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TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Abortion bans and mental health + What it’s actually like to be denied an abortion in your state
+ Your "first time"
Abortion bans and mental health + What it’s actually like to be denied an abortion in your state
+ Your "first time"
"...it was like my heart was ripped out of my body."
When Nancy Davis was denied an abortion in 2022 for a nonviable fetus in her home state of Louisiana, she took her story to the media to help raise awareness about what she sees as a fundamental injustice that disproportionately affects Black women like her.
Read more about Nancy's story via PopSugar.
Read more about Nancy's story via PopSugar.
From the blog…
- What parents can do to help prevent teen dating violence: In observation of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month this February, here are some ways to help prevent your teen from being in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, on either side.
- We don't know about you, but we're tired of hearing, "It's just a bad period," when it comes to serious reproductive health issues like endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and more. Get the facts and learn how you can advocate for yourself and for others.
- Can you still get pregnant if you have sex during your period? We asked our experts.
What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on:
- Listen to NPR’s series of podcast clips about the state of reproductive rights in America.
- In Louisiana, trans youth are suing to block a ban on gender-affirming care that violates their constitutional rights.
- To put it plainly, abortion bans hurt mental health. A research study found that women aged 18 to 45 years in certain states with abortion restrictions experienced greater mental health symptoms.
- The Texas abortion ban has a ripple effect on medical care for pregnant people, from severe morning sickness to cancer treatment.
Ask the Experts:
Five things to keep in mind before your "first time"
So you’ve decided you’re ready to have sex. It's a big decision. Having sex comes with some responsibility, like pregnancy prevention and protection from STIs. Here’s how to help make sure the sex you have is a positive, pleasurable, and safe experience — for you and for your partner!
- Consent and honest communication are necessary. Talk with the person you’re going to have sex with. What do you want? Ask them what they want to do — then come to an agreement together.
- Check your expectations! Messages we often get from the media aren't very realistic. What you read, watch, or listen to may give you an idea of what sex is going to be like. But real-life sex may look and feel different, and that's totally okay. Talking about what you’re expecting can help both of you feel more comfortable during an experience as intimate as this one.
- Depending on what type of sex you have, you may feel some discomfort or pain the first time. No matter what type of sex you’re having, go slowly at first. Make sure you’re both relaxed, listen to each other, and pay attention to how your body feels. If your partner is doing something that hurts or makes you uncomfortable, tell them.
- Lube can be your best friend. Lubes are excellent options to help make vaginal or anal sex more comfortable and enjoyable.
- Pregnancy can happen anytime you have vaginal sex, even the first time. Also, STIs can spread through any type of sexual activity that involves skin-to-skin contact or contact with body fluids like sperm, vaginal fluids, or blood. So talk with your partner about the importance of using condoms, how to have safer sex, and if you want to use birth control.
*Note: Planned Parenthood is not responsible for nor does it endorse any legal, medical, or other advice or information provided by any of the entities identified or referenced herein or by any other third parties, whether referenced herein or not.
Check out Ask The Experts for more Q&As on a ton of different health topics. Got a question in mind? Ask Roo, our sex ed chatbot, or one of our trained health educators.
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