If you're worried about condoms breaking when you use them, this is a great article that covers some common condom mistakes and how to avoid them: All the Barriers! All the Time! Since your pharmacist told you the hole itself is not cause for concern unless you leave it in the sun, you can assume it...

Hi Maeve, If two people have had no sexual contact with anyone prior to engaging in oral sex, then the risk of transmitting an infection are very, very low. There are some exceptions to consider however, which you can read about here: http://www.scarleteen.com/article/advice/can_people_with_no_sexua...

Hi Jellowl, The two major things with anal sex are patience and lube. Like, even more patience and lube than you may be already using. You may also have to build up little by little, so not trying to do full penetration each time. Too, it may be that anal sex isn't something your body particularly l...

Hi Angeldelight, You can read about the effectiveness of combining those two methods here: The Buddy System: Effectiveness Rates for Backing Up Your Birth Control With a Second Method Basically, if that level of protection feels high enough for you both, then you're all set. If not, then you could t...

Hi LGBTQ.Llama, That does sound like a lot of big emotions to deal with all at once. I think you'd find these two articles helpful. One is about taking care of yourself in the wake of a break-up, and the other offers advice on what to do if you're crushing on someone: Getting Through a Breakup Witho...

Hi LGBTQ.Llama, The most likely explanation is that you are, indeed, a "late bloomer." Plenty of people don't get their period until 13, so you're not alone there. In terms of being anxious, it might help to remind yourself that this isn't a sign that there's anything "wrong" wit...

We can't answer for what other people mean when they use that phrase, but it means what it says: something is very, very unlikely, but not impossible.

It may be time to check in again, especially if it's not going away (and even if it is muscle related, it might help to get some advice on how to manage it). You may also want to get checked by an OB-GYN, as they're going to have more experience in examining and diagnosing things that may be related...

Hi Jambo,

You can read about the ins and outs of pregnancy testing here: Peeing on a Stick: All About Pregnancy Tests

As a reminder, we do ask users to search the main website for answers to their questions before asking them here, as the site has lots of information.

New advice column: http://www.scarleteen.com/article/advic ... al_assault

The most information we can give you is from this article: Chicken Soup for the Pregnancy Symptom Freakout's Soul " Some folks, for instance, will have lighter spotting around the time they expect their periods which may be due to an egg implanting itself in the uterine wall: that implantation ...

You're welcome!

Did your doctor give an alternative explanation after she dismissed the idea of it being a cyst?

Hi thisisnotfun, There isn't one, specific way people are supposed to masturbate. It may be that you haven't found a way that works for you yet. And for some people masturbation will never be their cup of tea. There's nothing wrong with that, either. When you've experimented in the past, have you fe...

It might be worth trying the IUD in that case, although you'd also have to consider the possibility of it creating changes in your cycle that you're not happy with, such as unexpected or frequent bouts of bleeding (for some people that's worth the increased protection, for others it is not).

Sounds like a great plan

Hi iskyley,

It's unlikely that your pills have been compromised, but if you're concerned I would call your pharmacist and ask for their recommendation.

We can never promise that talking about certain things won't lead to something bad happening, but we do everything we can to make this a space where you can talk about things safely. If you go to the ER, you may end up held for a little bit if they evaluate your risk as severe enough (that's how it ...

Hi Iwanthelp, It sounds like you're processing a ton of stuff right now, which isn't surprising given that, from the sound of it, you're weren't offered help or listened to in the moments where those things were happening. When stuff doesn't feel resolved to us, our brains can sometimes pile it all ...

Hi Poorvi, So, what most people think of as the hymen is actually something called the vaginal corona. You can read all about it here: My Corona: The Anatomy Formerly Known as the Hymen & the Myths That Surround It An important point is that you're not "supposed" to bleed as a result o...

You're welcome!

You can read all about implantation in this article: Human Reproduction: A Seafarer's Guide

Implantation bleeding would not last as long, as is unlikely to come at the time a person is expecting their period. Really though, it will be the person who has the period who notices that the bleeding they're experiencing doesn't look or feel quite like their period. And no, a person does not get ...

Hi Notsure,

It depends a little on whether you wear clothes while you do it, but the worst you're likely to do is get a stain on it. But if that happens, you can either wash the pillow case or (in most cases) the pillow itself and you'll be all set.

Hi Jambo, We ask that users not come to us to ask us to explain why our answer differs from an answer elsewhere, as we can't know why they give the answer they do (although the daily mail is known for having certain bias that could affect their reporting on issues like sex). All we can say is that o...