Spotting can happen for a few different reasons. Sometimes it can be a side effect of birth control pills; it can also be from a small cut or abrasion that happened during sex if your partner had a hangnail or something like that. Sometimes it's a sign of infection. If it keeps happening, then it's ...

Glad Sam was able to help you think through some of this. If you want any help around initiating a conversation about compatible sexual values with your boyfriend, just say so.

Thanks for filling me in, that helped a lot. Before I say anything else, I want to note that if him continuing to watch porn is a dealbreaker for you, then it just is. Everyone gets to have their own limits and boundaries and wants and needs in relationships. Too, if you decide - today or next week ...

Welcome to the boards, milkybarlife. So, I have a couple of questions to start, just to help me get a better idea of what you might be needing here. You mentioned that if he was fantasising or watching porn about partnered sex in some way, you'd find that easier to understand: I'm wondering if he we...

Orgasms aren't always mind-blowing experiences: sometimes they do feel fantastic and more intense, but other times they don't. Too, factors like dysphoria or stress don't just affect how easily you get aroused, but also the whole sexual response cycle, including orgasm. I get why you're feeling worr...

How do you think she would respond if you said you just weren't going to talk about anything trans with her, at all?

All of our information about volunteering, including an application form, is right here: http://www.scarleteen.com/scarleteen_volunteer_application Weekend availability isn't required, and we don't have a minimum age, but if you're under 18 we do need written permission from a parent or guardian for...

I can see how that would be confusing! We'll figure out a clearer wording and make that change.

Yes, that means that Ella EC is affected by antacids. Normal birth control pills are not affected by antacids. (Would it help if we made that clearer in the article?)

Ella is a specific type of emergency contraception, and not the same as regular birth control pills. When looking up information about medication, you want to look for information that's about the specific type of medication you're taking, not other types of medication that may be similar. And as Sa...

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...

A new piece all about pleasure from our own Sam W: http://www.scarleteen.com/article/bodie ... ulfillment

Yep, the drop in hormones during the placebo week is what tells your body to start the withdrawal bleed. The piece that Mo linked you to in his first post explains in more detail why you're still protected during that week, but basically it's because of all the things the pill has done in the previo...

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...

I should have been clearer, sorry. Taking a pill a bit late is just one possible cause of the slight hormone fluctuations that can cause spotting. Your body still makes its own hormones when you're on the pill and small changes in those levels (which happen for a bunch of reasons) can cause some irr...

Not really: bleeding doesn't happen because there's "too much" uterine lining, it happens because there's a slight change in hormone levels. (For example, some folks are more sensitive to those fluctuations and find that they have some spotting or bleeding if they take a pill slightly late.)

As far as I know, starting a period before the active pills are finished isn't a cause for concern unless it's bothering you, but it may be worth checking in with your doctor again and seeing if they can explain that a bit better. Per the bleeding this time, again, I wouldn't say it's cause for conc...

Thanks for elaborating on that, I think I get where you're coming from now. So, the pill works by sending different hormonal signals to your brain, ovaries, and uterus, with the overall effects that the uterine lining is thinned out/doesn't build up as much, ovulation doesn't happen, and cervical mu...

As long as you're current with all your STI testing and sexual health checks, nope, it's not cause for concern. Spotting is a pretty common side effect of the pill.

Sex can't change your cycle, no. Periods or withdrawal bleeds happen because of a bunch of hormonal changes and shifts in the body, and sex doesn't impact those. (Keep in mind too that even on the pill, people can have some irregularity. Bodies don't always do what we expect.) Occasionally, however,...

I'm not sure what you mean by the uterine lining being "unstabilized" - that's not a term I've ever run across before. Could you explain a bit more? (It could be that we're thinking of the same thing and just using different language to describe it!)

Kristy has some great advice, but we have a couple of other pieces you might want to look at as well. This one is a great checklist to go through as you think about all the things involved in getting ready to have sex: Ready or Not? The Scarleteen Sex Readiness Checklist And this one is a primer on ...

Sometimes just writing things down can be a big help; I'm glad this was a space for you to be able to do that. Is there anything in particular in your post you'd like help with/feedback on, or did you just want to get those thoughts out somewhere?

You're welcome, and hopefully you're able to find a therapist who's a better fit for you.

I'm so sorry she responded that way: a therapist should never judge a patient or make them feel like they can't discuss certain topics. Is it possible for you to explore other mental healthcare options on your own, or is that something you'd like some help with? In the meantime, we do have some reso...