Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet before, during, and after pregnancy is vital to ensure the future wellbeing of your child. It is highly recommended that women who are trying to conceive or who are already pregnant take prenatal vitamins in order to maintain overall health as well as the health of their baby.1 Important Vitamins During Pregnancy There are certain…
Tag: Pregnancy
Fertility Awareness Methods for Family Planning
Fertility awareness-based methods are different techniques that can be used to either avoid or attempt pregnancy. They differ from other methods of family planning because one does not have to take hormonal birth control or other types of medication. Although these methods can be used to achieve pregnancy, this article will focus on the avoidance…
Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Misinformation and Deceptive Practice
Note: If you or someone you know is seeking an abortion, we recommend researching ahead of time to ensure the clinic you visit is a medically licensed abortion provider, not a Crisis Pregnancy Center. Visit the National Abortion Federation website to find abortion providers in your area and read our article on “Finding a Reputable Abortion Clinic.” When…
An Overview of Birth Control
What Is Birth Control? The term “birth control” refers to a broad spectrum of methods that partners engaging in sexual activity use to prevent pregnancy. The most common types of birth control are hormonal methods, barrier methods, surgical procedures, withdrawal, and abstinence. In the United States, over 40% of women are using some form of…
An Overview of Disability and Sexuality
One of the most important aspects to remember when discussing the topic of sex and disability is that people with disabilities are sexual beings. Oftentimes, people assume that those with disabilities have no sexual desires or needs and tend to treat them as children or victims in need of protection. In reality, the majority of…
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a bacterial infection in the vagina that occurs when there is an imbalance in the bacteria that are normally present.1 It occurs frequently in women of reproductive age, and is the most common vaginal infection in women aged 15 to 44. BV often recurs in women who get it, with 30%…
Evolution and Human Sexuality
Evolution is defined as the change in frequency of certain traits across generations. The accumulation of new traits may lead to new characteristics or even new species over time. This means that, with time, enough changes can lead to the formation of a new species. Evolution is a continuous, extremely gradual process that has created…
Pre-cum (Cowper’s Secretions)
Pre-cum, otherwise known as pre-ejaculatory fluid, is a clear, sticky fluid secreted by the penis during sexual arousal. Pre-cum is different from semen, as it is produced by the Cowper’s glands, and while pre-cum rarely carries sperm, it is usually not enough to cause pregnancy. Pre-cum is capable of transmitting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like…
Inducing Labor
Labor induction (also referred to as inducing labor) is when uterine contractions are stimulated to begin the process of labor during a vaginal birth. Labor induction is not a new practice. In fact, it dates back to Ancient Greece as Hippocrates, who is considered the Father of Medicine, recorded descriptions of dilating the cervical canal.1…