We all know the movies don’t necessarily contain the most accurate depictions of actual life. Or do we?

Whether we realize it or not, we all pick up subtle things from movies that we expect to find in our actual lives. And while I’m willing to overlook some of the media’s follies (like the fact that people in any foreign country all speak English), some of their depictions of sex are just. so. wrong.

Sex requires a soundtrack.
Sure, some people like to have sex to music and watching couples do it to some big, romantic song in the movies makes us all think music will enhance our orgasms, too. But how many times have you set your iTunes to random and had the Spongebob theme song come on in the middle of your session? Awkward! Sometimes it’s best to leave the music off while you’re getting frisky (unless you’re trying to drown out the noise so your roommates don’t hear). It will still be just as good.

Couples always finish together.
Not only do women orgasm every time they have sex in movies, but they always do it at the exact same time as their partner. Anyone who’s ever had sex in the real world knows this couldn’t be further from the truth for most sexual encounters.

Women never walk around naked after sex.
I don’t know about you girls, but I have never, ever ripped a sheet off of a bed to cover myself when I need to walk around the morning after sex. Nor do I immediately dress myself in my boyfriend’s oversized, button-up shirt.

Sex makes babies, no matter what.
Of course, sex can lead to pregnancy. But the recent barrage of unplanned-pregnancy movies and TV shows (Knocked Up, Juno, Secret Life of the American Teenager) would make you think birth control had never been invented.

Losing your virginity is a really, really, really big deal.
If you’re a female TV character, chances are you spend at least a season deciding if, when, and with whom you lose your virginity. And when you finally do make the choice, you either A. hurt someone you love, B. get pregnant, or C. feel horribly insecure afterward. And if you’re in a slasher movie, your virginity was probably the only thing keeping you alive!

Only beautiful women have sex.
Or husbands, careers, educations, friends, or any type of life worth living, for that matter.

[This story was originally posted by Kylie - Simmons College]

Likey? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

Here you go: 5 Condoms That Make Sex MORE Fun!

Trojan Vibrating Ring Condoms
Turn his penis into your personal play-thing with these condoms that come equipped with a vibrating penis ring, enhancing both of your sexual experiences! The only downside is that the vibration only lasts 20 minutes, and with such intense sensation down there, he probably won’t last much longer either! But it will be good while it lasts. Trust.

Flavored Condoms
Turning his penis into a Popsicle makes oral sex more enjoyable for you, which means it will be more enjoyable for him. Win, win? Just make sure you find a flavor you like; these ones can be hit (mmm chocolate) or miss (ew, banana).

Trojan Pleasure Mesh Condom
This condom is an updated version of a ribbed condom, designed to increase both of your sensations during sex. Not all women can feel the difference of ribbed condoms, but those that do really love them! I’d say it’s worth trying out.

Pleasure Plus
Pleasure Plus condoms have a loose-fitting pouch of extra latex that slides back and forth against sensitive nerves during sex. Both women and men have given these condoms rave reviews. I’ve already ordered a pack to test out myself. Merry Christmas to me. And a very happy New Year.

Climax Control Condoms
Climax control condoms contain a little bit of desensitizing gel, and provide an easy at-home remedy for frat boys premature ejaculation. The benefit of the condoms (vs. a climax control gel or lubricant) is that the gel is already inside, so it minimizes the chances of it desensitizing YOUR parts too.

Give the gift of great (and safe!) sex this season.

Whether we realize it or not, we all pick up subtle things from movies that we expect to find in our actual lives. And while I’m willing to overlook some of the media’s follies (like the fact that people in any foreign country all speak English), some of their depictions of sex are just. so. wrong.

Sex requires a soundtrack.
Sure, some people like to have sex to music and watching couples do it to some big, romantic song in the movies makes us all think music will enhance our orgasms, too. But how many times have you set your iTunes to random and had the Spongebob theme song come on in the middle of your session? Awkward! Sometimes it’s best to leave the music off while you’re getting frisky (unless you’re trying to drown out the noise so your roommates don’t hear). It will still be just as good.

Couples always finish together.
Not only do women orgasm every time they have sex in movies, but they always do it at the exact same time as their partner. Anyone who’s ever had sex in the real world knows this couldn’t be further from the truth for most sexual encounters.

Women never walk around naked after sex.
I don’t know about you girls, but I have never, ever ripped a sheet off of a bed to cover myself when I need to walk around the morning after sex. Nor do I immediately dress myself in my boyfriend’s oversized, button-up shirt.

Sex makes babies, no matter what.
Of course, sex can lead to pregnancy. But the recent barrage of unplanned-pregnancy movies and TV shows (Knocked Up, Juno, Secret Life of the American Teenager) would make you think birth control had never been invented.

Losing your virginity is a really, really, really big deal.
If you’re a female TV character, chances are you spend at least a season deciding if, when, and with whom you lose your virginity. And when you finally do make the choice, you either A. hurt someone you love, B. get pregnant, or C. feel horribly insecure afterward. And if you’re in a slasher movie, your virginity was probably the only thing keeping you alive!

Only beautiful women have sex.
Or husbands, careers, educations, friends, or any type of life worth living, for that matter.

Q:

A: You are so not alone in having concerns about abortion, honey. Obviously, it’s always better when you can plan a pregnancy, make sure your body is in optimal condition, choose the perfect partner, and time it brilliantly so that pregnancy and parenting fits into your life. But alas, life doesn’t always work this way. You’re smart to be asking the right questions.

First, let me say that I’m delighted you’re asking before you find yourself with an unwanted pregnancy. For those of you who are being careful and taking birth control precautions to protect you against unplanned pregnancy, please don’t forget the morning after pill. You can get Plan B over the counter in some states or by prescription anywhere, and it’s pretty effective for those broken condoms, skipped pills, or sexual encounters that just happen when a passionate moment you weren’t expecting strikes.  So don’t forget Plan B. The sooner you use it, the better, but it’s effective up to 72 hours after the “accident.”  Not a bad idea to keep Plan B on hand in your bathroom- just in case.

Assuming birth control efforts fail, and you find yourself faced with the choice of an abortion, there are some important things to know. First off- not to get all political on you- but as an OB/GYN, founder of www.owningpink.com (a gutsy guide to getting your mojo back) and an avid supporter of women’s rights, I have to say this. Remember, you have the right to choose. It is your body, your life, your pregnancy. ‘Nuff said.  

If you choose to abort a pregnancy and decide early enough, you’ll have a choice between surgical abortion and medical abortion.  What can you expect from a surgical abortion? The procedure, when done in the first trimester, is the exact same procedure we do when someone miscarries but the baby doesn’t pass. Basically, the doctor dilates open the cervix with blunt-tipped dilators, inserts a suction catheter that’s attached to a sucking machine, and vacuums out the uterus.  The whole thing takes about 5 minutes at the most, if all goes smoothly.  Not that it isn’t totally traumatic emotionally (and for most women and even the doctors performing these procedures, it is).  But the procedure itself isn’t that big a deal.

What are the risks? The biggest risk is perforation of the uterus. Because the procedure is blind (we can’t see inside the uterus), the doctor is poking sharp objects somewhere she can’t see. So there’s always a risk that the sharp object could poke through the uterus and possibly damage something on the other side, like the bladder or the bowel (not good, but very rare).  There’s also a risk of bleeding, infection, and missing the pregnancy, which can require a second surgery.

What about medical abortion? For this procedure, medications like mifepristone (RU-486) and misoprostol are given to help you pass the baby on your own. Usually, you go in for the medication, then follow up a few days later to make sure it passed. If it didn’t, another dose of medication may be given, or your doctor may choose to proceed with surgical abortion. What are the risks?  The biggest risks are hemorrhage, infection, and retained products of conception, requiring surgery to remove what doesn’t come out.  The upside is that no sharp objects are poked blindly in dark places, so there’s no risk of perforation of the uterus, and the cervix doesn’t have to be manually dilated, which can put you at risk of complications down the road.

So what about that? Does having an abortion affect getting pregnant later? Almost never. Uncomplicated abortions rarely affect future fertility or pregnancy. But if you suffer a complication or undergo multiple surgical abortions, you may have a small risk of trouble down the road.  The biggest concern when your cervix is manipulated surgically is something called “incompetent cervix,” which means the cervix can be weakened, leading to pregnancy loss, usually in the second trimester. Multiple surgeries on the cervix can also predispose you to preterm labor and delivering a preemie. The other risk is scarring of the uterus (Asherman’s syndrome) and scarring of the cervix (cervical stenosis), which can lead to infertility or pregnancy loss.  Medical abortion has fewer of these long-term risks.

So yes, you have reason to be concerned about the effects of abortion. But these effects are very rare. Nevertheless, abortion should never be used as birth control. There are much better ways to protect yourself.  And the risks are something to keep in mind when you find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy and you’re making your choice.

So please, take care of yourself. Protect yourself with birth control. Have Plan B in the bathroom, just in case. But if you find yourself choosing to have an abortion, find a skilled, compassionate doctor, forgive yourself, surrender to the choice, release your fear, and let go.

[Dr. Lissa Rankin is an OB/GYN and founder of Owning Pink. If you have something you'd like to ask, send it over and we'll pass it along. No question is too big or too small, so ask away!]

I researched Mexico’s Hidden beach Resort, an “Au Natural Club” to get a better idea of the growing trend that is nude vacationing. Upon investigation, I found that, yes, the prime age of nude vacationers is 40 +, but the seedy desert motel I saw on that one episode of The Simple Life is a far cry from nude vacation experiences available today.

Upscale resorts, cruise lines and time shares are jumping in on the trend. Services like champagne greetings and rose petal turn down service allow guests to feel immediately pampered. However, I’m still a little weary on the whole naked part.

I understand that it would definitely make a significant difference in my experience, but what exactly are the results of a vacay sans clothing? My main concern would definitely be the issue of sanitation. All I can picture are pristine white chaise lounges on a beach somewhere…with a naked old man letting his grandpa junk hang out all over them. Much to my surprise (and relief), Trip Advisor gave Hidden Beach its highest rating for cleanliness. But what about dining? All of Hidden Beach’s food services are nude. The last thing I want to look at while I’m eating is random naked people (especially due to the fact that I really enjoy having sausage with my breakfast).

Hidden Beach Resort also boasts about its “disco for decadently enjoyable dancing in the nude.” Um, there are several thousand things that I can imagine going wrong in that scenario. Given the way that our generation chooses to get our groove on (mildly pornographic grinding), one of those mishaps could quite possibly be an unplanned pregnancy–what a souvenir!

Another qualm I have about letting it all hang out (no pun intended) is a personal phobia of public nudity. Maybe it’s just me, but the idea of strolling into a crowded lobby stresses me out just a little bit, which is highly counterproductive considering I go on vacation to escape stress.

However, all the reviews of Hidden Beach by guests excitedly described the sense of freedom achieved by removing clothes from the equation. Citing nudity as the absolute freedom from inhibition makes sense, and to some degree it removes pretenses and pressures. Without status symbols that clothes lend to people, everyone is on an even playing field. Without clothes, vacationers are label-less…but I for one would rather be judged for my designer sunglasses (or lack thereof) than my cellulite.

For now, I think I’ll stick to fully clothed vacations–tiny bikinis are panic inducing enough for me, and I’m confident that I can achieve a sense of freedom with a cute, flowy sundress. After all, half the fun of a vacation is shopping for things to wear while away.