Sex in the news: November 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. Why is it so hard to make a hormonal birth control pill for men? (Yahoo)

   If it seems like every few years you hear about a new form of male birth control that could soon hit the market, but it never actually becomes a reality, you’re not alone. Hear from healthcare professionals on the challenges of creating a safe and reversible method for men.

2. Marie Claire’s guide to having a baby (Marie Claire)

   Deciding if and when to have a child can be tricky. Marie Claire created a “fertility journey” series to explore the complex issues around fertility.

3. Here’s the truth about birth control and weight gain (THE/THIRTY)

   Lots of people worry that birth control will cause them to gain weight. Here, an ob-gyn explains what the research shows about this, and spoiler: birth control doesn’t cause lasting weight gain.

4. 8 facts about masturbation that you probably didn’t learn in sex ed (The Daily Dot)

   Masturbation can be a great way to explore how you experience pleasure and engage in healthy sexual play, and it can also reduce pain, decrease stress, and improve confidence. Here, a sex educator details the many health benefits of masturbation.

5. 9 things no one tells you about PCOS, according to experts (Bustle)

   One in ten women of childbearing age have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). If you’re one of them, there’s a lot your health care provider may not have told you, like that women with PCOS can and do get pregnant, and that PCOS can affect pregnancy when it does happen.

6. Birth control that doesn’t affect breastfeeding can be hard to find, so here’s what you should know (Romper)

   There are a lot of great birth control options for breastfeeding women. New moms can choose from hormonal and non-hormonal methods. Here’s what you should know.

7. 5 condoms to use if you have a latex allergy (Bustle)

   Though latex allergies are rare, they do exist. If you have one, don’t worry. There are latex-free condom alternatives. Just remember not all of them protect against STIs (we’re looking at you, lamb skin condoms!).

8. What to do if the condom breaks during sex (Brides)

   The odds of a condom breaking during sex are relatively small if it’s used correctly, though it can definitely happen. There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STI transmission in the event a condom breaks during sex.

9. Your most Googled ‘Can I get pregnant if …’ questions, answered (Mashable)

   People everywhere take to Google to find answers to their questions about sex and pregnancy. Here, answers from an expert to the 10 most commonly searched questions about sex.

10. Birth control: Will it become the ultimate luxury? (Cosmopolitan)

    More than 62 million women are getting birth control for free under the ACA. Soon, that could all change, and contraception could get more expensive and much harder to access.