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| | Ah, the condom. The simplest contraceptive. But perhaps not the most…um...elegant? Many people trying to prevent pregnancy, not the least monogamous heterosexual couples, look to upgrade to another method at some point. They want something that's more reliable, or that makes intercourse feel more "natural." And unless a man is willing to undergo a vasectomy, all of the other methods fall on the female side of the equation. Most of them come in the form of synthetic hormones that prevent a woman from ovulating, like birth control pills or hormonal IUDs. Many women feel fine on hormonal birth control, but others experience side effects like migraines, mood swings, or even depression. But there’s no rule in science that says the keeper of the womb must be the one tasked with medically guarding it from pregnancy. In fact, researchers around the world are working on reversible contraceptive options for guys. Possibilities include a hormonal topical gel that would lower a man’s sperm count over time, and non-hormonal pills that could “disarm” sperm by taking away their ability to swim. “There's somewhat of a feeling of invulnerability among most men because they don't have to think about the need for contraception,” says Ob-Gyn and researcher Brian Nguyen. “And the only way to remedy that is by having more and more open conversations with men about reproduction, and their responsibility in a process that is not just a women's issue." Here's what Ngyuen and other researchers think it will take to get men interested enough for these products to succeed on the market. Also: More people are choosing to get sterilized – and some are being turned away. |
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Annelise Capossela for NPR |
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I have something to confess. Sometimes, I don’t like being a grownup. I miss being a kid. Specifically the part where I got to play, make up imaginary games, and generally be silly – especially with my peers. Maybe you know what I mean? You might get a feeling of childlike freedom from playing in an adult soccer league, but you still have to stick to the rules of the game. And then there’s that fear of being judged if you mess up. Enter improv comedy. Grownups like you and me can get our sillies out playing creative games and making up scenes on the spot. When podcast producer Oluwakemi Aladesuyi started taking improv classes, she found it was helping her overcome anxiety and shyness off-stage too. One recent study found doing just 20 minutes of improv a day can increase creativity, decrease social anxiety and increase your ability to tolerate uncertainty. And you don’t necessarily have to take a class to learn from improv, says Clay Drinko, author of Play Your Way Sane: 120 Improv-Inspired Exercises to Help You Calm Down, Stop Spiraling and Embrace Uncertainty. One lesson: embrace your mistakes. For example, Aladesuyi says she got weird looks in improv class when she pronounced broccoli rabe "broccoli rah-bay.” But instead of getting flustered, she made the mispronunciation part of her character’s personality. Here’s five lessons from improv that can improve your everyday life. Also: How to make a habit of creating art |
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Helen H. Richardson/Denver Post via Getty Images |
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