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TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Can a doctor tell if you’ve taken abortion pills? + What age-appropriate sex-ed looks like + Consent during sex: checking in with your partner

"Today, we should not rest. We should recommit to protecting women's bodily autonomy, their ability to make their own health care decisions and the ability to control their lives." — Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs

On May 2, Governor Hobbs signed legislation repealing the state’s 160-year-old near-total abortion ban. Read more about this historic step forward in the fight for abortion access >>

From the blog…

At Planned Parenthood, we believe in age-appropriate sex education. Learn more about what sex ed should teach elementary school students, middle schoolers, and high schoolers.

One of our readers asked, "Can a doctor tell if you’ve taken abortion pills?" With abortion banned, restricted, or in limbo in several states, it's understandable to be concerned. Get the facts here>>

Don't be your own doctor: Here's our guide to symptoms of different types of vaginal infections. (And, if you have questions about symptoms you might be having, you can speak to a health care professional at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center!)

Read more on the blog >>

What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on:

A new report finds that more than half of Black women of reproductive age live in states with abortion bans or severe restrictions.

Unsurprisingly, yet another poll confirms that Americans overwhelmingly support emergency abortion care. Get the key stats here>>

As we await a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether hospitals can deny emergency abortion care to patients, as required by the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), hear directly from patients and providers about the importance of getting emergency, lifesaving care.

How the overturn of Roe v. Wade inspired advocacy for abortion rights in Europe.

Ask the Experts:

Checking in during sex: "How does this feel?"

Saying "yes" to sex does not mean consenting to do things that might make you feel uncomfortable — this is where checking in comes in. Here's a few suggestions from our experts about how and what you can ask your partner:

How are you feeling?
Taking the time to ask how your partner is feeling in the moment can make it easier for them to let you know about any concerns they have or changes they want. If they're not feeling so great about what you're doing, you can work together to change it up. And if your partner isn't quite sure how they’re feeling, it may be time to stop and talk about it.

Is this comfortable for you?
If they're feeling comfortable, great! If not, you can talk about what to change to make it better for them.

How does this feel?
Getting active feedback on what you're doing can help you understand what they like and don’t like. If they're into it, this can be a really sexy conversation. If they're not, you can ask them what would feel good — which will make sex better for both of you.

What do you want?
Encouraging your partner to share what they want and how they want it is empowering for both of you. You'll be shaping your sexual experiences together. And sharing isn't just caring — it's sexy!

What do you want to do next?
You had sex. Now what? You might want to cuddle, or you may want to chat, grab a snack, or do something else. Checking in about this kind of thing is called "aftercare," and it shows that you respect and care about each other’s feelings.

Checking in during sex is a sign of respect; it shows your partner that you care about how they feel. You can learn more about practicing consent by watching our Consent 101 videos or visiting LoveIsRespect.org for additional information.

*Note: Planned Parenthood is not responsible for nor does it endorse any legal, medical, or other advice or information provided by any of the entities identified or referenced herein or by any other third parties, whether referenced herein or not.

Check out Ask The Experts for more Q&As on a ton of different health topics.
Got a question in mind? Ask Roo, our sex ed chatbot.

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