You're very welcome Purpleberry , and I'm so glad that found the articles addressed what you were feeling. If there's anything else we're able to help you out with, feel free to let us know.

Yep, you got it. And talking with your doc at your next appointment sounds like a good plan

Hi celica, We can't say for certain what the source of the tenderness is. It could be that the side effects of the pill are changing again (which can happen) or, depending on where in your cycle you are, the soreness might be linked to as soon-to-arrive period. If the soreness is ongoing, it might b...

I would suggest either calling or emailing (if you have the capacity to do either) the person who prescribed the pills and talking to them. Or, depending on what country you're in, you may be able to find a pharmacist or doctor to talk to about the pills and what the best way to go off them is. If y...

This is not technically a "new" article, but since we're seeing an increase lately in users who are not trusting their birth control methods, now seemed like a good time to share it.
Have a Little Faith in BC

Hi aj,

If you're not happy with your current birth control, I would definitely bring it up with a healthcare provider and figure out some other options for you. You may also want to play around with birth control bingo to get some ideas:
Birth Control Bingo!

Hi Alixana, I think it's a good impulse to not want to be pushy about this. And I think you're instinct that the "maybe" was really a soft "no" is a good one. I do think you can extend the offer of one more meeting-up. I would make it something specific, rather than something vag...

If she were my friend and people were talking like that about her? I would ask them to please not say nasty stuff about my friend in front of me (often, you can't control what people say behind your back, but you can usually control what they say to your face). I would also ask them something like &...

Hi Nadine Marie, Can you clarify a little about what you want from us with this comment? I think it might also help you to keep in mind that your friend? Gets to make whatever choices sexually that she wants to (assuming she's not assaulting or otherwise hurting someone in order to do it). Besides w...

Hi Marmalade, Good luck with your research :) Some links you might find helpful: Q is for Questioning Genderpalooza! A Sex & Gender Primer You may also want to check out "My Gender Workbook" by Kate Bornstein for more some reading about working out the gender identity or expression tha...

Hi Leia, So, even when someone is on hormonal BC (like the pill) their period will not always arrive at the exact same time (we're not machines, after all). And, since you started the pill fairly recently, your body may still be in a period of adjusting its cycle. It looks like, from your last threa...

You're quite welcome

Hi Monkey, It might be less a question of getting "desensitized" (which isn't really a thing that happens with vibrators) and more one of how different sensations and vibrators feel to your body. Our bodies are going to respond differently to different stimuli, and something (like a rabbit...

Again, I advocate the direct approach, if for no other reason that it gets it over with. It might help to even write out what you think his most likely responses will be (something you know better than we can ever hope to), then write out some possible responses to those reactions. That way, you can...

I think this is an instance where your desire to not contract another STI trump his need for his penis to feel a certain way. Compromise is totally possible, as you can try different brands of external condoms, or the female condom to find one that works for both of you. But he does not get to veto ...

Basically, they're shaped like an external condom (the kind you're used to), but they're inserted into the vagina and then the penis is guided into them when intercourse happens. They're just as effective as external condoms, plus you can insert them a few hours before you need them, which can help ...

Okay, so, if you want to avoid STI stuff in the future, you're going to need a barrier (spermicide and hormonal BC don't protect against STIs). You're right that you may have a latex allergy. So you can try experimenting with non-latex ones, or just try various brands. You may also want to check out...

He might freak out. That is a possibility, so it might help you feel calmer if you figure out different plans and responses for what you feel are the most likely scenarios of his reactions so that you don't feel totally lost in the moment. If you're afraid he might get scary, have the conversation s...

Hi Littlebat, So, my advice is to arrange to talk with him somewhere you feel comfortable. Then, just say as plainly as possible "Boyfriend, I got my STI test back and it was positive for chlamydia. I want you to know this so that you can also get tested and get treatment if need be." I wo...

Here at Scarleteen, we're always encouraging folks to get regular STI testing done. But it's not uncommon for users to be hesitant about getting tested, often because they fear the experiences will be scary or shameful. So, I wanted to make a space for folks to discuss their experiences with STI tes...

Hi Hermen,

So, when a condom breaks, it will be really noticeable. Like, huge tear noticeable. So, unless you found a huge tear, or the condom came all the way off at some point, you can assume it did its job.

Hi Bie2t3ia, First off, if you're thinking about stopping your current pill, I would suggest talking to your healthcare provider about what the best/safest way to go about doing that is. You're correct that sperm can survive for several days inside the reproductive track. However, it takes a BC pill...

Hi Cannavaro, We can't say for certain what might be causing this. I do want to say that ejaculating early, by itself, is not necessarily indicative of anything actually being wrong. However, it sounds like you would like to go back to having a slightly longer period between starting intercourse and...

Hi hushrob,

You can find the STI risks of various activities here:
Can I Get Pregnant, or Get or Pass On an STI From That?

Hi Dulce, I'm wondering if we can maybe re-frame this thread a little bit. I think it's valid to want a place to talk about being single in a positive way, especially since it does often get viewed as a somehow "lesser" state of being than being in a romantic relationship. But, for obvious...