Are you up-to-date with your sexual healthcare and STI testing, to rule out any infection? Any time you use the pill in an irregular way - especially things like stop-starting with it, not taking it for 2 weeks - some disruption to your menstrual cycle is very likely. That's most probably what you'r...

There's so much good stuff you've got in here! It's a huge thing to be able to do, to take so many positives away from a situation that was challenging and hurtful. I think you can be totally proud of yourself for all the reasons you said :) You're not imagining things when you feel like you could a...

I'm glad you're sounding a bit better! I was actually heading out at the minute you posted, but didn't want to leave you totally hanging. Happy to pick up with you tomorrow (provided my current somewhat makeshift internet holds out, fair warning!) if someone else hasn't before then. Super-briefly, i...

This is one of those times where it feels like screens are in the way of offering the kind of warmth and companionship we'd really want to at our end. Offering you the warmest of internet-hugs if you want it, and a virtual mug of your favourite hot beverage, and someone who'd just sit with you throu...

I'm glad you're feeling much calmer! Like you say, I think this is probably one of those things in life in the category "live and learn" :) It can be easy with all kinds of things - obviously contraception here, but it's certainly not exclusive to contraception! - to think in the moment &q...

Hi Ann, welcome to the boards!

Can you fill us in on what medical investigation you've had for this pain? You said you tested negative for STIs and for UTI: have you had any other discussions with a healthcare provider, especially a gynaecologist, about this pain, and if so, what did they say/do?

I'm so sorry your parents gave you such crappy messages :( Good on you for recognising it and trying to counter them, though. We have quite a few pieces on the site where we've answered young men who were feeling insecure about something or who had relationship concerns - I wondered if reading some ...

I just wanted to make a couple of additions to the good stuff Amanda said. Arousal is mostly in the mind, so if you're feeling turned off when you start trying to engage with your body sexually, chances are pretty high that the physical stimulation isn't going to result in you feeling arousal. Tryin...

People often think that parental permission and/or notification is required for mental healthcare in their country, but in most places, when we look into it, it's not required. So, we'd be very happy to help you look into it and find out for sure, if you like. Medication is only one way of treating ...

You're right that immigration job regulations have got trickier, so I'd suggest lots of researching and applying for exchange programmes (eg Fulbright), work/training programmes, scholarships and internships that are specifically available to you as a young American/non-EU person. Another possible r...

Well, now you know to go just a wee bit more gently, and to use extra lubricant than you did

You're very welcome, and how lovely, thank you!

I think getting in to see your family doctor as soon as you can, and speaking in private with doctor, would be a really good move. If you need help in getting to speak with the doctor without your mother in the room, you can ask a receptionist and/or the doctor for that help - if you let the doctor ...

If you used a condom for all genital-to-genital contact, then yes, you can assume it did its job. There isn't really a need to pull them tight to look for holes, because if a condom breaks, it'll be obvious - and yes, the friction of intercourse will make any break very big very quickly. It sounds l...

Welcome to the boards, Oliveoyl. We'll do what we can to help you find a way to access the care you want and need. When you say your parents won't take you, does that mean your primary problem here is getting transport to go to therapy? Or something else? In most places, you don't need your parent/s...

I'm sorry things are tough with your mum. Has she told you why you can't go and what her concerns are? What does she say to you that's upsetting you?

The fluid on the outside of the condom was most, most likely her vaginal fluids. If someone with a vagina didn't create any fluid before and during entry, that entry would be very painful, probably difficult, and very likely to cause injury. Expulsion of an established IUD is rare; they're designed ...

Welcome! You can ask about anything sex-, sexuality- and/or relationship - related. For the fullest picture of our community rules, check out http://www.scarleteen.com/user_guidelines_privacy_policy Whatever amount of detail is needed to communicate what you're wanting to say is absolutely fine. You...

I think trying a lot to figure out if you're attracted to someone might just put your mind into twists and get you no closer to what you want to know: it's sounding a bit like you're trying very hard to focus on a thing that's pretty intangible at the moment, and I think you might end up missing the...

Sometimes, feeling insecure in a relationship can manifest in being more worried generally or having specific worries, yes. What's even more common is feeling worried or insecure as a result of the kinds of behaviours you described in your boyfriend. What we're picking up on here is these things you...

If you've been taking your pill as directed - which it sounds like you have - EC won't add anything to the protection you already have. When you're using hormonal contraception, there's no need to take EC unless you've made a mistake with your regular hormonal contraception or had it compromised in ...

What you look for on the internet is completely up to you. Again, as a 13+ site, we don't link to sites which declare themselves to be 18+.

Just checking you also saw the information Amanda left you above

(Godoot, I edited out the link to ohjoysextoy. We like the site and we don't have a problem with explicitness, it's just that Scarleteen is for people 13+, so we don't have links to sites or pages that are for 18+, which that site declares it is.)

When you went to the hospital, did they examine you, and what did they say? An in-person healthcare provider who examined you would have much better information than we can, over the internet, to know the cause of your pain and bleeding. Did your gynecologist tell you the result of your check-up - d...

If you're feeling like the relationship isn't right for you, it doesn't really matter whose issue is behind it: what's important is it not feeling right for you. (Although I do agree that any partner who's not listening to your needs, especially needs around pregnancy prevention, is really not behav...

Getting or not getting your withdrawal bleed during the placebo week doesn't make any difference to when you start your next pack. Whether you had a bleed or not, you should start the next pack when you were due to start it, after the correct number of placebo days for your pill brand. Like Heather ...