The good news about sex

With summer in full swing, we wanted to offer you a good dose of good news. No guide on female masturbation or exploring your pleasure this week, but a selection of good news about sexuality. Let's get this shot of good vibes going!

New options for male contraception

In heterosexual couples, the burden of contraception is still too often borne solely by women . From purchasing birth control pills, implants, or IUDs , women sometimes even undergo serious and permanent procedures to avoid having children.

Choosing contraception is often a long and lonely struggle.

However, while men are fertile 365 days a year, women are only fertile for a few days a month . Do you see where we're going with this?

The good news is that people are speaking more openly about this topic and some men want to take responsibility for contraception . The media are increasingly addressing the issue by giving a voice to those who use contraception daily.

Among the alternatives to condoms and vasectomy, we now find thermal devices such as heated underwear or the Androswitch .

Weekly testosterone injections appear to be another option, but they are more complicated to implement in France and are limited to 18 months.

This so-called "male" contraception is by no means solely for men. These options and advances in research also open up possibilities for women and non-binary people who have a penis.

Sex toys that are good for your health

Could we fantasize about vibrators and other sex toys prescribed by doctors? Perhaps this idea isn't so far from our future, if we are to believe a recent publication.

Last May, the Journal of Urology published a meta-analysis of more than 500 scientific publications that include keywords such as "sexual stimulation vibrator", "pelvic floor vibrator" and "incontinence vibrator".

The conclusion is in favor of sex toys as an effective medical device to combat incontinence and chronic vulvar pain.

The authors encourage further research on the usefulness of vibrators for women's sexual health.

Advances in endometriosis research

This news will give a good dose of hope to our endometriosis patients. Last February, we gave Floriane and the Endo Lab a platform to raise awareness about this issue.

As a reminder, one in 10 women, or between 1.5 and 2.5 million women, are affected by this chronic inflammatory disease of the genital system.

According to the website of the French Sexuality Observatory , the startup Ziwig has developed a test for the rapid detection of endometriosis. Could this finally be the end of years of medical uncertainty? We hope so!

A caring and non-judgmental confidant regarding your sexual health

With initiatives like the Sextech for Good collective , innovation in sexual health and well-being is finally developing in France . Numerous projects are emerging that promote "a more open future, for a more egalitarian, pleasurable, and inclusive society, concerned with the well-being and fulfillment of everyone."

Among these initiatives, we have a particular soft spot for Sacha. Sacha is an artificial intelligence used for prevention and education in sexual health . It allows young people (and not so young) to ask all the questions they don't dare to.

This initiative by the HF Prévention association offers the opportunity to express one's fears, to talk about complex situations without fear of being judged or stigmatized by a relative or an unkind healthcare professional.

Once the app is launched, the user asks their question and Sacha responds, taking into account their language and emotions. If necessary, Sacha directs them to relevant organizations and resources. A real step forward for sex education in France!

Sacha is available for free download via Google Play ( Android ) and the App Store ( iOS ).

And in the rest of the world

In 2020, Sudan criminalized female genital mutilation. This was another step in the fight against excision, a practice still common in many countries. It's a cause that is particularly close to our hearts at Puissante, as we actively advocate for women to have full control over their own bodies.

For this reason, we have partnered with the NGO Les Orchidées Rouges , which specializes in providing comprehensive support to women and girls who are victims of female genital mutilation, early or forced marriage. 

Last November, the state of Queensland in Australia launched a campaign in favor of masturbation.

On its social media, the Ministry of Health explains that " masturbation is normal and healthy , part of everyone's sexual experience, and a very good way to discover what you're comfortable with." Furthermore, if the French government wishes to follow suit, we strongly recommend they read our article on the benefits of female masturbation . 

So, that feels good, doesn't it? We hope this dose of good news brightens up the end of summer. To receive even more inspiration and recommendations on sexuality, women's well-being, and self-exploration, sign up for our weekly newsletter.