So I got the first shot for the HPV vaccine the other day. I don’t really mind the gyno…except for when they ask you those amazingly awkward and uncomfortable questions face-to-face (i.e. “how many partners have you had? and “Have you ever given or received oral sex?”).

I mean, on the scale of slutty-ness, I’d have to say my ranking is very low…but for some reason, after being quizzed on my sexual past I’m always left feeling like a $2 hooker that hangs out on 42nd street.

The HPV vaccine seems too good to be true and yes, it only protects you from four strains of HPV (and there’s about 100) but I say that four is still better than zero, no? Anyway, they make you “talk” to the gynecologist before you get the first shot to make sure you’re a good candidate for the vaccine (must be 26 or younger, etc.).

The gyno asked me “when was the last time you were tested for AIDS and STD’s?”

Me: “About eight months ago”

Gyno: “No new partners since then?”

Me: “Err….ummm…no. I guess not…” Read More »

If there weren’t already a million and one reasons to use protection, there’s now one more. A recent study by the CDC has shown that many cases of gonorrhea have become resistant to the drug used for treatment.

What’s even scarier about this is between 700,000 and 800,000 people are infected with gonorrhea each year. I don’t know why this is—I imagine it’s because you’re already fighting a virus—but women infected with gonorrhea are more likely to contract HIV. I searched around for a little bit to try and figure out exactly why this is, and didn’t find a clear explanation. So, if someone knows enlighten me.

Reading the statistics about this can be slightly disarming. I didn’t know that women who take birth control are four times more likely to contract an STD. What else… Nearly 50% of sexually active women contract HPV in their lives. That’s a lot! Women are also more succecptable to STDs.

I don’t want to be preachy, but at this point, we should all know better than to not protect ourselves. Sometimes, it can be easy to get carried away and caught up in the moment, but there are so many things out there now that it’s not worth it. Besides—there are an array of fun condoms out there. I kind of want to try this vibrating one…