Choosing the right type of birth control can be a complicated With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is best for you. From the pill to the patch, the ring to the implant, each method has its pros and cons. Some offer a higher level of effectiveness but may come with side effects, while others are less invasive but require strict adherence to a schedule. It's important to understand the different types of birth control options available and weigh...

Valentine’s Day can be a truly miserable time for people. Sure, the aesthetic is cute and the stores are finally stocking the correct amount of chocolate which is nice, but being single this time of year can feel like you’re wearing a neon sign that says “I’m alone” around your neck. For women, especially, relationship status is linked so closely to self-worth in our society (literally don’t get me started). Combine that with a healthy dollop of capitalism and you’ve got a red velvet nightmare...

Oh, not another epidemic! Monkeypox (MPX)—a relative of smallpox—causes painful, raised, reddened lesions with pus inside and can also affect the body in other ways. This disease has been causing outbreaks in Africa for several decades, but it seems to have found its way to Europe and, the Americas, and here we are. In Europe and the U.S. it has so far primarily affected men who have sex with men, but it is beginning to slip out of that community as well. It is now obvious that...

  Is it possible to engage the biggest erogenous zone we have—the brain—simply through language and intimate connection? Erotic hypnosis—or “hypnokink”—says “Yes.” Hypnokink is the practice of using hypnosis to enhance sexual or kinky play. A hypnotist—someone who has learned hypnotic techniques but is not necessarily a licensed hypnotherapist—uses skillful words, actions, and even touch to lead their consenting partner (the “subject”) into amazing, heightened erotic experiences, just by working with their mind. I’ve been including hypnosis in my sex life for well over a decade,...

Gendered medical injustice has been an ongoing point of discussion in feminist spaces throughout history, being especially prevalent in recent months with the fight for safe, legal abortion access being a hot-button issue in American politics. From the dismissal of symptoms to misdiagnosis to outright abuse at the hands of medical “professionals,” the poor treatment of people assigned female at birth in medicine has been pervasive for centuries. "Hysterical" Women Through History Perhaps the most prevalent and oft-discussed examples of the mistreatment of female bodies throughout history...

Multiple states and politicians in the USA are trying to make it illegal—or at least as difficult as possible—for people to get abortions. When the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade this spring, it became up to each state to decide whether to either legalize or ban abortion. As a result, in many states, obtaining an abortion became nearly impossible. No matter how many politicians (or, let’s be honest, white male Republicans) attempt to prevent people from getting abortion care, the need for abortions will...

FROM A YOUNG age, 26-year-old Yasmin Benoit knew she was different. “I realized before that, but I found the word [asexual] 10 years ago when I was 15,” she says. Asexuality is the lack of, or complete absence of, sexual attraction and desire. Until recently, not much was known about this sexual orientation; therefore, research and information about people who are asexual or aromantic, is sparse. Upon discovery of the term, however, Benoit says she didn’t have an a-ha moment. “[Asexuality] was very much just something that...

Q: I've been having trouble connecting to myself sexually because of past sexual trauma. Porn, in particular, is a trigger for me. I have a therapist but don’t want to talk about it. Do I have to?  A: You don’t have to talk about it, no. But if your full question is more like, “Will working with a therapist help me get over the effects of sexual trauma if I don’t address it in therapy?” your reticence around opening up is not a plus. It’s not...

The fact that Diana Ross’ R&B pop hit “I’m Coming Out” was released in 1980 and is still popular to this day is a testament to the idea that there is no expiration date for choosing to embrace your true self. Although we live in a very open, and mostly accepting society nowadays, for people in the LGBTQIA+ community, that wasn’t always the case. Same-sex marriage was only legalized in the United States in 2015, and as a result, many people waited to not only...

BUST is looking for fresh "One-Handed Reads." We publish erotica and erotic-romance that appeals to our audience. This includes contemporary, BDSM, queer stories, sci-fi, and fantasy. Right now we're especially interested in BIPOC and queer pieces.  Rate: $50 for 900 words. Send submissions to submissions@bust.com ...