Sex in the news: August edition

Trapped in the never-ending, relentless, 24-hour news cycle that makes you beg for the end to come soon? Find yourself involuntarily covering your eyes and ducking under your desk anytime you get a news alert on your phone? Don’t worry, Bedsider’s got your back, as always. This time, we’ve rounded up our 10 favorite articles about sexual health and birth control from the past month to make it really easy for you to get the facts on the things that could affect your health.

1. 7 Habits You Think Hurt Your Gynecological Health but Really Don’t (Bustle)

   Experts debunk common myths about women’s health. Turns out, period sex is a-okay and using birth control to stop getting your period is totally fine!

2. CDC: Stop Washing and Reusing Condoms (Newsweek)

   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reiterated the importance of not washing and reusing condoms, especially in the midst of what they’ve called an “STD epidemic.”

3. Can’t Decide on a Birth Control Method? This Should Help (Huffington Post)

   From the pill to the patch, the IUD to the implant, there are tons of different birth control options to choose from—which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are resources, like our very own method explorer, that will help you choose the best type of birth control for you.

4. 4 Ways to Get Birth Control That’s Affordable — or Even Free (Insider)

   Birth control doesn’t always have to be expensive. Even methods like the pill and the IUD can be affordable. Whatever method you choose, there are ways to get birth control at a low cost—or in some cases, for free. (You can also answer a few questions to find out if you qualify for free birth control.

5. FDA Approves Contraceptive Vaginal Ring That Can Be Used for a Year (Teen Vogue)

   The only thing better than effective birth control is effective birth control that you don’t have to go to the pharmacy for. The FDA recently approved Annovera, the first vaginal ring that you can keep reusing for a full year instead of having to get a new one every month.

6. Want to Switch Your Birth Control Method? Here’s What You Should Know (POPSUGAR)

   You don’t have to feel like you’re trapped if you’re not happy with your current method of birth control. You may find yourself thinking about switching to another method and that’s okay—just be sure to talk to your provider before switching. Also make sure you use a backup method, like condoms, until the new method kicks in.

7. How Effective Is Nexplanon? The Birth Control Implant Is One of the Most Effective Contraceptive Methods (Elite Daily)

   Nexplanon is a birth control implant that’s about the size of a matchstick that gets inserted by a health care provider in your upper arm. It lasts for up to 5 years, and it’s over 99 percent effective with proper insertion.

8. 6 Reasons To Use Female Condoms That You Never Realized (Bustle)

   Female condoms (also called internal condoms) aren’t the prettiest things in the world, but they do give you lots of control. They may seem a bit tricky to use at first, but once you get the hang of it (pun intended) you may enjoy using them to protect against STIs and pregnancy.

9. Why Male Birth Control Should Exist, According to These Four Men (Glamour)

   Male birth control that would temporarily prevent the release of sperm is in the works. Hear from men why they want birth control of their own.

10. What Are the Side Effects of Nexplanon? 6 Women Who Use the Birth Control Implant Share Their Honest Experiences (Elite Daily)

    Nexplanon is one of the most effective birth control methods, but it’s also the least commonly used. Hear from real Nexplanon users about the benefits and side effects of this method.