Thursday, October 29, 2009

Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees

By: Taliajae Freedomfighter

Let's face it. Sex education is seriously lacking in most schools, even completely gone in others. On top of that there is very limited reproductive health education as well. This results in a lot of mis-understandings about our bodies as women and how to protect ourselves, as well as our reproductive rights. Lets get down to business...

Did you know that when you go in for your annual physical if you don’t specifically request to be tested for all STDs then they will only test you for cervical cancer. I did not know this until a few years ago. It was slightly unsettling to me. If you want to get tested for STDs and HIV specifically request it from your doctor. It is your right to know.

If you need reproductive care such as tests, pregnancy testing or counseling, pregnancy options, general education, birth control and contraceptives, etc... You can find all these at Planned Parenthood. They are a great option if you are low income and need immediate care.

Please don’t confuse Planned Parenthood with other "free pregnancy clinics" otherwise known as fake clinics. Sadly there are a few religious groups who set these up all over your community advertising as pregnancy testing clinics but once you are tested they then push their abstinence only agenda and pressure women into having the child no matter the circumstances. These clinics are very unsafe and disturbing. Educate other women on them.

Women have a right to choose what is best for them as far as pregnancy options. Keeping the child, giving it up for adoption, or abortion. I would never take that choice away from a woman. We deserve the right to choice and education to keep ourselves healthy and safe.

Here are some excellent links to more information on reproductive health:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-lgbt-services-26027.htm

http://www.feministcampus.org/act/cpc/default.asp

http://feminist.org/

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