Your Health Questions Answered: Are any sex toys unsafe to use?

Hi readers! Have you ever wondered about the safety of some sex toys? Maybe you are experience discomfort, and you are not sure why. If so, please read on.

Reader question: Are any sex toys unsafe to use?

Answer from Nurse Practitioner L-B: This is a difficult question to answer, only because there are SO many toys, and there is no way I can know them all. I will say that this question brings up excellent issues affecting many women and men. It is of utmost importance to use proper cleaning after each and every time one uses a toy. Most people know to thoroughly cleanse in between partners, but some don’t use as much vigilance when they are using the same partner. My advice about safety would be to use your own judgment and to stop using any props which cause pain.

Click here to make an appointment at local Planned Parenthood health center.

Many thanks to our practitioner for helping our reader with this question. Also, don’t forget to send your health questions to us anonymously by clicking HERE!

Lobby Day For Women’s Lives 2012: An Intern’s Perspective

I was involved in Lobby Day For Women’s Lives this year as an intern, and it was a hugely rewarding experience in a lot of different ways.

 

The day started off atAsburyUnitedMethodistChurch, where maybe forty dedicated volunteers showed up at 8am to take part in lobbying training. It was really inspiring to see so many people up and learning so early in the morning in the name of such an important cause. It gave me a lot of hope that the fight for women’s health and reproductive rights is making progress, because there are so many set backs so often and they can be discouraging.

 

After the training session we all headed over to the Capitol to set up and start Lobby Day activities.

 

One of my favorite parts of the day came early on during the Visibility Event outside the House chamber. Easily a hundred advocates for Planned Parenthood, ACLU and WV FREE and many other advocates there with other organizations gathered outside the House and Senate chambers with signs stating support for various causes. As the delegates entered the Chamber they saw all of us there, collected together, making a statement. It was a very powerful moment, because there aren’t a lot of opportunities to physically show how many of us there are working for this cause, but we definitely made an impact!

I briefly attended a Senate session before having to go back to watch over the Planned Parenthood table, but it was very interesting to see how the members conducted business and how many people were permitted to watch. I had a very proud moment when the people attending Lobby Day in defense of women’s health were asked to stand and we all had another opportunity to make our presence publically known. It was an exciting feeling.

 

Another one of my favorite parts of the day was the press conference. I was asked to live tweet throughout Lobby Day, and this was definitely the time when I had the most fun.  Doing so allowed me to share the words of supportive delegates who took a moment to talk about their appreciation of our support. A couple of my favorites: “We are on the right side of history,” said Delegate Fleischauer and “Knowing that we’re doing the right thing and that you’re all out there behind us makes [our fight] worth while,” said Delegate Hatfield. Hearing the people who are making the laws that affect change thank us for being involved in Lobby Day really inspired me and created a feeling of excitement in the Rotunda.

 

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to be involved in any of the afternoon lobby sessions because I had class, but I believe very strongly that the people who attended Lobby Day made a huge impact! It was exciting to see so many people in one place for one reason: standing up for women’s health and reproductive rights. I definitely plan on returning to Lobby Day in the years to come, and I hope that every year we are able to get more and more supporters. Each event is a huge step in the right direction!

Check out our Flickr page for pictures from Lobby Day For Women’s Lives.[U1] 

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Compiled by Jordan Bean, PPHS WV Public Policy Intern.

Quick Hit: SNL Talks Birth Control, VA Personhood and Mandatory Ultrasounds

While not exactly a laughing matter, Saturday Night Live was able to get a few jabs at recent attacks on birth control and Virginia’s ‘personhood’ and mandatory ultrasound bills asking, “Really??” Have you found yourself asking the same thing lately? Check it out:

Love Yourself this Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day!

Let me start by stating the obvious, today is Valentine’s Day. If you don’t believe me simply look out your window, cubicle, or at the most recent posts to your Facebook newsfeed. All around us today couples will be falling all over each other, clouds of red and pink ribbons and balloons will block our line of sight, and disenchanted anti-Valentine’s Day people will discuss the materialistic, shallow values that the day represents.

But love is not a day in February. Nor does Valentine’s Day have to focus on glorifying the fabricated pedestal on which society places the idea of “coupledom”. The love we share for our family, friends and significant others is not measured by the size of the teddy bear or cost of the red box of chocolates they purchased– it will be 75% off tomorrow…

For some, love will last a lifetime, and for others, love will last only a fleeting Virginia winter; that is something a bouquet of the most beautiful roses won’t change. Instead I believe that love starts from within– a clichéd statement, I am aware, but maybe not in the way you are currently thinking.

Today is the day we openly declare our love, scream it from the rooftops, and risk rejection by that girl/guy in the cubicle near the water cooler. But in our rush to propel our emotions outward, we’ve failed to take a quite literal, introverted gaze.

How can we stare longingly into the eyes of our beloved, or begin that “defining the relationship” conversation when one in two Americans under the age 25 currently has a sexually transmitted infection (STI)? And because the most common symptom for STIs is to have no signs or symptoms at all, most people are unaware of their status.

Unlike flower deliveries and dinner reservations made today, our personal sexual health can dictate the rest of our lives. For some women, if left untreated, STIs like gonorrhea and Chlamydia can silently wipe out a reproductive future, dashing hopes of one day having children. Not even on Valentine’s Day will you receive a teddy bear or card with a disclaimer for what your next intimate partner may carry.

I’m not saying that you should skip out on that romantic dinner or not complain until the clock strikes midnight on February 15^th. Update your current relationship status, buy yourself a beautiful bouquet of your favorite flowers– then this Valentine’s Day, make the decision to get yourself and your partner(s) tested. For yourself, your current love, or the love that waits in your future, “I know my status” is the new “I love you”.

 

Keiana Mayfield, Community Health Educator, PPHS-CVL

Virginia Day of Action: Stand for Women’s Health Care Feb. 23rd!

The Background:
The Virginia legislature has changed dramatically this year – the House is now firmly in the hands of anti-choice delegates, and the Senate is made up of a 20-20 split, with Lt. Gov. Bolling (R-VA) breaking the tie. This legislature is focused on cutting access to comprehensive health care for women in Virginia, attacking health care needs and personal privacy.

Because of this shift we must change as well. This year, it is our hope to leverage our most valuable resource – YOU – in your community. Can you spend the day on Thursday, Feb. 23rd telling Virginia legislators that you stand for women’s health care?

The Details:
We’re keeping things local so you can participate with reproductive health and rights supporters in your community! Each location will have a variety of activities to participate in, including: 

-         Training on the issues
-         Lobbying your legislators
-         Pro-choice visibility events
-         Talking to supporters around the state about key threats to women’s health care
-         and more!

You can attend the entire day or sign up for shifts for which you are available. To register, click on one of the four links below according to your closest location.

To attend the Roanoke Day of Action: http://www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar?id=101970&view=Detail

To attend the Richmond Day of Action: http://www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar?id=101966&view=Detail

To attend the Virginia Beach Day of Action: http://www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar?id=101971&view=Detail

 To attend the Northern Virginia Day of Action: http://www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar?id=101974&view=Detail

Sign up and we’ll see you on Feb. 23rd! Thank you for supporting reproductive rights!

Quick Hit: ‘HERvotes: Boehner Ups the Threat Against Contraception Coverage’ (via Ms. Magazine)

Take a stand against the threats to contraception coverage and the rights of women to have affordable access to birth control.

As the article from Ms. Magazine states, “[This week], House Speaker John Boehner vowed in a House floor speech to overturn the provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that would require faith-affiliated hospitals and universities to include birth-control coverage in their employee health benefits. The provision, Boehner argued, “constitutes an unambiguous attack on religious freedom in our country.”

Thank the Obama administration and ask them to stand firm in their decision here.

Click here to read more of this a great article from Ms. Magazine.

Posted by Public Policy Intern, Ursula McLean.

Your Health Questions Answered: What is my cervix?

Hey! Have you ever wondered what your cervix is? Or, where it’s  located in your body? If so, please read below!

Reader Question: What is my cervix?

Answer from Dr. T: The “cervix” is the anatomical lower part of the uterus (also called “the mouth of the womb”). The cervix is what “dilates” when the woman is in labor as the baby is expelled. Cervical cancer used to be the most common cancer in women until the Pap smear came along. Now with Pap smears, early abnormal changes of the cervix can be diagnosed before it gets to the cancer stage. With the advent of Pap smears and HPV typing, healthcare providers have the ability to prevent the development of cervical cancer.

Click here to make an appointment at local Planned Parenthood health center.

Many thanks to our practitioner for helping our reader with this question. Also, don’t forget to send your health questions to us anonymously by clicking HERE!

Calling for Change

It was an extraordinarily warm Monday evening when I headed to Charleston to attend my second-ever phone bank.  I was anxious to get there, in part, because I was ready to make a difference again this week, as well as get a plate full of pizza.

I spent the first phone bank doing a lot of observing and listening to try and get the hang of things and figure out how I was going to call strangers and talk to them about the “Insurance Fairness” bills: H. B. 4076 and S.B. 194.  These bills would help reduce teen pregnancy and improve maternal and child health by making sure insurance plans that already cover birth control and pregnancy care cover that care for all dependents on the policy, including young people.

As it turned out, Kira had put together a nicely laid-out script for us to use when we made our calls.   She also went through a training beforehand with some tips on phone banking, which made it less intimidating and more accessible for people (like me) who have never done this before.  I sat down and began to make calls.  Many people were not home, but I didn’t get discouraged and kept going down my list.  I ended up having a few very pleasant conversations with people who agreed to call their delegate asking them to support this bill.  Every time someone agreed, I felt a tingle of excitement and more driven to get the yeses we needed.

When I got to my second phone bank on Monday, I felt more prepared and ready, and I also brought my friend, Crista, along to help us out.  This time the script cut to the chase a little faster, which made it easier to connect with more people.   All the volunteers found a nook to make their calls in and everyone began.  My first few calls were not home, but then within the first 10 minutes, I received a yes from someone!  I kept going and ended up with a handful of people agreeing to call.  Crista, on her first phone bank EVER, ended up getting the most people to say they would call their delegate!  We ended up surpassing the goals we had set at the beginning of the evening, so it ended up being a very exciting phone bank.

If you support access to reproductive/sexual health care, I would encourage you to join us for a phone bank this legislative session.  It’s an incredibly effective way to mobilize grassroots support and can be lots of fun too!

Our next phone banks will be on February 13^th, 22^nd and 28^th and March 5^th in Charleston, WV.  If you live in the area and are interested in helping out with phone banks please contact us!  Just email kira.miskimmin@pphsinc.org to learn more or to get signed up!

 

Compiled and written by WV Public Policy Intern, Julie Cooke.

Susan G. Komen Caves to Pressure, Cuts Funds from Planned Parenthood

As the nation’s leading women’s health provider, Planned Parenthood is a critical resource for women in the fight to prevent and detect breast cancer. One in five women has turned to Planned Parenthood at some time in her life for health care. Nationwide, Planned Parenthood health center performed nearly 750,000 breast cancer screenings last year, helping women detect breast cancer and empowering them to take control of their health.

Sadly, in response to mounting pressure from a vocal few, Susan G. Komen Foundation leaders have made the decision to end future funding for lifesaving cancer screenings and breast health education work at Planned Parenthood affiliates. Opponents of safe, legal abortion, who have consistently put their narrow political agenda ahead of women’s health needs, have repeatedly threatened the Komen Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings.

We have a long history of working with foundations, donors, and organizations who understand the importance of access to affordable, quality health care, and the role that Planned Parenthood plays in providing that care to millions of patients.

See the AP news exclusive about this disappointing decision HERE. We are determined to make sure that women can continue to get the care they need — and, as always, that means we are counting on you.

West Virginia Lobby Day For Women’s Lives 2012

West Virginia Lobby Day For Women’s Lives 2012 is coming up quickly! Have you registered to represent Planned Parenthood Health Systems?

Every day 10 teenagers become pregnant in West Virginia. These young women are more likely to be poor and, often, victims of violence than those who become pregnant at an older age. Every woman deserves affordable, safe reproductive care for herself and her family.West Virginia needs people committed to perpetuating positive ideas about reproductive rights to speak up and make change.

Unexpected pregnancy can happen to anyone: your daughter, your niece, your granddaughter, your best friend… It is a very real possibility for every woman, and every woman deserves the right to be sexual without fear of being left behind or stigmatized and without access to safe and affordable healthcare if something unexpected happens.

You have the power to encourage positive ideas about reproductive rights in our state. You have the power to diminish prejudice against young mothers, women who seek abortion care, and women with STIs. You can make a difference..

A pro-choice attitude is possible for our state, but we need you to get us there!

Lobby Day For Women’s Lives is a great opportunity to make your voice heard at the West Virginia Legislature. Your representatives need to hear your opinions on issues of women’s health and reproductive rights first-hand. Few things are as powerful to state legislators as the voices of those who have to live with the laws that they pass every day.

Come stand with Planned Parenthood and our friends at WV FREE and ACLU on February 8^th from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the State Capitol in Charleston,WV. We’ll start the day with a breakfast and training, then participate in a visibility event, attend a House or Senate Floor Session, and then go to lobby meetings in small groups.  You can even attend a special breakout session on the attacks on women’s health at the federal level and around the country.

All lobby day activities are free, including breakfast and lunch, but you must pre-register to participate, so sign up now at http://www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar?id=101991&view=Detail or contact Jordan Bean at wvintern@pphsinc.org for more details or to arrange a group.

Compiled and written by WV Public Policy Intern, Jordan Bean.