May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi has the second highest teen birth rate in the nation. Just 38% of teen girls who have a child before age 18 get a high school diploma, and often it means permanent underemployment and a new cycle of early parenthood…
As COVID restrictions lessen and vaccines become more accessible, life is slowly feeling more “normal.” It’s important to remember to play it safe — in terms of COVID-19 and sex. Restaurants and businesses are beginning to open up, and after a year of being isolated and social distancing, people of all ages might be acting…
February is National Condom Month. Condoms are thin, stretchy pouches made of latex, plastic or lambskin. They are worn over the penis during sex to catch semen. Condoms provide protection from both pregnancy and STDs. Get the facts Condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy when used properly. They are also highly effective in preventing…
January is Stalking Awareness Month, an annual call to action to recognize and respond to stalking. Stalking is defined as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear,” and someone who is obsessed with the victim and involved in an unwanted pursuit. A recent pop culture…
Many social and economic barriers hold back Mississippi women every day, limiting their opportunities to succeed. The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi’s mission is to help them thrive. Because when women thrive, so does our state. They award grants to programs that drive social change – like decreasing unplanned pregnancies through medically accurate, evidence-based sexual education,…
November 18 is Thanks, Birth Control Day, when people and organizations share why birth control is important. At Fact Not Fiction, we believe that everyone should know what methods of birth control exist, how to make the best choices about it, and how to get a prescription. In a survey by Power to Decide, 88%…
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second highest cause of cancer-related death in women after lung cancer. Although the average age of diagnosis for breast cancer is 60, one can get breast cancer at any age, and if your family has a history of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation,…
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the CDC, about 1 in 9 female and 1 in 36 male high school students report having experienced sexual dating violence in the last year. 26% of women and 15% of men who were victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate…
September is Sexual Health Awareness Month! Sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life. This month, we appreciate that everyone has a right to information and services that will help them be sexually healthy. With accurate information about sex and health, you can make healthier and more informed decisions in the future,…
It’s completely normal to feel nervous the first time you go to the OBGYN or when you need to ask your doctor questions about sexual health. With COVID-19, we’ve seen telehealth services expand across Mississippi. Telehealth means that a doctor will visit you via phone or video, and you’ll get the chance to discuss problems…
