Hi kokoPeg, I’m sorry that masturbation is so difficult right now. Because it’s something that is supposed to be so pleasurable, it’s extra confusing when it causes pain and frustration. Like Urna said, it’s okay to take a step back from masturbation if it doesn’t feel good to you right now. Luckily...

Hi frogz! It can be difficult to find what feels good when masturbating! But just because you are feeling discouraged now doesn’t at all mean that you never will. I think sometimes there can be a lot of pressure to perform masturbation a certain way or use it only as a means to reach orgasm. But mas...

Hi idk anymore, I agree that this is a hard step to take! But, the fact that you wrote out all of the boundaries you want to set shows that you have already put a lot of thought into this decision and what is best for you, and that’s very admirable. Something I like about your list is that you have ...

It’s very common for semen to have some odor! Probably the best way to avoid lingering smells is just to use water and soap on your hands any material or fabric afterwards. If you feel like it is a very strong smell that is different from what you would consider your “normal” smell, this could be a ...

Hi Cherrycrab, I’m glad you’re interest in anal fisting is driven mostly by feeling curious and not by a sense of pressure. It’s important not to engage in anything based on feelings of expectation. To echo Sam, the biggest thing is to make sure you are entering slowly with lots of lubrication, and ...

I can see why the bathroom isn’t the best spot if you want to make sure you can take your time (which is important for feeling relaxed!) There’s no “normal” amount of time for masturbation, it’s totally up to what feels good for you and your body! And you can masturbate in whatever position you like...

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re feeling this way. Feeling “like a trophy” is not at all the same as feeling supported and valued as an equal in a relationship. It’s not helpful for him to have made up a reason why he didn’t automatically use a condom. It’s important to have a conversation about bir...

Hi Otter8! Yep, it can be a struggle to find privacy to enjoy masturbation without being concerned about someone hearing you or accidentally interrupting! And it doesn’t feel as good if you aren’t relaxed. People masturbate in a wide variety of places - it’s mostly about where you feel comfortable! ...

Hi Odoter, I don’t know if anyone really has a lightbulb moment “I feel exactly like an adult now”, so it’s okay that you don’t “feel even close to being an adult” just because you turned 18. It makes sense that you feel different dating someone with a large age gap, especially when you are younger ...

I can understand that completely - it can take a lot of energy to join social things, especially if you’re not feeling prepared. It’s valid to take time for yourself to recharge, and choose to do the activities you are most excited for or already planned. I wonder also if there are activities you ca...

If there isn't ovulation, progesterone doesn't increase, which means it would be unlikely to experience PMS symptoms. If your period is only a few days late and you are experiencing PMS symptoms, it's more likely a sign that it may start soon rather than PMS symptoms without ovulation.

That sounds good, there's no rush! You're right, if you want to move forward, open communication sounds like a good plan

Hi Astia! It sounds like you gave yourself some space to think about this, that’s great! I agree that if you are feeling doubts, even if you are still excited about it, it’s always better not to rush into things. Especially if there’s more potential for friendship dynamics to be affected. Also, even...

Hi andrej! The self-produced pressure to orgasm is the worst! The cycle of feeling pressured makes it so much harder to feel pleasure in the moment. I wonder if there are some ways that you can help yourself take that pressure off in the moment, like reminding yourself that it’s okay not to orgasm d...

Hey Raffles! Questions about relationships of all kinds are welcome here! I’m sorry to hear you are struggling with feeling like the “therapist” in your friend group, that can require a lot of emotional energy! It’s wonderful that you care for your friends and that they feel comfortable coming to yo...

Hi Suman! The short answer is, NO, a person cannot become pregnant by inserting a finger with sperm on it into the vagina. This is because sperm are extremely fragile and aren’t going to survive outside of the body long enough to cause pregnancy even when reintroduced into another body. If you are f...

Rubix, I really like what you said about focusing on pleasurable sensations! I tend to be very task-oriented, so it helps to remind myself to slow down and enjoy things. Listening to my body's reactions to a food I'm eating, movement I'm doing, how the weather feels to me is something I'm trying to ...

Hey Kura! It’s very common for people who menstruate to have some brown clots and discharge. The “brown” is just old blood that your body is pushing out, and it’s a normal part of the menstrual cycle. But, if the clots feel abnormally large, or if you are experiencing abnormal pain or other abnormal...

I agree that honesty and communication are very important in my relationships! I think two other key components that I value are kindness and acceptance from my partner, friends, and family. If conversations are built on a foundation of kindness and an attempt to understand the other person, I feel ...

Hi AltAcct4Help, thanks for sharing! I can understand the reaction to stop doing something altogether if you feel like you don’t have control over it, especially if it’s something that holds some degree of cultural shame. I agree, it’s hard to pin down where these feelings of shame come from! It cou...

Hi Anne,

That's okay, no need to share if it doesn't feel good for you! Feel free to post again if anything else comes up you want to talk about I'm sending warm thoughts and hope you find a therapist that's a good fit soon.

Hi Anne, I’m so sorry, it sounds like you are experiencing a lot of pain. I can understand that you want to be careful in your search for a therapist - it can make a world of difference how helpful therapy is if you can connect well with and feel validated by your therapist. But, I’m sorry that it m...

Hi Willow! Just to be sure I have a clear picture of what's going on, when you say his sister is a bit older, how much older are we talking? Do you mind sharing what you mean by “I want to do this but I don’t”? What parts are you excited by, and what parts not so much? The first step might be determ...

Hi Korey, All of your feelings are completely valid, this is a big relationship conversation! Are there any feelings that come up now that you want to talk more about? First, and most importantly, you can take some time to think about what you want from this relationship. Are you also genuinely inte...

Hi iloveeveryone, I’m so sorry you are dealing with people wanting to control the way you dress, that sounds very difficult! It’s good that your dad is open to the conversations, but I can imagine it’s exhausting to keep having conversations where you don’t feel like you are making progress. I don’t...