Menopause & Midlife Health: The Questions No One Answers
Quick answer: Menopause is reached after 12 months in a row without a period; in the U.S. the average age is 52, and the transition usually happens between 45 and 55 (Office on Women’s Health). Perimenopause, the years of hormone changes before that, usually starts in the mid- to late 40s and lasts about four […]
Comprehensive vs Abstinence-Only Sex Education: What the Research Shows
Quick answer: Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs teach abstinence as the only option and usually exclude information about contraception, while comprehensive programs teach that waiting is the safest choice and cover contraception, STI prevention, consent and healthy relationships. Research reviews consistently find that abstinence-only programs don’t delay first intercourse or reduce risk (Santelli et al., 2017), while comprehensive […]
Your First Gynecologist Visit, Explained
Quick answer: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a first visit with an ob-gyn between ages 13 and 15. The first visit is often mostly a conversation, plus a general physical exam; a pelvic exam usually isn’t needed unless there’s a problem, and Pap tests aren’t recommended before age 21 (ACOG). Writing […]
Consent Is a Conversation: College Edition
Quick answer: Consent is a clear, freely given and ongoing agreement that can be withdrawn at any time, and someone who is incapacitated can’t give it. On college campuses, nonconsensual contact is common: in a 2019 survey of 33 universities, 13% of all students and 26.4% of undergraduate women reported experiencing it since enrolling (AAU, […]
How to Support LGBTQ+ Students in Health Class
Quick answer: You can support LGBTQ+ youth in health class by using inclusive language and examples, teaching accurate, evidence-based information that applies to everyone, protecting privacy, responding to bullying, and sharing affirming resources. Research shows it matters: in states where more schools taught LGBTQ-inclusive health education, students overall had lower odds of suicidal thoughts and […]
Teacher Toolkit: Healthy Relationships Lessons for Teens
Quick answer: A strong healthy relationships curriculum for teens teaches students to recognize respect and warning signs, set and honor boundaries, communicate during conflict, practice consent, and know where to get help. It matters: in 2023, about 1 in 10 high school students who dated reported physical dating violence and about 1 in 17 reported […]
How Often Should You Get Tested for STIs? A Clear Guide (2026)
Quick answer: It depends on your age, health history and situation. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13 to 64 get an HIV test at least once, that sexually active women under 25 get chlamydia and gonorrhea tests every year, and that some groups test every 3 to 6 months (CDC). A health care provider […]
Meet Dr Ed: Free, Private Health Answers, 24/7
Quick answer: Dr Ed is a free AI health educator from the nonprofit Dr Sex Ed. People ages 13+ (under 13 with a parent’s consent) can text or video chat with Dr Ed any time at drsexed.ai to get clear, evidence-based, judgment-free answers about their bodies, health and relationships, with no password or sign-up. Dr […]
What Comprehensive Health Education Actually Covers, Grades 6–12
Quick answer: Comprehensive sex education programs teach age-appropriate, evidence-based lessons on anatomy and puberty, consent and healthy relationships, preventing infections and pregnancy, identity and respect, personal safety, and how to find trusted health care. The National Sex Education Standards organize this into seven topic areas that build from grade to grade (National Sex Education Standards, […]
How to Explain Consent to a Child (and a Teen)
Quick answer: Explain consent to a child as “asking first and listening to the answer,” and practice it in everyday moments like hugs, tickling and sharing. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests teaching body autonomy and privacy as early as toddlerhood (HealthyChildren.org). With teens, build on that foundation with conversations about respect, pressure, boundaries and […]