Q&As Most Popular Questions

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch with us here at Men's Sexual Health. Firstly there's a wide range of texture, odor, and taste in normal and healthy semen. There is even variation in color, including opaque white, transparent, and yellowish. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as diet, lifestyle and alcohol consumption and even lack of regular ejaculations. This is a common question asked on our Q&A, so please do not feel alone, a lot of men have suffered from this issue.

From our knowledge, sometimes the causes of jelly-like sperm is the massive concentration of protein compound of your sperm in your testicular sperm bank, usually those teens that masturbate actively for years and suddenly refrain from doing it have a greater chance of having this stuff(though its normal). Because during the time your still active in masturbation your testicles produces more sperm so it needs sugar and protein to produce a liquid substances wherein your sperm swam. So your brain may senses that during your frequent masturbation or sex maybe, it send a message to your testicles to produce more of these substances. Consequently, to the certain point of time you did not masturbate for along period, the sperm and protein base liquid in your testicles may over reproduce and the tendency of this if you were unable to let it ejaculate, it will accumulate in your testicles and becomes highly concentrated. Subsequently this causes your sperm to look like a jelly - like substance...its normal as long its color varies from white to yellowish and no blood or black or green.

Some people find drinking more water, drinking less alcohol and masterbating more often sometimes solves the problem.

You say you went for an STI test, did you discuss with the clinic about your sperm issue and what did they suggest? The fact that you are experiencing pain however we would suggest you see you local GP/Doctor to discuss this further to rule out any other underlying condition.

Regarding your white pearly penile papules, the fact you know what they are called shows you have done your research. This are perfectly normal, nearly all men have these, some have more and bigger than others, this are just the glans of the penis and should not be worries about, again the fact you have had a STI test confirms these are unlikely to be anything other than your glans. Please do get back in touch if things don't improve.

Answered by team member Matt
30th January 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thanks for getting in touch with us. What you are describing is a case of Erectile Dysfunction. This is when a man finds it difficult to get or maintain an erection. There are generally two types of ED, Physiological or Psychological. Physiological issues include - deterioration of the arteries (this is more common in older men), diabetes, smoking, alcoholism, overweight, hormone problems. Psychological issues include, Stress: which could be job related, money issues, relationship issues etc, Anxiety: Once a man experiences ED, he may become overly worried that the problem will happen again. This can lead to "performance anxiety," or a fear of sexual failure, and consistently lead to ED, Guilt: A man may feel guilty that he is not satisfying his partner, Depression : A common cause of ED, depression affects a person physically and psychologically. Depression can cause ED even when a man is completely comfortable in sexual situations. Drugs used to treat depression may also cause ED, Low self-esteem: This can be due to prior episodes of ED (thus a feeling of inadequacy) or can be the result of other issues unrelated to sexual performance, also Childhood abuse has been related to ED. Some men suffer with more than one of the above issues, as some of these cause some of the others to occur.

Are you able to get an erection when you masturabte alone, if you are then it probably shows that there is nothing wrong physiologically with you and this it is more of a psychological issue.

We would recommend speaking to your GP/Doctor so they can determine if it a physiological issue or a psychological issue. The best way to solve psychological ED is therapy with a professional counsellor sex therapist. Discussing you anxiety and fears and concerns will be a big step in dealing with them and overcoming them. Being open and honest with your partner will help this, and may benefit in both attending therapy. If its physiological they will be able to run the appropriate tests and prescribe the right course of treatment for this, please do not seek medications online, you risk being prescribed the wrong medicine or worse, purchasing fake medicine that could end up doing more harm than good, so please make an appointment with your own doctor. But based on what you have said in your question, its prob psychological, performance anxiety, so counselling may help. Please let us know if we can be of further help.

Answered by team member Matt
1st November 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

The problem you feel you are having actually sounds quite normal. After a man ejaculates, his penis usually becomes soft, returning to its smaller pre-erect state. He will usually need some time to recover, before he can have another erection and ejaculation. This recovery period is called the refractory period, and generally, is quicker for younger men. Some men can have an erection immediately afterwards, some can have a few orgasms/ejaculations in a few hours, whilst others take longer to become erect again. It all falls within the normal parameters of sexual health!

If you had difficulty maintaining an erection during sex, in your circumstance, the most likely cause would be mental; due to the problems you are having in your relationship. Erectile dysfunction, when your penis goes soft during when you don’t want it to, has many causes, both physical and mental and affects most men at some point in their life. To help prevent these kinds of problems in the future, you need to address your relationship issues with your girlfriend. If you've been fighting, even if you're having makeup sex, you most likely have residual worries that weigh on you that can affect you both. She may be experiencing similar feelings of worry, making it difficult for her to orgasm. If you two can work on your relationship issues, and not fight so much, it will no doubt ease the pressure you feel when you are having sex, as wedll as make life together happier! If you are finding that you ejaculate too quickly, again, your mind can play a large part in that. One thing you can try is using condoms, as they can help reduce sensitivity. There are also special condoms and lubricant you can use, that have a slight numbing effect on the penis, to help you last longer. The Delay brand, by Pasante or Performa by Durex, along with other store brands like Boots are specially made to help with premature ejaculation. These products prolong lovemaking by using a low dosage skin numbing ingredient like benzocaine, to reduce sensitivity and postpone orgasm. I hope this all helps. Please get back to us if you have any more questions or worries.

Answered by team member Mara
11th October 2010

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hi Dave,

Thanks for coming to us with your concern. This is obviously a serious problem for you, effecting you not only physically, but mentally and no doubt emotionally as well. There are many factors to take into consideration when trying to understand what the cause of spontaneous ejaculation could be, from physical to psychological to stimulation and medication, among other things. Though you've given a description of your problem, there are still many questions to be asked in order to get an idea which direction one would need to look for an answer.

Sometimes, these kind of problems can be linked to issues with an enlarged prostate, however, this generally happens to older men, and, as this has been going on since what appears to be your teens, it's probably not likely. Some medications (including antidepressants) can have the side effect of spontaneous ejaculation. It could be something as simple as too much stimulation that you're not aware of. Perhaps if you switched to briefs instead of boxers it might help. It is difficult to advise you with any kind of certainty as to the definate cause. The best course of action is for you to visit your GP who will be able to take a medical history and ask all the necessary questions, before advising you in this case. Hope this helps. Please let us know the outcome, as we are very curious ourselves.

Answered by team member Mara
29th September 2010

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Well, we wouldn't call you a medical curiosity, but it would be interesting to know what the underlying cause is, especially in case anyone else came along who suffered the same problem! As for bothering your doctor, don't worry about that, you have a genuine concern. It would be best to have this looked at sooner rather than later. Though the condition may not bother you now, it may become more difficult to cope with as you age. From what you describe, it doesn't seem to show signs of letting up. GP's are used to patients being uncomfortable with discussing certain issues and should handle the situation professionally in a way to put you at ease. Men can be notoriously reluctant to visit medical professionals when it comes to their health... So, it's part of our job to give you a gentle nudge to make that dreaded appointment... We look forward to hearing from you again!

Answered by team member Mara
30th September 2010

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

When a man is sexually excited, it is normal for a small amount of fluid to leak from the penis. This fluid is known as pre-ejaculate, preseminal fluid or more commonly, pre-come/precum, is different from ejaculate, which usually comes with orgasm. As this precome occurs when a man is becoming aroused, it is not normally considered a problem. Sometimes, men with prostate problems can have excessive leakage which may be considered for treatment. In your case, it sounds as though you are young and healthy, so are unlikey to be experiencing prostate issues. Most likely, what you are experiencing would be considered normal, however, the difficulty is that you state you are just talking to your girlfriend, and that it isn't sexual. It could be that on a subconcious level, your talks with her are arousing, thus triggering this kind of response for your body. Loving and affectionate talk could have a reaction similar to arousal. I am sorry I can't recommend anything to stop this from happening, but can assure you it does not seem out of the ordinary. If this is still causing you concern, please book an appointment to go see your GP who will try to help you further with this.

Answered by team member Mara
8th December 2010

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch. The purpose of wearing a chastity device is orgasm denial, and this is either usuallly for personal sexual gratification or relationship reasons. Being denied orgasm will mean the prostate glad in the male anus will have a build up of seminal fluid (pre-cum) and because you are not masturbating or having sex, this will start to seep out, so yes this is normal to leak.

However please be aware, it is actually more healthy to ejaculate, the purpose of masterbation and/or sex is not just for pleasure but is advised for men to keep the prostate healthy. If you are in a chastity device to deny orgasm then you may want to look into milking the prostate, this will help have an orgasm and remove the build up but won't be for sexual gratification purposes. You say it has been for 3 weeks, please be aware if using such a device you remove it frequently for periods of cleaning, as it is very important that you keep the penis clean, to prevent infection and build up of smegma.

I hope this has helped your concern, please get in touch again if needed

Answered by team member Matt
30th August 2011

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

I don't know how effective cleaning with q-tips once a day would be, I understand you do a full clean once a week, but it would probably more advisable to remove the device once a day when in the shower or bath to clean the penis effectively.

Answered by team member Matt
5th September 2011

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thanks for getting in touch with us. There are two areas for erectile dysfunction, it is either a physiological issue or a psychological issue. As you are able to get an erection when masturbating, this shows it is not a physiological issue, just a psychological issue. What is it about pre-cum that causes you to lose your erection, as surely this also gets produced when you are masturbating. You seem to be suffering with some form of performance anxiety, you may benefit from some of sexual therapy/counselling to get over this issue. Please get in touch if you have further info/help needed.

Answered by team member Matt
11th September 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello Brad, thanks for getting in touch. The colour of your penis head is fairly normal to change different shades off purple/pink, depending on many things, such as temperature and how sexually excited you are, this is due to the amount of blood flowing to that part of your body, and this is most likely reason behind this. Regarding the small yellow spots, the most likely answer is that these are your glans, again perfectly normal, some men they are more visiable, others not as noticeable. However i'm not sure what is causing your foreskin being red, sometimes it can get a bit inflamed if you have been masterbating/wanking too much, but it could also be a sign of a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), you haven't mentioned if you have had sex, and if you have, if it was unsafe (without a condom) if this is the case then there is a small chance that is what you may have picked up, if you have hand unsafe sex its best to book an appointment at the Swindon GUM clinic at the hospital, it is confidential so you parents won't find out, and if you need help we can make an appointment for you, and even come along with you if you need the support. I hope this has eased your concern, many lads feel concerned about there penis, having not seen others to compare it too, but they come in all shapes ans sizes so don't feel yours doesnt look nice. Please do get back in touch if you feel you want further advice.

Answered by team member Matt
11th October 2012

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thanks for getting in touch. Please try not to worry, cum/semen can come in a wide range of texture, odor, and taste, there can even variation in color, including opaque white, transparent, and yellowish. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as diet, lifestyle and alcohol consumption and even lack of regular ejaculations. In your case, watery cum is generally linked to diet issues, a lack of zinc and lack of fructose. Try eating more fruits and vegetables that contain zinc and fructose and see if that improves the quality of your cum/seman. However, although unlikely based on the information you have provided, you may want to book an appointment with your GP/Doctor just to rule out something like a urinary infection for example, it probably isn't but for peace of mind it is always good to seek medical advice if your body suddenly changes. Your doctor will also be able to suggest good foods to eat and with a follow up meeting with him you can let him know if your sperm consistency has changed and if it hasn't he can look further into it. If you need further advice or support please do get back in touch.

Answered by team member Matt
9th January 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thanks for contacting us. Pre cum is a natural reaction to being sexually aroused, producing this natural lubricant. However not all men produce it, and the men that do, some will produce just a little and some will produce a lot. Try not to be worried or embarrassed by this, as I said it is perfectly natural reaction to being turned on, sexually excited. Obviously it could be difficult to know yourself if you are producing more than most me, as you prob unable to compare or feel comfortable discussing this with other men, but if you have a close male friend maybe discuss this with him and you may be surprised to hear he may too feel the same concern. Or if you feel you are producing too much, have a chat with you doctor or GP and I'm sure he can reassure you. We hope this has put your mind at ease but please get back in touch if you need to.

Answered by team member Matt
7th June 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

I think it is bad enough that it is causing you to have to shower after this happens, you should go to your GP/Doctor to discuss this, as it should be so much that it means you need to clean yourself.

Answered by team member Matt
12th June 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

We all have different penis sizes and shapes. You can't change what you have, although there are a few surgical ways of trying to make your penis more prominent. But actually there are plenty of guys with a penis much shorter than your 4 inches who can and do have good sex. You might like to read the section on our website about penis size. We hope that this information helps, worrying about performance and size will unfortunately contribute to the problems you describe, try not to worry about it and try to focus on other aspects of sex. You might find this response to a previous question helpful too:

Question on Erectile Dysfunction

You say you are overweight, this almost certainly means that the base of your penis is hidden in some fat. It would look and measure more if you could lose weight – we have a section on ideal weight range for your height and weight loss help.

Answered by team member Dr Peter
9th January 2016

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch. There could be a couple of reasons behind this, and the most common is what you have suggested yourself, diet.

Depending on the type of food we put in our bodys, it can affect the colour, size, shape, of our stool (poo), try eating a more varied diet for a couple of weeks, with a variety of protein, fibre and carbs, eating fresh fruit and veg, try to avoid processed foods. And ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, at least 6-8 glasses is recommended.

Some men who have anal sex also like to ensure there anal passage is clear by using a male douche, you can find a variety of differnt ones online and this might help prepare you for sex if that is what you are concerned about, but please ensure you use them correctly and do not damage yourself in the process and if embarking on anal sex ensure you use lubricant and condoms, anal sex is very risky and many STI's including HIV can be passed on through having unprotected anal sex.

However if you are finding a change in diet is not improving the situation, you may want to consider going to your GP, you do not need to mention you intention for anal sex to them, just that you are suffering from a dirty anal passage even after showering and cleaning, as you may be suffering from some kind of anal weakening or other anal concern that he will be able to discuss with you. Please get in touch if you have any further questions or concerns.

Answered by team member Matt
23rd January 2012

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Given your husband's age combined with the symptom of spontaneous ejaculation, the most likely cause of his problem is an enlarged prostate, resulting on oversensitivity. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged as part of the aging process. Most commonly, it effects urination, often restricting the flow, or even in later stages, contributing to UTI's. When the Prostate, also referred to as 'the Male G-Spot' is stimulated or massaged, it can result in an orgasm without an erection. If your husband is doing work that requires abdominal loading or pelvic straining, it may be putting pressure on his potentially enlarged prostate, thus resulting in ejaculation. As for the difficulty ejaculating during sex, normally BHP would result in easier to attain ejaculation; however, it could be restricting with an erection.

Being highly sexed is a good thing for your husband. Regular ejaculation allows testosterone to flow freely and is known to reduce the risk of prostate problems and cancer in men. Masturbation is sometimes recommended for men who experience delayed ejaculation issues.

The best course of action is for your husband to speak to his GP. He will need to go further into detail about what kind of activities bring on ejaculation and if he is taking any kind of medication. Please encourage him to visit his GP as soon as he can. We’d love to hear back from you to find out what the final diagnosis is. Please don’t hesitate to contact us again if we can be of any help.

Answered by team member Mara
21st June 2010

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hello and thanks for contacting MSH. There is a condition that correlates having sex and getting headaches. These headaches are often brought on suddenly, without warning, at the point of orgasm, or during coitus. They can even occur during strenuous activity, (exertional or effort headache) unrelated to sexual activity.

The Coital headaches can strike before, during, or after sex. They also have been known to happen during masturbation as well.



There are three separate patterns for coital headaches



Sudden Onset - This headache comes on suddenly without warning and is characterized as explosive. It too can occur, before, during, or after sex. The explosive sudden onset headache produces a very painful and often throbbing type of headache. The headache starts at the base of the head and neck and works it way to the back of the eyes. This pattern of headache lasts for hours. The sudden onset coitus cephalgia (headaches) are the most common representing about 70% of the documented cases.



Subacute, crescendo headaches - occur in 25% of all cases reported. With this pattern of coital headache, the headache begins long before orgasm and starts out as a dull aching headache at the back of the head and grows in intensity as orgasm approaches. Nausea and vomiting can ensue but it rarely happens.



Postdural headache - The pain in this headache also starts at the back of the head and increases in intensity as the person stands up. This coital headache is often accompanied with nausea and vomiting. It is the rarest form of coital headache making up the last 5% of coital headache sufferers.



Possible causes for coital headaches..



It is generally believed that coital headaches are caused by the sudden rise in blood pressure associated with sexual activity. During the arousal stage the hands feet and head fill with blood as well the genital area. After sex the drop in pressure can cause pain in certain individuals. Coital headaches may also be triggered by the adrenaline in the body during sexual excitement.



Are women singled out for coital headaches?



No, both men and woman are subjected to coital headaches. It is not gender specific. Furthermore, more men than women suffer from this condition. The condition usually surfaces in men in their early 20's. Coital headaches can also go through a remission period and resurface later on.



Diagnostic Tests for coital headaches



Your doctor may order a CT scan, MRI, intercranial MRA, or special type of x-ray to determine if any blood vessels have ruptured (aneurism) or in anyway become damaged and at the same time, rule out other possible causes.



Treatments for coital headaches. Its be suggested that these bad headaches in women might be caused because the woman is holding her breath during the sexual experience. She suggests that a woman suffering from headaches take deep breaths to see if this helps.



Pain relievers and prescription medication is often prescribed before sexual activity to offset the pain. Also other method of prevention suggested are, Weight loss and exercise, Less strenuous sexual activity, less frequent sexual activity (once a day), Or adjusting the posture.



We would also suggest discussing this with you local GP/Doctor to rule out anything more serious in nature. We hope this has helped, please let us know if we can offer any further advice.

Answered by team member Matt
23rd August 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Hi, thank you for posting your question. The role's of Top (active) and Bottom (passive) in a relationship are differnt for each couple and for each person, there is no correct role to play, other than the role you are comfortable with yourself, you should never feel pressured to fit into a role you do not feel 100% comfortable with. Some men are 100% top and will never want to bottom and this can be for many reasons, each man with have his own answer, the same goes for some men who are 100% bottom. However some men are also versitile and will do either, you may also find men who will put it into a percentage when asked about their role saying "I'm 70% top, and 30% bottom" so guy who generally prefers to top than bottom, but is willing to bottom when he wants to. Also however, some, not all, will change roles as they get older, this could be because they acquire a new partner who is a differnt role, or because they want to experiment. For those that do try a different role, some will enjoy it and become versitile, and some will not enjoy and stick to the role than had before. Ultimately everyone is an individual and will chose their own role, and this could change over the course of the years, but not always. From what you have said, it sounds like you are finding it difficult to top, this could be for many reasons, but it sounds mainly psychological, you for whatever reason do not feel comfortable taking on that role. You should find a time, not during sex, to sit down with your partner and discus this issue, he should understand your concerns and uncertainty and acknowledge the role you are most comfortable with, you should never feel pressure to peform a role you are not happy to do, explain this to him and hopefully he will understand. Over time, you may feel for willing and wanting to try and top, but you may not as this is not a negative thing. If you partner is wanting to bottom and you are not keen to top then maybe suggest introducing some sex toys into the relationship, purchasing a dildo could fufil that desire your partner has. I hope he understands, and you can go on to have a healthy safe sex life. Feel free to get back in touch if you have any further comments or questions.

Answered by team member Matt
15th March 2012

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

As you've not mentioned it, can you please tell us if you have been receiving treatment at the same time. Also, though treatment is often a single dose of antibiotic, he must abstain from sexual activity for one week after taking it. Has this been the case? Is it possible you are passing it back and forth between yourselves? That would seem the simple answer, so please confirm you are taking neccessary precautions.

Answered by team member Mara
25th October 2009

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

You have stated that the Chlamydia is only showing up in blood tests, so it is just possible that what you partner is not actually infected with the Chlamydia Trachomatis bacterium, but the residue DNA from the original infection in his blood stream; this is quite rare, but not unheard of. If this is the case, then treatment is quite difficult, as he would need regular blood tests and only when the DNA count is low, would the doctor prescribe specific medication, and this would need be done two or three times before the blood is cleared of the residue DNA. The other aspect is that you have said your partner is in another country, though treatment for Chlamydia is quite universal today, there is evidence that show that in some countries not all antibiotics are as strong as they should be, or that the need to complete the full course is advised.

Answered by team member Tim
3rd December 2009

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch. It sounds like you are describing pre-cum, not all men get this, and those that do it can vary from just a little leak to a lot, but let me reasure you this is perfectly normall. Pre-cum is a clear fluid that emits from the tip of the penis when a man is sexually aroused, and its purpose is to act as a lubricant (please be aware this can transmit STI, HIV and can contain sperm if you are not using barrier methods such as condoms to have safe sex with). In very rare cases some men over produce this, if this is the case I would discuss with you GP if possible.

Regarding the cumming very fast, this could be for various reasons, and I wouldn't say it has anything to do with your pre-cum. Many men suffer from Premature ejaculation, a recent UK survey said 10% of male population had suffered with PE at some point in their life. Another European study classed PE as lasting around 1.8 mins, and with 7.3 mins being classed as normal, would you say you fall into this first category as what you class as PE might not be PE. There are initially 4 treatments for PE - 1) Distraction method - when you are nearing climax, think about something comepletely different than whats going on. 2) Applying a delay gel to your penis, this will decrease sensitivity and hopefully improve your duration. 3) Delay condoms, this are coated with the delay gel and with the added thickness of the condom this too will help improve your duration. 4) start stop method - when alone try masterbating till u reach the point where you are going to climax but stop yourself, repeat this 3 or 4 times to build up your own self control, and then allow yourself to climax, after a few times a week doing this, you should find yourself lasting longer.

Regarding the itchy end of your penis, if you masturbate too often then yes the penis could become sore, but there could also be other reasons, it could be a reaction to soap or cleaning product you are currently using, or it could be and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), again I would recommend going to you doctor/GP and explain your concerns and get tested as most STI's can be treated.

Please get back to us if you still have any further concerns.

Answered by team member Matt
7th July 2011

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Ejaculating very quickly ("premature ejaculation") is quite a common problem and it often settles down and stops happening as you get older and more experienced sexually.

When you are having sex with someone else, a longer period of foreplay without touching your penis can improve it for you both. Try to find things to do for each other which feel nice without any contact with your penis. Then, if you go inside her, if you pull out again soon before you reach a climax and you (or your partner) squeeze your penis hard below the head, this will usually stop the climax and after a few moments you can start again. You can also try this technique when you are masturbating and see if you can control your orgasm and cum later.

There is professional help available from sex therapists if you are able to see one of them

Answered by team member Dr Peter
9th January 2016

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch with Men's Sexual Health. What it sounds like you are describing is Pre-Cum, this is a substance that the penis produces when you are feeling sexually aroused and is perfectly normal. Not all men will get pre-cum and the amount can vary for those that do get it. So it is possible the partners you encounter have met men who don't get pre-cum when aroused. Re-assure them it is normal, it is just the penis producing its natural lubricant for sexual activity. However please let me make you aware of some facts about pre-cum. You are able to get a woman pregnant with pre-cum if you pull out before you ejaculate, as sperm can be found in pre-cum, also sexually transmitted infections, and HIV can be passed on in pre-cum, the only way to prevent this is to wear a condom. If you are having a good sex life with numerous partners, it is always best to wear a condom with each one, the more people you sleep with, the more risk you put yourself and them of passing or catching a Sexually transmitted infection. Even with blow jobs you risk passing or catching something, so try flavoured condoms for oral sex, condoms will also prevent any partner being concerned about the pre-cum issue.

Although you don't mention any other signs or symptoms, there is a small chance that you may already have an Sexually Transmitted infection because a discharge from the penis can be a sign of an infection, if that discharge isn't pre-cum. As you are asking advice without a medical exam we can't rule this out hence why we are also mentioning this issue. The fact you have also had a lot of sex with different partners is also another reason we would deferentially recommend you booking in at a sexual health clinic to be tested for all Sexually transmitted infections and HIV, it is better to be safe and responsible and get the medicine than to be ignorant and keep passing something on. If you live in the Swindon area please remember you can order free condoms from our website, or if you need help booking in for a sexual health test do please let us know.

Answered by team member Matt
22nd January 2013

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Oxytetracycline is part of a group of medications that are collectively are called Tetracyclines which are broad spectrum antibiotics. Oxytetracycline is still the antibiotic of choice for many Doctors in the treatment of many forms of infections, as there are very rarely any side effects.



A broad spectrum antibiotic is one that can be used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, and is often used as they have a well proven track record in the treatment of both individual infections and more wide ranging infections.



Within the Tetracycline group is a range of antibiotics that can be used, some are more specifically targeted than others, but all treat Chlamydia effectively as well as respitory infections, so the fact that Oxytetracycline was prescribed may well just be because the Doctor prescribing them, prefers them.



So yes it is possible that the person being treated may have a respiratory co-infection, but it is more likely that the Oxytetracycline was give just to target the repsiritory infection.

Answered by team member Tim
14th December 2009

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Unfortunately it is not possible to say with any degree of accuracy. Your partners Doctor will have carried out an examination and then prescribed according to what was diagnosed at the time. All we can say with any accuracy is that Oxytetracycline is a broad spectrum anti-biotic, and can be prescribed for many infections, this does include both for respiratory infections and Chlamydia infections. However, it is unlikely that the Doctor would have prescribed a single anti-biotic to treat both a chest infection and Chlamydia, they will have prescribed to treat one or the other. I appreciate that you Googled Oxytetracycline and found the Chlamydia link, but you may be inadvertently reading much more into the prescription than actually exists (especially as a chest infection caused by Chlamydia is not that common)

Answered by team member Tim
15th December 2009