Hi there 28024, and welcome to Scarleteen! I'm sorry to hear that your mom wasn't supportive when you brought it up to her - were you able to have a conversation about it at all, or did it seem like she was being more dismissive (like, "my decision is final!"). Would it be possible to ask ...

Hi there armykiki, and welcome to Scarleteen. I'm so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. You should always be able to have privacy and shower in a bathroom in your own house, and it wasn't right for him (or anyone) to intrude on your private space in that way. You also said that he touches ...

Hi there tiniestghost, and welcome to Scarleteen! First of all, it's totally okay for you to feel the way that you do. We aren't born with an inherent ability to trust strangers and feel okay with them touching or looking at our bodies. Getting prodded or poked at by a stranger in a coat is not most...

Hi there jackojacko, I really like the approach that you took - trying things out in a casual way to see how it felt. Did you get a sense that she was interested in you romantically beforehand? So the dilemma here seems to be about how to communicate that you're not interested in pursuing something ...

Hi there sunlover, and welcome to Scarleteen! A lot of people feel flushed or warm when they're aroused or having an orgasm - mostly because of the extra blood flowing that flows the body when they're turned on. As long as you weren't feeling anything that was concerning like pain or dizziness, you ...

Hi there sarajane, and welcome to Scarleteen! It’s hard to say why you felt some pressure in your lower abdomen after sex - it’s possible you were having some uterine cramps, which sometimes happens during or after orgasm. If you’re not in any pain and don’t have any other concerning symptoms, it’s ...

What's something that is "traditionally expected" of your gender (or the gender that most people tend to read you as)? How does it affect how you move through the world, and how do you feel about it? My friend and I were talking about this recently, and she said that she'd feel comfortable...

Hi there funnygirl, and welcome to Scarleteen! If you haven't found a way of masturbating that feels like it works for you yet, that's okay! Nobody pops out of the womb automatically being comfortable and understanding how their body works. We actually just put out a new article all about this topic...

Hi BuddyBoi, I just wanted to jump back in here and echo what Robin said- it seems like you’re carrying around a lot of shame about interactions that you’ve had in the past, and worry about perpetuating that same hurt in the future. The way I see it, navigating consent and sexual wants/needs is a sk...

Hello malcolm_bri, and welcome to Scarleteen. We will not answer ANY questions about pregnancy fear or anxiety in our direct services from users who are not pregnant or who are not or have not otherwise been directly involved with an actual pregnancy. Please do not post this kind of question. If you...

Hi BuddyBoi21, What you're saying totally makes sense. It seems like you're reflecting on your relationship to masturbation and the other issues that are coming up for you related to sexuality with partners and/or relationships. To state the obvious, there isn't anything inherently wrong with mastur...

Hi there 9589slw, and welcome to Scarleteen! It sounds like the idea of becoming sexual in that way with your boyfriend is causing you some anxiety. That's okay - just because you've been in a relationship with someone for a certain amount of time doesn't mean that you should automatically want or n...

Hi solareclipse, Consent laws (and really most laws that vary state-to-state) are dependent on the state that you're currently occupying rather than the state you live in, work in, etc. So if someone who was 16 came to visit you in your state, they would be able to legally consent to sexual activity...

Hi roxfox, Good question! There are certain STIs that may be spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact - HSV 1 and 2, HPV/genital warts, pubic lice, - and HSV 1 can also be spread through kissing/saliva as an oral infection. (Check out Can I Get Pregnant, or Get or Pass On an STI Fro...

What's a toxic belief that you've had to "unlearn" that has to do with being in a relationship? Something that maybe you were raised to believe about what you're worth, or how you should/or shouldn't have sex? How did you realize that it was a toxic belief, and what did you do to try and u...

Hi there potatochipeater, Would you mind telling us a little more about what you're looking for? (And what you're looking to avoid?) Human sexuality is a very wide topic, so depending on what information you're looking for, we might be able to give you more specific recommendations. (For example, ar...

HI robinzaa, and welcome to Scarleteen! Based on the situation you described, there is very little risk of pregnancy. (You can read more about what constitutes different levels of risk over at Can I Get Pregnant or Pass on An STI From That? .) In addition, the ECP on the 30th interrupted your cycle ...

Hi roxfox, Such a great question! I really like listening to older soul/R and B, so things like Marvin Gaye (not to mention Let's Get It On) are always nice to have on in the background. Anything that's kind of mellow, but with positive/loving messages always puts me in a relaxed and comfortable moo...

Hi there sophie, and welcome to Scarleteen! This is an interesting idea, but not one that would work too well practically. Soya milk (and other products derived from soybeans) actually contains "phytoestrogens", which are very similar but not exactly the same as estrogen. While there have ...

Hi gatesy,

It's possible that your body is still adjusting to the IUD and the hormones involved, but you can always check in with your healthcare provider about it!

Hi humanbeing, It seems like you feel pretty safe and secure in your internship position, and that you don't think that your experiences affect the way that you provide support to the organization. I'm really glad to hear that. I was interested to read what you wrote about your family's definitions ...

Hi humanbeing, and welcome to Scarleteen. First of all - I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you. It's completely understandable that you're feeling upset and want to talk about it, because what you wanted and your boundaries were ignored, repeatedly. You have every right to have those bounda...

Hi spotteddog, You're definitely correct in that changes in exercise can affect your hormones and how your cycle occurs. It can also be affected by things like stress or the hormonal changes that come with being a teenager. You can read more about it over at MIA, or Dude, Where's My Period? . I'm re...

Hi there rajaman, There are lots of things that could cause lower back pain, including the fact that ejaculation causes the muscles of the pelvic floor to contract and relax. However, we can't really diagnose things via the internet because we're not doctors. If it's bothering you, you can always ch...

Hi GavinToohey, and welcome to Scarleteen! I have some Good News and some Even Better News for you. The first bit of Good News is that you're not the only young person that feels alone - most young people feel lonely at some point or another, especially during periods of transition. Not-so-young and...