feelings

It sounds to me like this is really about you more than it is about him. The person having trouble with his history right now appears to be you, and that's the person who I think needs to work through this. In other words, you say he won't open up about this, but I'm not sure I can envision what you...

Some people think they're ready for sex, but after they do it they find out they're wrong. You need to ask him how he's feeling about the experience. He's obviously got something bothering him. He might think he's inadequate because neither of you reached orgasm. He might be feeling guilty because...

It is okay to have a desire to explore sex with the same gender; it is okay to have a desire to explore sex with people of a different gender. We also don't need to view any of that exploration as an "experiment," nor is same-gender sex somehow more of an experiment than mixed-gender sex is. I mean...

I tend to think the best way of saying I love you is...well, saying "I love you." But if you're asking if sex can express love? Sure it can. It doesn't always, but it absolutely always has that potential. People being mutually invested in each other's comfort and pleasure, each other's sexual growth...

If you're uneasy about it, then I think it's pretty obvious that it's probably not the time to do it yet. We can like someone a lot and be intimate in ways with them that don't require sex or any given type of sex, and which also don't put us at risk of things we're not prepared to be at risk for...

We talk a lot about sexual safety and safer sex here at Scarleteen in terms of your physical health. But what about checking in to see if sex is safe for you and yours emotionally? Taking care of your emotions, looking out for risk factors in advance -- not just when they become an existing crisis -- and safeguarding yourself, your partners and those around you from needless hurt and harm is just as important as doing what you can to prevent STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

What's the menstrual cycle? How does it all work? What are periods and options for managing them, and when's it time to check in with a healthcare provider?