A new app
Want to make sure you don’t accidentally have sex with one of your relatives? There’s an app for that.
Ask us anything. No judgments.
New poll
We’re not saying you should throw away your PlayStation 2, but a recent (completely unscientific) poll shows Xbox users are the best sex partners.
Oil-based lube and condoms
Someone asked us:
Is it safe to use Lubriderm lotion with a condom?
No - oil-based lotions cannot be used with condoms, because the oil can break down the condom material and cause it to break. Using lube with a condom can make sex more enjoyable, but stick to water-based lubricants – kinds that are specially designed for sex are usually a safe bet. You can usually find water-based lube and condoms in the same section of the drugstore. You can also buy lube online. We recommend Babeland for their variety and helpful info.
- Alex at Planned Parenthood
Can birth control pills affect my sex drive?
Someone asked us:
How much do birth control pills affect sex drive in women? I’ve been taking them for close to a year now, and haven’t had any urge to have sex for couple months.
While some women find that using birth control to decrease their risk of pregnancy, empowers them to feel more in control of their sexuality, it’s true that a small number of women experience a decrease in their sex drive while using hormonal birth control, like the pill.
The good news is that switching the brand of pills you use, or switching to a different method like the IUD or the shot may help. Different kinds of brands and methods contain different combinations of hormones, which may affect each individual differently. You should raise your concern with your health care provider or the staff at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center, who can suggest another brand or method.
While you make plans to talk to your doctor about your birth control method, it may help to consider if there are other factors that may contribute to your decreased sex drive. Many women experience temporary decreases in their sex drive at different times in their lives. It can stem from a number of different causes — stress„ depression or anxiety, some medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, or cancer, certain medications, or lifestyle changes like a break-up or taking care of a child.
You deserve to find out the reason why your sex drive has changed. Talking to a health care provider and thinking about these other factors are good next steps.
-Emily at Planned Parenthood
Are you a good match for the patch? Find out.
“I’ve been on the pill for three weeks, and I just used the pull out method. Could I be pregnant?” Get the answer.
Women go public about masturbation, sex, and relationships. Check out the trailer for Subjectified.
“In a perfect world, you might prefer to never queef, but as it is, you might as well laugh about it.” Read more.
Talking about your sex life with your friends: fun and harmless or bad idea?
Can I get pregnant from swallowing?
Someone asked us:
My boyfriend refuses to have oral sex because he read somewhere that swallowing semen can get me pregnant. I’ve tried to tell him he’s wrong but he won’t take my word for it. Is there any solid evidence to back me up here?
As a matter of fact, there is! A lot of people worry that anytime (or anywhere) semen enters your body, you can get pregnant. But the truth is, your mouth is not connected to your reproductive organs. And since your mouth isn’t connected to your ovaries, uterus, or vagina, there’s no way to get pregnant from swallowing semen.
That said, you can still get an STD from unprotected oral sex. So using a condom is still a good idea.
It’s also possible that your boyfriend isn’t ready to have oral sex. There are a lot of stereotypes about guys and sexual desire, but the truth is that plenty of guys feel nervous or reluctant about certain sexual stuff. If he’s still really nervous about doing it after you explain the biology stuff to him, give him a little space on the issue.
- Alex at Planned Parenthood
