Consensual Text

Today is the 37^th Anniversary of Roe v Wade—the landmark decision that legalized abortion in the United States. We are dedicating this week’s Consensual Text to a woman’s right to choose.

Find abortion facts throughout the day on Twitter and Facebook.  

There’s actually a *huge* difference between emergency contraception and the abortion pill. And we’re so glad you asked! There are many myths and misconceptions that seem to surround these pills.

EC – Emergency Contraception (AKA the Morning After Pill or Plan B): Like the name implies, EC is taken in emergencies to prevent you from getting pregnant. If the condom breaks, or you were so caught up in the moment you never used contraception in the first place, or if you were forced to have sex against your will: EC can be used for any of these.

• EC protects a woman, who has had unprotected intercourse, from getting pregnant. 
• EC is most effective if used within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse,  condom breakage, or a method failure. It can still be used up to 120 hours (5 days), but might be less effective.
• EC contains the same hormone that is in most birth control pills but has a different dosage.  
• EC is not abortion.  It prevents conception.

It’s a good idea to carry EC with you or to keep it in your house for those “just in case” moments. Be aware that EC does not protect you against STD’s and HIV.  

Abortion Pill (AKA Medication Abortion): Unlike EC, the abortion pill is used to terminate an already existent pregnancy. It is an alternative to the in-clinic, surgical abortion procedure.

• The Abortion Pill is taken after a positive pregnancy test and a decision to terminate an early pregnancy—up to 9 weeks.
• Two pills are taken.  The first is taken at the health center and is the abortion pill (mifepristone). It blocks the hormone progesterone, which breaks down the lining of the uterus. Step two, taken at home, is a pill called misoprostol. This causes the uterus to empty.
• Hormones in the abortion pill are not the same as hormones used in EC or birth control pills.
• Some women choose this type of abortion because of the privacy it offers and because it is not a surgical procedure.

These pills are used for completely different things—EC is for preventing pregnancy and the abortion pill is for discontinuing a pregnancy, for whatever reasons a woman has.

All Planned Parenthood health centers educate their patients on the full spectrum of their options.  As a matter of fact, our current CEO’s dedication to choice stems from an experience as a teen in a Planned Parenthood health center.  After being educated on all options, our CEO chose to carry the pregnancy to term. If you need accurate and comprehensive information on your choices, contact your nearest Planned Parenthood health center.

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.

Do you have a question you would like to see included?  Please email goddess@ppnne.org

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Here’s a word that doesn’t have a scientific definition. It is generally a derogatory label used to refer to women and their sexual activity–most often to convey that a woman’s sex drive might be “too high”.

But before we get into all that….

We thought about posting a hilariously campy 1982 Olivia Newton-John video for this post, but we decided on the “promiscuous” Nelly Furtado because…well, because she’s Nelly and this video will get us in the mood to talk about sex.

We say “nymphomania”  is not a scientific term because there are no specific criteria that define a nymphomaniac. “Nympho” has disparaging connotations and implies abnormality. A man with similar desires who enjoys a lot of sex is called a “stud” (or other names) and enjoys approval.

The concept of “nymphomania” was developed in 1771 by a French physician, referring to women who ate too much chocolate, read novels, and had impure thoughts. (All guilty, please rise!)  Nearly 200 years later, in the 1970s, scientists conceded there was nothing abnormal with a woman who liked to have sex frequently, even with multiple partners.  By then, however, the term had taken hold.

So, how much sex is too much sex?

As the famous sex researcher, Alfred Kinsey is quoted as saying “too much sex is when someone has more sex than you do.”  Aside from Kinsey’s advice, here’s when it is a problem:

• when sexual activity interferes with every day activity and functioning
• when the need for sex is unquenchable and is never satiated
• when it includes having frequent orgasms and is not usually satisfying
• when sex is impersonal and has no emotional intimacy – then there is something to be concerned about … regardless of whether it’s a man or a woman’s sexual activity.

If this is happening to you, find a good professional with a non-judgmental ear, a compassionate attitude, and some good referrals.

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

To most people, the 19^th Century usually does not conjure up very sexy images. With such names as Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln and inventions like the safety pin, I can t say I really blame anyone.  But it turns out the 19^th Century has one sexy thing to be proud of—the invention of the vibrator.   

"Vibrosage" Did women have to wear ski pants with this thing or what? This model is for sale on Ebay as we speak: http://ow.ly/JvGd Photograph courtesy of Good Vibrations.

A fascinating slideshow by Slate.com delves into the history of this magical device and examines how it’s been sending women (and men) into orgasmic bliss since 1880. 

1. * The first vibrator was used to treat medical ailments, such as hysteria in women.
2. * By 1917, there were more vibrators than toasters in American homes.
3. * Vibrators are outlawed in some jurisdictions, including Alabama.  Their anti-obscenity law, enacted in  1998, bans the distribution of “any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of  human genital organs for anything of pecuniary value.”

We aren’t sure what “pecuniary” value is, but it must be naughty. Just one more reason to be thankful you live in northern New England!

As we mark World AIDS Day, and we wanted to celebrate the little latex than could…

The condom.

Some historic and random condom facts:

• Condoms can hold as much as 12 quarts of water or 3 bags of potatoes before bursting!
• Quality condoms can stretch to over 3 feet.  No, you are not too big to use a condom.
• Only condoms can protect against sexually transmitted infections.
• (and no, we don’t sit around our office filling condoms with potatoes for the sake of research)

The condom is the simplest of technologies, doesn’t take up much space, is available for purchase and free at Planned Parenthood offices everywhere.  And it is effective.

It has come a long way, as we showcased way back in Week 2 of this blog.  And we should all be grateful for that.

Kama Sutra is the most renowned and ancient formulation of the art of love. It is the earliest surviving sexual “know how” and offers exciting new ways to experience sexual pleasure. It was first written down by the sage Vatsyayana around the 4th century AD. Kama means sexuality or erotic practice and Sutra means thread.

Hinduism states that religion, earthly possessions, sex and salvation of the soul are all equally important aspects of life.  Hindus believe that if sex is ignored, then human society will disappear. (Truer words have rarely been spoken: no sex=no new people) .

The Kama Sutra is most known in western culture for its many sexual positions but it is not just a work of erotic sexual positions – it is a picture of the art of living for civilized and refined people including the sphere of love, eroticism, and the pleasures of life. It explains the sexual positions in categories of sitting, rear entry, standing and role reversal positions.  Each of these categories has several different ways to experience sex.

About three hundred years after the Kama Sutra was written, some of the sexual positions were reinterpreted in a Tantric way; but the Kama Sutra and Tantric sex have different purposes.

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

Tantra is a 16,000 year old tradition, born in India as a rebellion against the belief that sexuality should be rejected in order to attain enlightenment. Tantra challenged the norms of the time by asserting that sexuality was the doorway to the divine and that earthly pleasures were sacred acts. This makes Tantric sex not just physical and emotional, but elevates it to a spiritual act.

Tantra means to expand and weave–sex expands consciousness and connects a male and female into a whole. It is seen as a dance – there is no goals, only the present moment. Tantra is expressive, meditative and intimate. It teaches lovers how to extend the peak of ecstasy so that both women and men can experience several orgasms. The focus is not on orgasm – it is on feeling.

Tantra offers ways to find sacred lovemaking that include sex techniques – from intimate conversation, to washing each other, breathing together, experimenting with erotic touch, and planning a sexual date all with a sense of ritual and excitement.

There are many things to learn about this ancient art of sexual arousal and satisfaction. Sting is an advocate of Tantra saying that it has given him a fulfilling sexual experiences sometimes lasting 8 hours.  As if that weren’t enough,  4% of the people in Croatia have tried tantric sex.

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

What 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.

Our regular question will be featured again on Friday at 2 pm EST. The Friday question only is received by texting FACTS to 90999. Midweek features are available on the web only.

  Last year, Mary Roach, of Stiff and Spook brought us the hilarious “Bonk.  The Curious Coupling of Sex and Science”.  It is not only well researched, but likely you will sustain minor injuries laughing.  Roach charmingly researches the most unexpected, yet relevant sex and science cross-overs: Danish pig farmers increasing their sows’ pleasure to ensure better insemination results, a Taiwanese penis specialist, and pressing questions like: Can you  orgasm just by using your head? Why doesn’t Viagra work for women? Is the clitoris a tiny penis? What’s more: you’ll never look at your glass bakeware the same way again.

Start Bonking!

And don’t forget to send your questions to goddess@ppnne.org !

Our regular question will be featured again on Friday at 2 pm EST. The Friday question only is received by texting FACTS to 90999. Midweek features are available on the web only.

With all the bad economic news, finally Lisa Germinsky of SALON has answered the question on all our minds:

How is the decline in the stock market affecting the Brazilian industry?

Also featured: What is the history of pubic hair grooming, what really happens when you go for a wax, and more…

These answers and more can be found here.

Should you have a question you would like to see included, please send an email to goddess@ppnne.org