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In Case You’re Curious (ICYC)

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PPMS	Mississippi
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We get this question all the time! Puberty is when

We get this question all the time! Puberty is when someone’s body changes from looking like a kid’s body to looking like an adult’s body. We typically say that puberty can start between the ages of 8 and 16 and can last for several years. But here’s the thing:

1. There are a lot of different changes that can happen during puberty.
2. Some changes happen quickly, and some changes take longer.
3. Everyone’s body is different!

So there’s not one right answer to this question. Everyone goes through puberty at their own pace! Just remember – if you are going through puberty, you are not alone, and you deserve support and information. If you have other questions about puberty, you can talk to a trusted adult or text INSTA to 57890.

Many times when people ask this question they are

Many times when people ask this question they are asking about penis size or breast size. And here’s the thing with size: everyone’s body is different! Penises and breasts come in all different shapes and sizes. Whether or not it “matters” often refers to whether or not a partner prefers a certain size. Some people may prefer bigger penises or breasts, and some may prefer smaller penises or breasts, and some may not care at all. For many people, getting turned on is about much more than the size of their partner’s body parts. All bodies are valuable and deserve respect, and it’s never okay to make someone feel bad about their body!

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Muchas veces cuando personas preguntan esta pregunta, están preguntando sobre el tamaño del pene o de los senos. Y esta es la cosa con tamaño: Los cuerpos de todes son diferentes. Los penes y los senos vienen en muchos diferentes tamaños y formas. Si “importa” o no frecuentemente se trata de si una persona prefiere un tamaño en particular. Algunas personas prefieren penes o senos más grandes, algunas personas prefieren penes o senos más pequeños, y algunas personas no tienen una preferencia. Para muchas personas, excitarse es sobre mucho más del tamaño del pene o del pecho. ¡Todos los cuerpos son valiosos y merecen respeto, y nunca es aceptable hacer que alguien se sienta mal por su cuerpo!

People can have a lot of different feelings about

People can have a lot of different feelings about STIs (sexually transmitted infections), and sometimes that makes them feel difficult to talk about. So how do you start the conversation when you might have given someone else an STI? It might be as simple as a phone call or text. You would probably want to let them know that you were tested, that it came back positive, and you would recommend they get tested themselves. If talking in person, it can help to find a place that’s private. Either way, thinking about what you want to say ahead of time can be helpful. This may feel hard, but it’s important to be honest so people can get the testing and/or treatment they need. If this does not feel possible, you could use an anonymous notification service where a person can anonymously inform people of their need to get tested.

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Puede haber muchos sentimientos diferentes sobre las ITS (infecciones de transmisión sexual), y a veces se siente difícil hablar de eso. Entonces, ¿cómo empiezas la conversación cuando es posible que dieras a alguien un ITS? Puede ser tan simple como una llamada por teléfono o un texto. Probablemente quieres decirle que tuviste una prueba positiva y recomiendas que haga una prueba también. Si hablan cara a cara, podría ayudar a encontrar un lugar privado. De cualquier manera, puede ser útil pensar sobre lo que quieres decir antes de conversar. Eso puede sentirse difícil, pero es importante que sea honesto para que las personas puedan hacer las pruebas y los tratamientos que necesiten. Si eso no se siente posible, podría usar un servicio anónimo para notificar a alguien que necesita hacer una prueba de las ITS.

Yes, that is true! While we may hear more about pi

Yes, that is true! While we may hear more about piercing our ears, the vulva and the penis are also areas that someone might want pierced. A piercing can be a way that someone might express themselves and that is okay! We all get to choose what is right for our body and how we express ourselves. As with any other part of our bodies, some people may choose to pierce their genitals, and others won’t. Going to a trained professional is recommended because they know where exactly to place the piercing and will do so in a safe and sanitary environment. However, keep in mind that most places that perform piercings may need your parents’ permission first if you are not 18 yet. If you’re interested in getting a part of your body pierced, whether it’s your ears, your nose, or your genitals, talking with a trusted adult first can help to make sure that you do so as safely as possible.

Oh we get this question so often!!! When we talk a

Oh we get this question so often!!! When we talk about a period being “irregular,” we’re often referring to it being early, late, or just different from someone’s normal cycle. It’s actually totally common for someone’s period to come at different times of the month as a teenager. This is in part because of all the hormonal changes going on in the body during puberty! But outside of just being a teenager, someone’s period may be irregular for a lot of different reasons! Stress, diet, and exercise may all affect the frequency and length of someone’s period. Ultimately, if someone is ever worried, talking to someone you trust or going to a health center can be helpful. To find a health center near you, visit texticyc.com or text ‘INSTA’ to 57890.

¡Nos preguntan esto frecuentemente! Cuando hablamos de que un período es "irregular", a menudo nos referimos a que sucede temprano, tarde, o simplemente es diferente del ciclo normal de alguien. De hecho, es totalmente común que el período de alguien llegue en diferentes momentos del mes cuando son adolescentes. ¡Esto se debe en parte a todos los cambios hormonales que ocurren en el cuerpo durante la pubertad! Pero aparte de ser adolescente, la menstruación puede ser irregular por muchas razones diferentes. El estrés, la dieta y el ejercicio pueden afectar la frecuencia y duración del período de una persona. En caso de duda, puede ser útil hablar con alguien de confianza o ir a un centro de salud. Para encontrar un centro de salud cerca de ti, visita texticyc.com o envía un mensaje de texto con la palabra "INSTA" al 57890.

How soon can you know if you're pregnant? Great

How soon can you know if you're pregnant?

Great question! Everyone's body is different. Some people start having symptoms after 2 weeks but more people notice after they miss their period. Common symptoms can be missing a period, feeling bloated or sick, or breasts being tender or sore. Other people have no symptoms at all, so the best way to know if you're pregnant is to take a test or to visit a health center nearest to you. Text 'INSTA' to 57890 to find out where your local health center is located!

¿Qué tan pronto puedes saber si estás embarazada?

¡Gran pregunta! El cuerpo de todes es diferente. Algunas personas comienzan a tener síntomas después de 2 semanas, pero más personas lo notan después de la falta de su período. Los síntomas comunes pueden ser la falta del período, sentirse hinchado o enfermo, o los senos sensibles o adoloridos. Otras personas no presentan ningún síntoma, así que la mejor manera de saber si estás embarazada es hacerte una prueba o visitar el centro de salud más cercano a ti. ¡ Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra 'INSTA' al 57890 para averiguar dónde se encuentra tu centro de salud local!

We're so excited to have our book included in this

We're so excited to have our book included in this amazing giveaway from our friends at @sexpositive_families ! Go to their page to like the post & enter for your chance to win! CONGRATS on nearly 200,000 followers🎉👏🎉
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Reposted from @sexpositive_families 🎉IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!!🎉
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This amazing community of sex positive parents, caring adults, professionals, and teens has grown to near 200,000 followers!! 🤯 Together, we are creating safer, sexually healthy, informed possibilities for the next generations and for ourselves!
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To celebrate, we are partnering with a few of our favorite fellow authors and sexuality professionals to share 10 signed copies of these sex positive, inclusive reads!:
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📚”These Are My Eyes, This is My Nose, This is My Vulva, These Are My Toes” by Dr. Lexx Brown-James @lexxsexdoc - great for early affirming talks about bodies and gender, offering beautiful representation of various races, cultures, abilities, and bodies
📚“Vaginas and Periods 101: A Pop-Up Book” by Christian Hoeger & Kristen Lilla @vaginapopupbook - awesome for inclusive talks in the elementary and tween years about bodies, menstruation, and puberty
📚”The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families” by Rachel E. Simon, LCSW @theeverybodybook - a gender inclusive, comprehensive read to help lay a foundation of sexual health and body literacy
📚”In Case You’re Curious: Questions About Sex From Young People With Answers From the Experts” by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains @incaseyourecurious - a must-have for every home, especially if you grew up without quality, inclusive, shame-free sex ed
📚“Sex Positive Talks to Have With Kids” by us☺️- perfect for parents, caregivers & professionals to support talks from birth to teen years across 12 different sexual health topics
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✨We will draw TEN winners, one winner per book.

One entry per person. You have until 11:59pm CST on Monday, February 1st to enter. One winner will be drawn for each prize and will be contacted and announced in our stories on Tuesday, February 2nd. Contest is open internationally and to entrants that are at least 18 or older. Good luck!!

It's important that everyone feels safe and comfor

It's important that everyone feels safe and comfortable when having sex. It sounds like you'd like to use condoms to offer protection against pregnancy and/or STIs, and your partner is not on board!

Perhaps trying out different kinds of condoms could be helpful, to find one you both like. Or trying internal condoms (they are the kind that a person inserts into the vagina or anus).

Talking with your partner about why condom use is important to you and letting them know you don't feel comfortable not using one may help.

You can always say no to having sex for whatever reason, including if a person refuses to use condoms! #incaseyourecurious #icyc #condoms #internalcondoms #safesex #safesexisgreatsex

Your sexual orientation is unique to you. Who you

Your sexual orientation is unique to you. Who you date, or even who you have sex with, does not have to change your identity.

Even though your partner is someone who is the opposite gender from you, you can still identity as gay if that best describes who you are.

Only you can decide how and if you identity your sexual orientation. No one gets to label you or your sexual orientation but you.

Tu orientación sexual es única. Con quién sales, o incluso con quién tienes relaciones sexuales, no tiene qué cambìar tu identidad.

Si tu pareja es alguien del sexo opuesto al tuyo, aún puedes identificarte como gay si eso describe quién eres.

Solo tú puedes decidir cómo y si identificas tu orientación sexual. Nadie decide tu etiqueta o tu orientación sexual pero tú.

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