In Case You’re Curious: For Teens

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"They're 10 centimeters dilated!!! Get to the doct

"They're 10 centimeters dilated!!! Get to the doctor!"
You may have heard someone exclaim something along these lines in TV shows, movies, or maybe real life as a very pregnant person is about to give birth. But what are they talking about? They're talking about the cervix (the opening between the vagina and the uterus) and how open it is. Here's why- when a person is giving birth vaginally, the baby has to pass through the cervix from the uterus to the vagina to be born. So the body does this amazing thing where it slowly opens up the cervix, little by little, to help get that baby out! The cervix starts out as open as a cheerio, then by the time someone is fully dilated (that ten centimeters), the cervix is the size of a bagel!!! But have no fear! The cervix returns to it's original size after the baby is born.
Anyone hungry for breakfast??
#icyc #incaseyourecurious #childbirtheducation #birthwithoutfear

Periods sure can be a real pain, literally! For so

Periods sure can be a real pain, literally! For some folks, there can be cramps, bloating, acne, the list goes on! So, what can someone do about it? Well....some birth control methods can help reduce period problems, by making periods lighter, shorter, and less painful. Certain types of birth control may even make periods stop altogether while someone is using that method! A person may not know exactly how their period will change, but these methods make someone's period irregular, or different from their normal. So, to answer your question, no you don't have to get a period every month if you don't want to. Try talking to a health care provider (like Planned Parenthood) to figure out a plan for you and your body! To find one near you, visit texticyc.com. #icyc #incaseyourecurious #thanksbirthcontrol #periodmovement

Ahh yes, “the pineapple thing.” Many people ha

Ahh yes, “the pineapple thing.” Many people have heard the rumor that eating pineapple can make your ejaculate (cum) taste better. But don’t change your diet so fast! Eating a lot of pineapple doesn’t make you taste just like pineapple. There are some foods out there that can slightly change the way a person’s body fluids taste or smell. However, it takes a while for that change to happen, and there is no guarantee the change would be noticeable. In other words, don’t count on it! And remember - someone's body doesn't have to taste or smell like fruit in order to be attractive! Whatever a person's body usually tastes or smells like is what's healthy and normal for them.

Text INSTA to 57890 for more answers to your questions!

#ICYC #incaseyourecurious #sexed #ejaculate #cum #pineapple #pleasure #sexedforall #sexedmyths

Excellent question! The reality is, all people hav

Excellent question! The reality is, all people have different values around sex and sexuality, regardless of their age or the generation they’re from, and that’s okay! Different things can shape our values around sex including where we grew up, culture, our spiritual beliefs, comfort level, etc. if you want to understand more about your family’s values and where they come from, you may be able to start by asking!

Text INSTA to 57890 for more answers to your questions!

#icyc #incaseyourecurious #sexed #sexualhealth #values #grandparents #family #sexedforall #sexed #sexeducator

SO many people wonder this! There are several diff

SO many people wonder this! There are several different types of herpes: herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), herpes gladiatorum (wrestlers commonly get this one!), and heck, even the chicken pox and shingles are a type of herpes. Herpes is so common, 80% of the world’s population has at least one type of herpes! So while only one type of herpes is considered an STI (HSV-2) based on how it spreads, a cold sore (HSV-1) can give someone genital herpes if there’s skin-to-skin contact during oral sex (mouth-to-genital sex). Using barriers like condoms and dental dams can help reduce someone’s risk, but ultimately, why does it matter what type of herpes someone has?

Herpes is common, and people with herpes still fall in love, have sex, and can live happy lives. So let’s do what we can to stop the stigma (negative belief) that herpes is awful and shameful. As long as you take care of yourself by going to the doctor regularly, knowing your status by getting tested for STIs after every new sexual partner or once a year, using safe sex materials like condoms and dental dams, and clearly communicating with your sexual partners, everything will be okay!

***

¡Mucha gente se pregunta esto! Hay varios tipos de herpes: herpes simplex tipo 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex tipo 2 (HSV-2), herpes gladiatorum (¡los luchadores comúnmente contraen este!), igualmente la varicela y el herpes zóster son un tipo de herpes. El herpes es tan común que el 80% de la población mundial tiene al menos un tipo de herpes. Entonces, mientras solo un tipo de herpes se considera una ITS (HSV-2) en función de cómo se propaga, unas úlceras bucales o herpes febril labial (HSV-1) puede transmitir herpes genital a alguien si hay contacto piel con piel durante el sexo oral (boca a genitales).Usar barreras como condones y barreras de látexes bucales puede ayudar a reducir el riesgo de una persona, pero al final, ¿por qué importa qué tipo de herpes tiene una persona?

[Continuado en los comentarios]⬇️

Oh a lot of people worry about this! The truth is,

Oh a lot of people worry about this! The truth is, there is no one way to be a "good kisser." People like and dislike different things, including kisses!

Instead of trying to be the All-Around-Best-Kisser-Of-The-Year™️, being a good kisser can mean communicating with and respecting the boundaries of the people we're kissing. Things to talk about before, during, and/or after kissing can include :
✔where we're comfortable being kissed (where on our body, but also where in the world and in front of who)
✔the types of kisses we're okay with
✔how often we like to be kissed
✔if we're kissing other people
✔other sexual boundaries

It's also okay if someone is still figuring out how they like to kiss and be kissed!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we might talk about other kissing safety practices too, like getting tested for COVID-19, mask use, or who we've been interacting with.

But sometimes, bad kisses happen. Even to the best of us! Maybe it was a little too slobbery, had too much tongue, or lasted too long. It is okay if every kiss isn't award winning! But every kiss MUST be consensual, meaning it's something everyone agrees to and is excited about. And ultimately, a kiss might be good not because of any technique or skill, but because of the way we feel when we kiss that person.

How sex feels is different for everyone! Some peop

How sex feels is different for everyone! Some people think sex is amazing, and some people have no interest in sex or don’t like it. One of the reasons sex can feel good is because the parts of the body that are being used during sex have thousands of nerve endings. Those nerve endings tell the brain what feels good and what doesn’t. Sex can also release chemicals in the brain that can create feelings of happiness and relaxation.

But someone’s body reacting a certain way doesn’t always mean sex feels good for them. And there are a lot of other reasons why sex might feel good! For some people, sex feels good because it’s one way for them to feel connected with a partner. For other people, sex might help them release stress. But remember - everyone likes different things, and YOU get to choose what you want to do. Talking with a partner about what you do and don’t like can help make sure sex is as enjoyable as possible.

#ICYC #incaseyourecurious #sexed #pleasure #consent #communication #healthyrelationships #nerves #WorldSexualHealthDay2020 #WSHD2020 #SexualPleasureCovid #PlacerSexualCovid

Did you know that today is World Sexual Health Day

Did you know that today is World Sexual Health Day? World Sexual Health Day was originally started in 2010 by the World Association for Sexual Health to promote sexual health, well-being, and rights for everyone. This year the theme is Sexual Pleasure in Times of COVID-19. There’s a TON to talk about when it comes to this topic, including sexting, consent, masturbation, sex toys, loneliness, polyamory (having multiple partners and/or relationships), mental health, and more! We’ve already started to answer some questions related to COVID-19 here at ICYC, so stay tuned and join us this September for the rest of Sexual Health Month as we continue to explore everything that comes with Sexual Pleasure in Times of COVID-19!

In the meantime, don’t forget that we’re always here to answer your questions! Text keyword “INSTA” to 57890 to ask all of your sexual health questions.

#incaseyourecurious #icyc #incaseyoudidntknow #themoreyouknow🌈 #themoreyouknow #worldsexualhealthday #worldsexualhealthday2020 #wshd2020 #sexualpleasurecovid #placersexualcovid #pleasure #pleasureactivism #pleasurematters #sexysafersex #sexedforall #sexed #sexeducation #pleasureispower #pleasureisprogress #sexualhealth #sexualhealthmonth #allbodiesaregoodbodies

This is NOT TRUE! Sex feels different for everyone

This is NOT TRUE! Sex feels different for everyone, but someone’s race or skin color has nothing to do with feeling pleasure or pain (your nerves). There is a myth (untrue rumor) that Black people have “less sensitive nerves than white people” or that Black people have “thicker skin than white people.” THIS IS FALSE!

This myth that Black people have less sensitive nerves and feel less pain/pleasure stems from slavery when white doctors used “science” to try and justify the torture and enslavement of Black individuals. Unfortunately, many people in healthcare still believe and teach these myths. A survey published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS, 2016) found that 40% of first and second year medical students still believe this, which may affect how Black people’s experiences with pain or issues with pleasure are listened to and treated (or not treated) in medical settings.

Nerves can be affected by lots of things, but not race. Remember, sex feels different for everyone, and that’s normal! YOU know your body best, and it’s important to communicate with your partner before, during, and after sex about what does and doesn’t feel good to you! You deserve to have your experience listened to and believed.

https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/how-we-fail-black-patients-pain

https://www.pnas.org/content/113/16/4296

#incaseyourecurious #icyc #incaseyoudidntknow #themoreyouknow #themoreyouknow🌈 #racism #healthcare #medicalindustrialcomplex #racismisreal #racismistaught #myths #racialjustice #comprehensivesexed #sexualhealth #sexed #sexeducation #communication #nerves #allbodiesaregoodbodies

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