Who will see my STI test results?

I have been thinking about getting tested for STIs for a while now but have been concerned with medical privacy policy. From the research I have done, I have not been able to find if I tested positive for an STI would I be referred to in name as a 'risk to public safety' or simply as a statistic. I know that this will be placed in my medical records and documented for the rest of my life. Will I have a label attached to my name for the rest of my life? Who will be notified if I do test positive for something like syphilis or herpes?


Is raisin bran a good source of iron?

I was recently turned away from a blood donation site for slightly low hemoglobin. I'm a menstruating woman and a vegetarian, so it wasn't a big shock. I'm trying to add more iron to my diet in the form of beans and cruciferous veggies and eggs (cooked on cast iron!), but I've run into some confusion. The pamphlet I got from the blood bank suggests raisin bran as a very good source of iron. Several health articles and studies I've found online also point to raisin bran, but others say that wheat bran inhibits iron absorption and should be avoided when trying to raise iron levels. Sometimes the conflicting information comes from the same source! Can you shed any light on this, Alice? Would a bowl of raisin bran a day help or hurt my iron intake?


What should I do to avoid getting an erection during a massage?

I'm a thirty-something man who has a happy but often stressful life. I'd like to get a massage every now and then, but I'm worried about what might happen when I'm virtually naked and being rubbed all over by another person. In other words, I'm worried about getting an erection during a massage. It seems like there would be no way to hide it.

How do I deal with this? How do masseuses deal with this when it happens? Do they expect their male clients to get aroused? Would they think I'm perverted when I'm lying on the table and standing at attention?


Abortion

What is an abortion?

Abortion is the process of terminating a pregnancy. This can be done through two different methods: medication abortion or an in-clinic abortion. The different types of abortion may be used in varying circumstances, such as how long it has been since the pregnant person's last menstrual cycle, their health history, their preferences, and what services are available in their area.

View Resource What is an abortion?
Talking to doctors

How do I get an abortion?

Due to the changing legal landscape in the United States, access to abortion can vary by state. Various resources can be utilized in order to find an abortion provider and to learn about what services are available in your state. Different funds also exist to help people who need these services pay for the costs associated with it.

View Resource How do I get an abortion?
Person sneezing

Flu Facts

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a virus that has many strains and appears in the respiratory system. It can infect and cause symptoms in the throat, nose, and, in some cases, the lungs. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in some rare cases, cause death. Most people recover from the illness in a few days; however, some symptoms may last up to two weeks. How strong your symptoms are is dependent on which flu strain you’re infected with, your vaccination status, pre-existing health conditions, and your age.

View Resource Flu Facts