Birth control spotlight: The implant
Even if you’re squeamish, you can handle learning a little bit more about the implant. It’s a super-effective method. It’s an ultra-tiny rod that gets inserted under the skin of your upper arm. It’s smaller than a match and practically invisible once you get it (so nobody ever needs to know you have it). And […]
Sex ed: A gift that keeps on giving
Stay in school, kids! A new study from the Guttmacher Institute shows that men and women who got formal sex education in school had long-term benefits in terms of their birth control use and relationships. It’s not news that sex ed has positive results, but this was the first study to look at long-term benefits […]
Herpes blues
Once you get it, it’s with you for life—so about 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. has genital herpes. Two prescription-only medications, acyclovir and valacyclovir, help make outbreaks of the virus less frequent and less painful. Acyclovir and valacyclovir are good at reducing the amount of herpes virus present in the genital area, so […]
HPV really gets around
New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that about 4% of people in the U.S. aged 14-69 have a high-risk type of human papilloma virus (HPV) in their mouth or throat. (High-risk types of HPV are associated with cancer.) The study concluded that any type of HPV infection in the […]
Should the pill be available over the counter?
In 2012, a small Pennsylvania college made national headlines for putting packs of the emergency contraceptive pill Plan B in a vending machine in their student health center. Imagine the uproar if that vending machine had packs of the pill in it, too. Selling the pill in a vending machine wouldn’t be legal in the […]
Hot and sweaty: Fitness for fooling around
It’s ok to skip your spin class this weekend and hit the bedroom: Sex counts as fitness. An intense makeout session will burn about 238 calories per half-hour. Undressing burns about eight. Giving oral sex is good for 100 calories over 30 minutes. And depending on how acrobatic you are, the actual act of boot […]
Risky business 2: Migraines, high blood pressure, and blood clots
I’ve written before that accidental pregnancy is the most serious health risk of many birth control methods. But there are other risks to consider, too. All modern methods of birth control can have positive and negative side effects—Bedsider has information about both for each method. Hopefully anyone who wants to avoid a pregnancy can find […]
Good to know: Questions you should ask your gyno
We like it when you’re healthy, happy, and well informed. That’s why we’re sharing a few questions you might want to ask your gynecologist at your next visit. Think of this as a cheat sheet you can bring along to find out what’s really going on down there. Questions about birth control Should I be […]
The ring’s got perks
Heavy periods affect lots of women, with consequences ranging from annoyance to missed days at work or school. We know from previous research that the pill and the hormonal IUD can help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and increase women’s sense of well-being. But new research from Egypt shows that the ring is another good option […]
Come on! How to deal with premature ejaculation
Some guys climax too fast. When it’s a new relationship, it can be kind of flattering. You might think: I must really turn him on. But after awhile it can get frustrating if it leaves you unfulfilled or him insecure. The good news is there are lots of things you can do to help him […]
