Hi! We're Planned Parenthood: Female Condoms Are Not Just Ew!
Female condoms: whether you love ‘em, hate ‘em, or have never tried ‘em, we can all agree the world is a better place because of ‘em. Female condoms (also known as internal condoms) work pretty much the same way as regular ol’ condoms, but rather than going over the penis, they go inside of…
This. And also our two cents on “the oft-misunderstood female condom” (an oldie, but clearly still relevant.)
Bedsider in Austin: Fun Fun Fun Fest FTWWW
Greetings from Austin! We hope y’all aren’t too exhausted from all those election watching parties going on into the wee hours of the morning. We at Bedsider ATX want to thank all the locals, out-of-towners, and those of you who battled Superstorm Sandy to hang out with us at Fun Fun Fun Fest. We had a blast passing out over 3,500 condoms (thanks again to our friends at Sir Richard’s and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas!), 2,800 popsicles, and lots of Bedsider swag to enthusiastic festival goers. You can check out the pictures from our fun-filled weekend on Facebook.
It was great to hear all the positive things people had to say about Bedsider and nothing was TMI when it came to talking about sex and birth control. We’re proud to report that almost 1,000 festival-goers became Bedsider members this weekend! Remember, it is never too late to sign up.
In other Austin news, Tuesday at 7pm Bedsider ATX will be at Alamo Drafthouse for Girlie Night at The Ritz. You can buy tickets to see Bridget Jones’ Diary, play sex trivia, and grab some awesome Bedsider gear! And as always, we will have the photo booth and comically large props in tow. Remember, the #1 tip for hotter sex: get on birth control.
*****
Alyssa is a newly 21-year-old senior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Psychology. She is a sex educator for the Healthy Sexuality Peer Educators at UT and has a huge passion for public health and all things quirky. Alyssa is an intern for Bedsider’s ATX campaign and will be reporting every Wednesday with the inside scoop on all things Bedsider (along with the occasional band, book, or documentary recommendation and a baked-goods recipe or two) in the wild of Austin.
Is that candy in your pocket.. or are you just happy to see me?
This may be the greatest day of all. 1) It’s the day after Halloween (can you say 75% off candy?!) and 2) only one more day until Bedsider ATX will be at FunFunFun Fest!
Last week we told you about the photo contest Bedsider ATX was having—the prize was two tickets to FFFFest. The rules were simple—grab one of the suggestive Bedsider stickers, take a picture of it doing something (in)appropriately suggestive, and post it to the Bedsider ATX Facebook page. Many photos were submitted, but one prevailed… *drumroll please*… Congratulations to Bradley Short for this gem:
Remember, if you were not our lucky winner, it isn’t too late to snag your ticket for the festival!
Speaking of the festival, Bedsider ATX will be there all weekend passing out free condoms, popsicles, t-shirts and more. Swing by our ice cream truck—we kind of pulled out all the stops for this one—to sign up for all things Bedsider, learn anything and everything you ever wanted to know about birth control, and grab some free swag.
Huge shout out to our friends at Sir Richard’s and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas for all these goodies we’ll be dishing out this weekend!
And whether or not you will be joining in on the FFFFest fun this weekend, you should definitely check out these artists:
#1 The Head and the Heart. I first heard them at Lollapalooza in August and they have quickly made their way to the Top 25 on my iPod.
#2 My guilty pleasure: Anamanaguchi. This band sounds vaguely like the background music of Mario Kart, but in the greatest way possible.
#3 And last but not least, Girl Talk. Gregg Gillis has an amazing way of taking well known songs and mashing them together into one seamless, mosh-able tune.
So stay safe during Halloweekend Part II—because remember, the full moon can make people do crazy things.
*****
Alyssa is a newly 21-year-old senior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Psychology. She is a sex educator for the Healthy Sexuality Peer Educators at UT and has a huge passion for public health and all things quirky. Alyssa is an intern for Bedsider’s ATX campaign and will be reporting every Wednesday with the inside scoop on all things Bedsider (along with the occasional band, book, or documentary recommendation and a baked-goods recipe or two) in the wild of Austin.
Awesome City Limits, Photos and Shout-Outs Edition
This weekend has proved that Austinites know how to party, even while mourning a devastating football loss.
We learned that if it’s pouring down rain, ACL-goers will be dancing in the downpour, eating Amy’s Ice Cream and Salt Lick BBQ, standing in line for beer (which is longer than the line for the bathroom) and waiting impatiently for BASSNECTAR to blow their minds.
Last week, we got y’all pumped up for the festival and our after-parties at Holy Mountain and Mohawk. And for good reason—because they were the bomb.com. Check out this post and picstitch from our kickass weekend. (You know we wouldn’t toot our own horn without a plethora of photo evidence.) Still not convinced? Well then allow me to drop another photo bomb on you.
A huge shout out to everyone who came to our events, partied with us, posed for pictures, and jammed out with Omar S and Thomas Turner (of Ghostland Observatory), Friends, and Diamond Rings. We had too much fun and could not be happier with the buzz we received about Bedsider. And thanks again Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas for the groovy condoms they donated for us to pass out!
Over at Bedsider ATX, we’re seriously digging music festivals right now, so it’s only right to bring you the same kind of sexy fun (and more sexy condoms) at Fun Fun Fun Fest next month! In closing…
*****
Alyssa is a newly 21-year-old senior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Psychology. She is a sex educator for the Healthy Sexuality Peer Educators at UT and has a huge passion for public health and all things quirky. Alyssa is an intern for Bedsider’s ATX campaign and will be reporting every Wednesday with the inside scoop on all things Bedsider (along with the occasional band, book, or documentary recommendation and a baked-goods recipe or two) in the wild of Austin.
Will hormones in the pill affect the results of a pregnancy test?
Someone asked us:If I am on the pill, and I had to take a pregnancy test, would the hormones in the pill affect the result of the test?
Nope — pregnancy tests are 99 percent accurate, whether or not you’re on the pill or any other form of birth control. The hormone that a pregnancy test detects in your urine is called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and it’s only produced during pregnancy. It’s not found in hormonal birth control (which contains the hormones progestin and estrogen).
Taking a pregnancy test correctly usually means waiting to take it after your missed period, although some brands can be taken a few days before. You can read the label on the box to see when it becomes effective.
-Nina at Planned Parenthood
(via gynologues)
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.
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.”
