Yep, what you're describing is pretty common. When people start to dig into abuse or other intense things from their past, they often start recalling things or noticing patterns they didn't before, because they're taking the incident(s) out and looking at them, rather than trying to push it down and...

You're welcome! And thanks for clarifying, we're making a point of checking in with users to see if they're being safe.

Hi kmm123456, Breast tenderness can be a side effect of the pill, and it sounds like having breakthrough bleeding followed by no withdrawal bleed is something you've experienced a few times before. So, given all that, this doesn't sound like cause for concern. Too, I just want to check, is this some...

Hi Belcano, I'm promise you none of us are disappointed in you. Something we know from both doing this work and from the research out there about abuse is that it's very hard to make a clean break on the first try. Obviously, we encourage people to try to do that anyway and do our best to help them ...

Hi avaiara, It sounds like talking to him went well in that he was willing to open up to you, apologize, and give you a little more context as to why he's acting the way he is. That's definitely a positive step, and it sounds like you're feeling a little better because of it! In that conversation, d...

Hi Bulldoge, It sounds like this situation is causing you a lot of stress, so let's see if we can help you lower that a little. For starters, it may help to know that at age 16 you likely have several years of puberty ahead of you; in fact, some people are just starting puberty at your age. So the f...

Mo offers advice to a user in a very tough situation: https://www.scarleteen.com/article/advi ... oned_and_i.

Hi 0PT1M15T1C, I'm glad you're finding lots of remote ways to connect with people! That's so important right now, and it sounds like it's helping your overall well-being. It sounds like the person you're working with has been giving you multiple treatment/doctor recommendations, which hopefully mean...

Hi bikinksterboy, That's definitely something I've seen more people expressing lately, and I know some cities are already making plans to basically cancel and reschedule pride celebrations. I think it's a bummer too (in part because pride celebrations have been really hard-won in some places). That ...

Oof, that's always a stressful announcement to hear, even if it's being done for public health. Are you certain pharmacies are among those places that will be closed? I ask because in many cases they're considered essential, as many people need access to medication in order to stay healthy or alive,...

Hi ailurophiledork, I'm so sorry someone chose to violate your trust that way. While there are reasons we caution young people against sending nudes, the blame for what happened still falls solidly on the person who shared them (and the people who spread them around). Are there people in your life b...

Hi articmonkeys, So, with the combination pill, you have a twelve-hour window before a pill is even considered late. So that smaller window of difference in what time you take it should not compromise it's effectiveness. Since a condom wasn't used, I do want to check: Are you and the person you had ...

Hi hydrengea, It may help to know that there's nothing inside your vaginal canal that can break from fingering. The vaginal corona (another name for the hymen) is flexible, so it doesn't break from insertion of fingers or other items. It is possible to cut or scratch yourself during fingering, espec...

It makes sense that pissed you off, since it was someone being really rude about a very uncomfortable procedure! Concepts like "popping your cherry" and other misconceptions about the hymen or virginity are sadly still really widespread, because there are still a lot of cultural messages c...

Hi kiiiimibela, It sucks in a big way that something as basic as your access to healthcare has been hit during the pandemic. So, if you're finding the pill is working for you, we can talk about some ways to maybe find a lower-cost option so you can stay on it. Too, until the pandemic passes, the rec...

I'm glad you've got another appointment scheduled with the psychiatrist, since it sounds like things are getting pretty stressful at home. It's extra-hard right now because everyone, adults and young people alike, are dealing with unexpected and intense stress. Which means family flare-ups are to be...

Hi Lisa, Being in the midst of a major relationship change combined with all the upheaval and fear this pandemic is causing is incredibly stressful, so it's little wonder you're feeling so many rough, intense emotions all at once. You've clearly done a ton of self-reflection in terms of knowing what...

Hi Lisa, Thank you for the update! I'm glad you were able to access the healthcare you needed to set your mind at ease, and that you have family member you're comfortable discussing things like those symptoms with. How are things going for you generally? We know the current pandemic can be adding st...

Correct. Your period will come back if/when you eventually stop the pill for another reason, so there's no reason to subject yourself to something that's going to increase a major source of anxiety for you just to test that theory right now.

So, whenever you're considering going on or off a medication, the first person to consult is your healthcare provider, as they can give you advice based on your specific situation and health history. That being said, given that you have a history of anxiety around the pill and your cycle, going off ...

A great interview with reproductive rights specialist nurse Melvine Ouyo: https://www.scarleteen.com/article/poli ... _and_human

Hi Wintersolstice, Stress can be a trigger for psoriasis, so if that does turn out to be the cause of the itching around your genitals, it's entirely possible stress contributed to the flare up. I would definitely contact your healthcare provider if it gets bad again, but I'd also get in touch with ...

Hi Juliaho, As we've covered before, your body and cycle can experience a little variation, even when on the pill. So, I think it might be helpful to use the next little while (since the recommendation is that people not be sexual with partners they don't live with until the pandemic has passed), to...

Hi Buddyboi, Glad to hear you're both staying safe, and that you're able to be supports to each other during this time! And hobbies combined with virtual therapy sound like a great way of looking after yourself while also combating boredom. And yep, if you two go back to being sexual together in the...

Hi bluealiendude, So, one thing to keep in mind as we talk about this is that there's no way to guarantee that our bodies will respond to stimulation in a certain way. What can help one person with a penis reach an orgasm from anal stimulation alone may not work for another, and you may find even wi...