Yep. Using hand sanitizer works just as well as washing your hands, and like handwashing, your hands are clean immediately afterwards. Really though, if you're concerned about this from a pregnancy prevention standpoint, know that transferring trace amounts of semen from place to place isn't a way t...

I'm sorry you've had so many negative and hurtful comments from the people around you: hearing those things is never easy but it can sometimes be especially difficult coming from people who are supposed to care about us. Building up your own LGBTQ community can be a big help, and it's good that you ...

Like Redskies, I'm not entirely sure what all my feelings are, but a lot of the emotion I can identify (for the moment anyway) is angry. So very, very angry, and for a lot of the same reasons Redskies already mentioned. In a way, I'm also tired and a bit hopeless: feeling that no matter what anyone ...

Since virginity isn't a physical state or a medical concept, it's totally up to you to decide. Even if you have sex, and others might define that as 'losing your virginity', if it doesn't feel like that to you, that's all that matters: if it's a concept that's important to you (it isn't to everyone)...

It's okay to be unsure about what you need, or to have those needs change from day to day (even hour to hour). If you need a totally mundane conversation with someone, then that's something you can ask for.

You know, if you don't feel like you have the energy for those conversations right this moment, I think it's something that can wait a bit longer. Perhaps it could be helpful just letting people know that at some point - not now but sometime - you'd like to talk to them about what you need, support-...

Hi Noraneko, and welcome to the boards. :) 1. It's not possible to say how much your protection was compromised by missing two pills in a row, just that it would have lowered the effectiveness of your pill some. (If you think you'd like to investigate other methods of birth control that don't requir...

It's completely understandable that you're feeling powerless and exposed, and also that you sort of have to figure yourself out all over again as a result. I think Mo's suggestion about talking this over with people is spot on, and I totally agree that it's very rarely too late to talk about importa...

I'm not sure anyone knows why it happens. It's not uncommon at all though, and something plenty of people experience. (Nothing to be concerned about either, even if it is a bit irritating sometimes.)

Hi Whatusername. When you're having genital pain or discomfort that's been going on for more than a few days (which it sounds like it has), and when it's severe enough that it's painful to wear underwear, the best step is to seek out in-person healthcare. Do you think if you spoke to your mother abo...

If your parents' issue is that they don't think there's a need for you to continue seeing her, then I agree with Sam that framing it as helpful in dealing with the stress of school would probably be the best approach. One other option, if you think that your parents would try to stop you seeing your...

You're so very welcome.

That's not crazy at all. Really, there's no clear right thing to do here, it's about what you feel most comfortable with and what you think will work best for the two of you. It does sound like it might be worth having a conversation with him about what you just said: that you want him to know that ...

Sorry you're feeling conflicted over this! Maybe it would help to think of it this way: if you were to tell him, what would you be hoping would happen as a result of that conversation? How would you want him to respond?

It's great that you have a couple of different sources of in-person support. I'm glad your teacher is willing to keep in touch with you over the summer if you need it.

Hi Dandelion. I'm so sorry your friend did this to you. To answer your question, it's clear this was not consensual: you said no, you weren't conscious the whole time, and that's very obviously not consent. How can we help you right now? I know in the past you've talked to some of the other staff he...

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 are seeing this text, and your thread is loc...

Sorry for more questions, but can I ask: when you asked your parents for permission to go to the park last time, how did you approach that with them? (Just so we don't suggest anything that's likely not to go well for you.)

Trying is really all you can do with something like this, and it does take time, like Sam said.

Would you be willing to give a couple of the things in that article a try, just to see if they do help bring you some comfort? Obviously, given how restrictive your parents are, some of them are not going to work, but what about something like taking a few minutes to try one of these exercises , or ...

You are free to post as much as you like, as is any user here. When we do set limits - as we have with you by asking that you get in touch with help that is local to you - we do so because we feel that it is the best way to help you, and because as an organization there are some things we just can't...

Hi Butterfly9. Are you looking for advice with this, or just wanting to hear other people's experiences? To answer your third question, fighting - if you're talking about yelling or screaming at each other kind of fighting - isn't something that tends to happen in healthy relationships, so not fight...

No apology necessary, really! It's not like those over 25 aren't allowed here at all. You're more than welcome to keep posting as much as you need.

Do you take any sort of medication for cramps when they happen, like ibuprofen? Proper nutrition can help reduce cramps in the long term, but most people will find they do still happen to some degree and will need to be managed. Too, if your cramps are so bad that they interfere with your daily acti...

The first pill of the pack is especially important because if it's missed, essentially what happens is that the placebo week is extended beyond the seven days that it's designed to be, which increases the chances of ovulation happening. If you do miss the first pill, you want to use a backup method ...