Hi kat_lear, welcome to scarleteen! I'm sorry you're in this upsetting situation. Your boyfriend's feelings around whether he's ready to have sex or not don't have anything to do with whether you're attractive or not, and it doesn't mean he's gay. Being told that he's not comfortable with having sex...

Hi Jellowl. Yes, birth control does alter the length and flow of your period. After several months it will settle down into a regular pattern, although it may not be the same flow/length as your period was when you were not on the pill. For info on what to expect with the pill, and how it works, che...

Hi Ruru. Spotting and other irregularities with menstruation is extremely common within the first few years of menstruation. Even after years of menstruating, spotting every once in a while does happen and is not necessarily cause for alarm. It can also be caused by a variety of factors including st...

Hi radicallyunique! It sounds like you're in a complicated situation, and I'm really sorry that your family do not feel like a safe place in which you can be out right now. Coming out can be pretty complex, as you don't really come out only once -- you're constantly coming out, to different degrees,...

Hi Yoda90! You're right that you do not ovulate when you're on the pill -- that information the person provided was false. However, it sounds like you may indeed have a yeast infection, as the symptoms you're describing fit that, and it also can sort of "come and go" in a sense if it goes ...

Hey Faust, I hope you don't mind me giving some input here, too. I wanted to touch on something you said. I realize now that it was a misstep to look for emotional support from him—of course he won't give more than he typically does, he's unable to, that's not who he is. While it's a good and reason...

I LOVE those sticky glue strips!! Peeling them off and watching them go TWANG like an elastic band is my favourite part of going through the mail

Hi turtle_powahh, welcome to Scarleteen! I'm sorry to hear you're having painful sex. One thing I'd like to clear up first -- not using tampons and/or fingers and/or sex toys during masturbation doesn't cause the vaginal canal to become "tight." The vagina is a muscle that relaxes and loos...

Hi Yipsguy, welcome to Scarleteen! We have a lot of articles about anxiety around sex and pregnancy, so I would definitely recommend starting there: Chicken Soup for the Pregnancy Symptom Freakout's Soul You're Not Pregnant. Why Do You think You Are? The Pregnancy Panic Companion Anxiety and Other M...

Hi Badmadd, welcome to Scarleteen! First of all, there is nothing wrong with you at all; this is a pretty common experience that people have, and everyone's bodies respond to things differently anyway -- there is no "right" or "wrong." But, with some digging I hope that we will b...

Hi aj2234. To add onto what Danny said, the effectiveness of the pill is usually impacted when someone misses/takes a pill late two or more times within one cycle. IE. only if you took a pill later than 12 hours late, TWICE. When you took the pill at 10pm instead of 8pm, that would have had no impac...

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...

Hi Cesca1234. This is a new thread in which we can discuss anxiety you are feeling and ways you may be able to go about taking care of yourself and managing those feelings better.

Hi Faust. I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time with this. Ending a romantic relationship is a really hard thing, no matter your exact feelings about it -- obviously you care greatly about N, so hurting him is painful for you too. However, that doesn't stop your needs from being what they are...

ooh yes!

- snuggling up under thick blankets when it's cold outside
- warm showers
- the sun on my skin
- that bonfire sort of smell that lingers throughout october
- the sound of rain

Hi Rlg476! I'm sorry to hear sex with condoms was not enjoyable for you. You say you're clear of STIs -- how long ago were you tested? And what about your partner, has he ever been tested? One practical aspect of opening up relationships is that safer sex needs to be considered and discussed in-dept...

Hi Shinigami0922. I highly suggest that you read over these articles, to help you understand what does and does not lead to pregnancy, and the risks involved with various kinds of sex and contraceptive methods. They will give you the info needed to answer your question: Human Reproduction: A Seafare...

Hi UnknownRobin. I'm sorry to hear that you were struggling with your anxiety, and that you're feeling crummy about this. Your relationships are nobody else's business, and nobody else gets a say in the way you deal with your own relationships. So know that if your mum makes any comments, she's extr...

Hi eliza! Welcome to Scarleteen, although I'm sorry it's under these circumstances! I'm so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. It's extremely brave of you to come here to talk to us about this, as you've said it's very hard to do. I really admire your ability to identify your needs and to t...

Great topic, Sam! I have a super hard time expressing insecurity and negative emotions to people, as I've grown up with this atmosphere that talking about or showing my emotions/feeling insecure = "wallowing in self-pity" or being "weak". What I've found helpful is first taking b...

Hi Bunnyfrog. Welcome to Scarleteen! No kind of sex has any affect on period flow and symptoms, so you can rest assured it's not related at all :) Fluctuation in period flow and symptoms is very common for the first several years of menstruation. You can also always talk to your doctor if the cramps...

Great post! I definitely used to be someone who would jump head-first into a relationship and put all my interests aside. But I now appreciate the beauty in hobbies and interests! I love things! All the things! Reading Writing Playing music Boxing Drawing/colouring Watching sci-fi/fantasy/horror tv ...

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...

Good post, al! Working with children all day means I see a lot of both sides of this situation. The good parenting tool that stands out in particular to me has been when a child excitedly tells their parent about something, and the parent responds with the same level of excitement. Even when it's so...

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...