Again, I read up on what we already have on the site. However, no, if anal sex becomes painful or you start bleeding, then you need to stop, as it's not supposed to hurt (and pain means you did not use nearly enough lube). And I wouldn't recommend using anything to try and "clean out" befo...

Hi theonelost, So, I think your instinct to look at stressors outside your sex life is a sound one. Being stressed, or anxious, or even tired from what's going on in our lives can make it so that we don't feel all the way into the sexual stuff we're engaging in (or that we feel tense about it). I th...

Hi tadpole, So, first off, I don't think you need to feel bad about ending things with casual guy. It's pretty normal at this stage in life for people to be working out what, exactly, they want from a relationship, and for two people who's wants overlapped at one point to find that those wants no lo...

So, for quite a few of us, the holiday season will soon be upon us. This generally means that we'll be expected to spend more time than usual around our families, which can be stressful for folks whose families are difficult to be around for whatever reason (questioning your life choices, making mea...

Hi Silentdragon, Ah, okay, I get what you mean. In instances where "get the heck away from them" is not an option, one trick to try is mentally adding "you think" to the end of whatever they say. It helps keep it in perspective in your mind, reminding you that nothing they're say...

Again, I can't tell you why you're bleeding. That's a question best directed at your healthcare provider. Also, if he didn't ejaculate inside of you, you can consider yourself as having used withdrawl effectively as a method. You can read about how effective it is here: Withdrawal If you're interest...

Hi shyndi, So,I can't tell you what the cause of the bleeding is. However, missing the two pills likely did compromise their effectiveness. When you miss pills, it's recommended you follow the directions for what to do contained in the patient information that comes with the pill. You are still tech...

I think Kaizen's advice is good here. I hope it all goes well for you

Hi withthesewings, Ooof, that sounds like a tough place to be in. I think going the honest route with her is sound here, provided that you feel safe doing so. The reason I say that is that, if you don't talk to her about it it's going to be this huge "but what if" circling around in your b...

Hi scholarmom, I think having some books in the house that contain the info you want her to know would be a good place to start. There's books called "It's Perfectly Normal" "It's So Amazing" and "It's not the Stork" that are by the same team of authors that cover sex, ...

Hi Silentdragon, So glad to hear from you! I can't tackle all of your questions, by I have some thoughts on a number of them. To start with the "bad behavior" and making friends thing. It may help to think of it as avoiding behaviors (or people) who make you uncomfortable. And that can be ...

Okay, so, it sounds like they did a full screening and gave you an indication that you were in the clear. So, I would say that you can move on from worrying about this.

Hi Blondinella, The best person to ask this question to is the healthcare provider who tested you because they can tell you what STIs you were tested for (not every place does a full screening unless asked). And, some STIs have to be in you system longer than others in order to create a positive tes...

Hi Kawani, I just want to say that the cycle of thoughts your describing is familiar to me. It's like some sort of jerkbrain power move and it sucks. Something I find helpful is to make the fact that I get to set my own pace explicit to myself. Like write it on a piece of paper and stick where I can...

Well, my hope is that the reality of the situation (then men can be raped by women) is reflected in the law somewhere. However, since I'm not a lawyer I can't say that with certainty. But, let me check in with some of the other volunteers to see if we can find the information or resources you need.

Hi Tarwin, So, it would technically be possible for someone else to have sex with you while you slept. However, if your worried about any legal responsibilities towards a child conceived by someone sexually assaulting you, that's a stickier question that none of us here are really qualified to answe...

Hi Avocadolime, That script sounds like it gets across what you feel you want to tell her and gives specific things she should and should not do if you zone out (which she will likely find helpful). So, if you're comfortable with it, I think it's a good script to use :). And my guess is over the pho...

Hi Avocadolime, First off, big round of kudos to you for being so proactive in taking care of yourself, both in terms of making the appointment even though you know it might be tricky, and for planning out some support for yourself. I think the ultimate answer is that you should tell your friend wha...

Hi pinkpetals, Some people do report having a slight twinge or cramping when they ovulate. However, the only way to know if you were ovulating at the time of the cramps is if you've been tracking your cycle pretty rigorously. However, if these cramps have been going on for several days, it would be ...

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!