Here's a little would-be-funny-if-it-were-not-real-life news from across the pond: 

According to The Press Association a recent poll in the UK has revealed some common misconceptions about sex : 

The poll of 2,000 individuals ages 16-50 revealed the following: 

• 11% believed a woman could not get pregnant if she has sex standing up
• 19% believed a woman cannot get pregnant if she is on her period
• 19% believed that a woman would not get pregnant if the man withdraws on time
• 17% were unaware that conditions such as herpes and genital warts cannot be cleared with antibiotics.
• 77% would give their friends advice about an STI even if they were not sure about the facts.

So here's some news that may make your vagina and your pocketbook smile! 

According to ABC News The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released new guidlines regarding annual pap smears and cervical cancer screenings. Women can now wait until 21 for their first cervical cancer screening, instead of 18 or after becoming sexually active, as I am sure most of us have been advised to do so by our primary care physicians.

In addition to starting cervical cancer screenings at a later age, ACOG also recommends that women with normal pap smears can go two years between pelvic exams, and that women in their 30 can go as long as three years between exams granted they have had three consecutive normal exams. 

Of course, this news does not come without controversy. Let's break it down: 

The Good: 
-Recommending less frequent screenings can free up doctors for other services
-Fewer screenings can allow women to avoid unneccesary treatment for HPV that may clear up on its own before causing cervical cancer. (ACOG claims that 90% of infections caused by HPV clear up on their own).
-The smaller incidents of unecessary screenings can also reduce the need for diagnostic surgery which may cause complications during pregnancy.
-Reduce over-testing and over-treating.
-Fewer screenings means women do not have to spend as much money on these check ups. Cha-ching for your cha-cha! 

The Bad: 
-Some OB/GYNs feel like the age recommendation is still too young, and that women do not need to start screenings until 25, for the reasons listed above.
-Some Physicians also feel as if this will cause women to neglect their overall health, since a lot of OB/GYNs are where many women get their primary care as well.
-Other OB/GYNs feel that this is a step in the right direction, but will not solve the problem with what is really causing cervical abnormalities to go unnoticed: not getting exams at all.



I personally think this is great news, mostly for the cost aspect and the risk of over-treatment/over-testing. Also, with the increased use of the HPV vaccine, I think this is the next logical step.

What do you think?

Let's just imagine for a second that Prejean didn't have any sex tapes, she had a clean background, would people still discredit her beliefs and thoughts?



My thoughts....

I want to touch on a subject that most people don't like to discuss, Gay Marriage. I would really like some feedback on this subject because it is always interesting to see how society reacts when someone doesn't support a specific group opinion. There are lots of people who don't believe in Gay Marriage, but they support "civil union", does that make them less of an allie because they won't go the extra mile?

I come from a pentecostal background where it is taught to congregations that marriage is between a man and women, and if I was asked this question, how would you have wanted me to answer? Would you have wanted me to follow my heart and say how I truly felt or lie to save face and get on the good graces of part of society or be hated by those who knew how I truly felt? I want to ask these questions because I'm not going to tell you how I feel, I want to see how people feel about those that can't support Gay Marriage, but want to participate in the struggle of Gay Rights. Is it impossible to support one and dislike the other?

I am using Carrie Prejean as a subject because she has been ruthlessly slandered in the media due to an honest answer, and of course the multiple sex tapes, but I want to cause some discussion 'cause I think it's about time!

Who and What is a good allie for Gay Rights? When does religion get blurred and human compassion come in?

What are your thoughts? Be Brutally honest.

Remember, I'm going to go into this discussion neutral because I want to see how people from all backgrounds tackle these tough questions.

Talk about educating, encouraging, uplifting, empowering and just doing the damn thang! Well this is the case when it comes to a young man on my campus. I first spotted him at orientation before starting my freshman year of college in 08 and I knew he would be shaking things up. He did NOT fail to deliever. People may have their own little issues with homosexuals but you just absolutely cannot deny Bootz his respect. His presence is demanding and I may not know him personally but please believe I do know exactly who Bootz Durango is. In the spring of this year Bootz started his own modeling group entitled House of Durango.

A House with which my goal is to give women the same confidence as I have while living in this society, as well as to educate heterosexuals on the homosexual lifestyle to provoke change within the microcosm I call my life!

- Description of House of Durango by THE Bootz Durango :]

And when I say this is one confident person…I mean it! Just watching him encourages me and I’m proud to say watching an openly gay male do whatever it is he wants and do it well, uplifts me as a straight woman. I’m excited for him and everything he will do in life…this video he did of the induction ceremony of the “niece and son line” that went down this past Friday the 13^th, (which he did the choreography for) only proves to me even more Bootz will be heard. And I felt that this is something everyone on Amplify needed to see.

Make sure you subscribe to his YouTube channel!! His videos are hilarious and he keeps it real. [ALSO WATCH PART 2!!]

More...

I know the title seems a little far-fetched, especially given the history of the Fallen Miss America, Carrie Prejean.

You can relive the answer she gave to Perez Hilton concerning Gay Marriage:

As you heard from the video she is indeed against gay marriage, but is that a reason to hate the fallen beauty queen?

According to the Huffington Post, "Apparently, yes! Hollywood gossip-mongers TMZ report today that Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) was recently talking bullishly on Prejean's political prospects:

"[Carrie] has the ability to draw crowds and if she has a strong message to go with that, who knows what she can do? She has star power which can open doors."

It doesn't matter that Prejean may have numerous sex tapes floating out in Internet land, she has the ability to draw crowds, and that is all that should matter, right?

Chaffetz suggests that it will be "an impediment" but "we've all made mistakes when we were 17."

CUE THE NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR THE JASON CHAFFETZ SEX TAPE, according to the Huffington Post.

Hahahaha..thought that comment was hilarious...but anyways, back to the goods!

Chaffetz went on to suggest that "people are excited about [Prejean's] convictions and beliefs," which led me, naturally to itemize said convictions and beliefs:

1. Carrie Prejean does not support gay marriage.
2. Carrie Prejean thinks Perez Hilton is an insufferable, howling jerkface. (No argument here!)
3. Carrie Prejean thinks the media makes way too big a deal about 1 and 2.
4. Carrie Prejean will relentlessly bombard the media on that third point.

So see, she is well on her way to becoming a great political candidate, don't you think? Maybe we need a change? right?

What if the 2012 ticket had Sarah Palin and Carrie Prejean? Would you vote? Sounds like a hott ticket right?

To read more on this article, click here.

The Center for Reproductive Rights has a new ad against the Stupak-Pitts ban on abortion, watch below: