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Syphilis has been called “the great imitator” because many of its signs look like other diseases. It is also difficult to know if someone has syphilis because a person might not have any symptoms at all.

This disease has bothered humans for thousands of years, but it seems to come and go in unexplainable cycles. Scabies used to be very rare in America, but now it is coming back again.

Pubic lice is also called “crabs.” It’s caused by very tiny insects that live in pubic hair and feed on human blood. Pubic lice are often spread through sexual contact, though genital contact or sexual intercourse is not necessary for transmission. I

“Pelvic inflammatory disease” is shorthand for any serious bacterial infection of the reproductive organs that are housed in the pelvis: the uterus, uterine lining, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries. These infections usually start in the vagina and, when left untreated, can progressively infect other reproductive organs. 20% of PID cases are found in teens, who often are afraid or unable to get reproductive health care. PID can result in permanent infertility and chronic pain.

As many as one in four Americans have HPV.

In the United States, approximately 75% of all reported gonorrhea is found in people age 15 to 29.

One member of a group of herpes-type viruses, CMV is transmitted through body fluids, sexually and nonsexually, and from mother to infant during birth. CMV is also incredibly dangerous for people who are immunocompromised or people with HIV.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginitis symptoms among people with vaginas of childbearing age (15-45). However, half have no symptoms!

My boyfriend says that anal sex is no different than regular sex. Is that true? He also says we don’t have to use a condom? Also, will I still be a virgin if I have anal sex? Will it hurt as much?

It’s amazing that with something as safe, simple, affordable and revolutionary as emergency contraception that it STILL isn’t being used by millions of people who could use it, and who would prefer to avoid an abortion or an unwanted pregnancy. In part, that’s because so many doctors and clinics still do not inform and educate people about EC. Here’s some EC clarity, on the house. Pass it on!

I don’t know if you are Orthodox or not, but if you are, perhaps you’ve heard of a term called “taharat hamispocheh” (rough transliteration). These are the laws (halacha) of family purity, or so they’re called. They cover life situations involving sexuality and sexual activity.

For the past 13 years, people all over the world have used this day to educate, learn, remember and think about and put the focus of the global community for just one day on HIV and AIDS. Saturday, December 1st is no exception.

Kate Greenaway is the Canadian director of Medical Students for Choice, a group of 7000 medical students across the US and Canada who are working towards improving school curriculums to include reproductive health training, especially abortion training.

When I was fourteen I became convinced that masturbating would kill me.

The Biblical sin of Sodom wasn’t homosexuality or anal sex – it was rape, greediness and poor hospitality, and the legal basis of sodomy is not about homosexuality, but about oral and anal sex, and often about homophobia.

Many people engage in oral sex, and find it a pleasurable of sexual activity. So long as you engage in it responsibly, it’s just as normal, healthy, safe and natural as any other kind of genital sex. Here are the answers to some of your most common questions – no secrets, no flashing lights and sirens, just the lowdown on going down.

I was about 14 when I started to realize that only one of my breasts was developing. That’s weird, I thought.

I started to grasp that AIDS hit very diverse people from lots of different backgrounds, but AIDS had no face for me. No real face, I mean. Only a face hidden in a shadow, or behind glasses, with a wig or a base cap and a weird, computerized voice, without a name. But it did get a name for me. And a face.

Using a condom is generally easier than it looks (especially if you can relax about it), but the first few times, it can be tricky, especially if you’re nervous about knowing how to use one.

I’m 16 and I used to be pregnant.

Saying no to sex when you want to is a given. But what if you CAN’T say no? What if, the next day, you don’t even remember being asked, or how you got to where you are, or who you were with? Worse still, what if you DON’T wake up at all? Find out about date rape drugs and what you can do to protect yourself and your friends.

We get a lot of questions from teens who are wondering if they can prevent pregnancy after intercourse, whether the concern is due to a broken condom or from not using any method of contraception in the first place. Regardless of how it happened, there is something that can reduce the risk of pregnancy if used within 120 hours (or with an IUD, eight days) of your risk. That something is Emergency Contraception.

There are a number of falsehoods about ED floating around from schoolyards to saloons; get the facts here.

There’s nothing wrong with masturbation. Come on, say it with me: “there’s NOTHING wrong with masturbation.”

Am I blue? Find out what “blue balls” are really all about: the facts may surprise you.