"Oh, I'm kicking that guy's ass? Poor guy..."

There are some things you should always apologize for, like being late to meet a friend, bumping into someone on the street, or accidentally running over your ex-boyfriend’s foot with your car (whoops).

But there are also some things that, as a woman, you shouldn’t have to say sorry for.  I don’t care what anyone says, but you should not be left feeling guilty for any of the following.

Beating a Guy at Sports: Sunk the winning shot in a battle of the sexes?  Poker faced your way to a win?  We’ve all been told not to beat men at sports so we don’t bruise their precious egos, but this is also not 1950, so don’t hold back and don’t apologize.

Bypassing Lines at Clubs: Don’t let the haters have you giving looks of remorse as the velvet ropes are lifted.  Flaunt it if you’ve got it!

Intelligence: Today’s “role models” may cultivate dumb blonde stereotypes, but a woman who hides her intelligence is not attractive.  Be proud of your smarts and don’t shy away from speaking your mind!

PMS: I’m not saying storm around like a juiced-up Godzilla, but don’t apologize for being a little testy when it’s the time of the month.  It’s not our fault Eve ate that apple, so curl up in the fetal position and bitch away.

Your Twilight Obsession: Don’t be ashamed that you obsess over a man that sparkles.  Who cares if you’re over the age of 16 and in love with Edward?

We don’t have to worry about our genitalia getting chopped off.
You’re probably saying whaaaa? But yeah, this actually can, and does, happen. Poor Stuart Keen is a victim, as his carpenter career left him hanging with… well…actually it didn’t quite leave anything hanging. He accidentally sawed off his own package, which he apparently thought was a cabinet leg.

No one has to know how hot we think our prof (or any guy, for that matter) is.
Fortunately for us ladies, we can be aroused and horny as ever, without the world (parents/grandparents/children, especially) seeing.

Nightlife is cheaper.
Cover charge for bars and clubs is often cheaper or even free just because we’re females, which no one can deny is freakin’ awesome. And how often do girls buy drinks for guys? I mean, yes it does happen, but usually it’s the other way around. So saving money on a night out is definitely a huge plus.

We can show emotion without having to think twice.
We can hug and squeeze our girlfriends as much as we want without any hesitation. Guys, on the other hand, are wary of such things. They settle for a pat on the back, a handshake, a high five. And sometimes we all just need a good hug.

We don’t have to bring sharp objects toward our face/neck.
The last thing I wanna have to worry about in the morning is getting a razor near my eyes/key arteries.

We don’t have to look the same every day.
We get to accessorize our outfits, put on different colors and shades of makeup, change up our hairstyle…the list goes on. Guys don’t have that many choices when it comes to changing up their look (or covering monster zits). That’s just gotta get boring.

Looks like I’ll deal with the blisters from my platforms, take the Midol for those cramps, and proudly say, I’m glad to be a girl!

What do you love most about being a woman?

Talking sex with your doctor isn’t always easy. Whether you are afraid she or he will judge you,  you just don’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your life between the sheets, or you can’t think straight with a speculum between your legs, many people get tight lipped in the doctor’s office. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.

We thought we’d help and every Thursday our friend Dr. Lissa Rankin will be answering your questions. The ones you couldn’t ask your doctor in person and didn’t really trust the Yahoo community to answer for you. Just leave your questions in the comments, or send em over to us. (We’ll keep it all anonymous for you.) Dr. Lissa will answer anything – really, anything – about sex and other lady things. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!

Q: I’ve been on the pill (normal combination pill) for 3 years. I am very happy with it. I never miss a pill, but I take it at very different times during the morning. Does this decrease the effectiveness?

A: It’s always better if you can take your pill as close to the same time as possible, but if you normally take it at 8am and the next day, it’s not until 11am, that shouldn’t make much difference. The one exception is very low dose pills like Yaz and Mircette (pills with 20 micrograms of estrogen). In this case, it’s more important to try to remember to take your pill at the same time.

Q: I was also wondering, is it possible to use the pill with the Mirena IUD? Would you recommend it?

I hear you, sister. I’m assuming you DO NOT want to get pregnant! While I appreciate the sentiment, I would not recommend using a Mirena IUD with a birth control pill. Both contain hormones that act differently. And since both the Mirena IUD and oral contraceptives are highly effective, I don’t see the reason to assume the risks of both. If you’re particularly worried about pregnancy and want to use double protection, consider condoms plus the Pill or condoms plus an IUD. But adding two hormonal methods together can really mess up your system.  

Q: And finally, when I’m having sex with my boyfriend we sometimes start without condoms and then later he’ll pull out and put a condom on and continue. How effective is this in preventing pregnancy when used in combination with the pill? We’re in a monogamous relationship & have been tested, so I’m not worrying about STDs.

A: If you’re religious about taking the pill, and you’re using the withdrawal method and you’re sort of using condoms, chances are good that you will be protected from pregnancy. But mostly, that’s because of the Pill, which in and of itself is highly effective. In general, withdrawing before ejaculation is not an effective method of birth control because sperm are present in the pre-ejaculate released before orgasm.  So if you want to do everything possible to protect yourself, put the condom on before you start fooling around and leave it on until you’re done and can safely remove it.

It’s all about assessing your own personal risk tolerance. No birth control is 100%, which means that sex can always result in pregnancy. That said, it sounds like you’re being very conscientious to try to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, and I commend you for that.

Is your partner opposed to wearing a condom during sex? My gut tells me that maybe you would be feel a bit more comfortable if he did. If so, maybe it’s worth having a chat with him about this. Remember, it’s your body, and if anybody gets pregnant, it will be you. Listen to your heart, and honor your body.

Get to know more about Dr. Lissa on her website, www.owningpink.com

For everyone else who enjoys a good book on a hot summer afternoon, I’ve definitely got a doozy for you.

“White Oleander” by Janet Fitch is an older novel and made into a movie in 2002 starring Michelle Pfieffer. But PLEASE, for your own good, read the book first! My boyfriend’s sister lent me her tattered and well-read copy (thanks Danielle!) and assured me that it was her absolute favorite book. And I have to say, Danielle didn’t let me down. “White Oleander” has quickly shot up my list of favorite books as well.

The story centers around Astrid Magnussen. Without giving away too much plot, Astrid’s mother ends up in jail when Astrid is 15 and she is bounced around from foster home to foster home. The book chronicles her experiences at each home, but also, her experiences becoming a women. Without an solid role model, Astrid drifts along and discovers herself.

The book is dramatic and enthralling, but also so emotional and real – a perfect combination. It’s not exactly a light-chick-lit kind of read, but it is a book that you can easily lose yourself in and before you know it, an hour has passed, you’re halfway through, and you have a very unfortunate tan line!

1. We can do just about everything (shop, date, job hunt, talk to professors) in our underwear.

2. Talk to people and say things we would never have the balls to say in person (”You are being a bitch,” “I totally heart you.”)

3. We can procrastinate on everything in favor of the endless entertainment the inter-webs provide.

The sheer number of blogs and awesome websites out there is astounding…and nearly impossible to navigate. Which ones are good? Which ones are bad? Which ones will flash giant naked men on our screen? (Editor’s Note: Those are my favorite!) Which ones talk about all the stuff I want to hear?

That’s why we are here.

There are so many great college blogs out there and we want to share them with you. Because, after all, we college kids gotta stick together. So, here are a few of our favorites for this week:

1. Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman: She’s cute, she’s relateable, and she’s a she (which you don’t see much of in the blogosphere).

2. Life As a Hyperbole: Even though he totally hated on the Michigan fight song (errrr), this kid is funny and his lists are the perfect distraction during lecture/paper writing/your friend venting about her boyfriend…again.

3. The Old College Try: Another college lady writing about her life. And we can’t stop reading it!

4. Confessions of a Nerd: Makes you think. Oh, and we love embracing Nerd-dom.

“But what about a man’s scrotum?!” you ask. Well, now they have that too.

Ladies and (especially) gentlemen, I present to you: Man Junk.

I know what you are thinking (“Oh what a glorious day! Hallelujah! Finally, no more sweaty stench!”), and I am right there with you.

There have been products on the market to keep women so fresh and so clean (clean) for years, so it is only fair that a product was developed to do the same for men. I mean, men are constantly complaining about what goes on downtown on a woman, but they have no clue what we are dealing with in their nether regions.

Mainly: the scent.

According to the Man Junk website, normal male body soaps are not strong enough to mask the Eau de Scrotum of a man (Editor’s Note: Don’t I know it! Daaaamn.), so some super smart guys got together to create this organic body wash focused on this one main zone. Which makes things much more pleasant… for everyone.

This sounds like a dream come true…if our boys would actually go out and purchase it. Which I imagine they would do right after they offer to pick up our tampons. Read: never. Most guys would die before they would let on to anyone that their scrotum may possibly stink. Hell, most guys won’t even entertain that thought for themselves! So, that means that it is up to us, ladies, to make the Man Junk purchase….or withhold on the trips downtown until the boys do.

Whoever picks up this product, I think we all owe the people behind Man Junk a giant “OMGThankYouSoMuch!“

So, thank you, makers of Man Junk. We, the women of CollegeCandy, salute you.

One of my biggest gripes about being a woman is not the fact that I can’t get paid as much as a man for doing the same amount of work (though that is up there), or the amount of maintenance that is expected our gender (hair, nails, waxing, working out, etc.).It is the fact that my period makes me really, really horny.

But it’s not like I can do anything about it, right? I mean, I don’t even want to think about what’s goin’ on down there, so how can I ask someone else to actually venture in that direction? At the same time, though, guys love sex and would do anything to have it. So maybe they really don’t care if their mate is currently hanging out with Aunt Flo?

I needed some answers, so I turned to someone who could get me the scoop: a dude.

Just last week, a coworker exclaimed, “Kathryn, you have no game. Your entire approach is off!” Yes, this is true. But somehow, I still get some action, which is why she followed her (rather harsh) declaration with the question, “How do you do it?”

Still, no matter how many times I’ve immediately wished I could retract the bizarre statement that just came out of my mouth, I’ve also been with, or had friends who have been with, equally hopeless guys.

Reviewing my own traumatic events, as well as some of my friends’ bizarre sexual encounters, I’ve compiled a list of some of the worst things to say during sex. Because I’m a woman, they are written from a female perspective, but each of these can be just as cringe-worthy coming from a guy.

1. “Ohhhh, Michael… I mean… Dan?”

Make sure you know the name of the person you’re inviting past the pearly gates. Calling someone by another name will at once crush your partner’s ego and make you look sleazy. Once, I was hooking up with a guy and he proceeded to pour out his feelings for another girl… and try to get my advice on how to go about courting her. That really sucked, and he was pissed when I cut our session short.

2. “Why does your penis curve like that?”

There’s a variety of awkward comments that can damage a guy’s self esteem. Talking about size, shape, or “unique” sexual patterns can make him feel on edge. It goes for women, too. If you’re on top, do you want him to comment on the way your breasts jiggle in his face? No. During sex, both parties should feel sexy. Even if you like way his penis curves because it hits your G-spot just right, you shouldn’t ask why his genetic attributes are different than anyone else’s that you’ve ever been with. Asking “why” can easily be taken the wrong way. Instead, try a more positive approach, and encourage his tactics. Being vocal is a great way for both of you to get the most pleasure from your sexual experience, but try to use a more optimistic choice of words.

3. “So, how do you think you did on the Econ exam?”

Safe, casual sex is common among many college students. I know plenty of people who have had friends with benefits, no strings attached. You don’t have to fake it and scream expletives or pledge your love to someone if you’re not really that ecstatic. But you still don’t want sex to get so casual that you’re typing a take-home exam on your laptop while he’s doing you doggy style.

4. “I totally thought my cheating ex gave me something, but I got it checked out.”

The STD-talk is smart. But you should have that conversation before the condom even comes out. Saying, “I’ve been tested, but we should still use protection” is hot. Waiting until he’s thrusting away to bring up a past scare or an ounce of current doubt is not. Besides, leave any emotional baggage your ex left you with at the door. Your partner doesn’t want to know you’re thinking about someone else (especially an ex), and he definitely doesn’t want to waste the rest of your tryst with visions of penicillin dancing in his head.

5. “Did we use a condom?”

Guys taking advantage of drunk girls is very serious. On the other hand, if you got a little too drunk to use your best judgment, he might not have known. If you threw yourself at him and then admit it was just the liquor talking– ouch. Furthermore, if you can’t remember to insist on using protection, you shouldn’t be having sex. Period. Asking if he was responsible enough to watch out for you suggests that you might have been with other guys who weren’t so nice, and, like #4, make him worry about where you’ve been. There were a couple of times that I got a little out of control with my boyfriend, and the night was–to put it nicely–a blur. Of course, I didn’t want to let on that I didn’t remember the best sex he thought he’d ever given me, so I bit my tongue on that one.

Even if you are guilty of uttering one or more of the above, it’s not the end of the world. You can still learn from your mistakes and polish your game. Besides, I’d much rather make a verbal faux-pas than a physical one. Like if the answer to #5 is “No, we didn’t use a condom, were we supposed to?”

Anybody else have any Tourettes encounters in the sack?

The reasons themselves may at first seem valid until you really think about them:

Because it’s a nasty breeding ground for predators and there’s nothing women can do about it.

Because we don’t know any better than to overshare.

Because there’s nothing worse in this world than being called a slut.

Because we’re giving it up for nothing!

Because men don’t believe we’re real women anyway.

I was shocked while reading this article, until I came to the conclusion that it must be satire. Or do women actually believe we need to get off the Internet?

My reasons women should stay on the Internet:

There is something women can do about the predators: Not talk to sketchballs online. Not give away personal information. Keep your social networking accounts private. Be smart, like many of us are.

We don’t overshare any more than men do. And as long as we protect ourselves (see above), we can say whatever we want.

There are plenty of things worse than being called a slut by some anonymous commenter who lives in the middle of nowhere and has never left his house. Like being him.

Not all of us are giving it up for nothing. Some of us have learned how to be business women and get something in return for our writing, designing, photography, etc. And those of us who haven’t, realize that there’s nothing wrong with giving a little something for free; it makes the world a better place and makes the Internet what it is.

Not all men suck. Just like not all women are fabulous. I’m not sure who the author is hanging out with on the Internet, but clearly she needs to find some new friends.

So please, women, don’t leave the Internet. It can be a rough place sometimes, but we’re smarter than that. The Internet needs us; it would be lost without us. And seriously, do you really think men could handle it on their own?

There’s not a whole lot I hate more than waiting when it comes to guys. Waiting for him to smile at me. Waiting for him to talk to me. Waiting for him to ask me for my number. And then waiting for him to call me. Waiting for him to ask me out when he finally does call and subsequently… waiting in limbo for him to eventually crush my dreams of everything I once hoped he was.

So fine. Maybe I’m more aggressive than your typical woman. But I hate the frustration that accompanies playing the role of the patient, traditional lady. I kill myself emotionally and mentally during the wait and a few years ago, I decided to just take matters into my own hands.

I’m no longer afraid to approach a guy at a bar–especially if I’m dressed all hot and cute. I’m not even afraid to tiptoe my way into exchanging numbers with him…but the key here is tiptoe.

Tiptoeing: the secret to being an aggressive woman.

It’s more than okay to let a man know what you want. In fact, many of them actually prefer it. It’s much easier to orchestrate some sort of relationship with a female if the male is confident that you’ll always speak your mind (cause lets face it…the role of submissive housewife is just gross and unattractive). However, there is an art to being aggressive while still fooling the guy into believing that he has some sort of power.

For instance, don’t ask him for his number. Instead, bring up something cool happening that week. Trust me, if he’s into you, he’ll invite himself. And then when you’re parting ways, he’ll have to ask you for your number. Hence, you get exactly what you want while still making him feel like HE did all of the work.

So the key to being an aggressive woman?: Get what you want without making him think you’re getting what you want.

Have any other tiptoing tips or tricks to share with the group? Spill!