Lauren

Good on you for being proactive! A huge marker of sexual readiness is sussing this stuff out before anything happens, so you two are definitely on your way there. The absolute BEST way to avoid the unpleasant consequences of sexual activity is to use a condom, correctly, every time. Condoms are easy...

The National Institutes of Health has recently launched a Vulvodynia awareness campaign aimed at advocacy groups, health care providers and research organizations. It's better late than never -- as is, women must see an average of 4-5 health-care providers before they receive an actual diagnosis due the ignorance of the condition in the medical field. A good majority of gynecologists, who specialize in women's health, often misdiagnose or shrug off the condition, as do the dermatologists, psychologists, and sex therapists patients are referred to out of desperation.

In a recently released study examining abortion trends between 1995-2003, it has been found that all nations, rich and poor, have virtually equal abortion rates, and that half of those taking place worldwide are unsafe due illegal status or inadequate health-care. While the number of abortions did dip from 46 million to approximately 42 million in 1995 and 2003, respectively, there was absolutely no change in the rate of unsafe/illegal abortions.

Roman Catholic bishops in Connecticut have recently passed an ordinance allowing hospital staff to offer emergency contraception in its 4 of 30 state hospitals to assault victims, just days before a state law is to be passed requiring it. The church had been considering fighting the law on grounds of it being unconstitutional, but backed from that decision, citing that church teachings are not clear on the matter, and there is "little understanding of how Plan B works".