Also, nope, the bleeding doesn't have any impact on or say anything about your pill's effectiveness. If you've been taking your pill every day as directed (and with no disruption like vomiting or diarrhoea soon after taking one), you can assume you have your pill's usual protection.

It's always better to leave medication in its original packaging, both so that you can be sure it's in its proper condition and there's no chance of anyone mixing up one medication for another, and - with a one-a-day like the pill - you can see easily what you have and haven't taken for any particul...

Taking more pills than you needed to won't compromise your contraceptive coverage at all. It's important to keep the hormone levels high enough consistently - which is why taking it every day is important - but a bit extra doesn't do anything different or extra. The only thing you don't want to do i...

Hi Ithiliendude, I'm not surprised you'd feel freaked out at the thought of being sexual with someone when you have those experiences as a reference point and example. I'd say it's actually a pretty healthy response to feel scared and freaked out at the possibility of doing something sexual you don'...

I'm so sorry things went wrong. Sometimes when people try to reach out for help, it's harder than it should be and the first people we try to ask or tell aren't very helpful. I'm so sorry you've had that experience too; I know how hurtful and confusing it is. If and when that happens - and it should...

Also, any kind of irregular pill-taking - including starting a pack a few days late, like you did here - can sometimes cause some temporary side-effects or cycle disruption. Like Sam said, if you have a lot of pain or you're concerned, it's a good idea to check in with a healthcare provider; otherwi...

We will not answer ANY questions about pregnancy fear or anxiety in our direct services from users who are not pregnant or who are not or have not otherwise been directly involved with an actual pregnancy. Please do not post this kind of question. If you are seeing this text, and your thread is loc...

If your friend hits the "I'm such a bad friend/such an awful person" space when you set these boundaries, I'd suggest simply cutting in with "it's not about you as person. It's about what I need in order to be healthy." And either continue what you were wanting to say, or if you'...

Maybe it helps, too, to think that the way you get to know one another is just a bit different to how it is when people share a competent language. There'll actually likely be things that you'll find out faster in the situation you're in: you'll probably get a lot more information sooner about how t...

I heard a linguist bat-signal! I've never been a researching linguist or an expert at a high level, but I've studied it some, and particularly dug into feminist linguistics and language & gender, so, here I am :) First off, it's not like any of you actually need studies or an expert to tell you ...

I do wonder - and generally, not just about you - whether calling these things and thinking of them as "labels" makes it harder to figure out and deal with things like this. If we're thinking of something as a label, we're probably trying to sum up the entirety of what we are in one or two...

We're a sex and relationships education site for young people, so, given that you're 55 and it sounds like you're hoping to meet people in-person, we're not a suitable venue for this question and it's not something we could help anybody with. There's a wealth of information on the internet, written ...

(oops, cross-posted with Heather :) ) Yep, it's a good idea to give this information to a mental healthcare provider. The more they know about your difficulties, the better they'll be able to target treatment and strategies. Do be aware, though, that they may very well not work through it point-by-p...

We will not answer ANY questions about pregnancy fear or anxiety in our direct services from users who are not pregnant or who are not or have not otherwise been directly involved with an actual pregnancy. Please do not post this kind of question. If you are seeing this text, and your thread is loc...

With your concern about finding it hard to talk about something when it's not a major problem for you right there and then, I wonder if a little re-framing might help? If you were having severe intermittent pain, it'd still be important to see a doctor and get that investigated and treated, even if ...

Hi Onionpie, I really agree with Mo. I think I'd also extend the suggestions for boundary-setting: I'd strongly suggest that you no longer discuss her husband or their relationship, what she should do about any of it, At All. No advice-giving from you, no being a sounding-board for her concerns, no ...

( http://www.scarleteen.com/need_help_now ... t_services if you need the link to the chat service)

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We have a chat service that's only viewable by our staff/vols. I can open that up for you now, if you like? Alternatively, our next scheduled chat hours are Friday 2-5 Pacific, or of course there's the boards here. Please also remember that we don't discuss pregnancy worries, and that we close any b...

Hi venbrunette, what that guy did sounds very not-okay. When you've told someone you're not comfortable with a particular sexual thing - including having contact without a barrier/condom - that should be the end of the matter, and they shouldn't try to do the thing you said you weren't comfortable w...

Oof, 12 months' wait is a long time! Services like that are too often in a lot of demand :( But I'm so very glad you found someone who's been helpful and supportive to talk with. Go choir leader! Kind of an aside to what you're specifically asking about in this thread, but as you're running into lon...

Also, the general guidance is to check in with a healthcare professional if three periods in a row are missed - that's four whole months without a period! So, one period being late or completely missed isn't a medical concern.

This is very much sounding like a thing where professional support and guidance would be the way to go. When you're having repeated or ongoing fears that stress, distress or exhaust you, and you don't have coping strategies that reduce those things and make it bearable - yep, that's time to try work...

I just wanted to add something about where you said you've "tried to work on stretching your vagina". I'm wondering if you're thinking that vaginas become different physically after you've had intercourse or some kinds of entry? Quick and simple: they don't! If you've been trying to change...

Which organisations have you spoken to, and what have you found out so far? (By the way, you always have the right to say to us that you don't feel comfortable answering a question. That's always fine! We ask the questions we ask because we think it's likely to help you - we're not being nosy for th...