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New mini-pill Slynd will allow users more flexibility in timing
The FDA has approved Slynd , a new version of the mini-pill that will bring much-needed flexibility to mini-pill users. The mini-pill, or the progestin-only birth control pill, is a good option for birth control for people who are not able to use estrogen or prefer not to. Current formulations of the mini-pill have to […]
Demystifying trich, the super common STI you’ve never heard of
You’ve heard of chlamydia. You’ve heard of gonorrhea. But have you heard of trich (pronounced like “trick”)? Trich—which is short for trichomoniasis—is the most common non-viral STI. According to Dr. Ina Park , Associate Professor of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and medical […]
Fact check: 10 things that aren’t birth control and 17 things that are
Good news and bad news, folks. The bad news is that the following 10 groceries are NOT birth control: Papaya Neem Asafoetida Figs Ginger Smartweed Wild yam Pennyroyal Black cohosh Angelica The good news is that these 17 things ARE proven methods of preventing pregnancy! And if what you’re after is something that doesn’t have […]
Just diagnosed with an STI? Here’s how to stop freaking out
A lot of people are really scared of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They’re the bogeyman of the bedroom; the sneaky bugs that are just waiting to get you every time you have sex. And that fear makes total sense! If people do get sex ed in school in the United States (and that’s not guaranteed […]
What to do when sex hurts
Sex is all about feeling great—until it doesn’t feel great. Unfortunately, dyspareunia (pain during sex) is more common than you might think. In fact, it’s so common that 3 out of every 4 people with vaginas experience it at some point in their lives. (Although some people enjoy experiencing pain during sex, that’s not the […]
How stress impacts your sex life
Stress has a way of piling up, from little things like your commute and your annoying co-workers to bigger things like your finances and the never-ending news cycle. Unsurprisingly, all of these stressors can affect your mental health. But repeatedly feeling stressed out can also affect your physical health; it can contribute to heart disease […]
Are you cleaning your sex toys wrong?
Whether you’re using sex toys with a partner or solo (btw May is Masturbation Month, enjoy), or both, you’ve probably wondered at some point whether they’re actually clean. Like clean-clean . We went straight to the source, the iconic sex educator and owner/founder of Spectrum Boutique , Zoë Ligon, to find out.* Q: How do […]
The art of being a difficult (aka empowered) patient
When I was twenty years old, I met a bunch of feminists. They were strong and assertive, and they took no sh*t. They were loud and amazing, and they blew my mind. They were a lot like the feminists my grandpa had always warned me about. He hated feminists. And these feminists would really not […]
I experienced racial bias in my postpartum care
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of a Bedsider series highlighting the lived experiences of women of color in getting reproductive health care. Bedsider is committed to helping people get on top of their sex lives through information and access to quality care. That commitment includes celebrating all that birth control has to offer, but […]
Ask an expert: Why is sex in the water so dry?
If you’re anything like us, weather that hits the low 50s is feeling dead tropical to you right about now. The spring fever is REAL. But before you head out on spring break ( or adult spring break ), we’re here to answer your most pressing vacation-related sexual health questions. We sat down with our […]
