Apple’s App Store has a host of health apps, including a sexual health information app and NYC’s Free Condom app. Newest to the scene is the free iCondom app, which is a collaboration of MTV’s Staying Alive campaign and iCondom. The app allows you to upload the location of the nearest condom dispenser or retailer via GPS. As more people upload the location of condom dispensers or retailers, the iCondom app hopes to create the world’s largest condom distribution map.

Whether this app will help people practice safer sex or just be one more useless app remains to be seen. Although the app seems like a good idea in theory, one wonders how popular it will be since there seem to be similar apps out there. The app may prove to be a great help in those tricky situations when you are without a condom, don’t know the area very well and don’t have the time to go on a hunt for one.

You can support iCondom by adding new dispenser locations, which can be done directly from the app. Visit MyiCondom.com to download the app.

—Rachel Baron, 18, Contributor

Guys are more likely to masturbate than girls, according to a recent review of teen data from a national survey on sexual health and behavior. Guys also reported masturbating more frequently than girls; about 50 percent of the guys in the survey said they masturbated at least twice a week, while only 23 percent of the girls reported to do the same.

None of these stats are surprising. After all, the media basically portrays masturbation among guys as part of being a teen, while female masturbation still remains taboo. I think that it is likely that girls masturbate as much as guys, but the stigma around female masturbation simply makes them too embarrassed to report that they have tried it. In any case, it’s important to realize that masturbation is a healthy part of growing up for both guys and girls and should never be regarded as dirty or unnatural, if it’s something you choose to do.

I was really shocked that the survey found that masturbation in boys was linked to increased condom use with a partner; interestingly enough, this link was not seen among girls. Perhaps guys who are comfortable with their bodies are more likely to think about practicing safer sex? If you have any ideas why guys who masturbate are more likely to use condoms, comment below and share your thoughts!

—Sam Dercon, 17, Staff Writer

The debate over defunding Planned Parenthood hasn’t cooled much in the month after my March blog post. Since then, House Republicans and Democrats have continued to struggle to resolve the dispute, and it was one of the major conflicts that almost led to a federal “shutdown” on April 8th, which would have left 800,000 federal employees and over a million troops without pay until the budget was resolved. In the end, the House passed the budget just hours before the shutdown deadline.

After narrowly avoiding a shutdown and the Senate voting down a new measure to deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood, it’s fair to say that we might all appreciate some lighter coverage on this issue. Among the many voices weighing in on the debate is at least one anchorman able to provide some humor: comedian Stephen Colbert. His funny take on the controversy, besides giving viewers a good laugh, offers more insight on the situation than many of the men and women on Capitol Hill. Jump to the 1:35 mark:

—Meg Gibbon, 19, Contributor

Need a free condom? There’s an app for that. This past Valentine’s Day, the New York Health Department released an application for smartphones that shows users where they can get free condoms. The application allows you to either enter an address or use GPS positioning to quickly supply you with a handy map showing five nearby locations where free condoms are available.

When I downloaded the app, I was stunned at how well designed it was and the detail it provided. Not only are you given a map that shows you where to find free condoms, each location comes with a tab that gives you an address, phone number and description of what they offer. The locations that came up ranged from a Columbia University health clinic, offering female condoms, to a local community health center offering lubricant and NYC condoms. Needless to say, I spent a good hour learning where you can find free condoms and other sexual health items in New York City.

But while this is great if you happen to live in NYC and own a smartphone, the idea is lost on anyone who doesn’t fall into this category. It’s awesome that the city wants to support safer sex, but chances are if you own a smartphone you probably can afford condoms. Also if you happen to need one in the moment, it’s probably faster to find a nearby drugstore than go on a treasure hunt using your smartphone. This being said, the idea behind the app is fabulous. I hope that more cities will adopt NYC’s attitude toward openly promoting safer sex.

Download the free app if you own a smartphone. Who knows when it may be useful!

—Sam Dercon, 17, Staff Writer

Monadnock High School in New Hampshire banned safer-sex kits, which were made available to students by a group called AIDS Services during a World AIDS Day presentation this past December. Though the school had initially approved making the kits available to students, school officials said they didn’t known what was in them. The kits included candy, condoms and flavored lubricant, which reportedly upset parents.

I can understand that parents might be upset by being faced with the idea that some teens—perhaps even their son or daughter—are having sex. And having their children get condoms and lube at a school presentation is a painful reminder that their children might be at risk for STDs and/or pregnancy.

These parents have valid concerns, and I can understand why they wouldn’t want their kids to be having sex. But that doesn’t change the fact that some teens are having sex and need condoms to protect themselves against pregnancy and/or STDs. It’s naive for parents to think that if condoms aren’t available, such as in the safer-sex kits offered at Monadnock High School, that no teens are having sex, and consequently their teens aren’t having sex.

Not making condoms available is doing a disservice to any teen who would benefit from practicing safer sex. The more schools make condoms and lubricant readily available the better off teens will be. We would all benefit from a decrease in unplanned pregnancies and the spread of STDs.

—Taylor McCabe, 18, Contributor