Sex is pleasurable. It should feel safe too.

What does it mean to feel safe during sex these days?

From feeling comfortable with your partner to having access to public health interventions and medication, "safety" comes up a lot in sex. And having the tools you need to feel confident in your own sexual health is an essential part of the pursuit of pleasure. Brittany Luse is joined by Dr. Leisha McKinley-Beach, founder and CEO of the Black Public Health Academy, and Dr. Jasmine Abrams, a research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, to give us a booster on how to live our best sex lives.

Has your relationship become a sexual desert? These tips should help spice things up again

A dry spell doesn’t necessarily mean it’s over, say the experts. They share their advice on how to restore intimacy, from changing venue to writing a ‘menu’ and finding your kink

Know it’s normal

First up, don’t panic! “Every couple goes through dry spells. It doesn’t mean either of you is broken, and is not an indicator that something is ‘wrong’,” says Dr Tammy Nelson, sex and couples therapist, author of Open Monogamy, and host of The Trouble With Sex podcast. Dr Laurie Mintz, sex therapist and author of Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters – and How to Get It agrees: “The limerence stage, where you can’t keep your hands off each other, lasts six months to two years, then fades, but people think there’s something wrong with them or the relationship.”

8 Ways to Have Better Sex in 2026

According to some statistics, this year’s top New Year's resolutions are saving more money, eating healthier, exercising more, and losing weight—kind of boring, if you ask us, when you could resolve to have more and better sex (which can be a workout in itself!). After all, great sex boosts your mood, reduces pain, improves sleep, and helps you feel closer to your partner. And switching up your sex life even just a little bit can lead to lasting benefits for both you and your relationships.

Below, some super-simple tips for enjoying the best sex you’ve ever had in 2026.

March is Women’s History Month — a time to recognize and celebrate the countless ways women have shaped our world, including the field of medicine.

For centuries, women have served as healers, midwives, researchers, nurses, physicians, and public health leaders — often advancing care and innovation despite significant barriers. Their contributions have transformed patient care, expanded scientific knowledge, and strengthened communities. This month, we honor the resilience, expertise, and leadership of women in medicine — past, present, and future — and the lasting impact they continue to make on health and wellbeing for all.

Agnodice of Athens: History’s First Female Midwife?



Agnodice of Athens is generally credited with being the ‘first known female midwife’. The tale of her life suggests that she disguised herself as a man, was educated under one of the key medical practitioners of her time and went on to practice medicine in ancient Athens.

When she was tried for practicing medicine illegally, the story goes, the women of Athens defended Agnodice and ultimately earned the legal right to become physicians.

The tale of Agnodice has been oft-cited in the 2,000 or so years since. Particularly in the medical world, her life has become a symbol of female equality, determination and ingenuity.

The truth is, however, it remains unclear as to whether Agnodice actually existed, or if she was simply a convenient device through which to channel stories of myth and overcoming adversity. We will likely never know, but it makes for a good story.

Here are 8 facts about Agnodice of Athens.

Trota of Salerno and the Problem of Medieval Women’s Medicine

Imagine it is the twelfth century, and you have woken up experiencing some trouble breathing. Fortunately, you have the financial resources to hire a top-tier, exquisitely learned physician to attend you. He listens closely to your problems, and knows at once what to do. Your uterus, he tells you, has wandered up into your chest cavity and is interfering with your lungs.

Sounds reasonable, you say, but what do we do about it?

It was male-crafted theory that led practice until the late twelfth century when a woman physician by the name of Trota of Salerno took it upon herself to write not about what ought to work in the curing of women’s diseases, but about what actually did work in practice. The resulting texts on the practical aspects of women’s health would stand as the definitive works on the subject for three full centuries.

The Nation’s First Black Female Doctor Blazed a Path for Women in Medicine. But She Was Left Out of the Story for Decades

In 1864, newspapers in Boston noted a milestone: The latest students to receive degrees from the New England Female Medical College included a “colored graduate,” one Rebecca Lee Crumpler. It was a brief mention, almost an afterthought, but what it marked was monumental: Crumpler had just become the first Black woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Yet for decades, her name faded from public memory.

“When people think about Black women in medicine, they think that it didn’t happen until the advent of affirmative action,” Gamble says. “The fact that in 1864 a Black woman got a degree is important for people to know.”

How Did Endo Awareness Month Begin? Five Fast Facts

Each March, millions worldwide observe Endometriosis Awareness Month in recognition of the estimated 176 million women suffering from the disease. But how and where did it all begin? For those answers and more, The Blossom did a little digging, and that led us to the founding mother of Endometriosis Awareness Month herself, Mary Lou Ballweg, president, executive director and founder of The Endometriosis Association.

Birth of a New Movement...in Milwaukee

Back in 1993, Mary Lou Ballweg says she was one of eight women who founded an Endometriosis Awareness Week during The Endometriosis Association's roundtable in Milwaukee. Those eight founders soon grew to 22, and shortly after that, recalls Ballweg, the designated week took on a new life of its own. "We could not do everything all around the world in just a week, so we expanded it to a month," Ballweg tells The Blossom. The idea stuck. Today, she adds, "activities are carried on all over the world.” When asked how many people work for the association today, Ballweg states, “I cannot even tell you, there are so many people. We are in endo awareness month right now, so every day we are just swamped with requests for stickers, ribbons, and brochures. As they say, every generation builds on the shoulders of the generation before it. So it is very exciting to see a lot of things happening.”

What is endometriosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains

Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often-painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. Rarely, endometriosis growths may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located.

Endometriosis tissue acts as the lining inside the uterus would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. But it grows in places where it doesn't belong, and it doesn't leave the body. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated and form scar tissue. Bands of fibrous tissue called adhesions also may form. These can cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick to each other.

Endometriosis can cause pain, especially during menstrual periods. Fertility problems also may develop. But treatments can help you take charge of the condition and its complications.

The Significant Link Between Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer

A recent study has revealed a substantial connection between endometriosis and ovarian cancer, with researchers finding that approximately 25% of ovarian cancer cases are associated with the painful gynecological condition. The findings were recently discussed on NewsNation by endometriosis excision specialist and EndoFound’s co-founder, Dr. Tamer Seckin, and reporter Diana Falzone. 

The research reveals that people living with endometriosis face a 4.2-fold higher risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to those without the condition. For those with severe forms of the disease—including ovarian endometriomas and deep infiltrating endometriosis—the risk increases dramatically to 9.7 times higher than the general population.

While this information has been long-understood by endometriosis specialists and researchers alike, it is only more recently that major health organizations have begun to acknowledge the significance of these findings. The American Cancer Society has now added endometriosis to its list of potential risk factors for ovarian cancer on their official website, marking a critical step in recognizing the connection between these two conditions.

During the interview, Dr. Seckin provided important context about the nature of endometriosis-related ovarian cancer. He clarified that most ovarian cancer doesn't actually originate in the ovaries themselves, noting that endometriosis-related ovarian cancer often has tubal origins. This distinction is crucial for understanding how the disease develops and progresses.

Developmental Disabilities: Types, Causes, Coping

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions that begin in childhood and impact intellectual abilities, physical abilities, language, behavior, and development. These disabilities are usually identified in childhood and affect people throughout their lives, requiring lifelong support, accommodation, or services.

Examples of developmental disabilities include ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and cerebral palsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these disabilities are common, affecting about 1 in 6 children.2

Here, we'll look at the most common developmental disabilities, their causes, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated.

Sexuality and Adults with Developmental Disabilities

The topic of sexuality is one that’s a challenge for many people to talk about. The challenge is compounded when individuals have specialized learning needs.

What if we were able to engage with people with developmental disabilities, enlist them in sexuality education efforts, and support them in being sexual self-advocates? What kind of impact would this have on their sexual health and safety?

In our culture, overall messages about sexuality can sometimes be quite negative. This is particularly true for many individuals with developmental disabilities. It’s even been said that it can sometimes be easier to be a self-advocate than a sexual self-advocate.

The cultural message is often “You are not sexual,” while paradoxically, another message is “You are oversexed”—or variations on the theme of “You can’t handle this subject because it will give you ideas” or “You won’t be able to control yourself if we talk about your emerging sexuality.”

Disability activist Anne Finger says it best: “Sexuality is often the source of our deepest pain. It’s easier for us to talk about and formulate strategies for changing disability discrimination in employment, education and housing than to talk about our exclusion from sexuality and reproduction.”

Honoring a Legacy as We Say Goodbye

After 48 years of compassionate, dedicated care, our Title X Family Planning Clinic in Rock Springs, WY , Western Wyoming Family Planning, is closing its doors.

Please join us in honoring and celebrating their decades of service, commitment, and the countless lives they have impacted in their community. Their legacy of care will not be forgotten.

-Wyoming Health Council

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This newsletter was developed (in part) with federal funds from the Office of Population Affairs. For more information on the rules and regulations that apply to our programs, please visit

https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants

This project is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.X. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.X. Government.