Midweek History Lesson/Dung Droppings
May 3rd, 2009What do reptile droppings have to do with birth control??
Sarah Seltzer, of RH Reality Check, shares some stunning birth control history that includes crocodile dung.
You’ve come a long way, baby. 
Week 36-Does saliva carry HPV (human papilloma virus)?
May 1st, 2009STDs (sexually transmitted diseases/infections) spread in two ways:
- through bodily fluids ( semen, vaginal secretions, blood, pre-cum) These fluids are passed from partner to partner during vaginal, oral or anal sex.
- through skin–to-skin contact. (Genital HPV can spread by rubbing against an infected partner skin-to-skin or by touching an infected person’s genitals, then touching yourself. )
Saliva itself does not transmit HPV but, skin-to-skin contact can. LIPS ARE SKIN!
Activities you do on your own, such as masturbate, do not transmit STDs.
Some HPV facts:
- There are more than a hundred types of HPV – about 40 types can infect your genitals – vulva, vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, or rectum.
- Genital HPV is quite common – about 50% of men and 75% of women have HPV at some time in their lived– most people are unaware.
- Although most HPV infections go away within 6-8 months – some do not. HPV can lay dormant for several years, making it impossible/difficult to know when you were infected and to whom you may have passed the infection.
- Some types of HPV are “high risk” types and can result in cervical cancer or other genital cancers.
Use condoms! Get Yourself Tested! Kiss Often! Kiss A Lot!
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
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Goddess has Penile Thoughts
April 28th, 2009Due to warmer weather and general spring fever, the Goddess briefly became unhinged: in Week 34, she actually advised gentlemen to wrap their member in plastic wrap.
While this may be a heap of fun, it is not advisable from a sexual health perspective. So, ladies and gentlemen, please wrap your favorite penises in plastic wrap as you wish, but note that this practice is a definite “no-no” if you are looking to prevent STIs (sexually transmitted infections) or pregnancy.
Sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy can ensue. What was she thinking?
Sincerely,
Goddess Management
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Week 35-When things are hot and you have no condom, how do you say NO?
April 24th, 2009By the time you are overcome with desire, lust, and passion, it is very difficult to use your brain. Our brains are often useless at times like this…
…but it’s not a good time to have sex!
Unless you are ready to accept dealing with an unplanned pregnancy or an STD – your only choice is NOT have sex – vaginal, anal or oral sex. We’re talking NO SEX.
Don’t think it’s easy – many people have found themselves in this situation. It is risky to “take a chance”.
The best thing is to plan ahead and consider your evening’s plans beforehand. Make sure you always carry condoms with you. Be prepared – passion and lust can take over and they rule most of us.
Back to the condoms – carry them in a small safe place and don’t be ashame you have them with you. Being prepared doesn’t say anything about your morals – it says you use your brain.
So – back to the situation. Be honest and express your concerns to your partner. Remind yourself and your sexual partner of how the consequences will be a lot more difficult than resisting sex right now. Instead, make a plan to get together asap and talk about what you both want to do when you “get together”.
Throughout history, authors and poets have built careers on writing about anticipation of an upcoming rendezvous – the anticipation of pleasure mixed with desire is always something to look forward to and is the stuff of great fantasies.
There are good times to talk about safer sex practices. The throes of sexual desire and passion is not always the right time. Find a way to talk about safer sex before you get together again. Over coffee, the phone or email; the conversation can be an opportunity to create more intimacy. Be honest and say what you want and need to enjoy yourself.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
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Week 34-What are some creative uses for plastic wrap? Read it, but if you click anywhere on this post, you can read our retraction of this information
April 17th, 2009What are some creative uses for plastic wrap? Read it, but if you click anywhere on this post, you can read our retraction of this information.
Here’s the thing about plastic wrap – it’s easily available…and it’s a barrier method that will protect you during oral or anal sex.
Plastic wrap is in most kitchen drawers. To use it – roll out a big piece and cover the entire area of the genitals with which you ar engaging. Plastic wrap is strong and can be held in place over the vaginal opening – or wrapped around a penis – or over the anus. If used correctly it will protect you from HIV or an STD.
Plastic wrap between your mouth and your partner’s genitals will keep blood and/vaginal fluids/semen or pre-cum fluids from entering your mouth.
Most importantly, in the heat of the moment – don’t put a piece of plastic wrap down and then pick it up again – only use plastic wrap once!
Plastic wrap can also be used over other parts of your body – as a turn on, enticement, and a fun way to get “things going”. Wrap yourself up!
Using plastic wrap will protect you against HIV when engaging in anal sex– and it should be used during oral sex as well. Although vaginal and anal sex can pass HIV more easily – engaging in oral sex is not a safe practice. Use a barrier like shrink wrap whenever you have anal or oral sex. Have fun with plastic – wrap it up!
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
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Week 33-How can safer sex be sexy?
April 10th, 2009If you are worried about STDs or pregnancy, it will interfere with those wonderful feelings of pleasure, arousal, and desire. It is so much easier to feel aroused and enjoy sex when you aren’t concerned about being safe and responsible. Fear and worry hinder all of us from being over the top with excitement.
When men are worried, they can experience premature ejaculation. When women are worried, they often lack lubrication and experience vaginal tightness. This does not help anyone enjoy sex and feel sensual.
Tips for being safer and sexier …
- Introduce condoms into your sex life (if you haven’t already) – and be creative about using them. Put the condom on your partner with your mouth, put the condom on slowly, put it on together…
- Use water-based lube-lots of it- to make sex slippery and sensual. Safer sex soars when sex feels great and wet (and the bonus is that the lube prevents the condom from breaking).
- Carry a condom if you are a woman – it is assertive and it is sexy.
- With a female condom, remember that it is made of polyurethane and is much thinner than latex making it easier to feel the “sex heat” you and your partner create.
- Talk dirty. It is a sexy turn-on. Talking about using condoms and lube can make it hot and sexy. Communication about what you like is good for the relationship – so make it fun – use sexy/naughty/hot language.
And the greatest turn-on of all: laughter. If things get a little awkward, nothing breaks the tension like humor. Besides, laughing is a natural aphrodisiac.
Use latex for all genital sex and remember … get yourself tested.
Planned Parenthood health centers across the country are offering low- or no-cost STD testing for the month of April. Use the zip code finder and get yourself tested.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
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Week 32-Do 1 in 4 young women really have an STD?
April 3rd, 2009
“Hard to Spell, Easy to Catch” brought to you courtesy of Peel Public Health, Ontario, Canada.
Yup.
The CDC reports one in four U.S. teenage women between the ages of 14 and 19 are infected with a sexually transmitted infection (also known ast STDs). The highest rates are among older teens and college-age young women.
About 19 million new STDs occur amongst people of all ages in the United States. 54% of college students regularly use condoms during vaginal intercourse, 29% during anal sex and only 4% during oral sex.
One of the most common STDs is HPV – Human papillomavirus, which sometimes causes genital warts or cervical cancer -the other is Chlamydia. The CDC recommends that sexually active women under the age of 25 have annual Chlamydia screening and should be vaccinated against HPV.
Dont wait for symptoms: women are often unaware they are infected until symptoms worsen (and some STDs, like Chlamydia, often have no symptoms). The best protection is to use a condom and get yourself tested.
And there is something you might not know: Compared to their hetero sexual or lesbian counterparts, bisexual college women are at greatest risk for STDs. Researchers are unclear whether it’s the gender of their sexual partners, their number of partners, or the combination of these two factors that seem to increase the STD frequency.
April is Get Yourself Tested Month (GYT09). Planned Parenthood health centers across the country are offering either low- or no-cost STD testing and treatment. Click here to use the zipcode finder to find a location that works for you.
If you have an STD, you should immediately tell your sex partner/partners so they can get tested and treated if necessary. The same goes for you – if your partner or one of your partners is diagnosed with an STD – you need to be tested and treated.
Stay tuned in coming weeks for tips on how to make safe sex sexy.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
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Week 31-How many women fake orgasms?
March 27th, 2009Studies show that between 50 and 72 percent of women have faked “it”, while only between 11 and 24 percent of men have faked an orgasm.
Women often “fake it” because they think their partner wants to know they are enjoying sex.
Many women believe their partners want them to have an orgasm every time they have sex. This is a misconception – many men realize women don’t always get off when they have sex.
Being honest about having or not having an orgasm can lead to better understanding, better communication and, ultimately, better sex.
Looking at it another way – 30% of women say they always have orgasms, while 45% say they usually do, and 24% say they less often do.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
We treat all questions with complete anonymity.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
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Week 30-Sore after sex? What should you do about it?
March 20th, 2009To receive the weekly question per text, text FACTS to 90999.
Generally speaking, vaginal soreness comes from irritation or allergic reaction to a specific spermicidal or condoms.
Irritation can be from a lack of lubrication. This can happen if intercourse goes on for a while (because tips from Week 29 were highly successful!) and a woman’s natural lubrication has been used up. It is helpful to have artificial lubricant available for times when you want to prolong intercourse. Be well lubricated before penetration.
If soreness is not usual for you or your partner, then it would be wise to see a medical provider to make sure you do not have a vaginal infection. Friction from intercourse can cause a vaginal infection to flare up.
Mostly, remember that women take longer to become relaxed and ready for intercourse. It takes a man approximately two to four minutes to be “all set”– it takes a woman between fifteen and twenty minutes to be as ready.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
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Week 29-How can men "last longer"?
March 13th, 2009To receive the weekly question per text, text FACTS to 90999.
It is not uncommon for men to have trouble lasting a long time or dealing with premature ejaculation. Men last between 5 and 10 minutes during sex and about 71% wish they could last longer.
There are several exercises to help with lasting longer and ejaculating when you want to, not prematurely.
It is essential you know how your body responds to stimulation. Begin by paying attention to your body’s natural response cycle while you masturbate. For example, knowing when that “tickling” sensation occurs right before ejaculation can help you know what is coming next. As they say “master your masturbation”
Kegel exercises, especially the Kegel “squeeze”, can help control ejaculation. Don’t fantasize too much when you are trying to control your responses. Stop thinking of your orgasm and focus on what’s happening now. The part of your brain that triggers orgasm is working – whether you’re trying to have an orgasm or postpone it. Think about your partner and what is happening for her/him.
Condoms can help with lasting longer AND they are the “in” thing right now.
Talk with your partner and bring her/him into your plans for having a long lasting and good time.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s Education Department carefully selects all weekly questions. All questions are actual inquiries made to PPNNE by college-aged students.
Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org
Thanks for pointing...