We asked some top pelvic health experts to explain the causes of pain and problems experienced in your most intimate areas - and how to put them right.

It's an unfortunate truth that most women will suffer from an uncomfortable (or sometimes embarrassing) medical problem ‘down below' at some point in their lives. Whether it's a result of sheer bad luck (or more complex reasons, such as irregular hormone levels), most are usually easily treated. Read on to discover what our experts advise to manage each of these common ‘private problems'...  

What is it? The most common vaginal condition in women of childbearing age, BV occurs when the balance of normal bacteria (lactobacilli) in the vagina is disturbed.

Symptoms: The symptoms are similar to those of a yeast infection (such as a strong-smelling discharge) though typically milder. Researchers aren't sure what causes the bacterial imbalance that leads to bacterial vaginosis, but it does tend to occur in younger women who are very sexually active and those who have an inter-uterine contraceptive device (IUD).

Treatment: A course of the antibiotic metronidazole, taken twice a day for seven days, prescribed by your GP - it clears it up in about 70 per cent of cases. Most episodes occur for no apparent reason. However, to prevent further attacks, try to maintain a normal balance of vaginal bacteria by avoiding bath oils and bubble baths and over-washing the vaginal area. Gently splash with water rather than douching (rinsing the vagina out with water) to avoid a recurrence.

Visit www.fpa.org.uk or contact the Family Planning Association on 0845 122 8690 for more information.

What is it? A condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, on or around the ovaries, bowel or bladder. Around two million women in the UK suffer from endometriosis and the average age of diagnosis is 27, although it can appear in your teens. However, after the menopause its prevalence drops, as the wayward cells need oestrogen to grow.

Symptoms: Painful intercourse, severe premenstrual pain and infertility - around 40 per cent of infertile women suffer from endometriosis. Difficulty in conceiving can be due to scar tissue blocking the fallopian tubes; high prostaglandin excretion causing irregular periods and problems with the immune system viewing the sperm and foetus as a ‘foreign body'.

Treatment: Taking the Pill continuously for three to nine months will stop periods and any related pain. Drug treatments can also improve the symptoms. For some women, laparoscopic surgery to remove endometrial tissue, can help improve fertility. Others find that acupuncture, reflexology and dietary changes can help.

Visit www.endometriosis-uk.org or call Endometriosis UK on 0808 808 2227 for more information.

STDs can occur at any age, but younger women get them most often because they're more likely to have multiple sexual partners. The key for any STD is to catch it early - as some, such as chlamydia, can potentially lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and result in infertility.  

What is chlamydia? Genital chlamydia is the most common STD in the UK, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.
Symptoms: Typically, it's symptom-free, although it can result in painful urination and an abnormal vaginal discharge.
Treatment: A urine sample or cervical swab, taken by your GP, will determine if you have been infected. If the test is positive, chlamydia can be easily treated with a course of antibiotics.

Visit www.fpa.org.uk or contact the Family Planning Association on 0845 122 8690 for more information.

Symptoms: Most HPV cases are symptom-free except for mild vaginal itching. Certain strains can cause genital or non-genital warts, and some HPV strains have been linked with cervical cancer.
Treatment: Your GP can detect HPV with a cervical smear, so be sure to have one regularly. If it's positive, you'll need to be monitored again for precancerous cervical cells. A routine HPV vaccination programme for girls aged 12-13 was introduced by the Department of Health in September 2008, as it is best administered before the onset of sexual activity. No matter what your age, if you are sexually active and have a new partner or multiple partners, experts recommend annual testing for STDs. Visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk/vaccines/hpv or call 0845 602 3303 for more information.

What are they? Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumours of the smooth muscle of the uterus or womb and are the most common tumours found in the female genital tract. Fibroid growth increases with age and is fairly normal. Polyps are benign growths of the mucus membrane of the uterus. They tend to affect women aged 40 and over, with the average age for treatment being mid-40s.

Symptoms: According to Dr Nigel Cowan of the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, most women don't even know that they have fibroids. Only 20 per cent experience related symptoms, such as abnormal or heavy periods, painful intercourse, or frequent urinating (when a fibroid presses on the bladder). But a fibroid can become troublesome if it grows into the uterine cavity, where it can cause infertility.

Treatment: Your GP can detect fibroids with a pelvic examination or a pelvic ultrasound. Eighty per cent of women with fibroids have no symptoms and don't need treatment, but if you're experiencing heavy period bleeding, the Pill may help. The Fibroid Embolisation: Information, Support & Advice organisation (FEmISA) reports that many women who contact them are concerned that they have only been offered a hysterectomy as treatment for severe fibroid tumours. However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has set guidelines that women with fibroid tumours larger than 3cm should also be offered a myomectomy (where the fibroids are scraped or burned away) or non-surgical fibroid embolisation (where, under local anaesthetic, a micro catheter is introduced into the blood vessels supplying the uterus), thereby removing the fibroids - so invasive treatment is not the only option available. Visit www.femisa.org.uk for more information.

What is it? An endocrine disorder linked to high levels of androgens (male hormones). It affects one in 10 women in their reproductive years and is usually diagnosed in their twenties and thirties.
Symptoms: Infrequent, irregular or absent periods, acne, depression, ovarian cysts, obesity, thinning hair on your head, increased facial and body hair. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of female infertility.
Treatment: PCOS can't be cured, but it can be treated. You'll need to have a physical examination, blood tests and an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Your GP may then prescribe the Pill to help regulate your cycle and reduce androgen levels. Maintaining a healthy weight is also key, since fat tissue elevates hormone levels. If you are trying to conceive, fertility drugs can help normalise ovulation.

Verity is the UK charity for women with PCOS. Visit www.verity-pcos.org.uk for more information.    
 

What is it? Loss of sex drive, which can occur as a result of hormonal changes, the menopause, stress, ill health or emotional issues. Each person's sex drive is very different - although, typically, women tend not to feel as much desire as men and find it more difficult to orgasm.
Treatment: "An effective libido-boosting herb is Rhodiola (£9.65 for 30 tablets, www.solgar.co.uk)," says medical nutritionist Naomi Beinart. "It's been used in Russia for centuries. Patients usually notice results within three to four days. It's also known to help improve your mood by increasing the feel-good chemicals in your body, which are essential to achieve a healthy sex life." Improving your diet can also help. Pumpkin seeds and nuts, such as almonds and brazils, contain the amino acid arginine, which is known as a ‘natural Viagra' as it boosts blood flow to the genital area.

Visit www.sda.uk.net or contact the Sexual Dysfunction Association on 0870 774 3571.