Health Guides

Difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex.

How common:

Around 1 in 5 men over 40 are affected, and it gets more common with age

Main treatment:

Tablets called PDE5 inhibitors (such as sildenafil and tadalafil)

Gradual thinning at the temples and crown caused by hormones and genetics.

How common:

About half of men will have some hair loss by age 50

Typical pattern:

Receding hairline at the temples plus thinning on the crown

Combined and progestogen-only pills to prevent pregnancy.

Effectiveness in real life:

About 9 in 100 people using it get pregnant each year, mainly because of missed pills

Effectiveness used perfectly:

Fewer than 1 in 100 people per year

The morning after pill, used after unprotected sex or contraception failure.

Levonorgestrel pill window:

Works up to 72 hours (3 days) after sex

Ulipristal pill window:

Works up to 120 hours (5 days) after sex

A common yeast infection causing itching, soreness and discharge.

How common:

Around 3 in 4 women get thrush at least once in their life

Recurring thrush:

Defined as 4 or more confirmed episodes in a year

A bladder infection causing stinging, urgency and lower tummy discomfort.

How long treatment lasts:

Just 3 days for most women

Usual first choice:

Nitrofurantoin, twice a day

Recurring blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Cause:

The herpes simplex virus (usually type 1)

How long it lasts:

7–10 days if untreated

The most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

Most affected age group:

Under-25s

No symptoms:

Around 70% of women and 50% of men notice nothing

Dry, itchy, inflamed patches of skin that flare up and settle.

How common:

Around 1 in 5 children get eczema

How much moisturiser:

Adults with widespread eczema may need 250–500g a week

Spots, blackheads and inflammation, most often on the face, chest and back.

Most common age:

The teenage years, but it can carry on into your 20s and 30s

How long to judge a treatment:

8–12 weeks before deciding if it's working

Intense headaches, often one-sided, with nausea and light sensitivity.

How common:

Affects around 1 in 7 adults, more often women

How long an attack lasts:

4 to 72 hours if untreated

Nicotine replacement to manage cravings while you quit.

Best combination:

A nicotine patch plus a fast-acting product (like gum or spray) works better than either alone

Typical length of use:

8–12 weeks, gradually reducing the dose

Antimalarial tablets for travel to affected regions.

Remember: A-B-C-D:

Awareness, Bite avoidance, Correct tablets, and prompt Diagnosis if unwell

Atovaquone/proguanil:

Start 1–2 days before travel, stop 7 days after returning

Nausea and dizziness caused by motion during travel.

Best time to take tablets:

1–2 hours before you set off

Main medicines used:

Sedating antihistamines and hyoscine

A long-term condition causing wheeze, cough and breathlessness.

Sign of poor control:

Using your reliever inhaler 3 or more times a year (in full canisters) is a warning sign

Check-ups:

At least once a year, and within 48 hours of any bad flare-up

Prescription support for weight loss alongside diet and activity changes.

Who can be prescribed these medicines:

A BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related health problem

Adjusted BMI thresholds:

The BMI cut-off is 2.5 points lower for South Asian, Chinese, Black African and African-Caribbean backgrounds