Within this article, we will be answering frequently asked questions about EMLA cream, establishing why it is such a popular treatment for premature ejaculation.

What is EMLA?

EMLA is a topical local anaesthetic cream that delays premature ejaculation. It contains the active ingredients Lidocaine and Prilocaine. This trusted product has been in the UK for over 20 years and has been certified by the UK medicines authority (MHRA).

What’s EMLA cream used for?

Being a local topical anaesthetic, EMLA is used to numb certain areas of the skin. It’s usually applied before medical needle or laser procedures like in tattoos and cosmetics. More recently, EMLA has gained in popularity through being a treatment for premature ejaculation.

How Does EMLA Work?

EMLA works by numbing the treated area — making it less responsive to stimulation. It’s two active ingredients prevent nerve signals from the treated area from reaching the brain. In terms of premature ejaculation, EMLA numbs the sensitive part of the penis so you last longer in bed.

How long does EMLA last for?

Premature ejaculation is a common problem in men who cannot control or delay ejaculation within the first two minutes of sexual intercourse. Premature ejaculation is caused by several psychological and physical factors including stress, guilt, anxiety, excitement, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

As treatment for premature ejaculation, several clinical studies suggest that EMLA is an effective alternative. According to this particular study published by St James University Hospital in Leeds, EMLA can increase Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time by up to six times with negligible side effects. EMLA cream itself can last on the skin for one to five hours.

How To Use EMLA Cream

Using EMLA is easy. Just apply a pea-size amount of the cream to the head of the penis about 30 minutes before intercourse. Remember that EMLA cream is formulated as an oil in water emulsion which may cause condoms to weaken. Make sure to wipe off the cream before continuing intercourse.

Is EMLA cream dangerous?

Like all medicines, EMLA also has its own share of side effects. These include:

• Slight puffiness on the affected area
• Burning
• Itching
• Paleness or redness of the skin

These side effects are normal and go away on their own.

Although rare, EMLA may also have some serious side effects like bruising on the skin, increase in blood sugar levels, fatigue, increased levels of methemoglobin in the blood, and dizziness.

It’s also possible to develop an allergic reaction to EMLA. Stop using the treatment if you experience swelling (lips, tongue, face, and throat), hives, and difficulty breathing.

Can I buy EMLA cream over the counter?

Yes. You can buy EMLA cream without any prescription. Express Pharmacy stocks EMLA cream that you can order safely and discreetly online.

Contraceptive pills are a great way to satisfy your sex drive without the risks of unwanted pregnancy. Women who have painful or heavy periods also use contraceptive pills to control their menstruation.

The Yasmin Pill is a common type of contraceptive used by women in the UK. If taken correctly, this pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. But it doesn’t come without any risks. So, what are the side effects of the Yasmin Pill? Read on to find out.

How the Yasmin Pill Works

The Yasmin pill is a combination of two hormones — Ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and Drospirenone (progesterone). It’s usually taken by women who are under 35 years old. This pill prevents pregnancy in three ways:

• By preventing ovulation.
• By making the mucus layer in your cervix thicker so the sperm will have a hard time reaching the egg.
• By changing the lining of the uterus to prevent the attachment of a fertilized egg.

The pill is taken orally, daily at set intervals. It can be taken with or without food or water.

The Yasmin Pill is also comparable to Microgynon — another popular contraceptive pill. Both of these pills are combination pills that follow a 28-day course. One of the contrasting differences between the two is that the Yasmin pill is not suited for women who have cardiovascular diseases because of its tendency to develop blood clots. Microgynon, on the other hand, has lower risks of blood clots making it more suitable for women who have heart disease.

If you want to learn more, this article about Yasmin vs. Microgynon is a good place to start.

What are the side effects of the Yasmin Pill?

Like all medicines, Yasmin also has its own share of side effects that you need to be aware of. Below is a list of the common side effects of the Yasmin pill.

• Vomiting
• Feeling nauseous especially if it’s your first time.
• Bloating
• Headache
• Weight changes
• Freckles
• Breast swelling or tenderness
• Stomach cramps
• Changes in your appetite
• Increase hair growth
• Discharge from your nipples or vagina
• Itching on your vagina
• Dulled sex drive
• Changes in your period
• Loss of scalp hair

Yasmin also increases the risks of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke for women who are:

• Smoking
• Over 35 years old
• Have a medical history of heart attack, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular diseases

Side effects of Yasmin that require immediate medical attention

If you experience the side effects below, stop taking Yasmin and call your doctor right away:

• Signs of allergic reaction - swelling of the face, tongue, throat, or lips. Hives and difficulty breathing.
• Signs of a heart attack - Chest pressure or pain that spreads to your shoulder or jaw. Sweating and nausea.
• Signs of a stroke - sudden weakness on one side of the body. Severe headache, vision and balance problems, and slurred speech.
• Signs of high blood pressure - blurred vision and pounding in your ears or neck. Severe headache.
• Signs of a blood clot - shortness of breath, loss of vision, pain in one or both legs, stabbing chest pain.

Yasmin Alternatives Available At Express Pharmacy

Aside from Yasmin, Express Pharmacy stocks the following contraceptives that guarantee safe and effective use:

Microgynon - a combination pill made from Levonorgestrel and Ethinylestradiol. It works like Yasmin and has lower risks of developing blood clots. This contraceptive pill is ideal for women who have a medical history of cardiovascular diseases.

Cilest - another combination pill. Its active ingredients are Norgestimate and Ethinylestradiol. This pill works by tricking the body into thinking that ovulation has already happened thus, preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg.

EVRA Patches - this alternate method of contraception is directly applied to the skin. The patch releases two hormones, Norelgestromin and Ethinylestradiol. EVRA patches are effective immediately as long as it is placed correctly. This alternative contraception method is ideal for those who have a hard time swallowing pills or can’t remember when to take it.

You can buy Yasmin online from Express Pharmacy.

Fungi are single-celled or multicellular organisms. Common examples of fungi in the environment are yeasts, moulds, and even mushrooms! Along with various bacteria, fungi are present in and on the body.

There are many different types of fungal infection. In this article, we will look in close detail as to what Onychomycosis is and what is the best medication for a nail fungal infection.

Understanding Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a type of fungal infection that affects your nails. The infection begins when a fungus gets in through the cuts in your skin or cracks in your nails. Remember that fungi love warm and moist environments — making your nails an ideal place for growth.

Onychomycosis is more common in your toenails that in your fingernails. This is because your toenails are often confined in your shoes where it’s moist and warm.

What does a nail fungal infection look like?

Nail fungal infections vary from one person to another. Below are the common signs of Onychomycosis:

• Thickened nail
• Brittle nail
• Any form of distortion in the nail that may lift it from the nail bed
• Bad smell coming from the infected nail

Onychomycosis may affect only a small portion of the nail or the whole of it. In some cases, the infection may spread to several nails.

What are the different kinds of nail fungal infections?

There are at least four common types of nail fungal infections. Let’s look at them in detail below:

1. Candida Infection

This type of nail fungal infection is caused by Candida yeasts. Candida infections are more common in the fingernails and among people who soak their hands in water frequently. This fungal infection usually begins around the cuticle. As the fungi grow, your nail will become red, tender, and swollen. Untreated, the infection may cause the nail to lift from the nail bed or fall off.

2. White Superficial Infection

This type of fungal infection is common in toenails. It is often characterized by white spots which may become flaky and pitted. Untreated, these white spots will eventually cover the entire nail causing it to become rough and soft. Toenails affected by white superficial infection are prone to crumble.

3. Distal Subungual Infection

This fungal nail infection is probably the most common one. The distal subungual infection affects both your toenails and fingernails. It begins under the nail and is characterized by white and yellow streaks across the nail. It may also cause the outer edges of your nail to become jagged.

4. Proximal Subungual Infection

Like above, this type of nail fungal infection develops in your toenails and fingernails. The infection begins at the base of your nail — characterized by yellow spots. It then spreads upwards. Proximal subungual infection is rare and often affects people who have weakened immune systems.

If you want to learn more about fungal infections, here’s our fungal infections guide.

Who can develop nail fungal infections?

Most causes of fungal nail infections are preventable. However, your risks of developing any of the infections we’ve discussed above increases when you:

• Are more than 65 years old
• Wear artificial nails
• Have nail injury or cuts around the nail
• Have a compromised immune system
• Wear closed-toe shoes often
• Have diabetes
• Have moist fingers or toes for extended periods

What is the best medication for a nail fungal infection?

The best way to know what type of nail fungal infection you are dealing with is to have a doctor examine your nails. Remember that other diseases like psoriasis can mimic a nail fungal infection. Knowing the type of infection is the best way to get proper treatment.

Some of the common treatment for nail fungal infections include:

Taking oral anti-fungal drugs

Compared to topical drugs, oral anti-fungal medications clear nail fungal infections quicker. Most of these treatments work by helping your nails grow infection-free — replacing the infected part over time. It may take up to four months to replace the damaged nail and get rid of the infection. The downside of anti-fungal drugs is that they tend to have side effects ranging from a skin rash to liver damage.

Using Curanail

Curanail is a topical fungal medication that’s clinically proven to clear nail fungal infections within six months. It works by preventing the fungi from producing ergosterol — a key component of their cellular membrane — essentially, “killing” it.

Curanail is applied directly on the infected nail like a nail lacquer or varnish. It then slowly penetrates the nail and on to the nail bed where the root of the infection is. You can buy Curanail online from Express Pharmacy.

Hirsutism is a medical condition that refers to abnormal or excessive hair growth in women. Like men, women also have body and facial hair but you barely notice it because it is normally light in colour and fine in texture. The hair growth caused by hirsutism is usually dark and coarse. So, what causes facial hair on a woman? Read on and find out for yourself.

Understanding Hirsutism

There are two types of excessive hair growth — hirsutism and hypertrichosis. Hypertrichosis is the increase of hair growth anywhere on the body, while hirsutism is excessive hair growth on areas that are naturally hairy on men. This includes the face, abdomen, chest, back, and arms.

Is hirsutism common?

Based on the study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, hirsutism affects up to 10% of women. It can be hereditary and is typically more common among women of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and South Asian descent.

Is hirsutism dangerous?

While there are no direct health concerns with hirsutism, excessive hair growth on the body can affect a woman’s self-esteem.

Causes of facial hair on a woman

The main culprits behind hirsutism are the hormones androgen and testosterone. Too much production of these hormones can cause male-pattern hair growth and other symptoms like deepening of the voice, acne, decreased breast size, enlargement of the clitoris, balding, and increased muscle mass.

So, what triggers the overproduction of androgen?

There are several medical conditions that affect the production of androgen in the body. Some of the common ones include:

Disorders in the adrenal glands

Your adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones in your body. They are found just above your kidneys. Common adrenal gland disorders include:

• Adrenal tumours
• Adrenal cancer
• Cushing Syndrome - a condition where your adrenal glands produce too much cortisol or “stress hormones”.
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - a group of genetic diseases that prevent the adrenal glands from producing hormones normally.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Commonly known as PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome is characterised by benign cysts that form on the ovaries — affecting your hormone production, menstrual cycle, and fertility.

Some of the symptoms of PCOS include:

• Sleep problems
• Fatigue
• Pelvic pain
• Mood changes
• Headaches
• Infertility

According to studies, polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common cause of facial hair on women. In fact, it is responsible for 75% of hirsutism cases.

Certain medications

Aside from illnesses, certain medications may also cause excessive hair growth in women. Some of them are:

• Minoxidil - a medicine used to treat endometriosis in women. Also used to encourage hair growth.
• Testosterone - usually taken to correct testosterone deficiency
• Cyclosporine - a drug that’s usually used before organ operations
• Anabolic steroids - many of these are synthetic versions of testosterone.

Who are at risk of developing excessive facial hair?

Now that we know what are the causes of hirsutism, let’s look at who is more likely to develop it.

Women who are obese - too much weight may stimulate overproduction of androgen.

Family history - most of the underlying causes of facial hair on women (i.e. polycystic ovarian syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia) run in families. This means that if one of your family members develops hirsutism, there’s a big chance that’ you’ll get it too.

Ancestry - several studies show that women who are from South Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East are more likely to develop facial hair than women from other countries. Until now, doctors can’t pinpoint a reason why this is the case.

What are the complications of hirsutism?

Hirsutism in itself is not fatal but it can have a big impact on a woman’s self-confidence. As one study states: “Hirsutism is recognized to cause profound distress in affected women, due to cosmetic and psychosexual implications.”

The hormonal imbalance that causes hirsutism may have a significant impact on a woman’s health. For example, if you have the polycystic ovarian syndrome, you are at risk of infertility.

If you have Cushing’s Disease, you are more at risk of developing premature atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries), diabetes, and hypertension.

How to treat facial hair on a woman

Treating hirsutism may involve treating the underlying disorder that caused it. Aside from that, you can also develop a self-care routine to get rid of excess hair as well as various medications and therapies. Let’s discuss below some of the ways that you can treat excessive hair growth.

Oral contraceptives - hormonal contraceptives or birth control pills can help treat hirsutism that’s caused by excessive androgen production. This is a good option if you don’t want to become pregnant.

Anti-androgen drugs - these types of drugs are used to prevent androgens from “activating” inside your body. Anti-androgens are usually given if oral contraceptives are not effective. Spironolactone (brand name: Aldactone, CaroSpir) is the most commonly used anti-androgen drug. It takes about six months for results to become noticeable.

Vaniqa - this topical cream is specifically made for women who have facial hair. Vaniqa is applied directly to the affected area. Although it doesn’t get rid of existing hair, Vaniqa is very effective in slowing down new hair growth. You can see results within 4 - 8 weeks of using this product. You can buy Vaniqa online from Express Pharmacy today.

If you fear that you may have contracted HIV, the best thing that you can do is stay one step ahead and get a test. While there is currently no cure for HIV, detecting it in its early stages is vital so that you can live a comfortable life.

The easiest and quickest way to test for HIV is in the comfort of your own home. This short guide will take you through everything you need to know about these home testing kits.

How To Know If You Have HIV

The only way to 100% know whether you have HIV is by taking a test. While there are some non-specific symptoms (headaches, fevers, pneumonia, etc), you may not develop them until years after you contract the virus.

Due to lack of symptoms when you first contract HIV, it is recommended to take a test if you have had unprotected sex or sex with someone who you now know has HIV. It is also wise to take a test if you have ever shared needles with someone else - whether it be for tattoos, piercings or drug use.

How Do HIV Testing Kits Work?

Most HIV testing kits work by searching for antibodies in your blood or cells that would have only developed if your body was trying to fight off HIV. These antibodies typically appear after 3 months of contracting HIV, meaning if you test negative the first time, it’s wise to try again a few months later to be 100% certain.

One of the most popular HIV testing kits is the BioSURE HIV Testing Kit. This kit detects the antibodies via your blood which is drawn by a simple pinprick on your finger. After around 15 minutes, the test will have your results ready and will indicate your status through the use of lines (similarly to a pregnancy test).

How To Get A HIV Testing Kit

Buying a HIV testing kit online has never been easier thanks to accredited pharmacies. You can purchase the popular BioSURE HIV testing kit right here at Express Pharmacy and have it delivered to you in as little as 1 working day. This testing kit is priced at £28.95.