Should prostitution be decriminalized?
Advocates for decriminalization of sex work argue that women should be empowered to own their sexuality and use their bodies as they choose, that if sex work were legal, prostitutes would be better...
UK: Marie Stopes clinics suspend surgical abortions
In the UK, after a surprise inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors, the Marie Stopes clinics have had to suspend abortions for anyone under age 18, vulnerable women and all women...
Vitamin D levels increased in women using estrogen contraceptives
Women using birth control pills or other contraceptives containing estrogen have increased levels of vitamin D, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical...
1 in 10 young people report distressing sex problems
One of the largest surveys of its kind in the UK states that 1 in 10 young men and 1 in 8 young women reported having persistent distressing sexual problems. The study was a collaboration between...
Chlamydia vaccine being developed
Globally 113 million people develop chlamydia each year. It can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making her infertile. Chlamydia also can cause an ectopic pregnancy, which...
Maternity clinic for rape victims opens in the UK
The UK’s first maternity clinic for victims of sexual assault and rape has opened this week. One in five women in England and Wales aged between 16-59 has experienced some form of sexual...
Emergency contraception – some facts
Emergency contraception is a method of contraception that is used after intercourse but before pregnancy has been established. It may be needed if a condom breaks or if the woman has forgotten to...
Why you should give your daughters the HPV vaccine
A study based in Alberta, Canada investigating the efficacy of the HPV vaccine was published yesterday. The study implemented a HPV vaccine in schools in 2008 for girls aged 10-11 years old as well...
Would you rather use your tampon to diagnose an STD instead of having a blood test?
New ‘smart’ tampons have been created and developed by Nextgen Jane, a startup company based in the U.S.. The tampons, which have been manufactured with a 3D printer, are developed to...
What are the top 10 priorities of clinicians and patients in contraceptive research?
One of my colleagues, Professor Judith Stephenson, is leading a research study to look at the top 10 priorities of clinicians and patients in contraception research. This is part of the...
Taking the pill over 50
Contraceptive pills are usually associated with preventing pregnancy. However, women in their early fifties continue to take the contraceptive pill which may mask symptoms associated with approaching...
Royal College of Midwives position statement on abortion
A position statement from the Royal College of Midwives on abortion: “The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has been a longstanding supporter of the right of women to have choice over their fertility...
Should a woman remain a virgin until she is married?
When I was growing up, it was expected that girls should stay a virgin until they got married. But with the advent of the contraceptive pill which gave Western women the freedom to control their...
Losing your virginity: it’s in the genes
A group of Cambridge scientists analysed genetic data from 125,000 people aged 40-69 years enrolled on the UK BioBank study. In this group they found the average age to lose their virginity was 18...
Online chlamydia tests
Chlamydia is a common STI that can sometimes cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making her infertile (unable to become pregnant naturally). Chlamydia also can cause an ectopic...
Sexual harassment at work
Sexual harassment constitutes any unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature. Yesterday I posted about sexual harassment in schools. 25 years ago, the case of Anita Hill hit the headlines...
#WhenIWas : women share stories on twitter about being sexually harassed as children
The Everyday Sexism project has started a #WhenIWas hashtag on twitter which quickly started trending earlier on today. Women have been sharing stories about being sexually groped, catcalled and...
How are pills containing hormones made?
Have you ever wondered how the contraceptive pill or HRT tablets are made? Where do the hormones come from that are in the pills? The words can be totally confusing. You probably want to take...
