I mean, penises might seem a little bit intimidating, especially if you’ve never actually seen one, but there are actually some seriously crazy facts about them! I learned a lot about every dude’s most prized possession while writing this and honestly, I feel like it’s even helped me understand guys a little bit better. Read on to check out these weird, crazy and interesting penis facts. 

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Very Little Men Really Need Extra-Large Condoms

According to condom manufacturers, only 6 percent of men actually need an extra-large condom. Yes, this means that most dudes carry around Trojan Magnums just to impress the ladies. Relax, dudes. Relax.

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Guys Can Enjoy Vibrators Also!

You probably thought the joy of vibrators was something only women could appreciate. However, not true. Men can use vibrators too, but the feeling is SUPER powerful. Don't believe me? It's so powerful that men with spinal cord injuries who are paralyzed can orgasm using a special vibrator. Crazy.

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Most Men Can Have Really Short Sex

Yes, the stereotype is true: men can have faster sex than women. 85 percent of dudes out there can finish up a sex session in three minutes or less and be satisfied. Us ladies? Not so much. So try not to get too annoyed when he's done before you even started.

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Erections Keep Dudes Healthy

Don't get mad at your boyfriend for watching porn or masturbating on his own - it turns out guys really need to have regular erections in order to stay healthy! Tobias Kohler, MD, says that the penis "has to be essentially exercised" so it stays in shape.

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Even Fetuses Can Get Hard

Um, this is pretty uncomfortable for me to write, but apparently, even a little tiny fetus can have an erection. Ultrasound tests have shown that it can happen in the third trimester. Starting early!

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Some Men Are Flexible Enough To Give Themselves Oral Sex

One in 400 men on average are flexible enough to actually give themselves oral sex. Ew, yuck, no. Please, no. Just don't.

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Dudes Have A LOT Of Erections

Guys are basically constantly turned on, like, all the time. The average man has 11 erections during the day and 9 at night. Whoa buddy! The average man will also ejaculate 7200 times in his life. That's, um, a lot of pleasure.

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The Average Size Of A Dude's Penis Is...

An average penis size, when erect, is 5 to 6.4 inches. If you're so inclined, pull out a tape measure and find out if your guy matches up with that. Also, despite what you may have heard from your girl friends or movies or whatever, you cannot tell what a man's penis size is by looking at his hands, his feet, his finger or his nose or anything else. So stop trying to figure it out.

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A Male Orgasm Is Very, Very Quick

A dude's orgasm only lasts 6 seconds, which is basically no time at all... no wonder they're always coming back for more! In comparison, a woman's orgasm lasts about 23 seconds. We win! Mwahaha.

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A Penis Is Darker In Color Than The Rest Of Their Skin

Have you ever noticed that a man's penis tends to be darker in color than the rest of his body? Sort of strange, right? While it's partly because of the sexual maturation process and all of the blood flow happening down there, it's also because guys masturbate so much. Think about it. Or don't.

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A Man's Penis Is Like... A Tree?

Yes, I just compared a penis to a tree. Hear me out. A dude's penis might be 5 inches long when erect, but it's technically a lot bigger than that. That's because half of their penis is inside their body - like a root!

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There Are Two Types Of Penises

Maybe you've heard of the terms "grower" and "shower" before. Well, turns out, they're pretty legit. Some penises are growers - they expand and lengthen when they get hard. Other penises are showers - they look big all the time, but don't get much bigger when they get erect. Interesting!

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Guys Have No Control Over Their Sleep Erections

Dudes get erections while they're sleeping all of the time and it's not always because they're having a super sexy dream or anything like that. It can happen due to impulses in the brain during REM, which is a deep dreaming phase of sleep. During REM, a guy could be having his worst nightmare ever and his penis could still be erect. So don't freak out if you see it happen.

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The Most Sensitive Part Of A Penis Is...

The penis in general is super sensitive, but what's the most sensitive part? It seems like it's the underside of the glans and the underside of the shaft in most men. So... be careful with that area.

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Smoking Cigarettes Can Ruin Your Penis

Here's another reason why cigarettes are pretty much the worst things ever: they can slowly destroy your penis. Not only can smoking make it really hard to get a boner (because inhaling tobacco is bad for your circulation and penises are all about blood flow), but it can also make a penis shorter. Yes, cigarettes can shrink penises. Still want to smoke, dudes?

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What do you think about these facts? Did you know any of these already? What do you think is the most interesting? Tell me in the comments!

10 crazy and interesting facts about masturbation

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I feel like there’s a huge stigma when it comes to gynecologists, but they’re people too! My gyno is the best, and I have the greatest conversations with her. It’s great because I know she really cares about my well-being. And she’s super honest with me too, which makes me feel better.

Don’t be afraid of your gyno, seriously. But here are some things your doc probably isn’t telling you.

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Be Ready To Pee

You don't need to chug a gallon of water before you head to your appointment, but make sure you can pee when you get there. Your gyno is going to test your urine, and it really sucks to have to say you can't do it and end up stuck in the waiting room trying to drink water.

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They're Going To Prick Your Finger

I didn't know they did this every time, and my fear of needles does not appreciate it. I know it's just a prick, but it hurts and makes me anxious! It's mainly to test your iron levels, but just brace yourself and don't forget to breathe.

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No Waxing!

Your gyno does NOT care if your hair down there is shaped like a lightning bolt or vajazzled or whatever. But they'd rather you not wax right before your visit because it can be more difficult to determine if anything's wrong. Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., told Redbook "It's hard to know if something is actually wrong-like an inflammation or infection, for example-or if the woman is simply swollen from the trauma of waxing." So stay away from the salon before your appointment!

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They're Not Judging You

Your gyno is not there to judge you. I'm more honest with my doctor than I am with anyone else! Whether you switched partners without getting tested first or didn't use a condom that time, your doc isn't writing "slut" across your chart.

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Don't Go On Your Period

No, you can't go anyway. Don't schedule your appointment when you know you're going to be on your period. And if you get it that morning (it happens) call right away to reschedule.

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No Underwear When Possible

Wearing underwear all the time apparently is not good for your vajayjay. When you have it on 24/7, you end up trapping all kinds of bacteria and stuff. Dr. Hutcherson says, "Wear underwear during the day, but as soon as you get home, the panties should come off. And no woman ever needs to wear them to bed." Good to know!

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Did you know any of the things on this list? Is there anything you want to add? Tell us in the comments!
 

Yearly pelvic exams might not be totally necessary, by the way

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You may think of masturbation as just a way to feel good or waste time when you’re bored, but it’s more than that. Masturbating actually comes with some pretty sweet health benefits, as well as some other awesome benefits. Want to know more about everyone’s favorite pastime? Read on to check out these 10 crazy and interesting facts about masturbation: 

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Masturbating Can Ease Pain

Orgasms are actually a natural pain killer. Bringing yourself to orgasm can help relieve menstrual cramps and backaches from having your period. So the next time you're feeling the effects of PMS, try doing it solo for a little bit.

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Kids Can - And Do - Masturbate

Masturbation isn't just for horny teens and adults - kids can also indulge in a little self-pleasure (which honestly sounds so weird I can't even believe I just wrote it). Apparently, even babies can learn that touching themselves down there can feel good. Although it may be uncomfortable to talk about, it's perfectly normal and healthy for kids of any age to explore.

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Masturbation Can Keep You Healthy

Not only can the orgasms resulting from masturbation help get rid of pain, but masturbation itself can help keep you healthy. It can help build up a resistance to annoying yeast infections. Some research even says that orgasms can help to prevent endometriosis, which is a pretty serious disease of the uterine lining that can lead to infertility.

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Single People Probably Masturbate Less Than People In Relationships

You might think that people who don't have sex on a regular basis masturbate the most - after all, that would make sense, right? But you would be wrong. People who have sex on the regular (generally people in relationships) masturbate more than those who aren't always hooking up (generally single people). This is because masturbation makes you more open to sex, which means you have more sex. Get it?

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Masturbation Can Get Rid Of Insomnia

Having trouble sleeping? Try getting down and dirty with yourself. You'll feel sleepy after you masturbate because it relaxes you. Beat insomnia by masturbating! Doesn't sound too bad, right?

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The Majority Of Masturbation Myths Aren't True...

There are a lot of masturbation myths out there and the majority of them are not true. You may have heard that masturbating can lead to blindness, infertility and a decrease in libido. You also may have heard that masturbating make it more difficult for women to get pregnant and guys to produce sperm. None of this stuff is true. Masturbation is great and it's good for you and it's not going to make you blind. That's just silly.

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Masturbating Might Cause Yeast Infections

Remember how I said masturbation is healthy and can help you build up a resistance to yeast infections? That's all true, but research has also found that in some cases masturbation can actually cause yeast infections. This can happen if you use your saliva down there - like, if you lick your finger and then put it down there to create your own lube. The saliva messes with your bacteria down there and all that. If you need something extra, go buy some lube.

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Women Can Orgasm Without Touching Themselves

Here is a seriously awesome fact about women: we can bring ourselves to orgasm without even touching ourselves! Basically this means that we can use "thought masturbation" (I just made this term up) and orgasm just from thinking about sexy stuff. Crazy, right? I think you would need to be thinking some pretty intense thoughts, but think of this as a huge advantage we have over dudes. Go us!

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Masturbation Can Make Sex Even Better

Remember how I said there are a bunch of myths about masturbating that aren't true? One of those myths is that masturbating too much can ruin your sex life. That's actually completely false - masturbating frequently can help make your sex life better. That's because you learn exactly what you like and how to get yourself off. It also, like I said before, opens you up sexually. So go masturbate! Your partner will thank you.

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Solo Sex Helps With Stress

And remember how I also said that masturbation helps you sleep better? That's because, like I already mentioned, it relaxes you. Therefore, masturbating can help relieve stress. So the next time you're cramming for a final and freaking out over your potential grade, take a break for some very special you time and prepare to relax and feel better.

Source: ShutterStock

Did you know any of these facts already? Why do you love masturbation? What other facts do you want to know? What did I miss? Tell me in the comments!

8 crazy & interesting facts about your vagina

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Don’t worry girl, you definitely don’t sound weird. A few years ago, I heard something similar to this and I started freaking out the same way you are. I was seriously skeptical of ever using a public toilet because I was so paranoid that I would catch some sort of STD or other disease. Fortunately for both of us, catching something serious from a toilet seat is rare and can also be avoided pretty easily.

While toilet seats definitely hold a lot of bacteria, there’s no reason to avoid them completely. Yes, there’s a ton of dirty stuff going on on that seat, but as long as you rub your hands all over it and then put them in your mouth (ew, gross), you should be okay. Bugs that are normally found on toilet seats are things like E. coli, hepatitis A, the common cold virus and, yes, some sexually transmitted diseases. I know, I know. This isn’t helping your anxiety. Read on!

I’ve heard myths about being able to catch pubic lice (crabs) and genital warts or herpes from toilet seats. This is most likely something you don’t need to worry about. Pubic lice can’t live away from a human body for that long, so that means they can’t live on a toilet seat. Have no fear – no little lice are going to be jumping up your butt! Catching genital herpes from a toilet seat is also super rare.

Here’s the thing: as long as you have a healthy immune system and you wash your hands after you use the bathroom, you should be fine. After all, if it were that easy to catch a serious disease from a toilet seat, we’d all be walking around with these diseases, right? And remember when I told you guys about those eight seemingly innocent things that are dirtier than a toilet seat? Trust me, toilets are not the number one thing you need to be worried about. If you’re stressed over germs, make sure you stay hygienic - wash your hands after you go to the bathroom and carry around hand sanitizer. And remember, in general, the only time you should be worried about contracting STDs or STIs is when you’re having sex without a condom.

take care,
Heather

What’s on your mind? Heather can help! Send her your question at heather@gurl.com

Can oral sex cause cancer?

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Playing around with a pink eye makeup look? Lots of fun. Thinking you may have developed pink eye the infection? Considerably less fun. While pink eye is something that you definitely hear about, sometimes it’s unclear just exactly what it is and what causes it. That’s why we’re tackling this topic for our latest health FYI.

Pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis) can occur for a number of reasons. Allergens and irritants (like smoke) can cause it, but there are also viral and bacterial strains of pink eye. Sometimes the cause isn’t totally obvious, but it is the viral and bacterial forms that are contagious and can spread really easily.

When the blood vessels in the eyelid lining (the conjuctiva) get irritated, that’s what causes the pink color and the agitation in your eye. Besides the pink color (I mean, it is called pink eye after all), what other symptoms can you expect? They may vary slightly depending on the cause, but overall, you may notice some swelling or itching of your eye, a drainage or discharge from your eye, tearing up more than usual and/or your eyelids getting kind of crusty.

So what can you do to minimize your risk of getting pink eye – or spreading it if you know you have it? The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has a number of helpful guidelines.

The biggest takeaway is to be sure to wash your hands well and try to avoid touching or rubbing at your eyes. A cool compress can help soothe irritation you may be feeling so you aren’t rubbing at your eyes. Also, remember how we told you that you should replace your makeup on the regular? Well, another important rule of thumb is don’t share your eye or face makeup either, because that can spread pink eye.

If you used any makeup on your face while your eye was infected, it’s best to ditch it. Also, avoid wearing your contact lenses while you have pink eye. Anything you may have used that can be cleaned (like glasses or towels) should be cleaned before you use them again.

Pink eye may clear up on its own after several days, though the specific timing could vary depending on the cause of the conjunctivitis. While conjunctivitis may get better without medical treatment, your doctor may be able to prescribe antiviral medication or antibiotics to address your specific case that can help treat it.

Honestly, even though it can clear up with time, I’m a big believer in the “consulting your doctor to be safe” route, especially considering how easy it can spread. Also, there are instances when the conjunctivitis could be a chronic or more severe strain, or even possibly be a sign of another health condition that needs addressing.

Especially if your eye pain is severe, your vision is affected or you know your immune system is weakened because of another condition, you should definitely see your doctor. Knowing what pink eye is, what causes it and how it spreads can help keep you ready to prevent and address conjunctivitis if it ever pops up in your life.

How much did you know about pink eye before? What other health topics would you want us to cover? Tell me in the comments!

What Is A Thyroid?

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It’s super important to visit the gyno and get checked out, even if you’ve never had sex! You can still get STDs, and you don’t know what’s happening inside your body. Since forever, it’s been deemed a necessity to get a pelvic exam along with a pap smear and urine test every single year.

Well, the CDC is now saying that the pelvic exam is not necessary because it’s not an effective way to test for ovarian cancer or STDs. Cosmo’s expert, Jennifer Wider, MD, “agrees that the value of this exam has come into question lately, especially because it can’t diagnose ovarian or cervical cancer.”

Regardless, yearly visits to your doctor are necessary to screen for ovarian and cervical cancer, STDs and anything else happening down there. If you feel uncomfortable getting a pelvic exam, talk to your doctor about it! Doctors are there to help you, not to scare you.

But since pelvic exams seem to be the most intimidating part of gyno visits, I think a lot of women will feel more comfortable going to their doctor now. It might encourage more women to go and get checked, which is great because obviously we want women to be healthy!

So, next time you head to the gyno don’t be scared!

Are you scared to visit the gynecologist? Do you hate pelvic exams? Tell us in the comments!
 

Do you know what ovarian cysts are?

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You were supposed to lay on the couch all day, watch TV and have mom take care of you. But in reality, sick days were a total letdown if you were actually sick! My mom would force me to sleep all day with Vicks slathered on my chest wrapped in a scarf. It was the worst.

Here are 20 reasons sick days are complete letdowns:

1. You feel like this.

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2. You physically can’t do anything today.

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3. You think you can binge-watch TV.

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3. But your mom says this.

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4. And that you need to sleep it off.

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5. If you show any sign of feeling better, you have to do chores.

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6. You think you’ll get homemade chicken noodle soup.

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7. Maybe a grilled cheese too.

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8. And tons of ice cream to make your throat feel better.

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9. But you’re forced to eat things like oatmeal.

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10. And drink tea.

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11. You try sleeping but you can’t breathe.

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12. Anytime you get up, it feels like this.

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13. Your mom asks if you want to go to the doctor.

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14. Your friend texts you that you missed a pizza party in class.

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15. And you also missed a pop quiz.

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16. And have a bunch of assignments to make up.

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17. By the end of the day, you still feel like this.

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18. You can’t sleep because you were a bum all day.

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19. You’re starving because you couldn’t really eat.

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20. And you basically just hate everything.

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Are your sick days actually fun? What do you do when you’re sick? Tell us in the comments!
 

Sadly, Fresh Prince didn’t teach us how to be sick

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I feel like I probably don’t need to tell you guys that going tanning at a tanning salon is bad news. I’m sure most of you already know that based on the constant warnings we get about skin cancer that is a result of the extremely strong UV rays that are being blasted onto your body in a tanning bed. I mean, there are enough magazine articles, TV specials and news stories about it to last the rest of our lives. But did you know that going tanning may be doing damage to your self-esteem as well as your skin?

Research proves, yet again, that going tanning really isn’t doing you any favors. A new study found that 45 percent of people who go tanning, aged 18 – 34-years-old, are unhappy with how they look. It also found that 30 percent of people who go tanning go because they want to look more attractive – and obviously, it’s not really working out the way they want it to. And to put this in perspective, only 36 percent of young people who had never gone tanning before said they were unhappy with their appearance.

Here’s what’s happening: tanning is actually making your skin look worse. As health manager Caroline Cerny says, “We live in an image-obsessed culture and know many sunbed users continue to use them because they think they look better with a tan. But actually they are making their skin look worse in the long run. The most unhappy they are with the skin they’re in, the more they may use sunbeds – it’s a vicious cycle.”

So why are people still going to the tanning salon if doing so really isn’t making them feel any better about themselves? Out of the 45 percent of people who said they were suffering from low self-esteem, eight out of every ten say they go because they feel pressure to look more tan. 29 percent of those 45 percent said they went because of peer pressure, 30 percent said they want because of celebrities (thanks, Snooki) and 45 percent said they go because the media makes them feel like they have to.

What do those findings mean? Basically, people are tanning because they feel like they have to tan. Somewhere along the line, orange bronze skin became popular and suddenly, everyone had to have it. And since we don’t all have the luxury of living somewhere where going to the beach year-round is possible, a lot of people have resorted to tanning salons.

Look, I get it. Some people are really into being tan. I myself am one of those people. I enjoy having a nice golden glow going on – but instead of making that happen under artificial sunlight, I tan whenever I get the chance to go to the beach. (I use sunscreen! I know, I know, it’s still bad. I’m sorry. I try.) Being tan can be nice. I totally get it.

Not a great look, amirite? | Source: Giftube.com

But, and not to sound like your mom or anything, I have to warn you guys against using these tanning beds. Honestly, going to a tanning salon is SO bad for you. Tanning in general is bad for you! When tanning indoors, you become exposed to UV-A and UV-B rays, which leads to skin cancer. And bad news for young people: we have a 75 percent higher risk of getting melanoma. And while cancer is the worst result of tanning, it also leads to wrinkles, eye damage, a change in skin texture and premature aging.

Oh, and another thing? Tanning is addictive, guys. It can be just as addictive as drugs and alcohol and that’s pretty serious. The rewarded feeling people experience after going tanning is the same as the feeling smokers get after having a cigarette or alcoholics get after having a drink. So if you think you’re just going to get a tan “once in a while” so you don’t look pasty, think again: you could keep coming back for more.

I know it might be difficult to kick your tanning habit, but in the end, it will be worth it. You don’t want skin cancer, right? Right. You don’t want to look like a wrinkly old lady in 10 years when you should still look fresh-faced, right? Right. You don’t want to be compared to the horrible orange Tan Mom, right? Right. So, don’t go tanning. Use self-tanner or bronzer if you feel like you need some sort of glow happening. If you do it, I promise I will also take my own advice.

Do you go to the tanning salon? How often do you go? Why do you like tanning? Tell me in the comments.

6 products to make you look tan without tanning

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We’ve all got a few bad habits that we’ve been told we have to kick because they’re not good for us – but as it turns out, those bad habits really aren’t that bad after all. A recent post in The Daily Mail talks about the health benefits of five “bad” habits that I’m sure we can all relate to and proves that maybe we really don’t need to stop doing these things.

Since I do a few of these things myself, this is actually kind of a relief for me. I’m so sick of doing some of this stuff and then having people around me be like, “Jessica, you seriously need to stop,” and I’m just like, “Let me live.” Now I can take this post and shove it in their faces. *evil laugh*

Want to see if any of your “bad” habits are on this list? Check out what might not be so bad after all:

Burping: As the Daily Mail says, burping may be rude, but as it turns out, it’s really actually good for you. Burping is basically a release of natural gas in your stomach and it’s pretty important to the way your body functions. It’s actually a completely normal part of digestion and stopping yourself from doing it when you feel one coming on is bad for you. So basically, burping isn’t the bad habit – not burping is! Now, that doesn’t mean you should walk around burping the alphabet in a public place, but it does mean that you shouldn’t feel so embarrassed about it happening.

Biting your nails: This is a pretty common bad habit that I’m actually having sort of a hard time believing isn’t that bad. I don’t have this habit myself, but I know a lot of people who do and wish they didn’t. But as it turns out, the worst thing about nail biting might be coming away with some gnarly fingernails that aren’t up for a manicure. Putting the bacteria on your nails in your mouth may help build up your immune system and prevent you from getting sick in the future. Dr. Hilary Longhurst tells the Daily Mail, “Unless your hands are filthy, the bugs we encounter when biting our nails could boost our immune system.” Who knew nail biting could keep you healthy?

Farting: Just like with burping, farting may be rude, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad for your bod. This is another way your body releases the gas that builds up inside of you and it’s pretty important to not, uh, hold it in. Releasing this gas helps to relieve that horrible bloating feeling you can get after eating sometimes. Not farting can actually be pretty painful. If you really need to do it, I wouldn’t suggest letting one rip in the middle of all of your friends – awkward.

This could make you healthier! | Source: ShutterStock

Cracking your knuckles: Ahh, my favorite bad habit of all time. Guys, I’m the worst when it comes to cracking. I crack my fingers at least once an hour and pretty much anything else that can be cracked – my back, my knees, my wrists, my feet, my hips, shoulders, elbows, the list goes on. I’m always told to stop immediately, but contrary to popular belief, it really isn’t harming your joints. In fact, it’s actually making them more flexible.

Eating in bed: Okay, honestly I’ve never really heard about this being bad. I think moms just made it up because they didn’t want their kids getting crumbs in their beds and leading to icky little bugs. But if you’ve been told you shouldn’t do it, fight back because eating in bed actually may help aid digestion. It’s sort of a stretch, but doctors tell the Daily Mail that when you’re in bed, you’re more likely to be relaxed and when you’re relaxed, your digestion is better. So go on and eat your dinner all cozy under your covers! Just be neat, please.

So, you’re welcome for all of this handy info that will enable you to keep up with your “bad” habits. However, as with all things, too much of a good thing is never good. Doing any of these things excessively probably isn’t going to offer as many health benefits, so keep things simple, short and sweet.

Which of these bad habits are you guilty of? What other bad habits do you have that aren’t mentioned on this list? Tell me in the comments. 

What’s the difference between being comfortable with your BF & just gross?

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You could be allergic to sperm and not even know it! | Source: ShutterStock

I’m allergic to cats and pollen, which suck enough. But there’s another allergy that’s coming to light that sounds a lot worse: A lot of women are actually allergic to sperm.

Say what?!

The technical term for being allergic to sperm is seminal plasma hypersensitivity, and it’s when your body reacts to proteins in semen. About 20,000 to 40,000 women in the U.S. suffer from it, and a lot more may be suffering from it–because it’s often misdiagnosed or not reported because they’re embarrassed.

Symptoms of a sperm allergy include pain, redness and swelling after or during sex. Some women break out in hives or feel like there’s a needle pricking their vagina (OMG, ouch). Scary!

The problem with that is that sperm allergies are often misdiagnosed since they have similar symptoms as yeast or vaginal infections and some STDs, so a lot of women who suffer from it don’t even know it. Another issue? A lot of sexual health products, from lube to spermicides to latex condoms, can contain allergens too, so it takes a lot of narrowing down to realize that sperm is the problem. They just know that they’re in pain and that their sex lives are suffering because of it.

Thankfully, sperm allergies are treatable. It takes some trial and error to figure out which specific proteins in a guy’s semen you’re having reactions to. When docs narrow it down, they gradually expose you to them more often until you’re not sensitive to them anymore.

More good news? Having a sperm allergy won’t affect your fertility, so if you want to pop out babies someday, you should be fine–as long as you’re not too uncomfortable while you’re making them. (But you have a long ways to wait for that anyway–so use protection!)

Do you or someone you know have a sperm allergy? How do you think you’d deal if you were diagnosed as allergic to sperm? Do you have any other bizarre allergies? Tell us in the comments!

Get info on allergies here!

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