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I got someone pregnant-what do I do? So you got someone pregnant? Read on for what do next and how to be supportive in the event of an unplanned pregnancy Father's Rights and Responsibilities There is a lot of advice out there for girls who find themselves facing an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy but there is very little information out there for guys. It takes two to make a baby but all too often when the pregnancy is announced the guy gets lost in the confusion. Teen fatherhood is not something to be taken lightly and along with responsibilities to the mother and the child; you have rights that you need to know about. LEARN MORE How To Be Supportive Accidentally getting a girl pregnant is probably the last thing you ever expected — or wanted — at this time in your life. However, here you are, reeling from the news that the woman you have slept with is pregnant with your baby. LEARN MORE

3 Empowering Sex Tips We Should Be Giving Young Women Like many girls, I got my first sex tips from women’s magazines. I learned how to stand to appear thinner when naked. I learned which positions put my sexiest body parts on display. I learned hundreds of ways I should touch a penis, whether I liked it or not. Sex sounded grown-up and exciting, but also scary – though I couldn’t pinpoint why. I totally see why now, though. It sounded like sex would make me an object – like once I walked through the door of a man’s (it was always presumed to be a man’s) bedroom, I’d leave my humanity on the other side of it. Actually having sex as a teenager was equally confusing. I wanted to be my partners’ hot, sexy lover and their fellow human, but it always felt like I had to pick one. When I tried to be both, they’d punish me for it. In college, after enthusiastically initiating a hookup with someone I met at a frat party, and openly enjoying it, he got behind me and air-humped me in front of his friend while I was trying to talk. It felt like his way of saying, “In case you got as much out of this as me, I’m going to make sure you still don’t leave feeling equal” – as if my comfort with the situation took the fun away from him. As if he were trying to win a game aimed at convincing me to hook up, and I wasn’t even letting him play. He’d learned it, too: that women’s role in sex was to deny or “give in to” what men wanted, not want anything themselves. (And that LGBTQIA+ people don’t exist, apparently.) I didn’t just learn this from magazines. I learned it from musicians who implicitly or explicitly referred to their sexual partners as “bitches,” “hos,” and conquests. I observed it on TV shows that existed to let men ogle naked women. I learned it from men who treated rape as “locker room” behavior. Thankfully, during college and after, I absorbed other ideas about sex and women’s role in it. Here are some of the healthier messages I got – and wish we’d all get sooner. 1. Do What You Desire, Not What You’re Just Okay With Desire was strangely absent from the sex lessons I received from adults and peers alike – or at least the desires of people other than men were absent. I learned all about men’s supposed desires. I learned men’s desires were uncontrollable. That they would try to use me to satiate them. That I had the “powerful” position of deciding if their desires would be fulfilled (if they were “nice guys” who didn’t rape, that is). In addition to erasing non-binary people, this belief system renders women incapable of consent. You can’t, after all, consent to something you don’t desire. So, until I understood that my desires mattered, sex seemed, by nature, non-consensual. No wonder it scared me. Then, in my freshmen year of college, I went to a talk about sex. And unlike other sex talks I’d attended, it didn’t reduce women to victims. “Do what you desire, not what you’re just okay with,” the speaker said. Before, I thought being okay was the most I could hope for. I thought if a guy wants to do something and you’re okay with it, it was just spiteful not to let him do it. But, as this speaker recognized, that sets you up for an unequal exchange and makes consent blurry. Instead, he suggested, say no if you’re not excited about something, and you can always change your mind. I learned another version of this advice at a cuddle party years later: “If it’s not a ‘hell yes,’ it’s a ‘no.'” By affirming people’s right to say hell yes, we help them say no when there’s no hell yes in them. And by affirming their right to say no, we make room for more hell yeses to safely come out. 2. Express What You’re Thinking – And Ask Your Partner What They’re Thinking Women’s magazines offered tips for the hottest things to say in bed, but they rarely taught me to express how I actually felt. And they also didn’t teach me how to figure out how my partners felt. Any vocalizations that happened in bed were supposed to be for the sake of a performance. Communication in the bedroom should accomplish the opposite, though: expressing what you’re truly thinking. I didn’t know it was okay to say I wanted sex, or more sex, or a different kind of sex. I didn’t know it was okay to admit the current activity was doing absolutely nothing for me. I didn’t know it was okay to say if I was in pain or to say I felt pressured into something. Those things weren’t “guaranteed to turn him on,” after all. But expressing what you’re thinking is more than okay. It should be a requirement, especially if the alternative is to be uncomfortable or unsatisfied. This also means it’s important to find out what your partners are thinking, particularly when you’re not sure what they want. Discussions of sexual violence usually paint women merely as potential victims or survivors, but we are highly capable of ignoring others’ boundaries and pressuring them. Instead of teaching women to merely compliment their partners’ sexual prowess, questions like: “Do you want this? Are you good? What do you want? Do you like that?” should be part of everyone’s vocabulary. This not only makes sex better, but it’s also vital for keeping it consensual. And no, it doesn’t “kill the mood.” In what other activity is talking to your companion considered a detraction from the fun? 3. Make Sure You’re Getting as Much Out of This as Your Partner (And Vice Versa) I put that second part in parentheses because women already know this. We’re taught it’s our job to ensure our partners are getting at least as much out of the encounter as we are. In a study on college students’ attitudes toward hookups, one woman said, “I will do everything in my power to like whoever I’m with, to get [him] off.” And here’s what another woman said of receiving pleasure in hookups: “I didn’t feel comfortable, I guess. I don’t know. I think I felt kind of guilty almost, like I felt like I was kind of subjecting [guys] to something they didn’t want to do, and I felt bad about it.” It makes sense, then, that men are more likely to receive oral sex than women during college hookups, and both teen boys and girls say oral is a bigger deal when it’s performed on a woman. I always thought I understood that I deserved as much as my partners. It seems like common sense that both people should get something equal out of every exchange, right? But like the latter student, I never expected orgasms from my sexual encounters. Since I wasn’t getting them, I assumed my body was just too difficult, even though it wasn’t difficult when I was on my own. That’s what we’re taught: “Women are harder to please. Our bodies are ‘tricky.’ Men are microwaves, while women are ovens.” (Wrongfully assuming that all women are cisgender, these statements usually attribute such differences to sexual anatomy.) Then, when we don’t get much pleasure out of sex, we think, “Welp, that’s just my body being all womanly and complicated again.” No. It’s not. It could be a number of things, like anxiety getting in the way, lack of knowledge on your or your partners’ part, or a lack of effort on their part. But it’s not the inevitable result of you being a woman. We deserve to stop resigning ourselves to “meh” sex lives, and go after what we want. The idea that we shouldn’t pursue our desires sets us back in all sorts of ways outside the bedroom. It’s time we take back our right to pleasure in all areas. What all these tips basically boil down to is: “It’s totally valid to have a sexuality, express it, and expect others to care about it.” I never cease to be amazed by how confused people are when women have a sexuality. When I talk about masturbation, porn, or anything else to even suggest I’m a sexual being, one of several things happens: People assume I’m looking to be subservient to men because I’m obviously just sexual for them. They resent me for seeking my own pleasure. They assume I’m just hypersexual and “out-there.” When people react negatively to women being sexual, what they’re really doing is reacting negatively to women being human. And when we teach women not to be sexual and just be sexy, we’re denying their humanity. Of course, women – and everyone – can be sexy if they want. But they also, unconditionally, deserve the right to be sexual, whether they’re sexy or not. I hope that one day, it’ll be normal for a woman to have a sexuality – because that’ll mean people will honor her expression of it. I also hope people abandon the cliché “women want this, men want that” model of sex and honor the sexualities of people of all different genders and sexual orientations. And I hope we can move toward that by giving everyone these alternative “sex tips.” WEBSITE

Social Media Resources Most are familiar with Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. To some parents, the idea that these popular social media sites might actually provide helpful information to teens about sexual health and sexual empowerment might seem ridiculous. However, in the past few years teens have been taking sexual empowerment into their own hands and sharing real stories and information to educate their peers. The following are some examples of educators and activists. @sexelducation Sexologist Emily L. Depasse is on a mission to "redefine the narratives around STIs," and considering that she's already amassed nearly 30,000 followers, it seems like she's been pretty successful in using her platform to spread an important message. Her casual sex series offer templates for having tough conversations — like how to bring up your STI screening, support a partner who discloses an STI, or reveal your herpes status to your sexual partners — all of which are aimed at de-stigmatizing sexually-transmitted infections . Whether you want to learn more about protecting yourself from STIs , or you have one and could use some positive affirmations, @sexELDucation is definitely worth a follow. Mission @drlauramcguire Dr. Laura McGuire is not only a sexuality educator, trauma-informed specialist, and inclusion consultant, but she's also the founder of the National Center for Equity & Agency , a #MeToo-era consulting firm that specializes in sexual misconduct prevention. Basically, Dr. McGuire is dedicated to creating a culture of consent by schooling you on what it means and how to provide it. Moreover, they shed a spotlight on what it means to heal from sexual trauma. The best part? They're not afraid to tackle the tough subjects, like victim-blaming and healing from trauma — or tackle complicated questions, like, "How do I give consent to a long-term partner I've already been intimate with many times before?" @evyan.whitney You might have heard about birthing doulas, but what's a sexuality doula? Well, according to Ev'Yan Whitney , who coined the term, it's someone who "educates, facilitates, supports, and holds space for women and femme-identifying folks who are ready to step out of shame, confusion, and fear within their sexuality and into erotic empowerment—whatever that looks like for them." In addition to providing how-to posts (like asking for what you want sexually), Whitney also offers glimpses into her own personal journey of healing. They also created the #sensualselfiechallenge , a five-day radical self-love program that's aimed at encouraging you to celebrate your sexuality and your body in bold ways (no nudes required). @allbodieshealth Looking for some sexual health realness? Then make sure Allbodies is on your feed — it's an online platform for reproductive and sexual health, and it's brimming with super useful info, all of which has been reviewed by experts. Here, you'll find announcements about their latest digital health classes (which range from communication pleasure with partners to fertility preservation and dating after trauma . But you'll also get answers to questions you never dared to ask, like why you may be experiencing excessive vaginal sweating , or what the risks of oral sex are when one partner has herpes . @sexedsteph Given that @sexedsteph is a certified sex educator, reproductive justice advocate, and sex researcher, you can definitely expect a wide range of facts on her account — from the wonders of lube and emergency contraception to how antibiotics may affect your birth control. @KillerAndASweetThang If you don't already follow @killerandasweetthang , run — don't walk — to add this digital sex/mental health resource to your feed. Eileen Kelly — the gal behind this uber-popular IG — has been called Gen Z's Dr. Ruth , and that just about says it all. Between the hilarious sex-themed memes, stunning depictions of sensuality, and educational pointers (hello, Anal 101), this is one account that's bound to boost your intimacy IQ while also keeping you endlessly entertained. @shanboody The fact that @shanboody has collected 367K followers at this point speaks to just how valuable, relatable, and entertaining her content is. Shan Boodrram is a certified intimacy educator, which means she teaches people to be more competent and confident in the bedroom for a living. And from #couplesquarantine intimacy tips to facts about erectile dysfunction and the anatomy of the vulva, truly no topic is off-limits for her. @drshemeka Since Dr. Shemeka Thorpe is a sexuality educator & researcher whose account fuses sex ed with self-care. In other words, she doesn't just want you to know more about sex — she also wants you to have more satisfying experiences. So, you may quickly notice that all of her posts, no matter what the subject of the content, center around eliminating shame from your sex life. PS: Dr. Thorpe happens to be the co-founder of @theminoritysexreport , a space for people of color to have conversations around sexuality, which is def also worth a follow. @givingthetalk This Instagram account bills itself as "sex ed for this century" and that description honestly couldn't be more accurate. Not only is all the content on @givingthetalk medically accurate, sensitive, and incredibly insightful, but it's also inclusive of all genders, races, and identities. Gotta love the "Real Talk" posts, which cover such conundrums as what to ask yourself before establishing consent with a partner, ways to give and ask for consent, and how to revoke consent. @ericasmith.sex.ed Sex educator Erica Smith is on a quest to break down purity culture and encourage a more sex-positive societal mindset. Better yet, she continually shares statistics and other straight-up facts to support that goal. If you find yourself frustrated with how sex is portrayed in the media or advertising, or you're just trying to foster a healthier sexual relationship with yourself, this account is surely worth a follow. @sexedwithsarah Sarah Cyr-Mutty, M.Ed, is a freelance sex educator, reproductive justice activist, and a lot of her content on @sexedwithsarah revolves around the nitty-gritty of consent, as well as gender identity, and sexual orientation. In addition to empowering quotes (like, "no is a complete sentence!") and advice (like ways to end a sexual experience without having to fake an orgasm), her account is loaded with practical reminders — like the little gem above.

STI Transmission STIs are sexually transmitted infections. This means they are most often -- but not exclusively -- spread by sexual intercourse. HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, some forms of hepatitis, syphilis, and trichomoniasis are STIs. STIs used to be called venereal diseases or VD. They are among the most common contagious diseases. More than 65 million Americans have an incurable STI. Each year, 20 million new cases are reported; half of these infections are among people ages 15 to 24 and they can have long-term consequences. STIs are serious illnesses that require treatment. Some STIs, such as HIV, cannot be cured and can be deadly. By learning more about STIs, you can learn ways to protect yourself. You can get a STI from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can also be infected with trichomoniasis through contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or toilet seats, although it is more commonly spread by sexual contact. You are at high risk if: You have more than one sex partner You have sex with someone who has had many partners You don't use a condom when having sex You share needles when injecting intravenous drugs You trade sex for money or drugs HIV and herpes are chronic conditions that can be managed but not cured. Hepatitis B also may become chronic but can be managed. You may not realize you have certain STIs until you have damage to your reproductive organs (rendering you infertile), your vision, your heart, or other organs. Having an STI may weaken the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to other infections. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a complication of gonorrhea and chlamydia that can leave women unable to have children. It can even kill you. If you pass an STI to your newborn child, the baby may suffer permanent harm or death. What Causes STIs? STIs include just about every kind of infection. Bacterial STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Viral STIs include HIV, genital herpes, genital warts (HPV), and hepatitis B. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite. The germs that cause STIs hide in semen, blood, vaginal secretions, and sometimes saliva. Most of the organisms are spread by vaginal, anal, or oral sex, but some, such as those that cause genital herpes and genital warts, may be spread through skin contact. You can get hepatitis B by sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, with someone who has it. Local Clinics

One At Home This program allows Oregon residents to receive a free envelope of sexual wellness supplies delivered discreetly to their door, up to twice per 30 days.

HIV/AIDS HIV is a virus spread through body fluids that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, often called T cells. HIV is a virus spread through certain body fluids that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells, often called T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. These special cells help the immune system fight off infections. Untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body. This damage to the immune system makes it harder and harder for the body to fight off infections and some other diseases. Opportunistic infections or cancers take advantage of a very weak immune system and signal that the person has AIDS. Learn more about the stages of HIV and how to know whether you have HIV. What is HIV? HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS if not treated. Unlike some other viruses, the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely, even with treatment. So once you get HIV, you have it for life. HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which help the immune system fight off infections. Untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells (T cells) in the body, making the person more likely to get other infections or infection-related cancers. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. These opportunistic infections or cancers take advantage of a very weak immune system and signal that the person has AIDS, the last stage of HIV infection. No effective cure currently exists, but with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. The medicine used to treat HIV is called antiretroviral therapy or ART. If people with HIV take ART as prescribed, their viral load (amount of HIV in their blood) can become undetectable. If it stays undetectable, they can live long, healthy lives and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. Before the introduction of ART in the mid-1990s, people with HIV could progress to AIDS in just a few years. Today, someone diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease is far advanced can live nearly as long as someone who does not have HIV. Where did HIV come from? Scientists identified a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa as the source of HIV infection in humans. They believe that the chimpanzee version of the immunodeficiency virus (called simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV) most likely was transmitted to humans and mutated into HIV when humans hunted these chimpanzees for meat and came into contact with their infected blood. Studies show that HIV may have jumped from apes to humans as far back as the late 1800s. Over decades, the virus slowly spread across Africa and later into other parts of the world. We know that the virus has existed in the United States since at least the mid to late 1970s. To learn more about the spread of HIV in the United States and CDC’s response to the epidemic, see CDC’s HIV and AIDS Timeline. What are the stages of HIV? When people get HIV and don’t receive treatment, they will typically progress through three stages of disease. Medicine to treat HIV, known as antiretroviral therapy (ART), helps people at all stages of the disease if taken as prescribed. Treatment can slow or prevent progression from one stage to the next. Also, people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. Stage 1: Acute HIV infection Within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV, people may experience a flu-like illness, which may last for a few weeks. This is the body’s natural response to infection. When people have acute HIV infection, they have a large amount of virus in their blood and are very contagious. But people with acute infection are often unaware that they’re infected because they may not feel sick right away or at all. To know whether someone has acute infection, either an antigen/antibody test or a nucleic acid (NAT) test is necessary. If you think you have been exposed to HIV through sex or drug use and you have flu-like symptoms, seek medical care and ask for a test to diagnose acute infection. Stage 2: Clinical latency (HIV inactivity or dormancy) This period is sometimes called asymptomatic HIV infection or chronic HIV infection. During this phase, HIV is still active but reproduces at very low levels. People may not have any symptoms or get sick during this time. For people who aren’t taking medicine to treat HIV, this period can last a decade or longer, but some may progress through this phase faster. People who are taking medicine to treat HIV (ART) as prescribed may be in this stage for several decades. It’s important to remember that people can still transmit HIV to others during this phase. However, people who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (or stay virally suppressed) have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partners. At the end of this phase, a person’s viral load starts to go up and the CD4 cell count begins to go down. As this happens, the person may begin to have symptoms as the virus levels increase in the body, and the person moves into Stage 3. Stage 3: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) AIDS is the most severe phase of HIV infection. People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number of severe illnesses, called opportunistic illnesses. Without treatment, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. Common symptoms of AIDS include chills, fever, sweats, swollen lymph glands, weakness, and weight loss. People are diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm or if they develop certain opportunistic illnesses. People with AIDS can have a high viral load and be very infectious. How do I know if I have HIV? The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your status is important because it helps you make healthy decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV. Some people may experience a flu-like illness within 2 to 4 weeks after infection (Stage 1 HIV infection). But some people may not feel sick during this stage. Flu-like symptoms include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, or mouth ulcers. These symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. During this time, HIV infection may not show up on an HIV test, but people who have it are highly infectious and can spread the infection to others. If you have these symptoms, that doesn’t mean you have HIV. Each of these symptoms can be caused by other illnesses. But if you have these symptoms after a potential exposure to HIV, see a health care provider and tell them about your risk. The only way to determine whether you have HIV is to be tested for HIV infection. After you get tested, it’s important to find out the result of your test so you can talk to your health care provider about treatment options if you’re HIV-positive or learn ways to prevent getting HIV if you’re HIV-negative. Is there a cure for HIV? No effective cure currently exists for HIV. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy or ART. If people with HIV take ART as prescribed, their viral load (amount of HIV in their blood) can become undetectable. If it stays undetectable, they can live long, healthy lives and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. Before the introduction of ART in the mid-1990s, people with HIV could progress to AIDS (the last stage of HIV infection) in a few years. Today, someone diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease is far advanced can live nearly as long as someone who does not have HIV. < Previous Next >

Birth Control Bedsider The explorer is a place to learn about all your birth control options. We cover every available method, from the IUD (and others on our most effective list) to condoms, the pill, the patch, and more. Click on any method for more details. Want a more apples-to-apples way to compare?

4389cbc0-adea-42ad-b09b-88e5714a23ec < Back Ending A Pregnancy There are two ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. Both are safe and very common. If you’re pregnant and thinking about abortion, you may have lots of questions. We’re here to help. Is abortion the right option for me? Abortion is very common, and people have abortions for many different reasons. Only you know what’s best for you, but good information and support can really help you make the decision that is best for your own health and well-being. Why do people decide to have an abortion? If you’re thinking about having an abortion, you’re so not alone. Millions of people face unplanned pregnancies every year, and about 4 out of 10 of them decide to get an abortion. Some people with planned pregnancies also get abortions because of health or safety reasons. Overall, 1 in 4 women in the U.S. will have an abortion by the time they’re 45 years old. Sometimes, the decision is simple. Other times, it’s complicated. But either way, the decision to have an abortion is personal, and you’re the only one who can make it. Everyone has their own unique and valid reasons for having an abortion. Some of the many different reasons people decide to end a pregnancy include: They want to be the best parent possible to the kids they already have. They’re not ready to be a parent yet. It’s not a good time in their life to have a baby. They want to finish school, focus on work, or achieve other goals before having a baby. They’re not in a relationship with someone they want to have a baby with. They’re in an abusive relationship or were sexually assaulted. The pregnancy is dangerous or bad for their health. The fetus won’t survive the pregnancy or will suffer after birth. They just don’t want to be a parent. Deciding to have an abortion doesn’t mean you don’t want or love children. In fact, 6 out of 10 people who get abortions already have kids — and many of them decide to end their pregnancies so they can focus on the children they already have. And people who aren’t already parents when they get an abortion often go on to have a baby later, when they feel they are in a better position to be a good parent. The bottom line is, deciding if and when to have a baby is very personal, and only you know what’s best for you and your family. What can I think about to help me decide? Family, relationships, school, work, life goals, health, safety, and personal beliefs — people think carefully about these things before having an abortion. But you’re the only person walking in your shoes, and the only person who can decide whether to have an abortion. The decision is 100% yours. Here are some things to consider if you are thinking about an abortion: Am I ready to be a parent? Would I consider adoption? What would it mean for my future if I had a child now? What would it mean for my family if I had a child now? How would being a parent affect my career goals? Do I have strong personal or religious beliefs about abortion? Is anyone pressuring me to have or not have an abortion? Would having a baby change my life in a way I do or don’t want? Would having an abortion change my life in a way I do or don’t want? What kind of support would I need and get if I decided to get an abortion? What kind of support would I need and get if I decided to have a baby? Decisions about your pregnancy are deeply personal. You hold the power to make decisions that are best for you in order to stay on your own path to a healthy and meaningful life. There are lots of things to consider, and it’s totally normal to have many different feelings and thoughts when making this decision. That’s why it’s important to get factual, non-judgmental information about abortion. Support from family, friends, partners, and other people you trust can also be helpful. But at the end of the day, only you know what’s right for you. Who can I talk with about getting an abortion? Lots of people lean on others to help them with their decision. It’s good to choose people who you know are understanding and supportive of you. Your local health center has caring professionals that can answer any questions you may have. They'll give you expert care, accurate information about all your options, and non-judgmental support along the way — no matter what you decide about your pregnancy. Other family planning centers and private doctors may also talk with you about your decision. But be careful when looking for a reliable health center, because there are fake clinics out there that claim to offer information about pregnancy options and abortion. They’re called Crisis Pregnancy Centers, and they’re run by people who don’t believe in giving you honest facts about abortion, pregnancy, and birth control. Crisis pregnancy centers are often located very close to Planned Parenthood health centers or other real medical centers, and have similar names — they do this to confuse people and trick them into visiting them instead. No one should pressure you into making any decision about your pregnancy, no matter what. So it’s important to get the info and support you need from people who give you the real facts and won’t judge you. If you’re having a hard time finding someone in your life to talk with, check out All-Options. All-Options has a free hotline that gives you a confidential space to talk about making decisions about a pregnancy. They’ll give you judgment-free support at any point in your pregnancy experience, no matter what you decide to do or how you feel about it. When do I have to make a decision? It’s important to take the time you need to make the best decision for you. It’s also a good idea to talk to a nurse or doctor as soon as you can so you can get the best medical care possible. The staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center is always here to provide expert medical care and support, no matter what decision you make. Previous Next

e60af237-32f8-4921-be14-d5d3b7aed5bf < Back Planned Parenthood There are two ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. Both are safe and very common. If you’re pregnant and thinking about abortion, you may have lots of questions. We’re here to help. Previous Next

What Is Sexual Orientation? It’s not completely known what causes someone to be lesbian, gay, straight, or bisexual, but your sexual orientation probably started at a very young age. This doesn’t mean that you had sexual feelings, just that you had feelings about who you were attracted to. As you get older these feelings get stronger and shape your sexual identity. Sometimes sexual orientation changes over time. And sometimes it stays the same throughout your life. But sexual orientation isn’t a choice, and can’t be changed by therapy, treatment, or pressure from family or friends. You also can’t “turn” a person gay. For example, a girl who plays with toys traditionally made for boys isn’t going to become a lesbian because of that. Sexual orientation can feel incredibly simple — you’re a girl who’s always liked both guys and girls and you identify as bisexual — or it can feel way more complex. It may take several years to understand your sexual orientation or come out. Some people call themselves questioning, which means they aren’t sure about their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is common — especially for teens.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Some health effects caused by HPV can be prevented by the HPV vaccines. What is HPV? Should I get the HPV vaccine? HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). HPV is a different virus than HIV and HSV (herpes). 79 million Americans, most in their late teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV. There are many different types of HPV. Some types can cause health problems including genital warts and cancers. But there are vaccines that can stop these health problems from happening. How is HPV spread? You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. HPV can be passed even when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person. You also can develop symptoms years after you have sex with someone who is infected. This makes it hard to know when you first became infected. Does HPV cause health problems? In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area. Does HPV cause cancer? HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (called oropharyngeal cancer). Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers. There is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer or other health problems. People with weak immune systems (including those with HIV/AIDS) may be less able to fight off HPV. They may also be more likely to develop health problems from HPV. How can I avoid HPV and the health problems it can cause? You can do several things to lower your chances of getting HPV. Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect against diseases (including cancers) caused by HPV when given in the recommended age groups. (See “Who should get vaccinated?” below) CDC recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years (or can start at age 9 years) and for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already. For more information on the recommendations, please see: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/public/index.html Get screened for cervical cancer. Routine screening for women aged 21 to 65 years old can prevent cervical cancer. If you are sexually active: Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex. This can lower your chances of getting HPV. But HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom – so condoms may not fully protect against getting HPV; Be in a mutually monogamous relationship – or have sex only with someone who only has sex with you. Who should get vaccinated? HPV vaccination is recommended at age 11 or 12 years (or can start at age 9 years) and for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already. Vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. However, some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get the HPV vaccine after speaking with their healthcare provider about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit. Most sexually active adults have already been exposed to HPV, although not necessarily all of the HPV types targeted by vaccination. At any age, having a new sex partner is a risk factor for getting a new HPV infection. People who are already in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship are not likely to get a new HPV infection. How do I know if I have HPV? There is no test to find out a person’s “HPV status.” Also, there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat. There are HPV tests that can be used to screen for cervical cancer. These tests are only recommended for screening in women aged 30 years and older. HPV tests are not recommended to screen men, adolescents, or women under the age of 30 years. Most people with HPV do not know they are infected and never develop symptoms or health problems from it. Some people find out they have HPV when they get genital warts. Women may find out they have HPV when they get an abnormal Pap test result (during cervical cancer screening). Others may only find out once they’ve developed more serious problems from HPV, such as cancers. How common is HPV and the health problems caused by HPV? HPV (the virus): About 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. About 14 million people become newly infected each year. HPV is so common that almost every person who is sexually-active will get HPV at some time in their life if they don’t get the HPV vaccine. Health problems related to HPV include genital warts and cervical cancer. Genital warts: Before HPV vaccines were introduced, roughly 340,000 to 360,000 women and men were affected by genital warts caused by HPV every year.* Also, about one in 100 sexually active adults in the U.S. has genital warts at any given time. Cervical cancer: Every year, nearly 12,000 women living in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 4,000 women die from cervical cancer—even with screening and treatment. There are other conditions and cancers caused by HPV that occur in people living in the United States. Every year, approximately 19,400 women and 12,100 men are affected by cancers caused by HPV. *These figures only look at the number of people who sought care for genital warts. This could be an underestimate of the actual number of people who get genital warts. I’m pregnant. Will having HPV affect my pregnancy? If you are pregnant and have HPV, you can get genital warts or develop abnormal cell changes on your cervix. Abnormal cell changes can be found with routine cervical cancer screening. You should get routine cervical cancer screening even when you are pregnant. Can I be treated for HPV or health problems caused by HPV? There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause: Genital warts can be treated by your healthcare provider or with prescription medication. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number. Cervical precancer can be treated. Women who get routine Pap tests and follow up as needed can identify problems before cancer develops. Prevention is always better than treatment. < Previous Next >

31cbe5db-89f4-4152-9d76-287f9c86c8a7 < Back Emergency Contraception Emergency contraception consists of methods that can be used by women after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception methods have varying ranges of effectiveness depending on the method and timing of administration. Types of Emergency Contraception Intrauterine Device Cu-IUD ECPs UPA in a single dose (30 mg) Levonorgestrel in a single dose (1.5 mg) or as a split dose (1 dose of 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel followed by a second dose of 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel 12 hours later) Combined estrogen and progestin in 2 doses (Yuzpe regimen: 1 dose of 100 µg of ethinyl estradiol plus 0.50 mg of levonorgestrel followed by a second dose of 100 µg of ethinyl estradiol plus 0.50 mg of levonorgestrel 12 hours later) Initiation of Emergency Contraception Timing Cu-IUD The Cu-IUD can be inserted within 5 days of the first act of unprotected sexual intercourse as an emergency contraceptive. In addition, when the day of ovulation can be estimated, the Cu-IUD can be inserted beyond 5 days after sexual intercourse, as long as insertion does not occur >5 days after ovulation. ECPs ECPs should be taken as soon as possible within 5 days of unprotected sexual intercourse. Comments and Evidence Summary. Cu-IUDs are highly effective as emergency contraception (283) and can be continued as regular contraception. UPA and levonorgestrel ECPs have similar effectiveness when taken within 3 days after unprotected sexual intercourse; however, UPA has been shown to be more effective than the levonorgestrel formulation 3–5 days after unprotected sexual intercourse. The combined estrogen and progestin regimen is less effective than UPA or levonorgestrel and also is associated with more frequent occurrence of side effects (nausea and vomiting). The levonorgestrel formulation might be less effective than UPA among obese women. Two studies of UPA use found consistent decreases in pregnancy rates when administered within 120 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse. Five studies found that the levonorgestrel and combined regimens decreased risk for pregnancy through the fifth day after unprotected sexual intercourse; however, rates of pregnancy were slightly higher when ECPs were taken after 3 days. A meta-analysis of levonorgestrel ECPs found that pregnancy rates were low when administered within 4 days after unprotected sexual intercourse but increased at 4–5 days (Level of evidence: I to II-2, good to poor, direct). Advance Provision of ECPs An advance supply of ECPs may be provided so that ECPs will be available when needed and can be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sexual intercourse. Comments and Evidence Summary. A systematic review identified 17 studies that reported on safety or effectiveness of advance ECPs in adult or adolescent women. Any use of ECPs was two to seven times greater among women who received an advance supply of ECPs. However, a summary estimate (relative risk = 0.97; 95% confidence interval = 0.77–1.22) of five randomized controlled trials did not indicate a significant reduction in unintended pregnancies at 12 months with advance provision of ECPs. In the majority of studies among adults or adolescents, patterns of regular contraceptive use, pregnancy rates, and incidence of STDs did not vary between those who received advance ECPs and those who did not. Although available evidence supports the safety of advance provision of ECPs, effectiveness of advance provision of ECPs in reducing pregnancy rates at the population level has not been demonstrated (Level of evidence: I to II-3, good to poor, direct). Initiation of Regular Contraception After ECPs UPA Advise the woman to start or resume hormonal contraception no sooner than 5 days after use of UPA, and provide or prescribe the regular contraceptive method as needed. For methods requiring a visit to a health care provider, such as DMPA, implants, and IUDs, starting the method at the time of UPA use may be considered; the risk that the regular contraceptive method might decrease the effectiveness of UPA must be weighed against the risk of not starting a regular hormonal contraceptive method. The woman needs to abstain from sexual intercourse or use barrier contraception for the next 7 days after starting or resuming regular contraception or until her next menses, whichever comes first. Any non hormonal contraceptive method can be started immediately after the use of UPA. Advise the woman to have a pregnancy test if she does not have a withdrawal bleed within 3 weeks. Levonorgestrel and Combined Estrogen and Progestin ECPs Any regular contraceptive method can be started immediately after the use of levonorgestrel or combined estrogen and progestin ECPs. The woman needs to abstain from sexual intercourse or use barrier contraception for 7 days. Advise the woman to have a pregnancy test if she does not have a withdrawal bleed within 3 weeks. Comments and Evidence Summary.The resumption or initiation of regular hormonal contraception after ECP use involves consideration of the risk for pregnancy if ECPs fail and the risks for unintended pregnancy if contraception initiation is delayed until the subsequent menstrual cycle. A health care provider may provide or prescribe pills, the patch, or the ring for a woman to start no sooner than 5 days after use of UPA. For methods requiring a visit to a health care provider, such as DMPA, implants, and IUDs, starting the method at the time of UPA use may be considered; the risk that the regular contraceptive method might decrease the effectiveness of UPA must be weighed against the risk of not starting a regular hormonal contraceptive method. Data on when a woman can start regular contraception after ECPs are limited to pharmacodynamic data and expert opinion. In one pharmacodynamic study of women who were randomly assigned to either UPA or placebo groups mid-cycle followed by a 21-day course of combined hormonal contraception found no difference between UPA and placebo groups in the time for women’s ovaries to reach quiescence by ultrasound and serum estradiol; this finding suggests that UPA did not have an effect on the combined hormonal contraception. In another pharmacodynamic study with a crossover design, women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) UPA followed by desogestrel for 20 days started 1 day later; 2) UPA plus placebo; or 3) placebo plus desogestrel for 20 days. Among women taking UPA followed by desogestrel, a higher incidence of ovulation in the first 5 days was found compared with UPA alone (45% versus 3%, respectively), suggesting desogestrel might decrease the effectiveness of UPA. No concern exists that administering combined estrogen and progestin or levonorgestrel formulations of ECPs concurrently with systemic hormonal contraception decreases the effectiveness of either emergency or regular contraceptive methods because these formulations do not have antiprogestin properties like UPA. If a woman is planning to initiate contraception after the next menstrual bleeding after ECP use, the cycle in which ECPs are used might be shortened, prolonged, or involve unscheduled bleeding. Prevention and Management of Nausea and Vomiting with ECP Use Nausea and Vomiting Levonorgestrel and UPA ECPs cause less nausea and vomiting than combined estrogen and progestin ECPs. Routine use of antiemetics before taking ECPs is not recommended. Pretreatment with antiemetics may be considered depending on availability and clinical judgment. Vomiting Within 3 Hours of Taking ECPs Another dose of ECP should be taken as soon as possible. Use of an antiemetic should be considered. Comments and Evidence Summary. Many women do not experience nausea or vomiting when taking ECPs, and predicting which women will experience nausea or vomiting is difficult. Although routine use of antiemetics before taking ECPs is not recommended, antiemetics are effective in some women and can be offered when appropriate. Health-care providers who are deciding whether to offer antiemetics to women taking ECPs should consider the following: 1) women taking combined estrogen and progestin ECPs are more likely to experience nausea and vomiting than those who take levonorgestrel or UPA ECPs; 2) evidence indicates that antiemetics reduce the occurrence of nausea and vomiting in women taking combined estrogen and progestin ECPs; and 3) women who take antiemetics might experience other side effects from the antiemetics. A systematic review examined incidence of nausea and vomiting with different ECP regimens and effectiveness of anti nausea drugs in reducing nausea and vomiting with ECP use. The levonorgestrel regimen was associated with significantly less nausea than a nonstandard dose of UPA (50 mg) and the standard combined estrogen and progestin regimen. Use of the split-dose levonorgestrel showed no differences in nausea and vomiting compared with the single-dose levonorgestrel (Level of evidence: I, good-fair, indirect). Two trials of anti nausea drugs, meclizine and metoclopramide, taken before combined estrogen and progestin ECPs, reduced the severity of nausea. Significantly less vomiting occurred with meclizine but not metoclopramide (Level of evidence: I, good-fair, direct). No direct evidence was found regarding the effects of vomiting after taking ECPs. Previous Next