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Comprehensive safer sex part 3: Take it to the next level
Part of a three-part series originally published to Tumblr on April 18, 2013. When thinking about a comprehensive safer-sex regimen, it helps to keep in mind things that are not considered part of safer-sex too, because it’s really easy to get overwhelmed or a bit confused when you’re trying to be as responsible with your […]
Comprehensive safer sex part 2: Reduce your risk!
Part of a three-part series originally published to Tumblr on April 18, 2013. While you can’t eliminate all risk when getting intimate with a partner, a comprehensive approach that includes prevention and communication can greatly reduce your likelihood of contracting an infection as I have . Taking these 4 comprehensive safer-sex steps not only reduces […]
Can you get an STD from oral sex?
While you can’t get pregnant from oral sex , you can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI, a.k.a. STD). The risk of getting an STI from oral sex is a little different from the risk of vaginal sex, so let’s go over the details. First, the basic biology STIs are bacteria or viruses that rely […]
Comprehensive safer sex part 1: It’s personal
Part of a three-part series originally published to Tumblr on April 18, 2013. At 30 years old and after 14 years of living with an STI—genital herpes—I’ve had my fair share of experiences with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). At 16, when I contracted herpes, I had been armed with the ever-familiar fear-based sex ed, in […]
How to use barrier methods like a pro
What do condoms, internal (a.k.a. female) condoms, the diaphragm, the cervical cap, and the sponge all have in common? They all literally put a barrier between sperm and egg. These barrier methods aren’t as effective as many other methods , but they’re generally easy to get , cheap (or free) and can be doubled up […]
OMG, a vibrating female condom!
Good news! IXu LLC , a Michigan-based company that specializes in barrier contraception methods has created a vibrating female condom. The VA w.o.w. is “accessorized” with a heart- or star-shaped “mini vibrating device” for hands-free clitoral stimulation. Once inserted into the vagina, the outer ring sits atop the clitoris, providing lady-controlled protection. What we know […]
My glamorous life with HPV
“Just want to give a shout-out to all my HPV ladies out there,” is a thing I posted recently in an online forum for young women. The comment was in response to a poll that asked, “Do you have any STDs?” Whenever someone asks me (usually in a medical setting) if I have any STDs […]
Oral HPV: Another reason to brush and floss
As if having sweet-smelling breath weren’t reason enough to brush and floss every day, there’s a study showing that people with good oral hygiene are less likely to have human papillomavirus (HPV) living in their mouths. In the study, about 7% of people with good brushing and flossing habits had measurable levels of HPV in […]
The HPV vaccine, new and improved
In December of 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) called Gardasil 9. Sound familiar? Gardasil 9 is the beefed up version of the original Gardasil shot , which protected against four strains of HPV. Gardasil 9 protects against—you guessed it—nine types of HPV. Young […]
Before you stop using condoms…
Condoms are great—they’re available in almost any drug store or clinic and they protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). More than half of U.S. couples use a condom when they have sex for the first time, and over 93% have used condoms at some point. The number of couples relying on condoms tends […]
