ten tips for safer and smarter sex

It is always smart to talk about sex with your partner, a peer educator or a healthcare professional before you make the decision to have sex. While sexual intercourse always involves some risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease, there are definitely ways of making your sexual experiences safer. Here are 10 simple things you can do, say and think about now before you have sex:

1. Talk smart sex first. Have smart sex later. STIs and unintended pregnancies affect both partners, not just one person. If you feel uncomfortable discussing sex and birth control with your partner, then you shouldn't be having sex! Be straightforward and talk about sex beforehand so both partners know what to expect. It's easier to be rational and reasonable before you're in the "heat of the moment!"
2. Two are better than one! To help prevent both pregnancy and STIs, you should correctly and consistently use a birth control method like the Pill, Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection or diaphragm (for pregnancy prevention) and a condom (to prevent STIs). Condom use is essential, especially in relationships that are not monogamous. If your partner says no to contraceptives that may prevent STIs, like condoms, it's probably time to rethink your relationship. Nothing is worth the potential lifetime consequences of a few minutes of unprotected fun.
3. Don't feel pressured to have sex. Or have sex out of fear - fear of hurting someone's feelings by saying no or fear of being the "only one" who isn't doing it. Virtually everyone wants to fit in with his or her friends, but you should never compromise your values to be "part of the crowd." If you don't want to have sex, be honest, discuss the reasons behind your decision with your partner and stay true to you.
4. Don't abuse alcohol/use drugs if you think things could get physical. Drug use or alcohol abuse interferes with decision-making, which can lead to date rape, forgetting to use contraceptives or contracting an STI. The lowering of inhibitions that often accompanies alcohol use might make you think you'll enjoy sex more, but in fact, for a variety of biochemical reasons, too much alcohol actually makes sex less enjoyable for both men and women.
5. Use the buddy system. If you go to a party or a bar, go with friends and keep an eye out for each other. Agree that you won't leave with another person without telling someone. Sometimes a friend's "second opinion" could help prevent you from making decisions that you might regret later.
6. Remember that "no" means NO and passed out doesn't mean YES. Being drunk isn't a defense for committing sexual assault or a reason for being a victim of sexual assault. If you are too drunk to understand a person trying to say no; if you are too drunk to listen and respect a person saying no; or if you have sex with somebody who is passed out or incapable of giving consent, it can be considered rape.
7. Respect everyone's right to make his/her own personal decision - including yourself. There is no imaginary "deadline," no ideal age, no perfect point in a relationship where sex has to happen. If your partner tells you that he or she is not ready to have sex, respect his/her decision, be supportive and discuss the reasons behind it. It is everyone's ultimate right to decide when and how they have sex - be it the first time or the tenth time.
8. Be prepared for a sex emergency. Consider carrying two condoms with you just in case one breaks or tears while it's being put on. Both men and women are equally responsible for preventing STIs, using contraceptives and both should carry condoms. Sometimes things go wrong even when you try to do everything right. Maybe the condom broke or you forgot to take your birth control pill. Whatever the reason, women should know about emergency contraception or EC. Taken within 72 hours of intercourse, EC may prevent pregnancy.
9. The best protection doesn't mean less affection. Abstinence is actually the most effective way to protect against STIs and prevent pregnancy. But practicing abstinence doesn't mean you can't have an intimate physical relationship with someone - it just means you don't have vaginal or anal intercourse. There are many other ways to be intimate and not have intercourse - just be aware that alternatives, like oral sex, carry their own risks.
10. Make sexual health a priority. Whether you are having sex or not, both men and women need to have regular check-ups to make sure they are sexually healthy. Women should have annual gynecological exams. In fact, most campus doctors book months in advance - make your appointment today!

how to get a girlfriend

If you’re confused and wondering how to get a girlfriend in the modern world, then today might be your lucky day!

Read on to discover proven advice on getting a girlfriend!

After breaking up with my girlfriend of four years, I had absolutely no idea how to get a girlfriend again.

Throughout the 16 months that I was single, I tried wearing better clothes, spraying on great aftershaves and anything else to ensure I looked my best.

Although I got a few more 'looks' from women, none of it got me what I wanted.

Then one day, I stopped and realised that the majority of guys who had a girlfriend were just average-looking guys.

an average-looking guy myself, I wondered how on Earth they managed to attract and keep the beautiful women that they were with.

I began to ask myself questions like, "What am I doing wrong?" or worse, "Do women just not like me?"

Despite doing well with my management career and dressing stylishly when I went out, I could not get a new girlfriend to save my life.

That sucked, big time!

So, after learning how to create a dating lifestyle that most guys will only ever dream of, I made it my mission to let other guys in on the secret.

Here are some crucial pieces of advice to get you started…

Step One

Decide

Decide to get this area of your life handled, so meeting and attracting a new girlfriend becomes as easy as making toast in the morning. I know it may currently seem a little challenging or even scary, but I promise you that it soon become very easy.

Step Two

Change

Realise that if you don’t change the way you’re currently going about getting a girlfriend, then the world probably won’t drop a gorgeous woman in your lap. As the old saying goes - if you keep doing the same things as you always have, you'll probably keep getting the same results as you always have!

Step Three

Utilize

Utilize the hard-earned knowledge of actual experts, to accelerate your progress. You might be suprised to know that a lot advice about women and dating is written by guys who can write about it, but not do it in real life. Likewise, most dating sites are mass-made by I.T experts who know how to copy and past articles from other sites.

Step Four

Overcome

Learn how to overcome your fears surrounding women, so you can conquer this area of your life. Some common fears:

• Fear of not knowing what to say when you approach a woman.
• Fear of being rejected in front of others.
• Fear that beautiful women don't find you attractive.

Step Five

Build

Build a solid social circle full of quality friends. If you don’t have many friends at present, or if your friends are all in relationships, start joining clubs and after-work classes. You'll find that it's also a very easy way to meet women!

Well, I'll leave it there for now. More free articles can be found there.

Secrets To How You Approach Women

Make Healthy Eye Contact
While the saying, "Eyes are the gateway to the soul" is debatable; there is a wealth of merit to explore. Healthy eye contact not only serves as one of the main indicators of interest and attraction, but is also very telling when it comes to personality. The eyes can say things that the mouth doesn't have to reveal.
Friendliness, compassion, curiosity, and passion are just some of the emotions revealed through eye contact, which also alerts others to self-confidence and high self-esteem.
It is rather important to remember that this powerful tool should be used with caution, too strong of a signal will translate into threatening glances, uncomfortable silences, and the feeling of stalking.

Open the Door for Her
Everyone loves a gentleman. Opening the door for a woman may lead to future opportunities to strike up a conversation. When the moment allows it, many are able to add a witty or thoughtful comment to make your encounter a memorable one.

Perform a Thoughtful Gesture
When random acts of kindness are performed, you never know where they may lead.Help picking up fallen objects may seem like a clichéd attempt to make yourself noticeable, but showing genuine concern is very much appreciated. During these brief moments of contact, a perfect opportunity arises for introductions.The same can be said for carrying heavy packages within the office setting or bringing a cup of coffee to a co-worker. Single roses also serve as a thoughtful act that lasts for days.

Show Genuine Interest

Women respond well to men who share the same interests as they do.To display your compatibility, take advantage of the possibilities associated by showing genuine interest (the key word being 'genuine').Some of the most successful connections are made when commenting or speaking about babies, pets, and taking advantage of various settings, such as admiring and noting a fine art collection at a museum.There seems to be a lot of confusion associated with what to do when you approach women. If you keep these 4 things in mind, your success will skyrocket in a very nature way.

Date Ideas and Tips

Go to a playground

that's not in use and play! Take along a picnic lunch, baseball, bat, Frisbee or outdoor toys (blowing bubbles is fun). Have a great lunch after playtime.

Don't surprise your date

with a hatchet movie, meal, etc. on the first date. They may be allergic to horror films - and you don't want to 'surprise' a vegetarian with a dinner at "Harvey's House of Beef."With a 'surprise' date you could end up with a teetottler at a wine-tasting, or a lactose-intolerant date at a cheese fest - you get the picture...

Be honest,

don't play games. Avoid even stretching the truth, the first time you're caught it will destroy your credibility.
Be on time.

Lateness is inconsiderate (not to mention it reveals all sorts of things about your personality such as your passive-aggressive tendencies). If your date is late, be pleasant, and listen to their reason - it might be legitimate.

Tell yourself you're not nervous,

just excited.

If your date compliments you

don't just brush it off or say something rude about yourself, say thank you and do NOT put yourself down.

If you're concerned about topics of conversation,

be sure to read a newspaper or watch a news program that day so you're up on world events.

Find out if he has any good platonic female friends.

It's a good sign if they can relate to women.

Keep checking the inside

(give the exterior stuff a rest). If you stay focused on looks you may end up ignoring or dumping a perfectly fantastic person without ever really giving them a chance.

Be open

to your date's ideas about what to do on the date and express yourself honestly (AND tactfully).

Don't manhandle your date

and don't rush sex!

Keep the first date brief.

Leave them wishing for more, not wondering how to escape.

Stay away from someone who only talks about money

and 'things' or who boasts - usually signs of deep-seated insecurity.

Don't talk about marriage and kids

and long-term plans for the two of you on your first dates. Be clear about the date, time and place...and be on time! Don't leave things hanging with "I'll call you later with the details"

Keep topics light

and keep away from controversial issues on the first date. Also, refrain from using off-color language or jokes, or making sexual references.

Try a sporting event

neither one of you have ever seen live: a polo match, professional tennis tournament, golf tournament, dressage, volleyball, tractor-pull, sumo-wrestling - whatever you can agree on doing together that's different.

Collect cocktail napkins

or other mementos from all the places you have been together.

Help solve a problem

by writing a letter to together to the love doctor - "Dr TRuth."

Remember, games can be fun.

Monopoly, computer games for two, card games, and end it all with a game of Twister.

Fifty Ways to Say "I Love You"

1. Do the little things that count - open doors, pull out chairs, pick up after yourself.
2. Dance together.
3. Go out and look at the stars.
4. Wrap your presents.
5. Write her a poem.
6. Write him a love letter.
7. Play tag.
8. Wrestle together.
9. Have a candlelit dinner together.
10. Watch the sunset together.
11. Go for a walk together.
12. Give stuffed animals.
13. Eat ice cream together.
14. Feel their heartbeat.
15. Share your deepest memories together.
16. Don't go to bed mad.
17. Cook together.
18. Go out of town and enjoy a neighboring city together.
19. Create a romantic CD.
20. Write up the words to "your song" and have it framed.
21. Don't forget the anniversaries! Especially the first date, first kiss, first fight...
22. Ask your sweetie how the day was and listen.
23. Dedicate a song to her.
24. Take a day off together.
25. Share your deepest fantasies.
26. Sign "I love you" to your mate.
27. Celebrate the obscure holidays.
28. Make a bouquet for them.
29. If he/she is sick, make some homemade chicken noodle soup.
30. Read the Bible together.
31. Leave notes inside magazines.
32. Give your beloved a hug!
33. Send your mother-in-law flowers on your mate's birthday.
34. Laugh together.
35. Send them a love note. Sneak one into their interoffice mail with the help of a coworker.
36. Create a calendar with your pictures on each month.
37. Go for a rowboat ride together and have a picnic.
38. Create a scrapbook together.
39. Learn to say "I love you" in some foreign languages.
40. Read devotions together.
41. Make mends with any inlaws.
42. Recreate her wedding bouquet for her.
43. Send an "I love you" fax.
44. Create crafts together.
45. Go shopping together.
46. Read a story together.
47. Swing together on a playground.
48. Write "I LOVE YOU" in chocolate kisses on a table.
49. Create a memories jar where you can write your memories on sheets of paper and place them.
50. Cut out a bunch of paper hearts, write a special memory on each one and give the box to your partner.

Tips on Getting Pregnant

To assist you in realizing your dream of maternal bliss, we have put together some tips on helping you getting pregnant!

Ditch the pill
Yes, the first thing is to forget about contraception. You may notice certain irregularities in your cycle and may take a few months for your cycle to return to normal. But many women are fertile the first month after they stop taking the Pill. The same holds true for the contraceptive patch and ring.

Fuel up on folic acid
Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin that can help reduce the risk of serious birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord. For this reason, the FDA recommends that all women attempting pregnancy take folic acid supplements for decreasing chances of birth defects.

Quit smoking, drinking and drugs now
Smoking or taking drugs greatly diminishes your chances of getting pregnant and can lead to miscarriages, premature birth, and low-birth weight babies. Plus, research suggests that smoking can affect your fertility and lower your partner's sperm count. In fact, studies have shown that even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant. It is also recommend that women avoid alcohol when trying for pregnancy.

Cut down on Caffeine
Research shows that too much caffeine can reduce your ability to absorb iron and increase your risk for stillbirth. Avoid coffee, tea, and colas or switch to decaf to increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you are a complete caffeine junkie, then the safe limit would be a cup a day. Try switching to a milkshakes which will boost your calcium as well and assist in conception.

Get your weight in check
Healthy weight women have an easier time getting pregnant than overweight or underweight women. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30 have a harder time getting pregnant, so it's a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying.

Timing is Everything
You will have little chance of getting pregnant if you had sex on the wrong days and missed the most fertile ones. Figure out your ovulation days with our ovulation calendar to increase your chances of conception. Read our articles on Ovulation and Signs of ovulation to assist you in knowing your fertile period. Ovulation predictor kits can also help you figure out when you're ovulating by detecting hormones in your urine that signal ovulation is about to occur.

Mind Control
Women who suffer from depression are twice as likely to have problems with fertility as women who don't. Get a mental health check if you notice signs of depression. Also, try stress management techniques, such as yoga and meditation, which research suggests can also help in getting pregnant.

Buy something sexy
Some experts say that if a woman is highly aroused while she's having sex, the sperm has a better chance of fertilizing her egg. Others say it makes absolutely no difference. It definitely wont hurt and may even help in boosting your libido and killing that awkward feeling of having sex for pregnancy.

Positioning yourself
Many experts suspect that the missionary position (man on top) provides the best opportunity for getting pregnant, though no definitive studies have been done on this question. This position allows for the deepest penetration which deposits sperm closer to the cervix. For additional effectiveness, the woman can try elevating her hips with a pillow so her cervix is exposed to the maximum amount of semen. Other positions could be Rear entry and lying side-by-side. Avoid woman on top, standing, or leaning positions, which discourage the flow of semen to the uterus.

Increase the Odds
Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons, artificial lubricants, and douching. Not only can they cause infections, they may wash away cervical mucus or create a hostile environment for the sperm.
If you find that your cervical mucus is not as conducive of getting pregnant as it should be, you may want to try a specific type of lubricant. Pre-Seed lubricant is the sperm friendly choice of many people trying to get pregnant. After intercourse, elevate your hips on a pillow for about fifteen minutes.

For your man
Ask your partner to chuck all briefs and opt for boxers instead for a healthy sperm count. Also, having sex in the morning would help since the semen has the highest number of sperm then.

Finally
Getting pregnant isn't always easy. Very few couples conceive on the first try. In fact, even if everything is absolutely in perfect working order, you only have a 20-25% chance of conception each month. If you are under 30, and haven't conceived in 12 months, you should make an appointment to see your doctor as there could be some issues at play with are preventing you from getting pregnant. If you are over 35, and haven't succeeded in getting pregnant in six months, make an appointment to see your doctor, as infertility issues become more prevelant the older you get. If you are over 40, then do not delay in getting medical help.