Dear Sexpert,
How safe are the new birth control pills, where you only get your period a few times a year?
> Pill Ponderer< heading>
Dear Ponderer,
As you've heard, there are now birth control options for women who want to have fewer periods. One is called Seasonale and the other Seasonique. Both are designed to limit a woman's menstrual cycle to about four a year. The pills work the same way that other birth control pills work, except you stop taking them every 83 days instead of every 21.
Women might opt to have fewer periods for a number of reasons. For some, menstruation is so painful that they want to endure it as few times per year as possible. Other women just think that periods are annoying and that there's no reason to have them.
As for whether the new pills are safe, it is useful to look at how they were developed. The pills' creators gave women a "week off" because the hormone level in the pills was higher at that time and some women had difficulty with it. They also thought women would get psychological benefits from having their periods. These days, some women think that if they don't have their period once a month, the uterine lining and blood will build up since the body isn't getting rid of it. This is absolutely false. When you're on birth control pills of any kind, there is no thickening of the uterine lining and no buildup of blood. There is, in other words, no medical reason to stop taking the pills every 3 weeks. That's why the new ones are probably safe to use.
Remember that both of these kinds of birth control pills have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means that the government considers them safe for women to use.
That said, University Health Services does not carry either of the above-mentioned birth control pills. If you are interested in using either alternative, you can still get a prescription from a doctor at UHS and purchase the pills at a nearby pharmacy.
In the end, it's up to you and your doctor to decide what form of birth control is best for you.
> The Sexpert< heading>
Dear Sexpert,
I want to start using sex toys. Are they safe? How should I talk to my partner about wanting to use them?
> Tempted by Toys< heading>
Dear Tempted,
Sex toys can be quite fun and are perfectly safe as long as they are properly cleaned. If you don't clean them correctly, they can transmit STIs, yeast infections and all other sorts of disgusting diseases, especially if you're sharing them with someone else. The ones made of silicone and glass are easiest to wash: Just boil them in water or pop them in the dishwasher. If you plan on buying a sex toy made of a different material (or one containing electrical parts), keep in mind that you won't be able to disinfect it, so if there is any chance that you or your partner may have an STI, you should use protection (for instance, put a condom on a dildo).
In terms of talking to your partner, the best way to start is by figuring out what you are interested in specifically. One of the best places to find sex toys is the internet, especially if you're not comfortable buying toys in a store with a bunch of people gawking over your shoulder. Websites often offer thousands of toys and gadgets, so take some time to peruse the selection in the privacy of your own home and find the one (or ones) that's right for you.
Also keep in mind that there are toys for both sexes. Most people think of sex toys as something for women. This is not so. People also tend to assume that sex toys are only used by those in the gay or fetish communities. That is also not true. Many different people enjoy using sex toys.
Even after lots of research, sex toys can be a tricky thing to bring up with your partner. As always, communication is key. If he or she voices any concerns, make sure to discuss them. It's possible that your significant other will feel like he or she is being replaced or isn't "doing the job properly." Please reassure your partner that this is not true. (If it is true, then that's a Sexpert article for another day.) Letting your partner participate in choosing the toy can be another way to make him or her more comfortable with it. He or she can watch you pleasure yourself or you can incorporate sex toys into your mutual sex acts.
- The Sexpert
"Sexpert" is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions, to be published anonymously every Thursday, to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don't be shy!
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