June 2012
40 posts
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“Couvade: Pregnancy symptoms experienced by the partner of a pregnant woman.”
– A sexual health tidbit from the plannedparenthood.org glossary.
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How do I get more info about being a Planned...
Someone asked us:
Q. Where can I find more information on becoming a clinic escort? Please and Thanks!
First of all, thank you from the very bottom of our hearts. Our volunteer escorts turn potentially negative experiences into positive experiences and make a real difference in the lives of our patients. Visit our volunteer page for information on how to get involved with your local Planned...
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What's up with the hymen?
Someone asked us:
Q. Does the hymen serve any purpose? What different types of hymens are there, and how do you know which type you have?
For those needing a little anatomy review, the hymen is the thin tissue that stretches across part of the opening to the vagina. The tissue can be stretched or torn during sexual activity, masturbation, tampon use, or any activity that places gradual and...
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(Source: plannedparenthood.org)
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Today in reproductive health history...
47 years ago today, the Supreme Court made birth control legal (only for married couples, though). Can you imagine what your life would be like if birth control weren’t legal?
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How soon do birth control pills start working?
Someone asked us:
I just started the birth control pill, will it be effective immediately? My boyfriend and I really don’t enjoy using condoms.
The answer to this depends on two factors: the kind of birth control pills you’re using, and the point in your menstrual cycle that you started them. Taking the combination pill? If you start the pill within five days after the start of your...
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Do I have to get a pap smear?
Someone asked us:
Q. Once you become sexually active do you have to get a pap smear? What is a pap smear?
Hi there! Maybe you just had sex for the first time and you’re trying to figure out what that means for your health care routine. Maybe you heard about some changes to Pap recommendations recently, and you’re wondering if they affect you. Maybe you’re about to get your first pelvic exam and...
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How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boob
I’m not mad at my boobs… anymore. But I was for a while. Once I let go of the fantasy of magical boob-change via potions or exercises, it was like, “Hang on. You’re saying I’m stuck with these things 24 hours a day and yet I get no say in what kind I have? Thanks a ton, boob fairy.”
For the many years that I was in a fight with my boobs, my verybestfriend-intheentireworld Mars and I would kvetch...
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Is the IUD right for me?
Someone asked us:
Q. I wanna switch from the pill to an IUD, but I don’t know if I am eligible for one. Can I come in to any PP center and talk to somebody about it?
Yes! You can absolutely visit a Planned Parenthood health center to talk about birth control options. The staff there can address any questions you might have about the IUD — how it works, what the insertion process is like,...
May 2012
41 posts
2 tags
“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. 