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Sexual Health And Teens: “Privates” Video Game

Here’s a new video game from Zombie Cow Studios that could help educate teenagers about sexual and reproductive health in a colorful way.

Elizabeth Boskey, Ph.D., About.com’s Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) guide, writes in her blog post entitled “It’s Only A Game“:

When I first saw the announcement for Privates, I found the concept vaguely appalling — condom-hatted soldiers (privates) swarming into people’s body parts (privates) to shoot at all the nasty invaders one can find there. However, the second I watched the trailer I was instantly converted to a fan. Privates was clearly designed by people who were paying attention in sex-ed class. The epithelium looks like epithelium! There are bacteria that I can recognize from what I’ve seen under my microscope and sperm that look like sperm. The whole thing is brilliantly designed and, although it’s only a game, the amount of thought and effort put into it fills me with awe. By funding the development of games like Privates, Channel 4 is showing some amazing innovation in their commitment to educational entertainment.

*This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll*

Male Birth Control: Is Ultrasound The Key?

123vxsfd.jpgFinally men everywhere might have a birth control option that won’t rob them of the joys of living.

Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill may have discovered a cheap, convenient and noninvasive method of male birth control — ultrasound. The scientists believe that a single treatment can provide up to six months of infertility that is reversible.

The team has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their work. If the project pans out, this could have an incredible impact on global health. Read more »

*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*

The Diaphragm Is Back, And It’s Latex-Free

DiaphragmAfter a prolonged hiatus, during which diaphragms became as scarce as Elaine’s treasured sponges, the Ortho All Flex diaphragm is back, and it’s now latex-free.

The over one-year (at least in my area) shortage happened as the manufacturer transitioned from the old latex to new silicone diaphragms, and suppliers everywhere began backordering this important barrier contraceptive. Read more »

*This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan*

Condoms With Handles Help Keep “The Mood”

According to Grove Medical, disruption of “the mood” is a main barrier to condom use. With their Sensis condoms with QuikStrips, the company tries to overcome this mental handicap by offering a new condom technology to protect the passion while practicing safer sex.

The QuikStrips are little handles on the side of the condom that work much like the pull-off tabs on a bandage, creating an application that helps to apply the condom quickly in the right way.

Presumed benefits include appropriate spacing at the reservoir, no touching of the condom as it’s being applied, and less chance of accidental inside-out-then-flip contamination. Read more »

*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*

Birth Control: How Men Think It Works

People, people, people: If you don’t understand how birth control works, you shouldn’t be having sex. What happened to the old days when the boyfriend was expected to sit through the video and conversation about all the types of birth control during the appointment at Planned Parenthood?

A friend sent me a link to the funniest video of men (trying to) explain how birth control works — it’s worth viewing for the laughs. These are all adult men who have some serious misconceptions about how birth control works, but “lady business” as a euphemism for vagina may become part of my vocabulary!

It’s no wonder that the United States has some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections — our youth are ignorant about how to prevent them. Please talk to your teens about birth control.

Remember that the teens who know the most about sexuality tend to be the ones who don’t have sex. How’s that for motivation to talk to your teens?

Photo credit: nateOne

This post, Birth Control: How Men Think It Works, was originally published on Healthine.com by Nancy Brown, Ph.D..

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