These articles will probably be helpful: Combined Oral Contraceptives (The Pill) How do birth control pills really work, even during the placebo period? Since you're about to start the placebo pills, the cramps you're feeling may very well be related to your withdrawal bleed; it's common to feel sym...

Hi Chucks12, and welcome to Scarleteen! Did you ask this on chat this weekend? We had a similar question come through recently. Unfortunately we can't always know why withdrawal bleeds are late or can be skipped altogether. Sometimes a change in exercise patterns can impact it, although it's not alw...

Hi Sophie, and welcome to Scarleteen. I'm sorry your first experience with intercourse was so painful and unpleasant. We have some good articles about pain & sexual pleasure surrounding intercourse, which I think may be a good place to start: Yield for Pleasure From OW! to WOW! Demystifying Pain...

Two weeks is a safe estimate for a time that most tests will be effective. If you chart your cycles and can generally estimate when your period will arrive, then taking it four days early is feasible, but lots of people don't know when to expect their periods. So, if that's the case just wait at lea...

This link has information on sexual activities other than intercourse that pose a pregnancy risk; it certainly can happen: Can I Get Pregnant, or Get or Pass On an STI From That? While people certainly can and do become pregnant from other types of sex, it's hard to pinpoint exactly how many people ...

Sexting can certainly be just text as well as pictures! I think you're right though that most of the "sexting panic" articles and commentary are focused on photos. Probably a big reason behind that is that sexual photos can cause more problems for someone down the road than text, if a part...

Hi Kristy,

When you're asking questions, can you go with either the message boards or text and not ask in both places? Often that means we spend time answering them twice. Thanks!

Hi Izzy, Unfortunately, I'm not sure there is a great way for you to get this particular vibrator for yourself. As you said, without credit cards of your own there's really no way to do business online. The only solution I could think of here is if you had a prepaid credit card; sometimes people wil...

This sort of thing is tough. I agree that it's important to speak up when people are being hateful or prejudiced, and that staying silent can sometimes cause harm. But it can be a lot trickier where family is concerned; I think it's also important to balance that desire to speak out and push back wi...

It may help for your boyfriend to read something like this article, about why the pill works just as well during the placebo week: How do birth control pills really work, even during the placebo period? But if that doesn't make him feel better (and it may not, since from what you're saying this soun...

Hi Lala,

We really can't know what's causing this since we can't examine you over the internet, but weight loss that significant and unusual discharge means that it's a good idea to check in with your doctor to see what's going on.

It's not weird for him to climax 30 seconds into intercourse, and it doesn't have to be a problem. Maybe you can talk with him about some other kinds of sex when you're feeling sore; switching things up is a good idea when you're starting to feel pain! It may also help to reframe things and remember...

One framework that I think can help in coming out is a three-step statement. First, you say what you want to tell her regarding your identity. Then, you explain what that means for you; it could be just "I might date women as well as men sometimes, just a heads-up" but this could include b...

Catalina, it's hard to know exactly what might be causing the cramps you're having, but we can know they aren't pregnancy related. Pregnancy, when it does occur, isn't instantaneous; it can happen up to several days after intercourse, and physical symptoms won't show up at that time. This article ha...

frenchfancyxo, please note that this area is for staff & volunteer replies only! Thanks.

You're welcome, and thanks!

Most shower heads don't have water filters in them, since they don't dispense drinking water. Since tap water is already treated and filtered to be safe before it reaches your home, there shouldn't be any issue with the water in the shower causing any sort of infection. The only reason to be concern...

Absolutely it's good to be clear w/doctors, and sometimes I wish they would be more clear with patients, to clarify what they want to know about sexual activity. Sometimes people don't know why a doctor's asking if they're sexually active, and it might make a difference if patients know doctors want...

DulceDiva, I like the way you think.

Have you seen our article What's Sex? yet? What you're saying here aligns with much of what's in that article. I definitely agree that someone's sexuality isn't dependent on them having a sexual partner present.

I definitely want to chime in that the only rules for any kind of sexual relationship are the ones that people establish themselves. As zeitvogel said above, the word "friends" is right there in "friends with benefits" and friends have all sort of feelings for each other! Those m...

Mine is mostly a bright hot pink with a grey stripe in it.

CraftyKid: YES, I made the condom cozy! I'm so happy to know I inspired you to make one too. I had a lot of fun with that. Casey: I'm knitting lace right now. I haven't done as much crocheting lately but I'd be interested to see what crocheted lace patterns are like. I have a friend who makes croche...

I started a topic like this on the old boards, but I figured it might be worth reviving over here. :) I know that some folks have a hard time incorporating condoms or other barriers into their sex lives. Maybe you forget to pick some up, or you assume a partner will have some on hand and they don't,...

I've been setting up a lot of friend-dates lately with one friend in particular; we've both had some rough stuff going on and it's been good to just hang out and get coffee or lunch once every week or two to talk openly about what's going on and be supportive of each other. I've been friends with hi...

Most of the physical activities and exercise I've participated in throughout my life, from soccer as a wee tiny Mo to marching band in high school to hiking & cycling now, have involved lower body strength. As a result, my legs are strong and my muscles (most notably my calves, but in my thighs ...