Black market birth control? Let's go with no...
From our latest “Get on Top” article:
While not everyone agrees that birth control pills should be available over-the-counter in the U.S., it’s clear that there’s a demand for effective methods women can use without a prescription. How else to explain recent stories about women buying birth control on Craigslist and the yerberias of Arizona? …Selling prescription birth control methods online or in corner shops without a license may not be legal, but what do we know about whether it’s safe?
More research shows long-acting reversible methods like the IUD and the implant to be...freakin' awesome, basically.
From our latest Get on Top:
In terms of effectiveness, not all birth control methods are created equal. And if there was any doubt as to which methods stand out in that arena, an article by the folks behind the Contraceptive CHOICE Project (just published in the New England Journal of Medicine) should put it to rest. The researchers found that when cost and lack of information aren’t an issue, women are way more likely to choose a super-effective method of birth control like the IUD or the implant. This is great news since the researchers also found that those methods are way less likely to fail than other methods.
Turns out Americans don't actually think birth control is controversial
From the just-as-we-suspected files, looks like birth control isn’t so controversial in the U.S. after all. According to a new Gallup poll:
Eighty-two percent of U.S. Catholics say birth control is morally acceptable, nearing the 89% of all Americans and 90% of non-Catholics who agree. The level of acceptability on this issue is far greater than that of the other 17 issues Gallup asked about this year.
Method Monday: Masturbation
Okay, we’re being a bit cheeky, but for many people masturbation is an important part of successfully pulling off the “Not right now” approach to sex and pregnancy prevention. And since May is National Masturbation Month, we thought it deserved some Method Monday love. So, what is there to say?
- It’s got perks. Charlie Glickman of Good Vibrations (the company that founded National Masturbation Month) listed some benefits for a Las Vegas Weekly article. “It’s fun. It feels good. It relieves stress. And it’s likely the safest sex you’ll ever have. Masturbation is also one of the best ways to learn about your body and discover what turns you on.” Need more evidence? Check out this article by Dr. Yvonne Fulbright on the health benefits of masturbation.
- Don’t believe everything you hear about it. There are many myths about masturbation, most of which were crafted in a world of pure imagination (and not the fun kind). Fortunately Planned Parenthood has a couple resources devoted to separating fact from fiction.
- Did we mention that, when used correctly, it’s 100% effective at preventing pregnancy? And by correctly, we mean instead of intercourse—not just to switch things up.
- There are tools (many, many tools) to make it easier and more fun. It’s a great time to be a sex toy user since manufacturers are now creating toys that are eco-friendly, safe, discreet, and chic. You can always shop online, or if you’re feeling up for an outing, check out our Frisky Friday with some excellent tips on how to feel confident walking into a sex shop.
- You don’t have to be alone. Mutual masturbation (a form of outercourse) can be a great option for couples who want to be intimate but don’t want to “go all the way” for one reason or another. It can also be a great way to learn about your partner’s likes and dislikes without putting yourself at risk of unintended pregnancy or STIs. Outercourse can even be an option for committed couples who want to have kids at some point and in the meantime just really don’t want to take any chances. Don’t believe us? Check out Jason talking about using “Not right now” with his wife until they’re ready to start a family: Remember, though, that some STIs can spread via oral sex or skin to skin contact, so “everything but” isn’t necessarily completely risk-free. And if you’re using “Not right now” with a partner but find yourselves moving closer to the “right now” or “sort of right now” end of the spectrum, it couldn’t hurt to look into some “right now” methods. You know, just in case…
Whatever masturbation means to you—whether it’s “rehearsing alone” or with a partner—we just, well, we really hope you enjoy the rest of your May.
“I believe in furidous masturbation” image by Dani Lurie.
For pill users looking for "period control" benefits, Bayer's working on a new option
Our latest “Get on Top” article has news of a new pill—one similar to Seasonale and Seasonique, but with a different hormone—being developed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals.
A wise woman once poked fun at the way the pill is often advertised as “period control” rather than birth control. While we’re all about bringing the sex back to contraception, we also know that for some women fewer/lighter periods really is an awesome benefit…
Regimens: IUD May Be Best Emergency Contraception
Well, we knew that. But we’re super-psyched to see this little-known fact getting more attention in the media.
Get on top: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...a new vaginal ring!
Oooh, oooh—is that an estrogen-free contraceptive ring we see on the horizon? Did we mention that the prospect of new birth control options makes us kind of giddy?
It’s National Women’s Health Week. Use this nifty checklist to see what you should ask your health care provider about, then call your local Planned Parenthood health center to schedule your next check up.
This. And if you want some tips for getting the most out of your visit, check out our article on “How to Talk Doctor.”
Patients almost always have the same look on their face when we talk about ovarian cysts. It’s that look of, ‘OMG, I have a ticking time-bomb in my pelvis!’ I worry that they imagine a giant green blob growing larger and larger inside them, like a Chia pet, that might one day suddenly explode.
The good news is that this imaginative view of an ovarian cyst is far worse than the reality. Many women will have an ovarian cyst at some point in their lives, and most won’t even know it.
10 Ways to Save the World while Naked.
They had us at the mention of “naked”—and then they brought up birth control! (Swoon.)
