Keeping your testicles and penis healthy takes more than a jock strap and cup. Read these tips on keeping them healthy.
Ask us anything. No judgments.
Planned Parenthood health centers are for guys, too. Here’s why you should pay us a visit.
College and Your Sexual Health
Now that you’re settled back in school, it’s as good a time as any to take stock of your sexual health and your relationships, and work out any lingering anxieties.
If you’re in a relationship, what’s your current status? Did you spend time apart over the summer? Were you dating long distance? Did you take a break? What’s it going to be like when you’re both back? What’s going to happen when you both start having lots of other obligations again?
Is it time to get tested again? Is your vaguely defined summer “thing” reaching that point where you’re actually going to have to talk about it? And what about that roommate who acts totally passive-aggressive every time you have someone over?
There might be a lot of noise in your head about this stuff right now. Relax! Here are two checklists to help you sort it all out.
Relationship Anxiety Toolkit
- Is it time to DTR (Define the Relationship) or re-DTR? Talk to your whatever they are about whatever you guys are. This can seem like a tricky conversation, so try framing it in terms of past/present/future tenses.
- “We were _______, we are _______, I’d like us to be ________.”
(Fill in the blanks: just friends, non-exclusive, exclusive, etc.)
- Readjust to the amount of time you’ll be spending with each other, whether that’s more or less. Set expectations about how much time you each have for the other person.
- Talk to that roommate about what general rules you can set about having company. Put it all out there, and set some boundaries about what you’re each comfortable with, so you know what to do when the moment and/or mood strikes.
Sexual Health Checklist
- University health centers are often a really great resource for sexual health care. Make an appointment at your university’s health center, or at your local Planned Parenthood. While you’re there, pick up a handful of condoms.
- Think about getting tested, and about how you feel about your current birth control method. Is it working for you, or have you been thinking about switching? Our My Method tool can help you consider your options. So can a consultation at your health center.
- See what, if anything, has changed at your school’s health center in terms of what’s covered. Birth control and other preventative services might be free or a lot less than you think.
-Nina at Planned Parenthood
Can I come to Planned Parenthood if I have insurance?
Someone asked us:
Hi! Can I use Planned Parenthood services even if I have health insurance? I recently moved and I haven’t found a physician yet. I’m so used to PP’s services - it’s a little hard to move on!
Abso-toodle-lutely you can! No need to end your love affair with Planned Parenthood just because you went and got insurance. Many patients (with insurance or without) choose Planned Parenthood because we’re experts at reproductive health care. Our health care services include life-saving cancer screenings, breast health care, well-woman exams, contraceptive services, STD prevention and treatment, and much more. It’s what we do and we’re really good at it. When it comes to your body and your health, why wouldn’t you want the best?
Although you can check with your local health center, most Planned Parenthood affiliates accept most major insurance providers.
-Nathan at Planned Parenthood
Are you still waiting to get the HPV vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, not enough people are getting vaccinated against HPV. The HPV vaccine can protect you against the types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. We’ve got answers to common questions about the HPV vaccine on our website. Reblog this post to help get the word out about the HPV vaccine.
Scarleteen: THT publish sexual health guides for trans people
The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has published two groundbreaking booklets on sexual health for trans people. Each one contains basic – yet valuable – information on trans bodies and health needs.
Each booklet tackles a whole bunch of common questions, such as: do post-op trans women…
(via scarleteen and Trans Activist)
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 you’re not sure if a Pap test will be involved. Or maybe answer D, all of the above! Here are some facts about Pap tests (also sometimes called Pap smears).
Pap tests can find pre-cancerous cell changes inside your cervix — potential early signs of cervical cancer. During a Pap test, your health care provider uses a tiny spatula or brush to gently collect cells from your cervix. A Pap test is usually part of a regular pelvic exam.
The recommendation (from leading health authorities) is that women start getting routine Pap tests at age 21. After that, Pap tests can happen about every three years. Some women might need them more frequently — your health care provider can tell you how often you should have a Pap test.
