Sex Talk

An important part of being sexually active is protecting your sexual health. A lot of people’s first concerns are about unwanted pregnancies but there is another important reason to use safer sex methods: sexually transmitted infections. Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, can cause a range of damage to the body from sores to infertility to death. Each STI has their own way of causing harm to the body and the symptoms may vary. It’s also common for many people to have a sexually transmitted infection and have no idea. Some infections do not present with any symptoms at all but they are still quietly doing damage under the radar.

A satisfying step forward towards equal rights happened in Virginia in the case of Gavin Grimm. His high school was refusing him access to the boys washroom and instructed him to use the unisex washroom exclusively. The fallout from the school's actions has pushed this teen into the spotlight of recent trans rights activism. Transgender rights have really been in the spotlight for the last few years. One of the largest controversies, strangely enough, is the argument about bathroom access.

There is a strong connection between nudity and sexuality. It makes sense because, for a lot of sexual activity, a person needs to be at least partially naked. We also may experience sexual desires from seeing someone else naked. In most areas of the world, we don’t have a lot of modern-day context for nudity that isn’t associated with sex. It’s rare to see any popular media that doesn’t tie the two together as if they are one and the same. But are they really? There are some distinct differences between being naked and being sexual. One is not always the other.

Choice is a crucial part of consent. That seems fairly straightforward and a total no-brainer. When we talk about consent, pretty much everyone would agree that consent should be freely given. It's easy to talk about it when we look at the black and white definition. The trouble is that the world is never black and white. Many people can define the basics of what consent is, however, those same people struggle to articulate how it should be applied when given real-world situations. It's not always clear-cut and there's a lot of debate. So how do we know if consent is actually freely given?

In Japan every year there is the Kanamara Matsuri, or Steel Phallus Festival, in the first weekend in April. It happens at the Kanayama Shrine in Kawasaki which is a fertility shrine. This festival is a penis-themed celebration of fertility, reproduction, and sexual health. There is a large push to generate awareness and funds for research on sexually transmitted infections.

There are a lot of ways to look at sexuality. People are influenced by their upbringing, culture, religion, and their life experiences. Our ideas about sexuality evolve throughout our lives based on all these factors. As we have more open discussion in society about sex and relationships, we've developed new ideas and terminology. In recent years, there has been more and more talk about being "sex positive" but what does this really mean?

Sex can be a difficult topic and many people are easily embarrassed talking about it. There are plenty of reasons why it can be a really uncomfortable topic. It can depend on how a person was raised, their cultural background, their previous experiences, and their religious beliefs. All of these things come together and influence our comfort levels with sex. If the sum of all those things leaves us in an uncomfortable place talking about sex, it can take a lot of conscious effort on our part to get over it.

A vulva is a complex system. It has its own pH balance and produces its own healthy bacteria and fluids that naturally clean the vagina. Everyone has their own natural odor that they give off but sometimes that odor can be different or unpleasant. There are a number of things that could impact the smell of a vulva. Depending on what a person is experiencing they should consult a medical professional. When in doubt, it's always a good idea to check in with a medical professional to make sure it's nothing serious.

Solid and open communication is the key to any kind of successful relationship. The difficult thing about communication is that there are many different layers of being able to do it successfully. When we are having a fight with someone close to us, emotions can end up running high. We can feel vulnerable it can be really hard to think clearly. This can make clear communication even more challenging. So how do we handle an intense fight with a romantic partner? How do we keep those lines of communications open?

Pornography, often called porn, is a representation of sexual behavior that is meant to excite and cause sexual arousal. It can be in many different forms like video, pictures, podcasts, books, statues, or other media.

Sexual violence is an ongoing problem for many communities across the world. It is a very complex issue that is influenced by a variety of different factors. There is a common perception that sexual violence only happens towards women but this is not always the case. People of any gender can experience sexual violence. Research has confirmed that those who belong to the LGBTQ2S* community tend to experience more sexual assaults and violence than the heterosexual population. The CDC conducted a national survey in 2010 and found that rates are significantly higher for those who identify on the LGBTQ2S* spectrum.

Love can be very confusing, especially if you've never been in love before. So how do you know if you're in love? We get a lot of messages about what love should look like through the media. We are shown what the idea of perfect love looks like in TV and movies. Most of us form our basic ideas about love and relationship from our early experiences from our caregivers. As we grow up, we continue to learn and come to our conclusions about what love is and what it looks like.

Water-based lubricants can be used to really enhance your sexual experience. Whether you are enjoying some self-love or enjoying time with others, you may wish to try experimenting with some lubricants. Our bodies produce much of their own lubricants. Saliva is a free and readily available lube. Vulvae also produce their own lubrication. With the body's natural ability to produce lubrication, why would we want to use a manufactured lube? It can be helpful for anal sex or if a person wants some extra stimulation to help the natural lubrication flowing.

So you've probably heard that people should be peeing after sex. If you're a woman, you've probably heard this multiple times in your life. What's the point? Does it matter for anyone with a penis to pee after sex? Is peeing after sex a mandatory must? Urinating, in general, serves an incredibly important function for our bodies. Peeing after sex can be an important step to taking care of our general physical health.

Using condoms is usually a pretty good idea whether you're wanting to avoid pregnancy or just protecting your sexual health. There are lots of different kinds of condoms that come in a variety of sizes. Some are specifically designed to enhance sexual pleasure. All the variety can make it fun to experiment to find out the ones you and your partner like best. Don't be afraid to try some new types of condoms and have fun experimenting. There are a couple of important things to remember while you're having fun.

If you're considering birth control methods, you may be toying with the idea of the pull-out or withdrawal method. People employ this method by ensuring that the penis is withdrawn from the vagina prior to orgasm and ejaculation. The cum must be away from the vulva entirely.