Q I am in my 30s and I am seriously thinking about marrying a lovely Cuban woman.

However, one thing is worrying me. Many years ago, when I was younger, I 'played the field' quite a lot. I suppose I must have had sex with eight or nine different girls during my 20s. Since then I have calmed down a little and, in fact, it has been quite a few years since I last had intercourse.

What worries me is whether I could have picked up some kind of sexually transmitted infection from those girls? Could I still have it?

I have no symptoms but I would not like to infect my fiancée.

A It is a fact that a lot of people play around when they are young, particularly men.

The fact that in your 30s you have no symptoms at all does suggest that you probably do not have an STI. However, I must tell you that it is possible to carry an infection all those years and not know that you have it.

On the basis of statistical probability, the one that would be most likely would be chlamydia, but there is a small chance that a man in his 30s could be carrying syphilis or even HIV without knowing it.

I do not want you to worry but, on the other hand, you could eliminate any worry by going to a doctor and having the straightforward and painless tests which would put your mind totally at rest.

Q I am a business woman who has always liked oral sex. It seems to me that it gives a woman a lot of pleasure without exposing her to the risks of pregnancy.

So, over the years I have had many sex partners, receiving and giving oral sex. A few of them have been other women.

Recently, I have heard that there might be a link between oral sex and mouth or throat cancer. Is that true, doctor?

A There have been some rumours that oral sex can transmit Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is the one that causes cancer of the cervix.

There are also some doctors who are claiming that HPV might also cause cancers of the mouth and throat. It is also claimed that oral and throat tumours have been more common since oral sex became more popular back in the late 20th century.

At the moment, these have not been proven. However, I would say that in general it is wise to avoid ANY kind of promiscuous sexual contact - and that includes having oral sex with multiple partners.

Q My husband is now in his late 50s and it seems like he might be losing his virility. To be honest, there are days when he just can't 'make it'.

I love him dearly and would like to know if there are any treatments that are available to help him?

A He does need to see a doctor to have his problem assessed. In his age group, there are cases of men losing their 'nature'.

Physical problems which can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) include:

Diabetes ('sugar')

Excessive consumption of alcohol

Smoking

Some prescribed drugs

Illegal drugs.

But among men in the 50-70 age group, the basic problem is that their arteries are starting to block up. The arteries are the tubes that carry blood to the various organs of the body.

If the arteries that take blood to the penis are not OPEN enough, then they will not get an erection.

Fortunately, there are treatments that will make those tubes open wider.

The most common type of treatment is Viagra. This drug helps about 80 per cent of men who have ED.

There are now several other medications which do the same thing. The two best-known are Cialis and Levitra.

An alternative is the 'erection-inducing' jabs. A man would have to be very brave to use these because he has to inject himself in the penis before intercourse!

Another method which is quite painless is to insert a 'pellet' of an erection-provoking drug down the urinary passage. This is inserted using a special applicator immediately before sex.

Men can also achieve an erection by using a 'vacuum pump' which in effect 'sucks' the organ into an erection. One slight drawback of this method is that it makes the erect penis feel cold to the female partner.

Finally, there are special 'penis rings' which can restrict the outflow of blood from the male organ and so encourage erection. Do not try any 'do-it-yourself' rings. These devices have to be medically prescribed.

Your husband's next move should be to see a doctor who can examine and advise him.

Q I am a 49-year-old woman who loves sex. I have just been through menopause, do I need to use contraception?

A It would be wise to wait two years after menopause. Becoming pregnant in the late 40s is very uncommon.

Q Is it OK to drink water with meals, doctor? My husband drinks a lot and my mother says that will be 'bad for his digestion'.

A It was thought that drinking water with a meal would dilute the gastric juices but unless your husband is getting indigestion or gas, I do not think you need to worry.

Q My wife has recently started having orgasms for the first time, at the age of 34.

Naturally, I am pleased by this, but the climaxes are so wild that I am worried that she might have a stroke or heart attack. She screams and shouts and contorts the body.

Is there any danger from this?

A No, although female orgasms can sometimes be very noisy and dramatic, there should be no health risks.

Q I recently had an affair with a young man from Falmouth, but we did not have intercourse. I have not seen my period since, could I be pregnant?

A It is difficult for you to become pregnant without actual intercourse, but it can occasionally happen. If you are worried, please get a pregnancy test done.