We must acknowledge adolescents as sexual beings

As a teenager, Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli experienced shame and was often denied access when he tried to purchase condoms. Forty years later, adolescents around the world still face barriers to contraceptive access. In this blog, Dr. Chandra-Mouli discusses those barriers and how they can be overcome. By Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli [I] grew up in India. …

Women Get Bored of Having Sex In A Relationship After One Year, Study Finds

‘Endorsing stereotypical gender norms related to sex may adversely affect women more than men’ By Olivia Petter [W]hat turns you off? For some, it might be arrogance or swearing, for others it could be tattoos and unconventional piercings. For women, it’s time, apparently, as a new study has found that women lose interest in having sex …

6 sexually transmitted infections you should know about and how to treat them

“Sex is great, but safe sex is better“ By Dr Seth Rankin [S]exual Health Week upon us, which means it’s time to have that awkward STI chat. You might be in a loving relationship or think you’re a few decades past your sexual prime, but the STI talk isn’t just for teenagers. According to research …

Bugs, Boners and BDSM: A Day in the Life of a Dominatrix

Because quirks can be quirky. By Andre Shakti “We’ve got a live one, ladies!” Svetlana called out from the office. The scantily clad women seated around the kitchen table barely flinched. Tuesdays were notoriously slow, with our phone lines typically dominated by time wasters. We called them “wankers,” the men who contacted us under the …

Adolescents with autism need access to better sex education

by Steven Stagg [I]ntimacy is part of being human. There are well-documented benefits to positive relationships, from emotional security to good mental health1. Those who want relationships and can’t develop them face low self-esteem, depression, loneliness and isolation from the wider society2. For adolescents, learning how to navigate sex and sexuality can be a minefield. …

How Lube, Dildos And Dilators Are Helping Cancer Survivors Enjoy Sex After Treatment

By Abigail Jones “I don’t know if readers are ready for what I’ve got to say!” Tamika Felder chuckles over the phone. “I just don’t think they’re ready.” If you’re a cancer survivor, you should be, because Felder, 42, is an intimacy advocate who dedicates her life to helping cancer survivors navigate the oftentimes brutal …

How to Talk to Your Younger Sibling About Sex

Since older siblings can sometimes be the best sex-ed teachers, here are four important topics to cover and a few links about how to get the conversation started. By Abby Wolfe [P]ositive sexuality is at the forefront of conversations being had by student activists on college campuses. Dismantling the societal constructs of traditional masculinity and …

How the Nazis destroyed the first gay rights movement

By John Broich [V]ery recently, Germany’s Cabinet approved a bill that will expunge the convictions of tens of thousands of German men for “homosexual acts” under that country’s anti-gay law known as “Paragraph 175.” That law dates back to 1871, when modern Germany’s first legal code was created. It was repealed in 1994. But there …