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What is an STD? An STD is a sexually transmitted disease. In other words, it is a disease contracted through sexual activity, and there are many different kinds. They can be transmitted vaginally, orally, or anally, via body fluids or blood, and even through skin to skin contact. What kinds of STDs are there? There

WHAT IS PLAN C? In a nutshell, Plan C is the abortion pill without a doctor’s exam or prescription (a DIY medical abortion). The FDA requires that the abortion pill must be given as directed only by a medical doctor. The pill is not safe for:• People who have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes,

ABSTINENCE (It’s not a bad thing) What is abstinence? The dictionary defines abstinence as self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance, usually regarding something that is bad for us, such as alcohol or smoking. It can also be defined as self-control. Basically, abstinence is doing without something that you would really like to have but know is not

You are not alone. What you are feeling is normal. You cannot avoid the feelings of grief… you must go through the full experience of it if you wish to have a complete life. It is generally accepted that there are five established stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, acceptance. However, the

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING PREGNANCY WEEK BY WEEK Sometimes the first symptom of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period, but often a woman may have other symptoms pop up even before she has missed her period. Because it’s nearly impossible to know one’s actual conception date, a due date is determined as 40 weeks from

Is marijuana use harmful during pregnancy? Because marijuana is neither regulated nor evaluated by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) there are few hard data available, and no oversights in place other than individual states’ regulations. The FDA has not approved medical marijuana for treatment of any medical condition, yet many states have made

VAPING AND PREGNANCY What is Vaping? “Vaping” is the use of a faux cigarette, also called a “vaporizer”. Instead of smoke, it gives off vapor, which comes from heating a liquid, usually with nicotine and other chemicals. They are also called e-cigs, vape pens, e-hookahs, and mods. They have become very popular, as the health

Congratulations! You have just discovered that you’re pregnant. Now you may be wondering how far along in your pregnancy you are, and when the baby is due to be born. Most gestations (the time that you carry the baby) are figured at 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period. Your menstrual

WHAT IS PRENATAL CARE? Prenatal care is the healthcare a woman receives during her pregnancy. Because catching potential problems early can reduce the risk of complications, as soon as a woman suspects she may be pregnant she should make an appointment with her healthcare provider. Regular prenatal care can: • Reduce pregnancy complications, such as

What is sexual assault? Sexual assault is clearly defined. It is defined as any kind of sexual behavior/contact that is not freely consented by both parties, and that is obtained through any kind of force or intimidation. These can include: • Violence• Coercion• Manipulation• Threat• Deception• Abuse of authority (ie, a teacher or police) This

WHAT IS THE ZIKA VIRUS? Zika is a virus which is spread by mosquitoes and can also be transmitted sexually. It is dangerous for pregnant women, because Zika has been known to cause severe defects in the unborn child, including microcephaly, a condition that affects the baby’s brain development. Rebecca Sunenshine, Medical Director for Disease

Telling your parents that you are pregnant may be one of the hardest things you will ever do. You may feel like you’ve let them down or that they may never forgive you. Please remember that no matter what their initial reaction is, this reaction will most likely change over time if you maintain a

When a woman discovers she is pregnant, one of the first things she wants to know is if she should continue to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, as she has heard that they can be harmful to the baby. She probably already knows that she shouldn’t be doing drugs of any kind, anyway, but especially

If you have just found out you’re pregnant, you want to make sure you do all that you can to have a healthy baby. Here are the first steps to take. • The first and most important thing to do is to schedule an appointment with a health care provider who specializes in pregnancies, such

OVE VS. INFATUATION HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE? Infatuation is an intense feeling of attraction for someone. It often is mistaken for love but can fizzle out quickly, whereas true love for one another continues. Infatuation is self-centered and emotional, often based on how we are feeling; it is that “over the moon” euphoria

MORNING SICKNESS What is morning sickness? Morning sickness, also called nausea gravidarum, is nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy, and can be the first sign of pregnancy. It usually occurs around 6 weeks and ends around the 12th week, but in a few unlucky women can continue throughout the pregnancy. Despite its name, it can affect

Many women wonder whether they should breast feed their newborn, and if so, for how long? Here is a list of some of the benefits of breastfeeding. It’s healthier for the baby. Breast milk provides the ideal nutrients for your baby to grow, with the perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat and is more