New year, new you, right? The start of a new year is the perfect time to make your sexual health a priority. Here’s what your first five steps should be. 1. Schedule a Wellness Visit A family planning and wellness visit is not much different from any other doctor appointment you’ve had in the past. […]
Safe Sex
PrEP to Reduce Your Risk of HIV
There are lots of ways to lower your risk of HIV and AIDS. You can: Use condoms every time you have sex Practice abstinence Avoid intravenous drugs Take PrEP What’s PrEP? PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a drug you take if you’re at risk for HIV to prevent the virus from taking hold in […]
What to Expect from an STI Screening
Many people pass on getting screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) for fear of the unknown. Will it be embarrassing? Will it be expensive? Will it hurt? The truth is, STI screenings are important for and beneficial to anyone who is sexually active. Many STIs do not […]
What You Need to Know About Family Planning While You’re in College
Congratulations on deciding to continue your education! College is an exciting time with lots of possibilities. You’ll learn new things, make new friends and start new relationships. College means freedom and responsibility. Getting good grades and having healthy relationships is all on you. That freedom can be empowering; every choice you make is an important […]
Safer Sex Education: How to Put on a Condom
There is no surefire way to prevent sexually transmitted infections or diseases (STIs or STDs) or unwanted pregnancies other than not having sex. Condoms have traditionally been—and remain—an effective and reliable tool, but only if you use them properly. Used correctly, condoms can be up to 98 percent effective in preventing STIs and pregnancy. Used […]