The STI testing question of the hour: Where?
Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Early diagnosis and treatment means better long-term health and less likelihood of passing the infection on to future sexual partners. So why don’t more people in the U.S. get tested? Two new studies suggest that where the testing is happening may be […]
What’s that smell? The truth about body functions
You could hold it in and suffer. Or cover it up and pretend nothing happened. Or you could do what he does and simply let. it. out. It doesn’t matter to us. You can be a sex bomb and a stink bomb , and we’ll still think you’re fabulous. But you probably don’t care what […]
How to talk doctor
Talking about sex can be tough enough in bed—even worse in a doctor’s office. Fortunately there are some dos and don’ts to make your visit easier and more productive for you and your health care provider.* Part 1: Before the visit (Prepare, prepare, prepare…) There are a few simple things you can do before seeing […]
Pay attention to me! How to deal when the focus isn’t on you
“I love it when my significant other ignores me,” said no one ever. That’s why the silent treatment is such an effective form of torture. We love to be the object of desire, not the object of disinterest, so here are a few ways to handle it if you’re feeling a little too far off […]
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 […]
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 […]
DIY IUD Removal: Yesss or yeeeck?
According to new research from the University of California, San Francisco, some women like the idea of being able to remove their own IUD—so much so that it might make them more willing to try one in the first place. Women who liked the idea of removing their own IUD said it was because they […]
What to do when he wants to add another girl to the mix
Ménage à trois. Three little words about three people having sex. It sounds all French and fabulous, but could you do it? Would you be ok with a threesome? If the person you’re sleeping with keeps bringing it up, you’re going to have to answer that question sometime. Here’s how to deal with it. If […]
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 […]
SILCS: It’s not your mama’s diaphragm (not her spermicide, either)
Update: The Caya diaphragm, a.k.a. SILCS, is now available in the U.S. — In the 1960s, more than 10% of married women in the U.S. used a diaphragm for birth control—today, fewer than 1% do. The drop could be because so many other birth control options have been introduced since then, including the implant , […]
