Sex Facts

The annual Pap smear could become a relic if a new DNA test proves as effective as promised. According to a study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, a new screening involving DNA could be better than all other tests in detecting HPV and cervical cancer.

For women over 30, the test would only have to be performed every three, five, or 10 years, which would mean an end to the annual smear. But doctors are hesitant to abandon Paps altogether, since the procedure has been incredibly effective at reducing rates of cervical cancer. The new test could be most helpful in lower-income countries, where there are fewer doctors trained to read Pap smears and it's more difficult for women to return for followup appointments. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would welcome a less invasive test; what do you think?

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We have sex to feel connected to our partners and to express our love, but for most of us, the main reason we're getting it on is for the amazing rush of pleasure we feel once we reach orgasm. It's an indescribable feeling of bliss, but have you ever wondered what happens to your body physically when you climax? If so, then keep reading.

• Once a woman becomes sexually aroused, her heart begins to beat quicker, she breathes faster and she'll tighten various muscles all over her body. Her breasts will enlarge slightly and her nipples will become erect. Some women's faces, necks, or chests will become flushed (a sex flush) and her clitoris enlarges.
• She'll notice that her vagina creates a natural lubricant which makes sex smoother and more enjoyable.
• Her labia will flatten out and open up and the inside of her vagina will lengthen and widen (preparing for you know what). All this happens because blood rushes to the pelvic area, which is called engorgement, and creates a pleasurably warm sensation in that area (I'm sure you've felt it!).

We're just getting started, so to find out what happens next, read more

If you're prone to yeast infections, and you're a fan of using personal lubricant, then you probably found my Lube Quiz very helpful. It showed you which lubes contain glycerin and which don't, but I recently noticed another ingredient in some water-based products that I thought you should know about — propylene glycol.

To find out if this is something to avoid, read more

I really get a kick out of the pregnancy myths floating around, like you can't get pregnant if you pee after sex, two condoms are better than one, and, of course, that you can't get pregnant while breastfeeding. A good friend of mine actually had to learn this one the hard way — she got pregnant while nursing her 10-month old son!

Using breastfeeding as contraception is known as lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), but since it's not 100 percent effective, you shouldn't rely on it unless you don't mind getting pregnant soon after giving birth. According to the World Health Organization, LAM is 98.8 to 99.1 percent effective while breastfeeding for the first six months, but you can conceive without knowing that you're menstrual cycle has returned to normal since you ovulate about two weeks before your period.

If you're not interested in becoming a mother again so soon, your best bet is to talk to your ob/gyn about an effective and safe form of birth control that you can use while breastfeeding.

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If you're like me, you don't give your cholesterol much thought. I always thought your cholesterol levels were based on whether or not you ate a lot of high-fat foods like cheese, meat, and ice cream, but you can also inherit high or low cholesterol from your parents. And I also just learned that taking birth control pills can affect your levels too.

To found out how, read more