Acne is one of the most common issues that adolescents face. Suffering from acne can have a dramatic effect on one’s self esteem and body image. Severe acne can last for a prolonged period of time, result in scarring, and may not be effectively treated by over-the-counter treatments or treatments prescribed by a dermatologist. Isotretinoin,…
Tag: Condoms
Are You Ready to Lose Your Virginity?
Deciding to become sexually active can be a major turning point in a person’s life. There are many factors to consider when making this decision and it is important to realize that it is normal to have certain worries or concerns. When thinking about becoming sexually active, a person must consider the experience of their…
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…
Overview of Virginity Pledges
Virginity pledges are typically taken by teenagers and young adults who promise to remain abstinent from sexual activity until marriage. Programs promoting virginity pledges began within fundamentalist Christian circles in the United States, but the idea has gained traction in the mainstream, and a number of nonreligious sources (including some public school sex education programs)…
Sex Education Within Schools
Opinions regarding what constitutes an effective and appropriate sex education vary between countries, nations, cultures, and even among families. The sex education curriculum of any given society typically reflects the dominant cultural values and norms of the greater community. There has yet to be a nation today to achieve comprehensive standards. In past decades, “abstinence-only” sex education programs…
Oral Sex and STIs
Oral sex is a sexual activity that uses the mouth, lips, or tongue as a way to stimulate a partner.1 There are many reasons why individuals enjoy oral sex, and it is a much more common sexual activity than people are led to believe. In fact, a statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more…
HIV Treatment
Treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) consists of taking a combination of medicines daily to suppress viral activity and slow the progression of the virus.1 HIV is classified as a retrovirus, a class of virus using RNA as genetic material and replicates through integrating to the host DNA. While there is no current cure for HIV, there is…
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is an automatic and self-regulating process during which the female body undergoes physiological and hormonal changes over the course of 24 to 42 days. This process plays an integral role in to the overall health and function of the female reproductive system and fosters the growth of fertilized ovum into developing fetuses….
The Catholic Church and Contraception
Historically, the Catholic Church and contraception have had a contentious relationship. As early as the second century, the Church took the firm position that the use of contraception—as well as the act of engaging in any form of recreational sex that does not lead to procreation—was considered sinful. Evidence of this belief dates back to the Didache, a second-century document…