Hi Hypochondriac, There's no way for us to diagnose what the cause of the bleeding is. It could just be heavy spotting or cycle irregularity. If you're concerned about it, the best bet is to check in with a healthcare provider. Also, if you are not up to date on your STI tests, you may want to have ...

Hi All, Here's a place to share resolutions you made for this year, be they big or small. I do want to note, if your someone whose resolution centers around your body, you might want to check out this article on how to approach that goal in a healthy way rather than a harmful way: http://www.scarlet...

Hi Matthew, There's no perfect or correct time to start being in romantic relationships with people. Although what you're seeing is pretty common, and many folks start experimenting with dating in middle school. But, on the other hand, some people go through high school, or even college, without dat...

Hi matthew,

Hopefully some folks with penises can chime in on this one, but the strategies I know of are to masturbate into something, like a sock or a tissue to minimize the clean up.

Hi aceyaya, So, the hymen isn't something that can be "popped" per se. In fact, the hymen isn't quite what many of us imagine it to be. You can read about that more here: My Corona: The Anatomy Formerly Known as the Hymen & the Myths That Surround It That said, manual sex can cause som...

Are there any remote options from the counseling center that you know of? Self-care is, essentially, finding ways to soothe yourself or cheer yourself up when you're feeling anxious or sad (that are easy to access or build into your daily routine). It's not meant to take the place of mental healthca...

Yep, when it comes to the missed pills, I would go by what the packet is telling you

Hi topaz, Thanks for the kind words :) I think going to the clinic to talk to them is a sound choice (especially because they'll have the tools, or be able to refer you to places that do, to figure out if anything is up). If you're concerned about losing your long term BC, I would definitely explain...

Hi smithereens, For the missed pills, I would consult either the info packet that came with them (some pills also have websites with that info). As far as the other stuff, it's most likely a mixture of discharge from you and lube (if you use it). So, pretty normal and nothing to be worried about (ca...

Hi cyntsper, So, for your first question, your healthcare provider is still the best person to get that info from. If you're not 100% sold on what the nurse told you, you can always just ask the doctor who proscribed the medication (also, kudos for using the buddy method on birth control :) ) As far...

Hi misstaylorann,

If you've just started taking the pills this month, it might take some time for your body to adjust it's cycle, so your period might be a little irregular. You can read more about that here:
Combined Oral Contraceptives (The Pill)

Hi Tovika, That depends on the type of toy. Many toys (like vibrators) are made for multiple uses. However, you can check out places like target or rite aid (drugstores, essentially). They usually have a few little toys mixed in with the condoms and lube. You can also give this piece a read about ho...

Go by what you read in the directions, not by what people are saying on the internet, as they may (for whatever reason) be giving false information. And, if you're really concerned, you can either call the manufacturer to clarify or take another test.

Hi late79, The best person to consult about this is either the directions on the test or the manufacturers (there's usually a number to call somewhere on the box or info materials). You can also give this piece a read, if you haven't already, to see if any of the info there helps you clarify your re...

Hi slightconcern, If it's important to you, you can go back and ask to be tested. You can even explain it as "I know you've evaluated my risk as low, but I'd like the test all the same." Of course, you can also extrapolate from your boyfriends results (if everything comes back negative for...

Hi atonement, For me, the biggest thing that helped me not give up on my cup (the first few uses were uncomfortable) was playing around with position when I inserted it. The leg up on the toilet/tub/whatever seems to work well, but it's one of those things where you have to experiment and see what w...

Hi muskratsunshine, I think the script you've written out does the job well, and it sounds like you've also worked out where you feel comfortable ending things. Breaking up can suck, but I want to give you kudos for ending a relationship that you feel no longer meets your needs as a person. That can...

Hi fiercegiraffe,

The first step would be to talk to a healthcare provider, if you haven't already, since it causes you discomfort. They can also answer your other questions regarding surgery.

Hi Chalk,

Implantation bleeding technically occurs only once. You can read about it some more here:

Human Reproduction: A Seafarer's Guide

Demigoddess, thank you for weighing in, but just a reminder that this area where staff/volunteers are the only ones meant to answer the questions.

I would try to get in within the next few days. Obviously, it's hard for me to gauge the urgency as I'm not a trained healthcare provider, but if it was my body that had been doing this for a month, I'd try to get in to see someone ASAP. I do want to check: are you/have you been sexually active? If ...

Hi tos3, I'm sorry for what happened. I am glad to hear that you are taking some steps (like talking to a therapist) to take care of yourself. As far as the pain issue goes, have you checked in with a healthcare provider since the cut? If not, that's a sound next step. If you want to try masturbatin...

Hi Dinosaurgirl,

Welcome to the new site . And yes, you should go see an OBYN or other healthcare provider about this. Do you need any help finding those services, or do you know where you plan to go?

Hi uhohoreos,

It may just be something minor, but we're really not able to diagnose via internet. If you're concerned about it, the best person to ask is a healthcare provider.

Hi all,

This page has multiple strategies for managing feelings of anxiety when they arise. Obviously, it is not meant to substitute for something like going to a therapist, but the information is still very helpful:
http://counselling.anu.edu.au/brochure/ ... techniques

Glad the chat went well! If you're partner has never had any kind of sex, and you get a full screening that comes out clear, then more likely than not you're in the clear. However, you might want to give this article a read in terms of some of the risks that might still be present: http://www.scarle...