Photo: (MTV)

Dating’s a breeze when you’re a celebrity, right? Not all the time! We recently sat down with “Awkward.” stars Beau Mirchoff and Molly Tarlov to chat about real-life dating disasters and deal-breakers, including an epic spaghetti sauce fail.

“I was in 9th grade, maybe 8th, and I went to my lady’s house to meet her parents for the first time,” says Beau. Uh oh. Meeting the parents is awkward enough as it is! He continues, “They cooked up some spaghetti, and I’m not the most tidiest of eaters … and I made a complete fool of myself.” As for others making fools of themselves, Beau knows that first date nerves can make people act out of character. “We’ll give ‘em a second date,” he says, “but after that, dishonesty’s a big deal-breaker.” Molly’s deal-breaker? Guys who don’t listen.

+ Watch Beau Mirchoff + Molly Tarlov Talk About Dating

Listening and honesty are especially important when things start to get hot ‘n’ heavy. Whether it’s the first date or your wedding night, it’s important for you and your partner know the facts and speak openly about sexual health. The longer you wait, the more awkward things can become — especially when it comes to STDs and pregnancy. Take action below if you need help having an “Awkward.” convo about sex.

Photo: (MTV)

In this week’s “World of Jenks” bonus clip, Andrew Jenks got some face time with The Turf Feinz to find out what they think about being fathers. They opened up about what they learned from their fathers, what mistakes they’ve made, and what their hope is for their kids.

D-Real admitted that he knows he made one mistake as a father: he regrets that his son “won’t be able to grow with his mother and his father in the same house.” Greg, one of The Turf Feinz members, shares that he was late to the hospital, which meant he actually missed out on his child’s birth.

The group also agreed that having kids changed them in ways they didn’t expect. D-Real explained that his son “really showed me what love is,” while someone else chimed in that his kid is always on his mind, no matter what he’s doing. Check out the clip below to find out what else the group had to say.

+ Watch ‘World of Jenks’ Ep. 8 Deleted Scene: “Turf Feinz on Fatherhood“

If you’re not ready to be a parent, you can get all the scoop from It’s (Your) Sex Life about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to preventing pregnancy.

Photo: (DoSomething.org)

You have one new text. Congrats! It’s your … um, baby?

Yep, DoSomething.org is bringing back its Pregnancy Text campaign to raise awareness about teen pregnancy. The org tapped one of our favorite moms, Snooki, to promote the campaign, which aims to educate teens about the realities of being a teen parent.

Did you know that three in 10 American teen girls will get pregnant at least once before age 20? That means there will be almost 750,000 teen pregnancies each year, making the United States the country with the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western industrialized world. Because less than half of teen moms under 18 ever graduate from high school and fewer than 2% earn a college degree by age 30, DoSomething wants you to experience what it’s like to have a baby for a day.

Hear that? That’s your phone baby telling you it’s time for a diaper change. You can get your digital baby by texting BABY to 38383, and once your baby arrives, it’s nonstop parenting for 24 hours. You’ll learn very quickly that your baby doesn’t care much for your studies, work schedule, or social life. Sure, you won’t actually have to change your digital baby or clean up its many messes, but you’ll get a taste of what it would be like to have a baby of your own who needs you nearly every second of every day. If you’re down to take home a digital baby or send one to your friends, head over to DoSomething’s campaign site to learn more. Bonus: If you sign up 6 of your friends you’ll win a chance for a $3,000 scholarship!

Photo: One of texts you’ll receive from your “baby.” (DoSomething.org)

Want to know what Snooki thinks about the Pregnancy Text campaign? Watch the video below to find out why she thinks the campaign is so important and why you should totally send your guy friends a digital baby.

+ Watch “Snooki On Teen Pregnancy.”

If you are planning to have sex, make sure you’re prepared to protect yourself from STDs and pregnancy. Remember, protection is only effective if you use it each and every time you have sex. You can find out all the details at It’s Your (Sex) Life or by visiting the FAQ page. If you’re planning to wait to have sex, that’s cool too. You can find tips for waiting here.

Photo: (DoSomething.org)

You have one new text. Congrats! It’s your…um, baby?!

Yep, DoSomething.org is bringing back its Pregnancy Text campaign to raise awareness about teen pregnancy. The org tapped one of our favorite moms, Snooki, to promote the campaign, which aims to educate teens about the realities of being a teen parent.

Did you know that 3 in 10 American teen girls will get pregnant at least once before age 20? That means there will be almost 750,000 teen pregnancies every year, making the United States the country with the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western industrialized world. Because less than half of teen moms under 18 ever graduate from high school and fewer than 2% earn a college degree by age 30, DoSomething wants you to experience what it’s like to have a baby for a day.

Hear that? That’s your phone baby telling you it’s time for a diaper change. You can get your digital baby by texting BABY to 38383, and once your baby arrives, it’s nonstop parenting for 24 hours. You’ll learn very quickly that your baby doesn’t care much for your studies, work schedule, or social life. Sure, you won’t actually have to change your digital baby or clean up its many messes, but you’ll get a taste of what it would be like to have a baby of your own who needs you nearly every second of every day. If you’re down to take home your digital baby or send one to your friends, head over to DoSomething’s campaign site to learn more. Bonus: If you sign up 6 of your friends you’ll win a chance for a $3,000 scholarship!

Photo: One of texts you’ll receive from your “baby.” (DoSomething.org)

Want to know what Snooki thinks about the Pregnancy Text campaign? Watch the video below to find out why she thinks the campaign is so important and why you should totally send your guy friends a digital baby.

+ Watch “Snooki On Teen Pregnancy.”

If you are planning to have sex, make sure you’re prepared to protect yourself from STDs and pregnancy. Remember, protection is only effective if you use it each and every time you have sex. You can find out all the details at It’s Your (Sex) Life or by visiting the FAQ page. If you’re looking to wait to have sex, that’s cool too. You can find tips for waiting here.

Photo: (MTV)

If you’re a fan of girl power and positivity, chances are Eve Ensler’s work is on your digital bookshelf. The feminist powerhouse is responsible for getting the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway to rise up and protest violence against women for 1 Billion Rising, and for theater kids around the world to belt out The Vagina Monologues.

We had a chance to chat with Eve Ensler as part of MTV’s Pioneer Series. Eve stopped by to talk about her new book, In the Body of the World, an intimate memoir about her life and her recently won battle with uterine cancer.

The book is the most personal work she’s ever written, and details her journey to reclaim and get back in touch with her body. She reflected on her time spent in the Congo, how inspired she was by the women there (who have survived years of civil war and violence) and her own story of survival while undergoing cancer treatment. After kicking cancer’s butt, she re-emerged with a new appreciation for life and a wisdom for how the earth and body are connected. She urged people to appreciate the love in their lives beyond their significant others. Friends and family can give you the “big love” that sweeps you off your feet.

When asked what her one wish for the world is, not surprisingly she said to end violence against women. Having visited almost 70 countries, Eve said that the sad thing everyone had in common was the oppression of women. Eve wants women around the world to be empowered to walk, talk and wear whatever they choose, and not be harassed. She stressed that this is NOT a just women’s issue though. It’s up to men to rise up and come forward in support of the women in their lives. Men have as much, or more, of a role to play in ending violence against women.

Of course, at the heart of all of this is building healthy relationships — with yourself and others. To Eve, sex education should go beyond putting the condom on a banana and delve into how we want to be touched and treated.  We need to make sure men and women clearly understand what rape is, and know that no ALWAYS means no.   And beyond that, we should talk more about the positives of sex — creating a better understanding of the meaning of consensual sex, what feels good and the importance of making sure that both people are having a positive experience.

Be sure to check out Eve’s new book, In the Body of the World. For more info on sexual health head over to IYSL.

Photo: (StayTeen.org)

The rate of teen pregnancy has been dropping in the last few decades, but three out of ten teenage girls will still become pregnant before reaching the age of twenty. In hopes of bringing the numbers down more, the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy got started.

+ Get Quizzed

Today is May 1 and many people are excited ’bout that. It’s also a milestone day as National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy turns 12 so Stay Teen has created a fancy, new online quiz. You can actually plug in your name, the name of your crush, and the name of your BFF, and the quiz comes up with little storylines. As you find yourself in different situations (from Halloween parties to prom night), the quiz asks how you’ll respond.

+ Protect Yo Self

To step away from online quizzes and get into IRL stuff, it’s important to be super knowledgeable about protection. If you’re sexually active now, it’s so VITAL you use protection every time. 90% of teens who don’t use protection are pregnant within a year. MTV’s It’s Your [Sex] Life can help you with the deets on protection options and how well each kind works. And if you’re not sexually active, all good, because it’s good to educate yourself on birth control and all that stuff before you jump in bed with your partner. That way you’ll be better prepared and know how to keep yourself protected.

In 2012, more than 700,000 people took part in the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and hopefully this year will be even bigger and better. Becoming a teen parent is 100% avoidable. Learning about birth control can ensure you only become a parent as an adult, and only if and when you want to. So enjoy this glorious, new month and be safe while you do it!

Photo: (Thomas Patterson for The New York Times)

Title IX of the Education Amendments prohibited sex-based discrimination in schools, but it also guarantees students “essential and extensive rights to freedom from sexual violence necessary for equal access to education.” Do you know your IX rights?

Know Your IX is a new campaign spearheaded by a group of sexual assault activists located all over the country. You might not know their names, but you’ve probably heard their stories. Alexandra Brodsky helped bring a Title IX complaint against Yale, while Dana Bolger helped found It Happens Here, a blog recounting sexual assaults on Amherst’s campus. Their experiences might be different, but one thing Brodsky, Bolger, Annie Clark, Courtney Kiehl, Kate Orazem, Andrea Pino, Ali Safran and Lauren Buxbaum have in common, is that they’re determined to educate students about their Title IX rights. They formed an underground network of sorts, sharing their stories with each other, and now want to make sure all students across the country know what rights are afforded them.

They recently launched their campaign on crowd funding platform Indiegogo, in hopes of raising $10,000 by May 27th. The campaign came about because, as the site notes, “many colleges today are failing to fulfill their legal and ethical obligations.” They’re hoping to educate every college student in the country about his or her rights under Title IX before the start of the fall 2013 term. They believe that, “armed with information, survivors will be able to advocate for themselves during their schools’ grievance proceedings, and, if Title IX guarantees are not respected, to file a complaint against their colleges with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.”

You can donate any amount big or small to the campaign, although some amounts come with “perks” like a magnet or bumper sticker. Even if you can’t afford to donate right now, you can still spread the word to make sure students are aware of their rights under Title IX.

The end of April marks the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but we will continue to shine a light on the efforts of those who are speaking out on behalf of survivors. For more information on how you can help sexual assault survivors, take action below.

If you or someone you know need someone to talk to, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential and available 24/7 at 1.800.656.HOPE. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to someone over the phone, you can log on to the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Oh man. Some serious drama goes down when Jenna’s dad finds her birth control in the guest bathroom. Totally understandable that her dad is feeling protective, and is worried that Jenna and Matty haven’t really talked through things enough. Being super secure with your relationship means being able to talk about anything — including having a protection plan.

This week, “Awkward.” stars Molly Tarlov and Jillian Rose Reed weigh in on healthy relationships and protection as part of IYSL and Awkward.’s collaboration. Check out what they had to say!

+ Why is making a protection plan so key?

The real deal is that many teens are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Three in ten teen girls in the US will get pregnant at least once before age 20. Every single time you have sex there is a chance of pregnancy. It doesn’t matter what position, environment, or time of the month it is — pregnancy can happen. If you do decide to have sex, making a plan to protect yourself from STD’s and pregnancy before you’re in the situation is the way to go. Luckily, there are a TON of protection options to choose from. There’s the pill, the patch, and condoms — just to name a few. The great thing about condoms is that they’re the ONLY method that prevent BOTH pregnancy AND STD’s. All of this is def a team effort — you and your partner should both be on the same page and take care of each other and your health. Jillian agrees, “We want to take all the steps necessary…we need to be confident in our relationship with our boyfriends or girlfriends.”

+ Watch “Awkward.” Discuss A Protection Plan.

 + What if I Want to Wait 

Seriously, no biggie. This is a huge decision, and is YOURS to make — “When am I ready?” is a question that only you can answer.  It doesn’t have to be the school’s or even your friends’ business. It’s between you and your partner, and if they have a problem with it? Might be time to ditch them. Jillian’s character, Tamara, doesn’t let peer pressure get to her. She knows exactly what she wants, and is totally down to wait for the right time and the right person to have sex. “The truth of the matter is that only about half of teenagers in high school are having sex.” Jillian reveals.

+Watch  “Awkward.” Talk About Why It’s OK To Wait.

+ What Can Fans Learn from Tamara’s experiences? 

Ugh, who can forget Tamara’s awful ex? Ricky cheated, lied, and Tamara kept taking him back, leaving many “Awkward.” fans yelling at their TV. Jillian urges her fans to not let anyone walk all over them. “I would definitely tell my fans to be stronger than that and not to go back to a guy that keeps breaking your heart,” Jillian says.

+ Watch Jillian discuss what you can learn from Tamara’s experiences.

Don’t miss tonight’s episode of “Awkward.” at 10/9c, and be sure to check out more exclusive clips and relationship tips on IYSL.

Photos: (Getty, MTV Act)

We’ve got your playlist to get you in the mood…to practice safe sex. Today is #ThrowbackThursday and in honor of April’s National STD Awareness month we’re DJing our fav old-school artists who originally made “the sex talk” cool. These songs may be vintage, but knowing your status and practicing safe sex never goes out of style. Check out our picks below!

+ Salt-N-Pepa “Let’s Talk About Sex“

Let’s talk about sex, baby
Let’s talk about you and me
Let’s talk about all the good things
And the bad things that may be
Let’s talk about sex
Let’s talk about sex
Let’s talk about sex
Let’s talk about sex

You gotta hand it to Salt-N-Pepa, they really know how to get your attention and aren’t afraid to start the convo! Talking to your partner can be tough, but it is sooo necessary. Being open and honest from the start helps making big decisions (like deciding when you’re ready to have sex, getting tested, and having a protection plan) a lot easier.

+ TLC “Waterfalls“

Little precious has a natural obsession
For temptation but he just can’t see
She gives him loving that his body
Can’t handle but all he can say
Is “baby is good to me”
One day he goes and take a glimpse in the mirror
But he doesn’t recognize his own face
His health is fading and he doesn’t know why
3 letters took him to his final resting place…

TLC gets REAL about the dangers of unprotected sex in one of their greatest hits- Waterfall. Using protection- each and every time- is critical to preventing STDs, including HIV. Getting tested regularly, and seeking treatment if necessary is also important. Luckily today, the “3 letters” that TLC refers to is totally treatable. Today, people diagnosed with HIV can live long and healthy lives.

+ Madonna “Papa Don’t Preach“

Papa don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep
Papa don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep
But I made up my mind, I’m keeping my baby, oh
I’m gonna keep my baby, mmm…

He says that he’s going to marry me
We can raise a little family
Maybe we’ll be all right
It’s a sacrifice

Using protection is also important to prevent unwanted pregnancies. In Madonna’s powerful ballad she breaks the news to her dad that she is pregnant, and keeping her baby (uh-whoaa- ohhh). Luckily, since the ‘80s teen pregnancies have gone down. But it’s def still a problem, today 3 in 10 girls will get pregnant before they turn 20. Madonna’s man in the song says he’s going to marry her, but a shocking 8 out of 10 teen fathers won’t put a ring on the mother of their child. There are a lot of cray rumors about how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, so be sure to read up on what works and what doesn’t.

+ Spice Girls “2 Become 1“

I had a little love, now I’m back for more (wanna make love to ya baby)
Set your spirit free, it’s the only way to be
Be a little bit wiser baby, put it on, put it on,
‘Cause tonight is the night when two become one

Who doesn’t love a good Spice Girls ballad? Of course the girls know that love can spice up your life, but they don’t lose themselves in the heat of the moment and forget about using protection. They know that part of Girl Power is being comfortable with asking your partner to use a condom. Respect is a huge part of a healthy relationship. If your partner isn’t listening to you- might be time to move on.

For more tips on safe sex, check out IYSL!

Photo: (MTV)

From a sex shop visit, to a pizza parlor hookup, to Nia’s X-Rated attempt at embarrassing Jordan, this season of “Real World Portland” is so sexually charged, I feel like I just stuck my finger in a socket! But one roommate is doing the opposite when it comes to sex.

Jess’ “no boys in the bed” policy held fast on last night’s episode. When her date Tyler got too drunk to drive home, she let him sleep over…on the couch. Much to the roommates’ surprise, the 6’7″ hunk — who has been nicknamed Paul Bunyan — curled up on a much smaller couch with zero complaints. “To be frank, I’ve done things the wrong way in the past,” Jess said when we asked why she chose to take it slow. “But when I met Ty, I knew that he was a special guy, and I didn’t want to throw it away by making the same mistakes that I made before.”

What did Jess have to say to her doubtful roommates? “This is my decision, not theirs!” You go girl! It’s your (sex) life, and whether you get down or not, it’s all about what makes you most comfortable.

It may seem like everyone’s having sex, but they’re not! More than half of all high school students have never had sex, and two out of three that have wish they’d waited. If any part of you feels uneasy, don’t do it. There are 7 billion people in the world, and many of ‘em are, well, horny. In other words, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to have sex when you’re ready! When you are, just make sure you’re well protected from STDs and pregnancy before the magical moment. (No magic guaranteed.)

Photo: (facebook.com/denimdayinlaandusa)

It’s time to break out your favorite pair of jeans, because today (April 24) is Denim Day. Founded in 1999 by the non-profit Peace Over Violence, Denim Day is a rape prevention and education campaign. The non-profit was inspired by an Italian court case in the 1990s where a victim of sexual assault was wearing jeans.

We’ve posted about the importance of not joking about rape and more during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so you know we’re wearing our favorite jeans today. If you want to get involved in the rape prevention/education campaign, we’ve got your covered. Here are four ways you can take a stand against rape on Denim Day.

+ Rock Your Denim

Got your favorite pair of jeans? Pulled that jean jacket out of the back of your closet? Whatever you’re wearing, make sure you tell people why you’re rocking the denim — bonus points if you tie in this year’s slogan: “There is No Excuse and Never an Invitation to Rape.” For friends and strangers who might want more information, send them to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to get the facts.

+ Take the Pledge

Head over to the Denim Day site and pledge to wear your favorite denim today. You can also download the tool kit if you want to raise awareness in your neighborhood or at your school. It’s never too late to print out some of these educational posters and pass them out!

+ Support Your Local Rape Crisis Center

You can find your local rape crisis center. Call up your local center to see if you can volunteer and make a difference in the lives of survivors in your area. Encourage your friends to do the same!

+ Raise Your Voice

If you’re stuck with a dress code and can’t wear jeans, make sure you post to Facebook or Twitter to show your support of the campaign. Use the hashtag #DenimDay so others can join in on the conversation about rape prevention and education.

If you or someone you know need someone to talk to, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 at 1.800.656.HOPE. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to someone over the phone, you can log on to the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Photo: (MTV)

“Sure babe.” Eeeeek the words NO GIRL ever wants to hear. After Jenna’s pregnancy scare last week and subsequent drama with Matty, we are on the edge of our seats to see how everything gets (hopefully) resolved tonight!

All the dramz could have definitely been avoided if Jenna and Matty had been more careful about using protection.  If Jenna had shared where she was at and what she was thinking and feeling with her cutie bf, he would have been able to provide some much needed support. Talking about the “what ifs” can be…well…awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. And if you’re really feeling that tongue-tied and anxious around your significant other, maybe all the other stuff needs to be put on pause. There’s nothing wrong with waiting. Taking control of your sex life (at any time) is your decision to make — and needs to be respected. Just ask Molly Tarlov and Jillian Reed from “Awkward.” IYSL and “Awkward.” have teamed up for April’s National STD Awareness month, and we’ll be posting interviews each week.

This week, Molly and Jillian reveal why waiting is ok. We asked them if their characters, Sadie and Tamara, would have the confidence to say they wanted to wait. It’s no surprise that opinionated Sadie would lay down the rules and not care what anyone else thought.  “My character wouldn’t have any qualms about telling someone that she wanted to wait because she does have that certain pocket of confidence that would stand up for herself in that kind of way.” Molly says. Tamara, our favorite romantic, would of course hold off until everything was perfect. “I think Tamara has it set in her mind about wanting the moment to be special and right for her…she doesn’t feel pressure to have sex…” Jillian reveals.

+ Watch Awkward. on Waiting

We also asked the Awkward. ladies if they had any advice for teens who want to wait to have sex. They said first off —  it’s easy to feel pressure to go faster and do more than you’re comfortable with.  But don’t believe the hype. Not everyone is having sex! Less than half of teens in high school have had sex. It’s always important to be honest with yourself (as well as your partner) and to trust your instincts. If you’re not feelin’ it, you’re not feelin’ it. Period. Your partner should listen to you and respect your decisions. Jillian agrees, ““If your significant other isn’t ok with waiting and doesn’t make you feel comfortable then maybe that’s not the right person to be with.”

+ Watch Awkward.’s Advice for You

Bottom line — you’re worth waiting for. And only you know when you are ready.. And if you do decide you are ready to have sex, make a plan to protect yourself from STDs and pregnancy BEFORE you’re in the situation.

For more tips about how to get the convo started check out IYSL. And don’t miss our interviews with Awkward.’s Molly Tarlov and Jillian Reed each week!