In case you needed another reason to use a condom, recent polls show that people across the nation are still completely skeeved out by the idea of herpes.

In a report released by CBS news and WebMD, “503 U.S. adults with genital herpes and about 1,400 other adults who said they didn’t have genital herpes” were asked questions regarding the icky yet easily transmittable disease.

In addition to ranking herpes second to HIV as a social stigma, most of the non-infected participants said they’d steer clear of sleeping with someone who had the disease. Read More »

As we head back to college, there are a few things we must not forget; ample amounts of underwear (the more pairs of clean underwear a girl has, the less she has to visit the laundry), bathroom sandals (you know have no idea what’s gone on in those shower stalls), and condoms.

You can keep them in a cute little box, a nondescript bag, or right out on the nightstand (depending on how classy you plan on being), but just make sure you have them. Guys don’t always come prepared, and nothing ruins the mood faster than knocking on your friends’ doors for a spare.

In case you’re at a loss as to which condom to buy (because there are like 50,000 different choices), Women’s Health has compiled a list of some of the most “sensational” latex love gloves out there.

A few examples include:

LifeStyles Warming Pleasure: One of those water-based lubricated condoms that stimulates the “clitoris, labia, and vaginal wall”, this brand actually makes good on it’s claims, providing a “mild but very sensual” warming sensation.

Naturalamb: Since these “second skin” condoms don’t protect against STD’s, they’re recommended for monogamous couples. Made from natural animal membranes (yup), Naturalamb is supposedly the thinnest condom available—an awesome find for the long-term couple, as long as you’re alright about that whole ‘membrane’ thing… Read More »

I knew that HPV was a “popular” STD, but I never realized just how widespread it was. According to health studies, HPV currently affects 1 in 4 women in the United States. 25% of women in the U.S. are currently living with the disease!

That statistic alone is staggering. What makes it even scarier, though, is the fact that two types of HPV can cause much more serious issues than simply having an STD: they can lead to cancer.

The problem with HPV, and the reason it affects as many people as it does, is that it oftentimes goes undetected. While many types are characterized by genital warts, many don’t have obvious symptoms, which leave the person without the slightest inkling that they are infected. Clearly, this proves the importance of getting tested regularly.

Unfortunately, though, many people don’t.

And since they don’t know they have it, they go around like nothing is wrong and, consequently, infect their partners. I don’t write this to be preachy. This is some scary shit and women need to know. I mean, I always knew STD’s were a problem, but I also always thought they were much less common than this. Read More »

This one’s for the guys.

Everyone knows condoms aren’t the easiest things to convince people to use. Whether they’re British and embarrassed, or just dumb and stupid, a lot of guys claim strapping on the latex glove makes everything less…intense.

In case you’ve got one these bitchy complainers on your hands (and really, why anyone would stick with an ass who whines about keeping himself from accidentally becoming a father?), British condom maker Futura Medical Plc may have finally made the condom that shuts him up for good.

According to a study the company released on Thursday, their new condoms help men “have firmer and bigger erections, as well as a longer-lasting sexual experience.” Read More »

Look out! There’s a new STD on the loose! A Socially Transmitted Disease that could be making you fat.

That’s right, obesity is now considered “socially contagious.” In fact, a new study done by Harvard Medical School and published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that if you have any girl friends that are obese, your chances of being obese rise 71%.

Of course, if you befriend an overweight male, your chances of packing on the pounds are only 57%.

According to the study, it has nothing to do with what you eat when you’re around those who are overweight. Which was my initial thought. I mean, if your friends want ice cream or pizza, most times you go along with the crowd, right? Read More »

Summertime’s for lovin’, which ostensibly means that summertime’s for STDs. And this summer, a whopper of an STD is back with a vengeance: syphilis.

The only thing they ever told us about syphilis in health class is that Al Capone died from it. So, I figured if I stayed away from the mafia I’d be okay. But as the New York Post reports, there have been 260 cases in New York City alone this year.

Syphilis is no longer a thing of the past, a disease that claimed the young lives of powerful visionaries like King Edward VI and Ivan the Terrible. Nope, Syphilis has finally caught up with the times. It’s a vintage STD, back for more. But not vintage in a good way. Vintage like… leg warmers. Read More »

Forget birth control, forget condoms. I have found IT. And by IT I mean the foolproof way to stop teenage/unwanted pregnancies, stop the spread of std’s, hell–it might even stop you from wanting to have sex (I said might). Okay, all of the above may put Maury Povich out of a job- but I’m pretty sure my idea is like, uh, genius. How come no one has ever thought of this before? Sure all those conservative-good-Christian-political people preach teaching abstinence only education as a way to stop std’s and pregnancies out of wedlock (which is clearly not working in this country) and those a bit more liberal preach the importance of teaching safe sex practices and forms of birth control. I am not discounting that. BUT I do think my idea is a fantabulous new way to put a halt to this “who’s my baby-daddy” nonsense going on in our society right now.

Where did this brilliant idea come from? Wellllll, moving back home for the summer has made my Friday and Saturday nights … different (to say the least). I have traded in shots and bar crawls for yoga class and early bird movies. Partayyy, I know. The past two nights, I have seen Knocked Up and Waitress, both which have given me the inspiration for a new found form of birth-control. Read More »

It’s summertime and love is in the air. While I’m lucky enough to have an amazing long term boyfriend, most girls our age are still playing the dating game. Online dating sites like EHarmony.com and Match.com have been everywhere lately- from billboards to TV’s to your sister’s computer screen. But what happens when you don’t fit the traditional mold and would like to look for someone… a bit more unusual? Maybe you have something specific that defines your personality or a certain style of living that cannot be compromised in a romantic relationship.

Hoards of specialized dating websites have begun to crop up around the web, resulting in matchmaking opportunities for weirdos everywhere. Radar Magazine’s list of some of the most obscure dating sites inspired me to search for a few strange dating sites of my own. I figured there must be something stranger than Datemypet.com…and boy was I right.

Redneckandsingle.com- The name of the site is pretty self-explanatory. If you enjoy beer, trucks, fishing, and rodeos this is probably the place for you.

Laffpersonals.com- Been around the block one too many times? This site is for singles openly infected with herpes, HPV, or your choice of a variety of other nasty STD’s. The site argues that 1 in 4 people have an STD anyway, so it’s safer to date someone who’s up front about it…and maybe they have a point. Read More »

I think global warming is an issue, but I still drive my Rav4. I hate animal cruelty, but I think I have a fur SOMETHING in my closet. I bitch about politics, but I still don’t think I voted last time around.

Yet somehow, this Paris Hilton 3 day county-funded vacation really pisses me off. SO, in my attempt to be proactive about something for once, I did some searching. Below, you will find the email addresses of the LA County Board of Supervisors. You will also recognize them as new members of the Hilton Family “Fruit of the Month Club.”

zev@bos.lacounty.gov; molina@bos.lacounty.gov; seconddistrict@bos.lacounty.gov; don@bos.lacounty.gov; fifthdistrict@lacbos.org

I have even taken the liberty of formatting it for you, complete with semi-colons – i know…dedication! Again, not looking for the death penalty, just think fair-is-fair and little Miss Simple Life should sit in jail and not by her pool. It was drunk driving. I don’t need to rant on the statistics of drunk driving fatalities – but if I see Paris on a MADD PSA – I might go bat-shit insane.

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 »