May 2012
41 posts
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“Trust Women.”
– ~Dr. George Tiller. Three years ago today Dr. Tiller, an abortion provider in Wichita, Kansas, was murdered. Today we remember his courageous and compassionate work as both a health care provider and a women’s health advocate. Our thoughts are with Dr. Tiller’s family and loved ones.
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Vasectomy
Someone asked us:
Q. You guys are a great resource for women’s health, but I have a question regarding a procedure for men, namely vasectomies. My husband has been on the fence about getting one for years, so I’m wondering if you have any information or thoughts I can share with him the next time the topic comes up.
While a vasectomy is a much less complicated medical procedure than...
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Why don't my nipples feel good?
Someone asked us:
Q. I hope it’s okay to ask this here - I really hate having my nipples played with, the sensation makes me uncomfortable. But I WANT to enjoy it! Is there anything at all that I can do to make it a pleasurable experience? Thank you!!
It’s definitely okay to ask about your nipples. For some people, having their nipples touched or played with can be a huge turn on. It...
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Abortion and birth control
Someone asked us:
Q. I had a pilled abortion over a month ago and was put on birth control. Last night I had unprotected sex, I’m still on birth control, is that okay?
In general, health care providers recommend that you not have vaginal sex for one week after a medication abortion (the abortion pill). Most forms of hormonal birth control become effective within seven days — some sooner....
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“The heterosexuality or homosexuality of many individuals is not an all-or-none...”
– - Alfred Kinsey, in Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948). Kinsey was an early researcher in the field of human sexuality. His Kinsey Scale first introduced the idea that sexual orientation was a continuum.
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Timing of Birth Control Pills
Someone asked us:
Q. Why should birth control pills be taken at the same time every day? What are possible consequences of taking them at varying hours, but still daily?
The world of birth control pills can pretty much be split into two categories: combination pills and progestin-only pills. Combination pills get their name from the fact that they use two different hormones — estrogen and...
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Planned Parenthood Arizona
Someone asked us:
Q. What’s going to happen now that Arizona has cut off funding for Planned Parenthood? I rely on PP for my birth control, will I be unable to get it now?
If you’re concerned, you’re not alone. Planned Parenthood Arizona provides essential, lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, breast health services, Pap tests, and testing and treatment of STDs to tens of...
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Dear Planned Parenthood,: You keep me healthy... →
via dearplannedparenthood:
Dear PP,
Thank you. Thank you for fitting my diaphram and not shaming me for my choice of birth control measures. Thank you for my yearly STI screening and oral HIV tests - you make them accessible and fast and it means that I am always aware of my status.
Thank you for comprehensive safe(r)…
One in five women in the U.S. has visited a Planned Parenthood...
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What causes a yeast infection?
Someone asked us:
Q. Hi there! Love that you guys have a Tumblr :) My question is, I just got a yeast infection last week (I know it was a yeast infection because it cleared up when I used Monistat). I’ve had them before, a few times, but I’ve only ever gotten them after taking antibiotics. This time, there doesn’t appear to be a clear cause. Should I be concerned that I just...
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Real Talk: Your Labia →
Have you ever wondered if your labia look funny? Tons of people of all ages worry that their inner labia are too long/dangly, that their labia is a wonky color, or that any number of other things might be wrong down there. Which is why we were so psyched to discover that Scarleteen went ahead and broke down some of our biggest labia-related anxieties (lanxieties? labieties?).
Spoiler alert:...
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DIY Dental Dams
Someone asked:
Q. Are there DIY versions of dental dams? I know saran wrap doesn’t work because it has to be non-porous. What exactly does that mean? What can used as a DIY dental dam, if anything?
Actually, plastic wrap, such as Saran Wrap, might be a good alternative if a person doesn’t have a dental dam. Dental dams (which are just small, thin, square pieces of latex used to protect...
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IUDs and previous pregnancies
Someone asked:
Q. I’ve heard that you have to have had at least one child before getting an intrauterine device (IUD). Is this true?
It’s actually not true. However, it is a really common myth. The truth is most women who have never been pregnant have IUD friendly uteruses and research has shown it’s safe for women who have never been pregnant. A small number of women may not be able to...
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Would you trust your phone to judge your...
Besides the standard Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr, I have apps on my phone to check the weather, check my bank account, check the status of the subway, browse and/or buy a whole assortment of different stuff, and even one to track my menstrual cycle. But how about an app that tells you, after 14 days, whether you should break up with your boyfriend? Is this taking the whole my-phone-is-my-life thing...
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Questions and Answers
Since Tumblr’ing our way onto the World Wide Web almost three weeks ago we’ve received hundreds of questions, dozens of supportive comments, and a handful of really great suggestions. A huge thank you to everyone who sent us a little Tumblr-love or asked a question. While we can’t respond to every question we receive, we’re going to be addressing some of the most common concerns in the days and...
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What does birth control do to a girl's body to...
Someone asked us:
Question: What does birth control do to a girl’s body to make her not get pregnant?
Anybody else ever get the feeling that hormonal birth control (like the pill) is nothing less than pharmacy-dispensed magic? You take a pill every day, and voila: you don’t get pregnant. I totally remember feeling like that when I first used it. And while that was kind of cool,...
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WatchThere’s a new episode of Savage U tonight. Exciting!
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What to do when your STD results are positive
Nobody feels all that “positive” about a positive result on an STD test. But more than half of us will get a sexually transmitted infection at some point in our life. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida has some good advice on what to do if it happens to you.
myplannedparenthood:
Education is key - knowledge is power. If you learn that you have an STD or STI, there are some...
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amsiee asked: How does an IUD affect your period compared to hormonal birth control?
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Masturbation and You (and other people)
We’re always really surprised by the massive amount of misinformation floating around about masturbation. Crazy-false urban legends about all the bad stuff that will happen to you if you touch yourself kind of transcend every generation and culture. You’ll go blind, you’ll get acne, you’ll grow hair on the palms of your hands (gross). And since most adults (and plenty of young people) masturbate,...
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FACT: Lesbians can have safer sex, too.
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Anonymous asked: Hi, I wanted to know what could be the cause for a late period, besides the obvious; being pregnant?
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Anonymous asked: My vaginal fluid isn't always nice and clear, sometimes it's kind of thick and white. It usually happens in the middle of my cycle. I don't believe I have an infection of any kind since that's the only symptom, I don't have any itching or burning and it doesn't smell bad or taste weird (just kind of salty, which is normal?) I'm a virgin, so I highly doubt...
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“Tenting: The lifting of the uterus during sexual excitement that creates more...”
– A sexual health tidbit from the glossary section of plannedparenthood.org 