Which pill can make sex safer? Which product can make periods stress-free? Which pharmaceutical drugs can prevent pregnancy and STDs? We’ve come along way when it comes to women’s health, and these products prove it. Here are the 7 biggest advances in sexual health that are changing the way women take care of their bodies.

The HPV Vaccine

In 2006, the FDA approved Gardasil, the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and other complications of human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the U.S. Certain types of HPV can cause genital warts or abnormal cells in the cervix, which can lead to cancer. Taken before any exposure to HPV, Gardasil is effective against types 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancer, and types 6 and 11, which cause about 90% of genital warts, according to the FDA.

The Instead Cup

For years, women had two period options: pad or tampon. In 1996 Instead introduced its Softcup, a diaphragm-like cup made of latex-free polyethylene that collects fluid internally. The non-allergenic, non-toxic material does not promote infection, making it unlikely to cause toxic shock. And since the cup sits flat against the inside of the body, you can wear it during your period for mess-free sex (although the cup does not provide contraceptive protection).

Vagisil Screening Kit

Many women presume yeast infections are causing them discomfort down-under. But Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection—and the two can be hard to tell apart. The Vagisil Screening Kit, launched in 2007, is a simple at-home pH test that can help women tell the difference between a yeast infection, BV, or even some sexually transmitted infections which cause similar symptoms. Of course, an at-home kit doesn’t ever take the place of a doctor. But it might arm you with more info to share with your primary care physician.

Lybrel Birth Control Pill

Lybrel is the first FDA-approved combination pill that stops your period altogether. That’s right, no placebo pills. According to the company, the pill works by suppressing ovulation and preventing any changes to the lining of the uterus—thus eliminating the excess tissue that your body would normally shed each month.

Mirena

Mirena is a flexible plastic contraceptive device that’s inserted into your uterus by your doctor. It has a slightly higher rate of efficacy than copper IUDs, and can provide protection for up to 5 years. This method, which first became available in 2001, is geared toward women who want long-term results without a permanent change like sterilization.

Plan B

Taken within 72 hours of sex, Plan B (also known as “The Morning After Pill) can prevent an unwanted pregnancy in the case of unsafe sex. Containing a higher dose of the same hormones in birth control pills, Plan B can stop implantation and fertilization of the egg within -- though it can't stop your pregnancy if you're already pregnant. In 2006, Plan B was approved for over-the-counter use in the US so that women over 18 could obtain it without a prescription. While there is plenty of controversy surrounding this pill -- depending on where you fall on the right-to-life issue -- it's still your right to choose.

Female Viagra: Coming Soon?

Research proved Viagra useless for women, since women depend more on increasing desire than blood flow. But new drugs seek to combat Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder a different (and more effective) way. Two in development include Flibanserin, which will work directly on the central nervous system, and a nasal spray, Bremelanotide, which researcher Palatin Technologies hopes will affect the brain’s hypothalamus, the region involved in sexual arousal.