Why Should I Get Tested for HIV?
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
1y ago
In 2019, 21% of all new HIV diagnoses were between the ages of 13-24. But despite this, almost half of young people living with HIV do not know they have the virus. Since testing and other routine medical visits decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely that even more people with HIV today don’t know they have the virus. On National HIV Testing Day, we invite young people to get tested, know their status, and promote testing within their communities. Why is HIV testing important? Getting tested is the first step in HIV prevention and treatment. The CDC recommends that everyone shoul ..read more
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6 Black LGBTQ+ Trailblazers to Celebrate this Pride Month
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
1y ago
Each June, Pride Month celebrates LGBTQ+ people around the world and recognizes the 1969 Stonewall Riots. This Sunday, June 19, Pride Month intersects with Juneteenth—a day that recognizes the end of slavery in the United States and emphasizes education and achievement among Black Americans. In honor of both Pride and Juneteenth, we want to highlight six LGBTQ+ Black trailblazers who have dedicated themselves to advancing liberation and freedom. Certainly, this list is far from exhaustive. Rather, it is a jumping off point to explore the rich history of Black LGBTQ+ art and activism in the Uni ..read more
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7 Pride Month Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Youth
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
1y ago
Whether it’s your first Pride or your fifteenth, it’s important to follow some basic safety tips as you celebrate. If you’re going to parades, parties, marches, or other Pride events, use these tips to stay safe and have a fantastic time! 1. Mask up. Wear a face mask in public indoor settings and in crowded areas. COVID-19 is still very much a risk, so be aware of your area’s risk level and take precautions. If you can, get tested before going to events (and stay home if you test positive, have symptoms, or have had a recent exposure!). In NYC, we are on high alert. City guidance is to get vac ..read more
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You Asked It: Can a Relationship be “Mutually Abusive”?
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
2y ago
No, relationships cannot be mutually abusive. Here’s why “mutual abuse” is a myth. In an unhealthy relationship, it’s possible for both partners to act in unhealthy ways. This might look like getting in frequent fights, yelling at each other, or purposefully hurting the other’s feelings. But abuse is a pattern of behavior where one partner gains power and control over the other. In an abusive relationship, one partner has more power than the other. Often, the abuser has considerable control of the relationship and their partner’s life. A relationship cannot be mutually abusive because it is no ..read more
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You Asked It: Why Can’t I Squirt?
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
2y ago
From Rashana Grant on Unsplash My boyfriend is very into squirting, but I’ve never squirted and no matter how hard we try I just can’t. Is something wrong with me? Why can’t I squirt? Nope! Absolutely nothing is wrong with you. Some people squirt easily, and some people never squirt. Every body is different. Let’s take a quick step back and talk about what squirting even is. Squirting is slang for what’s sometimes called “female ejaculation.” Ejaculate (or come/cum) from someone with a vagina is clear or whitish and doesn’t have much of a smell. Like the slang term implies, it usually “squirts ..read more
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5 Reasons We Love School-Based Health Centers
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
2y ago
February is School-Based Health Center Awareness Month, and we couldn’t let the month pass without taking a moment to recognize how beneficial school-based health centers really are. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are medical health centers located inside schools, and they have numerous benefits for our young people and communities. Over 387 schools in NYC have one. The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center runs 6 SBHCs that serve a total of 23 high schools and middle schools. Here are 5 reasons we love them. 1. They meet young people where they are—literally! For teens, making and going t ..read more
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You Asked It: Do I Need to Shave before My Gynecologist Appointment?
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
2y ago
Should I shave my pubic hair before my gynecologist appointment? Nope! You do not need to shave before a gynecologist appointment (or any doctor’s appointment!). Your doctor doesn’t care how you care for your pubic hair, because it isn’t a health or hygiene concern. They’ve seen it all, and how you style (or don’t style) your pubic hair probably won’t even register. So whether you like a close shave, a simple trim, or going au naturale, just keep doing you. The same goes for other parts of your body too. Unless you want to, you don’t need to shave your legs, armpits, or anywhere else before yo ..read more
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Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by msahcteam
2y ago
For many people, the winter months mean fun parties, festive food, and lots of extra time with family. However, the joys of the holiday season can also bring a lot of stress. If you are starting to feel anxious about the holidays, you are not alone. So how do you manage it? Here are 5 tips to survive and thrive during the holidays. 1. Breathe. When we are anxious, we tend to take shallow or rapid breaths. This tells our sympathetic nervous system to be on alert, and activates our body so it’s ready to take action. This can make stress feel worse. However, we can use deep breathing to reverse t ..read more
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You Asked It: Do Lesbians Get STIs?
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by marko
2y ago
I’m a lesbian. What are the ACTUAL chances of me getting an STD? Does anyone really use dental dams? Great question! Taking care of your sexual health is super important no matter who you’re attracted to. There’s a myth that lesbians don’t get sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but that’s just that– a myth. Lesbians can get STIs. Some STIs can be transmitted through skin to skin contact, and there are still often bodily fluids involved in sex between two people who have vaginas. The risk of STIs is generally lower with sex between two people with vaginas, but there’s still a risk. The onl ..read more
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You Asked It: Let’s Get Cliterate
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center Blog
by marko
2y ago
What’s a clitoris? My friends have joked about it, but it was never mentioned in sex ed and I’m kinda confused… Great question! People with vaginas (in general, cisgender girls and some transgender boys and non-binary folk) have a clitoris. The clitoris (sometimes called the clit) is an amazing organ because its ONLY purpose is sexual pleasure. The clitoris has over 8,000 nerve endings. That’s TWICE as many as the penis! This means that it’s really sensitive. Many people masturbate (touch themselves for sexual pleasure) by rubbing their external clitoris, and may enjoy it when a partner does t ..read more
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