewed by members of our Medical Advisory Panel. It is for your information and advice and should be used in consultation with your own medical practitioner.

Date of preparation: June 2010

Women's Health Concern is an independent charity and receives no government funding.

Registered Charity No. 279651

Telephone advice line: 0845 123 2319

Email advice: advice[at]womens-health-concern.org (NB: please type @ instead of [at] in your email)

Website: www.womens-health-concern.org

Susan Quilliam

Susan Quilliam

See also...

The following health information factsheets:

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