Image source: The Happy Traveler
National Women’s Health Week is drawing to a close, but thanks in part to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), we’re hoping women’s health will be on the up and up throughout the year. 47 million women have already received preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs since the ACA was signed. That’s a lot of well-woman visits, contraceptives, and domestic violence screenings—and there are more changes in the pipeline.
If you haven’t received these benefits yet, find out what actions you can take. If you think more people in your state should have health insurance coverage, you can tell your state representative(s) to support expanding Medicaid.
Boldly Going Online for Love
We’ve come across some interesting dating sites in our day, and the premiere of Star Trek into Darkness inspired us to boldly go where we haven’t been before to investigate Star-Trek-themed dating sites to add to the list.
In case you’re interested, we’ve found StarTrekDating.com, which encourages users to “set phasers to stunning,” and TrekPassions.com, which has a special group for users who speak Klingon (we wish them Qapla’!). Any others we missed?
Now, if only these Star Trek condoms and birth control packets were real…
Image via bookishbutcorruptible.
Is it ever OK to date someone who is off-limits?
How do you decide who’s off-limits? With so many unique people, relationships, and circumstances, it’s not always easy to know who to avoid and who to date.
Join the Frisky Friday conversation: Who do you consider 100% no-exceptions off-limits? We want to hear from you!
Image source: HopelesslyFalling27
Coach Carr has it all wrong when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but he’s not the only one with misconceptions in that department. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a sexpert to have safer sex (although we highly encourage it!)—you just have to be proactive about prevention, testing, and (if needed) treatment.
This National Women’s Health Week, talk to your partner(s), get some condom practice, find a testing location, and make sure your body is as healthy as can be.
Image source: Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens
Remember the SNL sketch about birth control driving Tina Fey a little cray-cray? While research hasn’t found a link between birth control and depression (or ax-wielding…or any of the other crazy activities in the SNL sketch), some women have had success improving their mental health by changing their birth control.
If you’re struggling with stress or depression, switching your method, especially to a low-maintenance option like an IUD or implant, is definitely worth considering. Research has found that being depressed or stressed can make it harder to use certain types of birth control correctly and consistently, which in turn makes an unwanted pregnancy more likely.
If you feel like your birth control could be affecting your mood, shop around for a method that works better for you. And if you’re experiencing mental health problems, remember that you’re not alone—there’s support out there if you need it.
The girls' guide to getting some privacy on your parents' health insurance
As my otherwise awesome parents are pretty conservative about, well, everything, I don’t want them to know what type of birth control I’m using or when I get tested for STIs and HIV (twice a year, if you’re interested). When I was in college I paid for these things out-of-pocket or put them off until free services were offered at my university because I didn’t want my parents getting a play by play when they saw our health insurance information. Clearly it wasn’t an ideal situation…
Dear Diet Industry: I’m Breaking up with You.
I gave you everything, and in return you gave me sugar-free pudding.
There’s a big difference between eating good food to stay healthy and feel fantastic (hell yes!) and dieting because you feel bad about your body (just… no).
We say: If there are ways you’d like to change your diet to feel even more fabulous, we support you 100%. But before you change anything, take a moment to appreciate your body, just as it is.
Long distance relationships just got a whole lot sexier.
Is this the best combination of sex and technology yet? Durex is working on a line of undergarments (Fundawear—badum-ching!) that vibrate when activated by mobile phone. That’s right, remote-operated vibrating underwear are in development.
They’re not available for purchase yet, but it looks like the Aussies will be the first to give this product a go. (Gives new meaning to the land down under…)
Crunches for better orgasms?
Exercise isn’t just good for your health—it’s also great for your sex life. Getting in shape can lead to longer time spent between the sheets and better orgasms. Best gym advertisement ever.
