Asking Parent(s) or Guardian(s) About Contraception

For many, the stage of life known as adolescence or puberty can be a difficult and complicated time.  Our bodies undergo a number of changes– all of which create unique concerns, anxieties, and confusions. The combination of hormonal fluctuations and the maturation of interpersonal relationships made throughout middle and high school make puberty an especially…

Asking Someone Out

Asking someone out is a normal yet nerve-racking experience. As a young person, you may not have developed sexual or romantic feelings for another individual before, and you may be uncertain of how to approach a person of interest.  Asking someone out can become a big ordeal because you may begin to ask yourself questions…

Paraphilia

The term paraphilia is approximately 100 years old, but its meaning and definition vary.¹ The word itself can be broken down into two parts; the first part of the word ‘para-’ means beyond, abnormal, or irregular and the second part ‘-philia’ means love. The term itself acts as a clinical and scientific umbrella term that…

Diphallia (Two Penises)

What is Diphallia Diphallia (“Di” meaning two and “phallia” meaning penis) is a medical condition in which a male is born with two penises. This is an extremely rare disorder-only approximately 1000 cases of diphallia have been recorded since 1609. Diphallia occurs in one in 5.5 million males in the United States. It is a rare…

Vaginitis

Vaginitis is the broad term for inflammation or infection of the vagina. There are many types of vaginitis; each of which is characterized by different causes and symptoms.1 Symptoms of vaginitis include vaginal itching and irritation, painful urination, pain during intercourse, light vaginal bleeding or spotting, and vaginal discharge that has a foul smell or…

Annual Gynecological Exams: What to Expect

In order to maintain good reproductive and sexual health, females should visit a gynecologist- a doctor who specializes in females’ reproductive health- for an exam about once per year. Generally, females should begin seeing a gynecologist at the age of 21, but begin earlier if they become sexually active. After their first visit, females ages…

The Pap Smear

A Pap smear, also known as a Papanicolaou test or Pap test, is a procedure that checks for abnormal cells on the cervix.1 It is named after George Papanicolaou, M.D., who is credited for developing the Pap smear.2 The Pap smear drastically transformed how early cervical cancer can be detected in females.2 The cervix is…

Breast Self-Exam

Performing breast self-exams on a regular basis can help detect breast abnormalities at an early stage. Adult females (ages 20 and older) should perform breast self-exams (BSE) at least once per month. Regularly performing breast exams can help you become familiar with the look and feel of your breasts so that you can more easily…

Female Genital Self-Exam

Performing regular genital exams can help you better understand your body and learn what is normal for it. These exams can show you the physical changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle. Regular self-exams are important because they increase the likelihood of discovering physical changes and abnormalities. This is important so that any changes can…