How you approach this with your parents depends a lot on what your relationship with them is like and how comfortable you feel discussing more sensitive topics with them in general. Also, have they ever mentioned anything about sex or sexuality that might give you a bit of a clue what their values/b...

There isn't really any "right" way to masturbate, so the answer is basically go with whatever feels good to you. Some people find that they take little breaks, other people keep going for a while, it just depends on what feels good to that particular individual at that particular time. On ...

thinkmcflythink and whatacatch, I've got you added to the journaling group.

Usually when we're having a rough time and feeling anxious or sad or just blah it's really tempting to try and make that feeling go away as soon as possible, and get back to being happy or relaxed. But sometimes it's okay to not be okay, and it can actually be a valuable experience and sometimes an ...

Hey, whatacatch. As Edith said, long distance relationships can be difficult and sometimes stressful. It is possible to make them work though, and in my experience the most important thing is really the same in any relationship, long distance or not: communication. Phone calls are a good way to do t...

Your pill works the same no matter when you have sex. Correct use means taking it at around the same time every day - which it sounds like you do - with no late or missed pills, and using a second method if you are taking any other medication that might interfere with the pill. If you want to read m...

If the condom didn't break or slip off, and you used it for all genital contact, then it did its job. There's no need to fill it with water afterwards, btw, as the process of doing so can actually damage the condom and cause unnecessary worry. When condoms break, it's obvious: they tend to shred sor...

It depends how much protection from pregnancy you need to feel comfortable. Condoms are around 98% effective over one year with perfect use, and they're the only method that also protects against STIs so we're always going to recommend using them. Combined with a hormonal method like the pill (which...

Yep. The same things that can affect your cycle off birth control can affect it on birth control.

Sorry, I should have been clearer: I meant variation from when you normally get withdrawal bleeds. Even if you end up normally getting it on a Tuesday, you might sometimes get it on Monday or Wednesday or Thursday and it wouldn't be a cause for concern.

Some variation is normal, especially in the first few months (but even after that, you might find that you have a two or three day window in which your withdrawal bleed arrives). As long as you get your bleed at some point during the placebo week, you're all good.

As Mo has already said, if a thing is not listed in the information leaflet that comes with your pill as something that could compromise its effectiveness, then it's not something you need to worry about. I'm very glad you were able to talk to your mom about your anxiety and that she's going to help...

Glad to be of help.

It can be stressful when our bodies do things we don't expect, but that's sort of the deal with having a body, really. Your cycles, just like the rest of you, can be affected by a bunch of different things, and sometimes it just isn't possible to tell exactly why a period is early or late or lighter...

You should be fine, yep. Although it never hurts to double check with a pharmacist or the healthcare provider who prescribed the pill for you. And of course if you don't want to become pregnant you'll need to use another method from here on out.

The pill can be less effective when it's taken at drastically different times each day, but as long as you take it around the same time (9 am one day and 6 am the next, for example) you're okay. However, if you'd feel more comfortable with something else, then there are plenty of options. Have you t...

I wouldn't consider that a risk, no, but you could always ask a healthcare professional if you like. And you can read more about HIV here: The STI Files: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) You've expressed a lot of anxiety about health-related issues recently, and it sounds like anxiety might be a p...

It certainly never hurts to check in with a doctor if there's something you're concerned about, and if you're having any back pain then it would definitely be a good idea. But it sounds to me like this is probably just the way your body is, not something that needs to be fixed but just something to ...

This is really outside the scope of what we do here as a sex education service. If you feel like you are at risk right now of self-harm or suicide, then the emergency department of your nearest hospital is an option, as is calling a hotline such as this one: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/...

It's the second one: for every 100 couples using a method that is 97% effective over the span of one year, 3 pregnancies would be expected. That's how effectiveness is measured in any clinical trial of any method, and how the CDC, for example, defines effectiveness.

So glad to hear everything went well for you (your GYN sounds fantastic).

That's right: if you don't cough up the whole pill, then there's no need to be concerned. On top of the article that Edith linked you to, have you ever read the patient information that comes with your pill, to see what affects it and what does not? That might be helpful in easing some of your worri...

It sounds like things were just a bit too rough, yep. In future, if you're finding that anything is causing you pain, you want to stop whatever it is you're doing. Genital tissue can be pretty delicate, and can get scraped or cut fairly easily, and as you found that can be uncomfortable! For the rec...

Yes to all of what Heather and Keda have said. If you think it might help to do some reading around this, I know that Roxane Gay has a few essays on pretty much exactly this topic, and more, in her book Bad Feminist. It's pretty new, and touches on a lot of different issues, but there is a thread ru...

You're very welcome.