How do I talk to my doctor about birth control?
Talking about your birth control options and personal sexual health history to a stranger may be a little nerve-racking at first—but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve covered step by step how to get the most out of talking to your health care provider to make sure you find the method that’s best for you. […]
Can certain STIs make you infertile?
Yes, chlamydia and gonorrhea, if untreated, can cause pelvic inflammatory disease , a.k.a. PID. PID can cause scarring in the tubes that connect the ovaries and uterus and make it more difficult for an egg to travel in the right direction. Luckily, chlamydia and gonorrhea can be easily tested for and treated with antibiotics. One […]
Sigh: The most common STIs are getting even more common
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released their annual report card for the country’s sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The good news is that pelvic inflammatory disease (a.k.a. PID) seems to be on a steady decline. The bad news is that some of the most common STIs—chlamydia and gonorrhea—seem to be on […]
Can I get pregnant with my clothes on?
No. Dry humping cannot lead to pregnancy. Since sperm cannot swim through clothing, getting pregnant while clothed (and that, of course, means while wearing clothing that prevents penetration—a mini-skirt pulled up around your waist doesn’t count!) would be very unlikely. Sperm exposed to air lose their ability to swim and can only live a few […]
5 myths about living with HIV, busted
Today in the U.S., about 1.2 million people are living with HIV . Just like other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), there is no way to tell if someone is living with HIV just by looking at them. And just like other STIs, there are plenty of other myths about what it means to live with […]
What you need to know about UTIs
By Lindsey Ellefson. Growing up in a small Midwestern town, my public school sex education was full of plenty of colorful, unflattering metaphors for girls who have sex before marriage (think licked lollipops and used Kleenex) and no information about how to prevent pregnancy and STIs if or when one of us lollipops did decide […]
How to respond if asked, “When are you going to have kids?”
Yes, it’s only early October, but we’re heading into the holidays fast, which probably means seeing lots of people who may or may not know what’s going on in your life. And if you’re of a certain age, or in a certain relationship, you may get bombarded with the question, “When are you going to […]
Which birth control method will help reduce my cramps?
Most women who use hormonal birth control–the pill, the ring, the shot, the patch, the implant, or a hormonal IUD–will have less painful periods than those who don’t. This is because these methods of birth control make the lining of the uterus thinner. There’s less tissue in the uterus to shed, so periods are lighter. […]
Is it safe to lose blood by spotting a lot?
Spotting, which can happen with a bunch of different methods, doesn’t make you lose that much blood, even though it might seem like it. We have a Provider Perspective article about it if you want to learn more. Still not working? You may have more luck on a pill with a slightly higher dose of […]
What are the best methods to use if I don’t want to have my period?
The Mirena IUD, the shot, and the implant have all been shown to reduce menstrual bleeding for most women. You can also use the pill or the ring continuously to intentionally skip your period. original post
