Question of the day

Which of the following is consistent with the material on herpes?

• People with herpes type 2 are more likely to acquire HIV when exposed to the virus Correct answer
• A vaccine against herpes already exists and also protects against HIV
• Antiviral medications completely destroy the herpes virus
• Herpes type 1 usually causes genital herpes
• Most people infected with herpes do not notice symptoms or have a mild course Correct answer

The material states that in most people, herpes infection is asymptomatic or has mild manifestations. It also notes that people with herpes type 2 are at least three times more likely to acquire HIV. At the same time, existing medications do not destroy the virus, there is no vaccine yet, and genital herpes is usually associated with type 2.

Which statements about boundaries in friendship and self-care are consistent with the material?

• The ability to say "no" makes a person callous and closed off
• "I-statements" convey your feelings without blaming the other person Correct answer
• Setting boundaries is a manifestation of selfishness and rudeness toward friends
• If a friend is offended by your boundaries, you should immediately abandon those boundaries in order to preserve the friendship
• Self-care is a necessary condition for healthy relationships, not a betrayal of others Correct answer

The material states directly that self-care is not a betrayal of others but a condition for healthy relationships, and that setting boundaries is not selfish. "I-statements" are described as a tool that communicates your feelings without blame. On the contrary, the author emphasizes that the ability to say "no" makes a person not callous but honest, and that a friend's resentment of your boundaries is a reason to think about such a friendship, not to abandon boundaries.

According to the material, what helps adolescents and doctors make the conversation about contraception better?

• Creating a resource about contraception together with adolescents Correct answer
• Taking into account the adolescent's individual preferences and questions during the appointment Correct answer
• Giving adolescents more information about sexual health already in early adolescence Correct answer
• Giving a standard lecture about contraception during the appointment
• Postponing the conversation about contraception until the start of sexual activity

The material states that adolescents lack information about sexual health even before becoming sexually active, and during appointments they want the doctor to take their individual preferences into account. In addition, the resource was created with the participation of adolescents themselves so that it would suit them. A standard lecture and postponing the conversation contradict these conclusions.

What did the study show about the connection between bladder problems and erectile dysfunction?

• These conditions often occur together due to common factors such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome Correct answer
• Erectile dysfunction occurs due to taking bladder medications
• Bladder problems directly cause erectile dysfunction
• The connection between them is explained only by the age of the men

The study showed that 59% of men with bladder problems also had erectile dysfunction, and common factors — diabetes, neuropathy, and metabolic syndrome — were more common in those who had erection problems. However, it does not prove that one condition causes the other, but only indicates frequent co-occurrence. The authors attribute this to damage to blood vessels and nerves important for both functions.

Which statements correspond to how group sex parties are actually organized, judging by the accounts of their participants?

• Before sex begins, a lot of preparatory work takes place: screening guests and discussing the rules. Correct answer
• The topic of infection prevention is considered shameful there, so people try not to discuss it.
• Colored bracelets help indicate "ready for contact," "just watching," or "do not approach." Correct answer
• Rules and consent rituals help participants relax and enjoy themselves. Correct answer
• There is chaos and recklessness there — participants hardly think about safety.

The material shows that participants take the selection of people seriously and discuss the rules well before it begins. Inside the parties there are rituals such as colored bracelets and "consent circles," which provide a simple way to say "yes" or "no." STI prevention is discussed there openly, as part of a culture of care, and clear rules help people relax rather than interfere with pleasure.

What did the study show about the relationship between facial asymmetry in women and their sexual behavior?

• The scientists measured only hormone levels, not facial features
• Facial symmetry directly determines the number of partners
• Facial asymmetry turned out to be the main cause of casual relationships
• Initially weak association with number of partners and desire disappeared after accounting for place of residence Correct answer
• Social conditions, such as city or village, are more important for differences in sexual behavior than facial features Correct answer

The material states that initially women with more symmetrical faces had slightly more partners and slightly higher desire, but the correlations were weak. When the scientists added place of residence to the analysis, these effects disappeared completely. Therefore, the study emphasizes that social context, such as an urban environment, may explain differences in sexual behavior better than facial asymmetry.

According to the study, what is most strongly associated with the quality of sexual life after childbirth?

• Time elapsed since childbirth
• Presence of a tear or episiotomy
• Pain during sex Correct answer
• Perception of one's own body after childbirth Correct answer
• Severity of perineal trauma

The study found no significant difference in sexual satisfaction between women with and without tears. However, pain during sex and dissatisfaction with one's body turned out to be independent and strong factors: the more pronounced they are, the lower the quality of sexual life, regardless of the presence of trauma.

Which of the following is true about ureaplasma according to this material?

• Ureaplasma is often found in sexually active people without symptoms, and this can be part of the normal microflora Correct answer
• It has been proven that ureaplasma always causes infertility
• Penicillins are effective against ureaplasma because it has no cell wall
• If ureaplasma is detected, antibiotic treatment is always necessary, regardless of symptoms
• Ureaplasma can be transmitted through sexual contact and from mother to child during childbirth Correct answer

The material states that ureaplasma is widespread and in people without symptoms it can be part of the normal microflora. Treatment is not always prescribed, but only when there are signs of inflammation or before certain procedures. Transmission is possible sexually and from mother to child, and a link to infertility has not yet been proven.

Which of the following is true about Mycoplasma hominis and its treatment?

• If you stop antibiotics midway through the course, the bacteria still dies and cannot return
• It can be detected by a routine blood test that is part of standard screening
• It has no rigid cell wall, so penicillins and similar antibiotics do not work against it Correct answer
• In most people with a vagina, it causes no symptoms, although it occurs in 20–50% of women of reproductive age Correct answer
• It is transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, as well as from a pregnant woman to the child during childbirth Correct answer

Mycoplasma hominis has no rigid cell wall, so penicillins and their analogues do not work against it — other drugs are needed. It is transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, as well as from a pregnant woman to the child during childbirth. In most people with a vagina, it causes no symptoms, although it occurs in 20–50% of women of reproductive age. Standard screening does not detect it, and interrupting a course of antibiotics allows the bacteria to survive and return.

According to the study, what was found to be associated with decreased sexual desire after childbirth?

• Low self-esteem Correct answer
• Woman's age
• Mode of delivery — cesarean or vaginal
• Number of children
• Problems with arousal Correct answer

Researchers found no link between decreased desire and age, mode of delivery, or number of children. However, they found a strong association with psychological state: low self-esteem and problems with arousal. Therefore, in the postpartum period, it is important to focus specifically on self-esteem and body function, rather than attributing everything to age or fatigue.

What advice does the responder give to the letter writer who is shy about dating?

• Wait for someone else to take the initiative and not take risks
• Change appearance to meet the standards of the gay community
• Invite a cute guy somewhere, even if it's scary Correct answer
• Avoid communicating with other shy people to avoid embarrassment
• Go to body positivity events Correct answer

The responder supports the writer's idea of going to body positivity events and advises inviting a cute guy somewhere despite the fear. She emphasizes that regretting not trying is more painful than experiencing awkwardness. The options about changing appearance and waiting for others to take the initiative contradict the text.

By what signs can you tell that a friend sees you as a "token friend" rather than as someone close?

• They support the LGBTQ+ community and speak about it openly
• They tell others about your orientation without your consent Correct answer
• They offer to talk about what is bothering you in your relationship
• They flirt with you even though you have made it clear that you find it unpleasant Correct answer
• They send you queer media, but mostly explicit content that makes you uncomfortable Correct answer

A token friend uses your identity for self-affirmation while ignoring your boundaries. The text lists such signals: disclosing your orientation without asking, pushing explicit content, and flirting despite your "no." Open support for LGBTQ+ by itself does not make someone a token friend, while a willingness to discuss problems is, on the contrary, a sign of respect.

According to the study, what is most strongly associated with sexual difficulties in men?

• The desire to train for the purpose of increasing muscle volume
• The very fact of intense training in the gym
• Situations where training interferes with other areas of life
• Dissatisfaction with one's body and obsessive thoughts about appearance Correct answer
• The desire for muscle mass at any cost Correct answer

The study showed that it is specifically 'appearance intolerance' and obsessive thoughts about one's body that are most strongly associated with sexual problems. However, the desire for muscle size and functional impairments caused by training were found to be more weakly associated with sexual difficulties.

What did the Danish study show about the sex lives of couples after prostate cancer?

• Wives of men with prostate cancer were almost three times as likely to rate the quality of the marriage as poor Correct answer
• The sexual needs of the wives of such men were noticeably lower compared with other women
• Men after prostate cancer complained less often than peers about unmet sexual needs
• Men after prostate cancer were twice as likely to report an absence of sexual life Correct answer
• After prostate cancer treatment, sex ends forever

According to the study, men after prostate cancer were twice as likely to report an absence of sexual life, and their wives were almost three times as likely to rate the marriage as poor. At the same time, the sexual needs of the women hardly differed from those of wives without a sick husband, and the authors emphasize: this does not mean that after a diagnosis sex ends forever.

According to the material, what helps women from strict religious communities reconsider their views on sex after childbirth?

• Safety in the relationship, when one can say “no” and be heard Correct answer
• The belief that the body is a source of shame and sin, and that desire must be controlled
• The conviction that sex is only for procreation
• The understanding that pain during sex is punishment for sins that must be endured
• Access to medical explanations and care for one’s health Correct answer

The material identifies two key factors that help women reconsider their attitudes: access to medical terms and care, when pain ceases to be a secret, and safety in the relationship, when one can say “no” and be heard. The other options describe precisely the attitudes from a conservative environment that, according to the text, make it difficult to reconsider views.

What did the comparison of men with and without restless legs syndrome show?

• Severe forms of erectile dysfunction occur several times more often in them Correct answer
• Restless legs directly damage the mechanism of erection
• In men with restless legs, erectile dysfunction occurs approximately 70% more often Correct answer
• No difference in erectile dysfunction was found between the groups
• Mild and moderate erection problems occur noticeably more often in them

According to a review of more than 33 thousand people, men with restless legs syndrome have approximately a 70% higher chance of experiencing erectile dysfunction, and severe forms occur several times more often. At the same time, no significant difference was found for mild and moderate problems. The authors speak specifically of a statistical association, not that restless legs directly break erection.

According to the account, what helped the author feel in control during the IUD insertion?

• She was given general anesthesia so she wouldn't feel anything
• She refused laughing gas so as not to lose control Correct answer
• The doctor insisted on a standard protocol without discussion
• The doctor explained every step and asked if everything was okay Correct answer
• The procedure could be interrupted at any moment at her word Correct answer

The author emphasizes that for her, control consisted of constant dialogue with the doctor, the ability to say "stop," and her own decision to decline mind-altering substances. She names these details as what helped her undergo the procedure without feeling that her boundaries were violated.

According to experts, who might MED3000 gel be suitable for instead of tablets?

• For those who find it psychologically easier to apply the gel than to take a tablet Correct answer
• For those whose tablets have no effect or cause side reactions Correct answer
• For those who want the drug to act on the whole body rather than locally
• For those who want to plan the use several hours in advance
• For all men without exception as a replacement for tablets

Experts recommend the gel for those who are not suited to tablets — they do not work or cause side effects — as well as for those who find it psychologically easier to apply a gel than to swallow a tablet. Another advantage of the gel is that it acts locally rather than on the whole body. At the same time, the gel is not recommended for everyone without exception and does not require planning in advance, as it is convenient in spontaneous situations.

What did a Chinese study of the blue laser for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (105 men, one-year follow-up) show?

• Erection on average remained at its previous level, and no new problems with it arose Correct answer
• Urination improved noticeably: IPSS symptoms decreased, and urine flow rate increased Correct answer
• Complete absence of ejaculation ("dry" orgasm) was observed in a third of patients
• Semen volume increased compared with the period before the operation
• Most men lost their erection and developed impotence

According to the study, IPSS symptoms dropped from 24 to 8, and peak urine flow rate increased from 9 to 25 ml/s — that is, urination improved dramatically. At the same time, erectile indicators on the IIEF-5 remained essentially unchanged (18 and 18 points), and no new erectile problems arose. In contrast, semen volume decreased from 2 ml to 1 ml, and "dry" orgasm occurred in only 2.8% — not in a third of patients.

According to conversations with women, what was part of their experience of sexual health after childbirth?

• Discussions with healthcare providers were mainly limited to contraception and the fact of resuming vaginal sex Correct answer
• Desire and pleasure completely disappear after the birth of a child
• Gradual adaptation to the changed body and new conditions of intimacy Correct answer
• The influence of the experience of childbirth itself on the perception of sex years later Correct answer
• The desire to return sex as quickly as possible to how it was before childbirth

Women described what was happening as a process of adaptation, not as a breakdown, and noted that the experience of childbirth can affect the perception of sex for years. They also said that support from healthcare providers most often amounted to contraception and the question of resuming vaginal sex. The options about returning "to how it was" and the complete disappearance of desire contradict the material.