What makes an unusual sexual interest "unusual," and do these interests follow any kind of pattern? A 2021 study of almost 700 adults found they do. Researchers had people rate 50 different sexual interests, then used statistics to sort them into five clear groups: submission and masochism (like being tied up), forbidden acts (like exposing yourself to strangers), dominance and sadism (like spanking someone), mysophilia (interest in things like urine), and fetishism (objects or traits like feet or plush costumes).

The most appealing group for both men and women was submission and dominance themes, while forbidden acts ranked lowest. Women leaned slightly more toward submission, men slightly more toward dominance, but both groups liked both styles to some degree. Interestingly, fetishism showed the strongest links to all the other categories, suggesting it might connect different interests together.

Interestingly, for women, having more unusual sexual interests was tied to higher rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and ADHD symptoms, plus more frequent sexual activity. The researchers think sex might work as a coping tool for difficult emotions, especially for women, though this needs more research to confirm.

This was an anonymous online survey, not a clinical study, and the sample skewed toward more educated, non-heterosexual participants than the general population, so results may not apply to everyone equally. Still, the findings give a useful starting point for understanding why people are drawn to certain interests, and how those patterns might connect to mental health and emotional regulation.

Can women with low sexual desire actually feel more physical arousal than other women—but just not connect with it the same way?

That's exactly what this study found. Researchers studied 100 women in relationships, including 27 who had symptoms of sexual interest/arousal disorder, or SIAD. While watching the same intimate film, the women's genital arousal was measured using sensors. Surprisingly, women with SIAD symptoms showed stronger physical arousal than women without it, not weaker as many would expect.

The real difference showed up somewhere else: how that arousal connected to actual desire. For women without SIAD symptoms, body arousal and desire for a partner had no clear link at all. But for women with SIAD symptoms, the connection depended heavily on how happy they were in their relationship. Those in low-satisfaction relationships felt less desire for their partner the more aroused their bodies became, almost like their body was sending a warning signal instead of an invitation. Those in high-satisfaction relationships showed the opposite pattern, with arousal feeding into stronger desire.

This matters because it challenges the old idea that low desire simply means a "broken" body. Instead, it suggests the brain may be reading physical arousal signals differently. The researchers suggest this could shape future therapy, like teaching women to tune into their body's arousal cues as a way of building desire, but only when the relationship itself feels safe and satisfying.

This was a small, fairly uniform group of women, so results may not apply to everyone. Still, it's a meaningful shift in how we understand female desire, less about a broken switch, and more about timing, trust, and connection.

This week, someone asked me, “38 yers old woman discharge method please help me”. It’s hard to know exactly what you mean by “discharge,” but if you’re noticing new, unusual, or bothersome vaginal discharge, it’s important not to ignore it. Normal discharge can vary throughout the menstrual cycle, but discharge with a strong odor, itching, burning, pain, blood, or a change in color may be a sign of an infection or another medical condition that needs treatment. I’d recommend seeing your gynecologist or primary care provider for an examination so the cause can be identified and treated appropriately. Avoid self-treating until you know what’s causing it.

I love hearing from you, so if there’s a question you’ve been wanting to ask, just let me know. Who knows? Your question might be the one I dive into next!

This week I went back to work, had my first injection to suppress my ovaries and my husband starts chemotherapy. I’m nervous about the future but generally feeling grateful that we both had localized cancers and are so far feeling well.

In this episode, I broke down which natural supplements actually help with urinary flow and prostate health—and which ones just don’t have the science behind them. “If you're going to try saw palmetto, the extraction method matters. Ideally, hexane extracted form has the strongest evidence and generic saw palmetto capsules may not have the same active compounds.”

Here are some quick takeaways

Catch the full episode for all my tips and science-backed advice!

This month's AMA, I dove into an episode covering everything from cranberries and semen health to menopause and those gas station ED pills—and wow, so much myth-busting packed in. “Hydration matters way more than diet when it comes to volume—turns out drinking enough fluids has a bigger impact than people realize.”

Here are some takeaways:

If you've ever wondered about any of these topics, this episode is definitely for you. So listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here and see why people are commenting, “Rena thank you for looking after men’s health make sure you take time to be looked after yourself cheers from Australia”.

Think you need eight glasses of water a day for a healthy bladder? Check out my new Substack: How Much Water Do You Really Need? Urologist Debunks Bladder Health Myths.

In this article, I break down the biggest hydration and bladder health myths—including why drinking less can actually make bladder symptoms worse, and what science really says about how much water you need.