Planned Parenthood's Recent Articles

Illustrated by Ly Ngo. Update: This story was originally published on September 19. By Kendall McKenzie There are a lot of misconceptions floating around o

by Planned Parenthood

Sex

How Much Vaginal Discharge Is Really Normal?

Someone asked us:

How much vaginal discharge is normal at 16? I am a virgin; I don’t take any BCP or hormones. No itch, no pai

by Planned Parenthood

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Body
I’m Losing My Health Insurance When I Graduate — Help!
Someone asked us:

I’m graduating in the spring and won’t have student health insurance anymore. Do I have to wait until next
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
How Deep Does Semen Need To Go To Cause Pregnancy?
This post was originally published on November 3, 2014. How far do sperm have to go in a vagina for someone to get pregnant? UPDATE: Based on readers'
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
When Do I Take A Pregnancy Test If I Never Get A Period?
By Emily Pisacreta Someone asked us:I haven’t had my period in almost a year. I was tested for being pregnant, with only negative resu
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
How Can I Stop Getting Frequent UTIs?
By Kellie Spilman Someone asked us:I have a question. I recently lost my virginity, and now I’ve developed a Urinary Tract Infestion (UTI).
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Do I Have To Get Tested — Even If I Have No Symptoms?
By Kellie Spilman Someone asked us: My significant other is HSV 2-positive. We were in an open relationship [at the time of his diagnosis], and although we
by Planned Parenthood

Body
Why Do I Have Cramps In Between Periods?
Someone asked us: Hey there Planned Parenthood! I’ve been on the pill for almost a year now, and it’s been going great. On
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Does How Often I Have Sex Affect My Birth Control’s Efficie...
Someone asked us: I’m currently using Nexplanon as a contraceptive. My fiancé was deployed for nine months and recently came home. S
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Is My Pubic Hair Irritating My Partner…Down There?
So, I recently started having sex with my boyfriend, and he got this rash on his genital area (not an STD; he and I both got tested when the rash appeared)
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Are Condoms Necessary Even When You’re On The Pill?
By Chelsea Perugini Someone asked us: Do I need to use condoms on my week of placebo pills? During the week you’re not taking hormones
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Is My STD Back?
Someone asked us: "I went to the doctor thinking I had a UTI, because I constantly had the urge to pee, even when I had just used the bathroom — but it w
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
My BF Wants To Have Anal Sex, But I Don’t — What Do I Do?
By Mylanie Sanchez Someone asked us: My boyfriend really wants to try anal but I am just not interested for a number of reasons. I know some women love it,
by Planned Parenthood

Body
Everything You Need To Know About HPV
By Kendall McKenzie What’s HPV, and how common is it? HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are over 100 strains of HPV, and around 40 can infec
by Planned Parenthood

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Body
Is It Normal For My Vaginal Area To Feel Itchy Before My Period?
By Kellie Spilman Shortly before and during my period, my labia and the skin around my vagina get a little more sensitive than usual, and a little itchy. I
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Can Weight Gain Or Loss Affect My Birth Control?
By Kellie Spilman Someone asked us: Can losing (or gaining) a lot of weight affect your birth control hormones? Sorry if it's a silly question. I have
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Do I Need A Parent’s Permission To Get An Abortion?
Someone asked us: I'm pregnant and definitely want an abortion. I'm under 18. Does that matter? The short answer is: It depends on where you live.
by Planned Parenthood

Wellness
Obamacare As Explained By Know-It-All Cats
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
How Can I Talk To A New Partner About STD Testing?
My partner insists he doesn’t have an STI, but I would feel more comfortable if he was tested. When I brought it up, he said he felt like I didn&rsqu
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Is It Safe To Smoke Tobacco While Taking Birth Control?
By Kendall McKenzie Someone asked us: Can you smoke hookah while on birth control? I smoke it every now and then, but not frequently. Okay, so setting asid
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
Which Pregnancy Test To Buy & When To Take It
I'm curious about pregnancy tests. Are there tests that shouldn’t be used or tests that are better to use? When should you take a pregnancy test
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
What It REALLY Means To Have Herpes
By Kendall McKenzie Herpes, the lifelong sexually transmitted infection (STI) that gives you sores on your mouth and/or genitals, is VERY common: More than
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
The Birth Control Method You’re Probably Overlooking
You may have heard some things in the news recently about LARC methods being recommended as the best form of birth control for young women and teens becaus
by Planned Parenthood

Sex
How Effective Is Your Birth Control Pill, Really?
By Kendall McKenzie “Why are there sometimes two different effectiveness rates for birth control? Which is correct?” One of the questions we ge
by Planned Parenthood

Body
The Truth About Queefing (Yep — We’re Going There)
I'm a 17-year-old female virgin and I love my boyfriend, but I'm so scared to have sex; sometimes I will move and I will just randomly queef?! I really don
by Planned Parenthood

Body
The Everything Guide To Cramps
Though they’re everyone’s favorite excuse to get out of gym class, people who frequently suffer from menstrual cramps know those stabby aches are no jo
by Planned Parenthood

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Planned Parenthood

Beyond serving as a go-to source for vital reproductive care, the folks at Planned Parenthood— knowledgeable experts in medicine, sexual health, and law — are passionate, informed advocates for knowing your own body. Planned Parenthood is here to tackle the big issues.