World Sexual Health Day is observed on September 4, every year since 2010. The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) organises this event every year to promote and raise awareness around sexual and reproductive health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) too recognises every person's right to sexual well-being and encourages people to have complete and accurate information so they can "make informed choices when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health."

This Year's Theme

This year, the theme of World Sexual Health Day is 'Consent'. This recognises the importance of consent and mutual respect when it comes to sexual encounters.

According to WHO, there has been poor attention to the prevalence and management of sexual health and gynaecological health issues during and after pregnancy. This day, therefore tries to emphasise on a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships.

What is WHO Doing To Promote Sexual Well-Being?

WHO attempts to enable people to achieve sexual health and well-being by tailoring normative guidance and national programming to meet their specific needs and lived experiences. It is done by welcoming and being inclusive to people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual characteristics, and people living with HIV and with disability.

WHO also tries to educate, counsel and extend care related to sexuality, sexual identity and sexual relationship. It also advocates for sexual health and rights, along with reproductive rights.

What Is India's Status?

Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director at the Population Foundation India, an NGO promoting sexual and reproductive health says, "India has made steady progress in promoting awareness on sexual and reproductive health issues, driven by efforts from both governmental and non-governmental organisations."

According to The Borgen Project, about 6% of India's adult population is diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or reproductive tract infections (RTIs) every year.

Coming to menstrual health, as per the UNICEF, only 13% of Indian girls are aware of menstruation before menarche, or their first period. However, 60% of them remain absent during their periods or drop out permanently from school due to a lack of infrastructure and other challenges.

Though, on the brighter side, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), contraceptive use among married women increased from 53.5% in 2015-16 to 66.7% in 2019-21. "It highlights a shift towards women making informed reproductive choices. However, we must acknowledge that deeply ingrained cultural taboos still exist, particularly in rural areas, limiting open dialogue," says Muttreja.

Stigma Around Sexual Health In India

Stigma around issues like abortion, contraception and menstruation prevents women to seek care when they need. What can be done? Muttreja suggests that only be embedding SRH discussions into mainstream education and media can we break the silence. "Women must have the knowledge and autonomy to make informed choices about their bodies without coercion."

What Is The Government Doing?

The Government of India in 2016 launched the Mission Parivar Vikas to improve access to family planning in targeted districts. This is to expand sexual health and reproductive rights and education to marginalised communities and to inform women on right to safe childbirth, menstrual hygiene, safe abortion and freedom from violence.

"World Sexual Health Day is a reminder to the global community that sexual health and rights are fundamental human rights," says Muttreja.

Gut health is important for everyone; however, many men tend to ignore it. In a study done by Bupa Health Clinic, researchers found that six in ten men, which is about 58% men admitted to ignoring their issues, simply hoping it goes away. However, not everyone gets the result they want.

Ignoring the issue only leads to making it worse. To educate people more about this Dr Vivian Asamoah, a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist based in Texas, shared a video detailing points men must know about their gut health.

10 Gut Health Fact Every Man Should Know

Dr Asamoah titled the video, ‘After Years in Gastroenterology, Here’s What Every Man Must Know About His Gut Health Before It’s Too Late.’ She listed these 10 points warning men of how things can go wrong if they are not careful.

Listen to Your Partner

The doctor explains that it is important to take the advice of your loved ones. If she or he tells you to "see a GI" a gastrointestinal doctor, please listen. Partners often notice subtle changes in your health, energy, or bathroom habits that you might be ignoring. They care about you, and their suggestion to see a specialist is a helpful nudge, not a nagging complaint.

A Colonoscopy is Not a Prostate Exam

Colonoscopies are for everyone, men and women. Do not assume that your primary care doctor or urologist checked your colon when they examined your prostate. The two organs are different, and checking the colon requires a separate, specific procedure. Getting a colonoscopy is essential for catching colon cancer early.

Your Family History Isn't a Shield

Saying "My dad never had colon cancer" won't protect you. While genetics matter, cancer rates are changing, and doctors are seeing colon cancer in younger people than ever before. Guidelines suggest starting screenings earlier for many people. You need to get screened based on your doctor’s advice, not just your dad's health history.

Snoring Can Be a Serious Problem

Loud, consistent snoring is not normal or just funny. It could be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition where you repeatedly stop and start breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea can make acid reflux (heartburn) worse because it creates pressure changes in your chest. Get your snoring checked out—it affects your heart, brain, and gut.

Tobacco Harms More Than Your Lungs

You know that smoking and chewing tobacco damage your lungs, but tobacco is also a major risk factor for colon cancer. The harmful chemicals are absorbed into your bloodstream and affect your entire body, including your digestive tract. Quitting all forms of tobacco is one of the best things you can do for your gut health.

The Colonoscopy Procedure is Safe and Life-Saving

Yes, a colonoscopy examines the colon area, but it is a necessary and life-saving procedure, not something to dread or feel ashamed of. Doctors use it to find and remove small growths (polyps) before they turn into cancer. You are typically asleep during the procedure, and it is quick and painless. The brief embarrassment is worth the benefit of preventing deadly cancer.

That "Pot Belly" is Dangerous

That rounded belly is often caused by visceral fat, which is fat stored deep inside your abdomen, wrapped around your organs. This is not a badge of honor, it's dangerous because this type of fat actively releases hormones and compounds that lead to serious problems like heart disease, diabetes, and colon cancer. Losing that deep abdominal fat is crucial for a healthy gut and body.

Focus on Consistency, Not Competition

A healthy person typically poops 1 to 3 times per day. There is no prize for going more often than your wife or anyone else. What matters is that your bathroom routine is consistent and comfortable for you. If you have sudden, unexplained changes in how often you go, or if your stool looks different, talk to your doctor.

Beer is Still Alcohol

Don't let the "I'm just having a beer" excuse fool you. Beer is alcohol, and drinking any type of alcohol puts stress on your liver, the organ responsible for filtering toxins. Your liver keeps score of how much you drink over time. Heavy or regular alcohol use seriously increases your risk for liver disease and can also contribute to acid reflux and other gut issues.

Improve Meat Quality, Not Just Gluten Intake

Not everyone needs to stop eating gluten, but almost everyone could benefit from making smarter choices about red meat. Red meat, especially processed kinds, has been linked to increased colon cancer risk. Try to eat less red meat or, if you do eat it, choose cleaner, grass-fed sources. Focus on adding more fiber-rich vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to your diet.

More often than not teen girls barely understand their health. As their bodies grow and change, the experience can be confusing.. However, not many people know how to guide them and help them safely learn about these changes.

As their reproductive system develops, it is crucial that parents help them understand the importance of their health and well-being. However, how do you do that? Yet, even parents, because this topic was not openly discussed in the past, often struggle to address it.

To tackle this, Dr. Holly Miller, a Gynecology Surgeon, shared a video on her profile, listing 5 important things adolescents should know.

5 Health Facts Teen Girls Should Know

Titling the video ‘5 Things Every Mom Should Make Sure Her Teenage Daughter Knows’ adding the caption, ‘She deserves to know the whole truth’ under it.

Severe Symptoms Are a Warning Sign

Your daughter's period should not control her life. If she is missing school, constantly soaking through pads, or stuck in bed doubled over with pain, that’s her body signaling a problem. Teach her to listen to these signals. It's normal to have some discomfort, but extreme pain or heavy bleeding is not something she has to silently endure. These symptoms need to be discussed with a doctor, as they can sometimes point to underlying issues.

Discharge is Healthy and Powerful

Vaginal discharge is completely normal and healthy. It’s how the body naturally cleans itself. Tell her that the changes in discharge are normal, too. For instance, around ovulation (when the egg is released), she may notice more discharge that is clear and stretchy. This kind of mucus is a sign of fertility. Explain that her body is an amazing machine designed to protect itself and, one day, potentially support a baby—this is a powerful, incredible function, not something to feel embarrassed or "gross" about.

Cramps Are Real Muscle Contractions

When she feels cramps, tell her that the pain is real. It's not just "tummy ache"—it's her uterus, which is a large muscle, squeezing and contracting to push the blood out. The heavier the bleeding, the more work her uterus has to do, and the more intense the cramps might be. It is the same kind of muscle contraction that happens during labor, just much smaller! Yes, it can hurt, and yes, it is absolutely okay to take appropriate pain relief medication (like ibuprofen) to help manage the discomfort.

Tracking Her Cycle Is a Tool for Power

Encourage your daughter to track her cycle—and not just the days she bleeds. Tracking is a tool for learning her body’s patterns. Explain that her hormones shift throughout the month, which can affect her mood, energy levels, sleep, and even memory. When she tracks, she can start to connect these changes to the different phases of her cycle, like ovulation. This knowledge gives her power and control because she can anticipate how she’ll feel and plan her life accordingly.

Favor Many Small Talks Over One Big Talk

You don't need one "perfect conversation" about puberty. Puberty is a long process that happens in stages over many years, not in a single day. Instead, aim for hundreds of small, open conversations over time. Keep the door to communication wide open. When she asks a question, answer it simply and honestly right then and there. These "one-minute talks" create a safe space for her to share her fears, ask embarrassing questions, and feel supported as her body changes.

Why Parents Must Encourage Their Daughters?

Dr. Holly emphasized that parents should help their kids know their daughters emotionally as well. As a parent, you must remind her that she is incredibly strong, even if she feels emotional, confused, or physically weak sometimes. Help her find her strength by sharing yours, be honest about your own struggles, and how you overcome them.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, accounting for over 15% of all new cancer cases in the United States. Abnormal cell growth in the breast ducts (DCIS) or lobules (LCIS) can sometimes progress to breast cancer, but currently, doctors cannot predict which cases will develop into invasive cancer.

A recent retrospective study using the 313-SNP breast cancer polygenic risk score (PRS313) blood test suggests that women with abnormal cells are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer later on. This discovery could help identify patients who would benefit from targeted interventions while reducing unnecessary treatments.

Although DCIS and LCIS can progress to breast cancer, predicting which cases will remain harmless has been a challenge. However, this new study indicates that calculating a polygenic score may help forecast a future breast cancer diagnosis.

“It is therefore very important that we find ways to predict which women with DCIS and LCIS are most likely to develop invasive breast cancer in the future so they can be given the most appropriate treatment and avoid unnecessary treatment,” explained study senior author Elinor J. Sawyer of King’s College London (UK).

What Is A Polygenic Score?

A polygenic score is a numerical estimate of a person’s genetic likelihood of developing a particular trait or disease. When used to predict disease risk, it is often called a polygenic risk score (PRS), according to Harvard Medicine Magazine.

Sawyer and study lead author Jasmine Timbres (King’s College London) focused on PRS313, a blood test that evaluates breast cancer risk by identifying which of 313 specific genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) a person carries. The researchers examined PRS313 scores from more than 2,000 DCIS and LCIS cases across the ICICLE and GLACIER studies.

Their findings showed that, for DCIS, women with higher PRS313 scores were 2.03 times more likely to develop cancer in the opposite breast compared to those in the lowest score quartile. For LCIS, women with elevated PRS313 scores were 2.16 times more likely to develop cancer in the same breast. The risk was even higher for patients with a family history of breast cancer.

“LCIS is not always treated with surgery or hormone therapy because it is considered lower risk than DCIS. However, these results suggest that women with a family history may benefit from additional interventions to reduce their risk of developing cancer,” Timbres added.

How To Measure A Polygenic Score?

A polygenic score is calculated by looking at an individual’s genetic variations (like SNPs) and summing them with weights based on how strongly each variant is associated with a trait or disease, as determined by large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Researchers first identify genetic variants linked to a disease by comparing the genomes of people with and without the condition. Each variant’s effect size is then applied to the individual’s genome to create a single score representing their overall genetic risk.

Polygenic scores can be measured in research settings using GWAS data. They are also available through commercial direct-to-consumer genetic testing services or via clinical assessments provided by medical institutions and genetic counselors.

Limitations Of The Study

While these findings are promising, further research is needed to confirm results in other patient groups and to examine additional genetic factors. Some limitations include the fact that PRS313 was designed specifically to assess risk for invasive breast cancer, meaning it may not capture other relevant genetic changes in in-situ breast disease. Additionally, the number of women with LCIS in the study was relatively small, which may have limited the ability to detect statistically significant associations.