Hey Hellocupcake, You've outlined a bunch of totally understandable reasons about why you don't feel older men are a good fit for you in romantic relationships! Like Sam said, most people end up dating partners who are their age or close to it, for many of the reasons that you stated. I'm sorry you ...

I'm heading off from work now but someone will be back in tomorrow Have a good night Amethyst!

Scarleteen offers chat services on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2-5pm PCT. If you are free during one of those windows you could come chat with someone then. http://www.scarleteen.com/our_live_chat_service Otherwise, message boards are your best bet. We make sure that people's identities are k...

Yep go for it! Just make sure you don't use your friends real names Also, if you have any follow-up questions or thoughts about that big ole essay I wrote, feel free to share.

Hey Amethyst, Welcome to the boards :) You have touched on a tricky subject! You are right that the rule is people under the influence of substances can not give consent. You are also right that people do have sex under the influence of substances, and sometimes it's fine for everybody involved. Eve...

Mine right now is The Sex Goddess Blues: Building Sexual Confidence, Busting Perfectionism . It is so comprehensive. It is so warm and affirming. Izzy's drawings are amazing. And it covers the subject that comes up the most in sex ed: Am I normal? Is this normal? Wish I had found it earlier in my li...

Hey jhskean, Welcome to the boards :) So happy to hear that you want to pursue sex education work! I'm gonna start off by linking you to this thread that OhHeckDatGurl started about wanting to be a sex educator. Heather, Siân, and me shared some thoughts there. After you check that out you can share...

Thank you for starting this thread Sam, and thank you for your post Sunshine! I resonate so much with everything you said. And thank you for those kind words at the end about Scarleteen :) Related to something you said ("Times have been SO bad before yet they got better."), someone that is...

Hey Hellocupcake, Totally! There are so many types of pleasurable and fulfilling sex, not just penis-in-vagina intercourse. I am glad you are listening to your heart and body and do what feels right and feels good! I am glad that you know that you can't rush your body--that is a super important less...

Do you have a sex toy? What has been your experience with it? Have you used or made a DIY sex toy? If you have purchased a sex toy, what was your experience like picking it out? Have you used a sex toy with a partner? Have you wanted to use a sex toy with a partner but been too nervous (or some othe...

I was thinking of getting my IUD taken out. After over a year and a half, I was having intense pain that I thought was associated with it, and had finally had enough. Then Kennedy said he was retiring from the Supreme Court and everyone was talking about Roe v Wade maybe being overturned, and I deci...

Hey potatochipeater, I am not well acquainted with people using weights or other devices to try to pull skin over the glans of their penis, but I agree that sounds like it could cause real damage! While I know it is possible to get circumcised later on life, no I am not aware of a procedure that rev...

Hey Chimichanga, In general, a quick wash with warm water and regular soap should be all you need to clean lube and bodily fluids off your new toy. You may want to every once and awhile sanitize the toy--since it has batteries you won't want to boil it or put it through the dishwasher, but you can d...

Sounds like you are feeling grounded in what you are needing to bring up with her and how/what order it might be best to do that. Props for knowing yourself and listening to your gut

How else can we help you?

Hey ReliableLake, I have confirmed with another staff member--it would make sense for that to be your withdrawal bleed. Also a fun fact about how the Nuvaring and the pill and the patch work--they prevent pregnancy by releasing estrogen and progestin which help prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mu...

Hey ReliableLake, Yes, I also think it is a withdrawal bleed. I think I am understanding correctly that you went straight from the fourth week of your pill (withdrawal bleed) to the first day of your Nuvaring. One of the three ways the Nuvaring works is by preventing ovulation--same as the pill. So,...

Hey alone, I'm so sorry to hear about the intense and painful feelings you've been having. I am thinking of you. Once we have experienced something for a long time it's easy for it to become normalized, but I want to remind you that you don't need to get used to wanting to die. And while you are def...

Hey Songague,

So glad to hear this thread helped you Feel free to start a thread of your own if you'd like to talk more about bodies, gender identity, being trans, or anything else! We'd love to chat with you.

Hi aj2234, Sounds like you actually aren't needing an answer from us :) You said, "I know I probably don't need to ask anything here" and "I know I didn't touch the blood." Just like you said, sounds like you were feeling really anxious after this experience and thought some outs...

Hey FadedPassion, No need to apologize--when we start any new medication or health product it can take some getting adjusted to! My guess is that they would make the product resilient enough that something like that happening when you pull it out wouldn't interfere with its effectiveness. But that's...

Hey spotteddog,

Glad to hear you went ahead and reached out the clinic! The appointment shouldn't take long--but you can ask if they often run behind in their appointments. They should also be able to tell you what payment options there are for teens who have limited access to money.

Hey KittyPink, Amidst the really tough housing situation you are having to navigate, I am glad to hear that your landlord brought you and your grandmother's rent down! But I am of course sorry to hear that your grandmother is not supportive of you transitioning. Along with the financial benefits, I ...

Hey OCDVictim, Glad to hear that you and your girlfriend have taken a break from sexual activity. And glad to hear that you feel comfortable talking about the subject of sexuality with your therapist! Along with sharing information with you about how pregnancy does and does not happen, I would encou...

Hi Science_Geek, I am so sorry to hear you have been having such overwhelming feelings and that you have been struggling to find relief from them. Ultimately, a therapist is who is going to be able to help you navigate these difficult feelings and develop strategies for when they feel like just too ...

Hey zodiakku, Welcome to the boards! To start with your question about the g-spot, here is some info from Innies & Outies: The Penis, Testes and More : "Understand, however, that not all find the g-spot being touched or stimulated to be pleasurable, and it doesn't lead to orgasm magically i...