Hi MuchShy, I don't think it's weird that you have such a vivid imaginary world. In fact, it's super common to have fantasies about things we do not have in our life but might like to have, or just to imagine different ways that our life could be playing out. And having a rich fantasy life can also ...

Hi lovelylavender, figuring out sexuality and attraction can be a daunting experience! I'm glad you're feeling comfortable sharing your thoughts here. I don't see any specific questions in your post, but whenever you do have a question, feel free to ask! For now, I'm just going to give you the links...

Hi Juliaho90, while the pill should be taken around the same time each day to be effective, it does not have to be taken at the exact same time on the dot. You have a few hours buffer each way. So being off by one hour is totally fine! Forgetting that you already took your pill and taking an extra o...

It sounds like your old relationship is not working out anymore, so it's best to address that honestly to make sure that you are both on the same page. If you know you are not interested in continuing your relationship, it is not fair to your boyfriend to leave him dangling and wait for him to conta...

Welcome to Scarleteen! I want to start by referring to the end of your post, where you are wondering whether you should even bother getting caught up. I actually think it might be helpful to reframe that, and not think of yourself as 'catching up' to anything or anyone. Life, dating and social conne...

Seconding the love of scars! I've been a little upset about my scars from self-injury fading, as I considered them badges of honors, of a sort - a sign of where I have been and what I have overcome. Now they are only visible in the summer, as they don't tan, but I know where they are and what they m...

Let's start by ruling out the possibility that this may simply be your period, or withdrawal bleed: Where are you at in your pill packet? When did you start taking the pill? Has your withdrawal bleed been regular on the pill? When you were having intercourse, was it painful at all? Did you use lube ...

My first kiss had all the trappings of a great, romantic moment and I remember being very proud of that at the time, but I was much more into the idea of having a first kiss, than the kiss itself. We were away at summer camp, he asked me to go outside with him during an evening event, we kissed stan...

Welcome to Scarleteen, xxbakerxx! Virginity is a really tricky subject, because it means so many things to so many different people - it's not a term that has a set definition. It sounds to me like when you are talking about 'losing your virginity', what you mean is having intercourse. Do I have tha...

No, manual sex, or any kind of sexual activity, cannot affect your menstrual cycle. How do you track your periods? Are they usually very regular?

Welcome to Scarleteen, blueberrie. One of the most common side effects of starting hormonal birth control is irregular bleeding or missed periods. While starting the pill on the first day of a period may mean that your body will get used to it more quickly, it's not a guarantee. Some irregular bleed...

Welcome to Scarleteen, imaddicted! Have you talked to your friend about your concerns? It sounds like so far you two have been pretty great about communicating your feelings and wants. Ideally, there is never any 'should' about sex, and everyone always gets to decide that they're not comfortable wit...

Have you been to Planned Parenthood yet? As Heather said, they will explain all this to you. I understand that you're in a tough situation and feeling scared, but at this point the best thing you can do is go to PP and talk to them about your next steps in terms of Plan B and getting some STi testing.

Irregular bleeding and spotting are the most common side effects of starting the pill, so this does not sound a cause for concern. But if you are worried, or have more questions, your prescribing doctor is the person to ask.

You know, we can't ever really count on any one thing that we identify as to always stick around and always be true. We grow and we discover new things about ourselves and we change and that's totally okay, because that is just how it tends to go for most people. The important thing to know is that ...

If you are taking the pill as directed, it offers a very high level of protection, including during the withdrawal week. Spotting does not mean that your protection is compromised.

Katj456, if you have a question, please start a post of your own by clicking on the "new topic" button. If you post in someone else's thread, it makes it hard for us to keep track of who is asking and who we are responding to. Thanks!

To be on the safe side, it is a good idea to back up with condoms until you start your new pack.

Welcome to Scarleteen! It is totally normal and perfectly fine to have fantasies about things you would never want to be part of in real life. Fantasies happen inside our head and nowhere else, and those thoughts can't hurt anyone. There are no types of things that "shouldn't" arouse you -...

We definitely appreciate updates, especially when someone has positive things to share! And the fact that you've reached out and found help and are learning to cope with your anxiety is definitely a good thing. I am glad to hear it, and I wish you the best of luck!

Diarrhea may affect the absorption of the pill if it is severe, but in that case, the thing to do is to back up with another method of birth control, such as condoms. And it sounds like that's what you did, so you're good to go! If a condom is used for all genital contact and it does not slip off or...

It sounds like you are already doing all the right things! It does take time to move on, and having been with someone for such a long time and for such a formative period of your life does not make it easier. But it is definitely possible, and you will get over this and start to heal. Let me know if...

From reading your story it sounds to me like, to a large extent, you are feeling guilty because your ex boyfriend has been working very hard to make you feel guilty. It's true that we all make mistakes. And it is also true that sometimes, no matter what we'd like, we can't forgive them or move on fr...

Hi Sunsent, welcome to Scarleteen! There is a lot going on in your posts and while I understand that it can be important to just write it all down and get it out, I am not sure what it is that you are looking for right now. Can you maybe let us know what you think you need from us right now? I also ...

I'd be willing to bet that the hole appeared when you filled the condom with water. That water test really doesn't do any good, as like I said, you'll notice if a condom breaks during sex. All that test is likely to do is bust the condom and make you freak out. So, I'd not be worried about that hole...