Hi everyone! My name is Kylie Stuhltrager, and I’m a senior Biobehavioral Health major at Penn State University, and a soon to be graduate student for MSN in nurse-midwifery! I am extremely passionate about all things women’s health, and am excited to share my passion with you all! I am by no means a medical professional, so please do not use my advice in place of actual medical opinion. That being said, I am looking forward to having a platform to share my knowledge and experiences pertaining to women’s health and reproduction.
This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
Today, getting tested for STIs is easier and more affordable than ever before. Whether from your doctor, planned parenthood, or even from an online kit delivered straight to your door, there is no excuse. Every sexually active person should be getting tested between every partner, and at least every year.
The year is 2020, people. There’s no room for stigma anymore.
The fact that the rates of STI testing for sexually active males is significantly lower than women is EXTREMELY alarming, especially since men are typically given the responsibility of buying condoms (which, by the way, isn’t a HUGE responsibility since you can get them for FREE in some places, but women, we can buy them too!!). A huge reason for this discrepancy could be a result of people with penises not visiting a doctor yearly that is focused on their primary sex characteristics, therefore missing an opportunity to be tested. Additionally, primary care physicians typically don’t view a sexual history survey as necessary, although maybe they should.
In an ideal world, people would be made aware of their STI testing options and be encouraged to get regularly tested from resources such as health class, their doctor, and their family, too!
Until then, women, put your body first. Although STIs are not the end of the world, no person is worth inadvertantly getting one (or more). Demand the use of protection. Don’t settle for “it doesn’t feel as good,” or “I don’t have a condom on me right now.” Set your boundaries. Be an advocate for yourself, and take precautions such as getting the HPV vaccine.
STIs do not always have symptoms. You can’t assume someone’s STI status by looking at them. Untreated STIs could develop into diseases having long-term impacts on the reproductive system, causing issues such as infertility and certain types of cancers.
And while we’re on the topic, let’s stop using phrasing such as “clean” and “dirty” in relation to STI status.
It’s not click bait. You read it right. There is a non-hormonal birth control pill that has been around since 1991.
Centchroman is a reversible birth control method popular in South Asia under brand names Saheli and Choice-7. It is what is known as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERMS), meaning it acts on the estrogen receptor without effecting estrogen levels. This means there’s none of the usual birth control side effects, like nausea, headaches, and depression! Some SERMS are currently being used to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis, and could treat uterine bleeding. Centchroman was found to be 93-100% effective.
Centchroman only needs to be taken once a week. However, despite it being available for free in India, it is not available in the US.
India, much like the US, has a big pharmaceutical industry, and holds the patent on this drug. The problem is, they don’t see a lot of money being made from it. Additionally, FDA approval would have to be received in order to do clinical trials on the drug, which is not a cheep process. Since the IUD does so well in America, and we already have effective birth control pills, America’s pharmaceutical industry thinks there would be a lack of hype around it (AKA it wouldn’t be a big enough money maker for them).
Many people on birth control feel as if they have to decide between the potential chance of pregnancy or suffering adverse birth control side effects. Many people’s bodies do not agree with hormonal contraception, for whatever reason. Hopefully, the USA will develop their own version of Centchroman to allow people on birth control to choose which method works best for them.
The contraceptive sponge- an elusive form of non-hormonal contraceptive. I bought mine for $20 at CVS, and it comes with 3 sponges. It’s definitely not cheap!
The Today sponge, the only available brand of sponge in the United States, is 89-91% effective. This is with perfect use. Typical use, according to Planned Parenthood, is 76-88% effective. To use the sponge, you wet it and get it all sudsy, then insert it on in your vagina! The sponge should sit blocking your cervix. It works in three ways- by killing the sperm with spermicide, the sponge absorbing sperm, and the sponge acting as a physical barrier past the cervix. Obviously, the packaging comes with more complete instructions and some fun little diagrams. And I should mention, the Today Sponge does come with a string to fish it out 🙂
These pictures are definitely pre-suds.
You can put it in for up to 24 hours before sex, so it doesn’t have to ruin the mood. After having sex, you have to wait AT LEAST 6 hours before removing it. There’s no need to replace it between each sex session!
Thank goodness this isn’t a method you have to insert in the heat of the moment, because that is just not realistic OR sexy. Inserting it was….. messy. I was squatting on my bathroom floor getting suds everywhere. My hand was soaking wet, and my bathroom floor was not much better.
Once it was in, I couldn’t feel the sponge AT ALL. It was like a fun little secret!!! My partner reported not feeling the sponge either during PIV intercourse, but claimed he could with his fingers after I told him it was in me (I don’t think I believe him). It is a sponge after all, so there’s no surprise the feeling blended right in.
All in all, this is a solid birth control method for some, but I would suggest using it in combination with another method, like the pullout method and/or condoms. I think I did the math before, and the sponge when used with a condom and the withdraw method, is more effective than using the pill and the withdrawal method alone. #MATH. Remember, The Today sponge does NOT prevent against STIs. If you use condoms as your main birth control method, but aren’t satisfied with the effectiveness of condoms alone, this could be a good option for you, if finances allow. However, you have to be comfortable touching your body to use this method, and its important to know the location of your cervix to use it correctly, and that is not for everyone.
TLDR; 6/10 Today Sponge
2020 UPDATE: The Today Sponge is sold out according to their website, due to a combination of mechanical and COVID-related issues. This really highlights the inaccessibility of birth control for people who use, especially for those looking for non-hormonal options.
Vogue Vulva 