Hi Socks, Sitting down with a stranger to tell them about your struggles and feelings is an extremely vulnerable position so it makes sense that you are feeling some stress around the appointment. But, it also takes a lot of courage and that should not go unmentioned. Since it sounds like this will ...

Hi Itzmuneca, It is possible to have false negative chlamydia tests, although uncommon, and even more uncommon to have two false negatives in a row (although not completely impossible). It sounds like you did all the right things when you received your first positive test result. And I'm sorry that ...

Hi Dennis91, It sounds like you have done some great introspective work. I think you're on the right track with having very open communication with potential partners. It's always important, no matter the context, to make sure you are understanding what somebody is saying by asking questions and tha...

Hi BumbleRex, I think you are off to a good start of being aware and making sure you start off in a healthy place with this relationship. A good place to start is to take an inventory of what your needs are for this relationship. Some things you could think about are what are some values for you in ...

Hi Mixxes, It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into the risk you are and are not comfortable with and are practicing a lot of open communication. Per your original post about the stigma around STIs, I think that one of the most impactful ways that we can begin to counteract stigma is to do ...

Hi YellowPamonha, In your past couple of posts, you mentioned some values that you hope for out of your relationship and I want to echo them back to you because it is important to keep your needs in mind when you are thinking about the future of your relationship. You mentioned that feeling loved, b...

Hi ManekiNeko, Since you were feeling excited about exploring your sexuality but the risk of STIs has been causing you some anxiety, I am wanting to chime in with a few other thoughts for you echoing what Mo mentioned earlier. As I understand the situation, this was with a person who you had just me...

Elise pretty much summed up what I would tell my past self but I would add one thing. I would tell myself to dance more. Through dancing I have learned to feel more confident in my body, how to navigate communication, I have experienced a world beyond traditional gender roles, I have learned how to ...

I tend to drink tea all the time (there is a cup of mint tea next to me right now)...but, when I'm really needing to connect to my body I will make myself a cup and drink it a little more slowly and intentionally. It could be in my head, but I can almost feel the warm tea travel to my stomach. I als...

Hi! Our Bodies Ourselves just launched its new website: Our Bodies Ourselves Today . There is some great info on there that you may find helpful. Although younger people can definitely find it helpful, it is not only aimed at teens but also adults who want to learn more. I'll leave this thread open ...

Hello Maha, I am so deeply sorry that you have experienced those things. That is something no one should have to go through. I am glad to hear that you are receiving some mental health support and care. People experience sexual desire on a whole wide range and sexual desire is also something that so...

Hi WeirdIdeas000, I first want to address the fact that a lot of people find engaging in some type of fantasy to be really necessary and enjoyable during sex, so it is not an unusual thing that you are describing. Fantasy can also look like a lot of different things, porn included, but also imaginat...

Hi Raffles, I hope you don't mind me chiming in again. Since that therapy setup felt very uncomfortable for you, it sounds like you made the right move for you. Therapy already requires you to be extremely vulnerable with a stranger and so it makes sense that you want to at least feel comfortable an...

Hi Doodler145 and welcome to the Scarleteen Boards! Everything you described is perfectly normal. Ejaculation (also called squirting) is not something that people with vulvas tend to have a lot of control over. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. We have an article that goes into more dep...

I hear you on wanting to have some clarity on your identity. Asexuality is a spectrum and what you described can fit within it if that label feels right for you and you want to label your sexuality. Is knowing that right now what your sexuality looks like is i know that i've only felt sexual/romanti...

Hi junescats123, That is a perfectly good way to masturbate since it is something that you find pleasurable and it is comfortable for you. There are so many ways to masturbate and it all comes down to individual preference of what feels good to you. My hope is that any future partner you have would ...

Hi emily233 and welcome to the boards-- we're happy you're here! Jacob filled me in on what has been going on. I am so sorry that your parents have been treating you in ways that are humiliating for you and that they have continued this behavior despite your attempts to talk to them. You deserve res...

Hi cowwwmoo and welcome to the boards! I first want to reassure you that it can take some time and experimentation to find what is pleasurable and works for you during masturbation. This is also not an uncommon thing at all. Finding pleasure during masturbation is one the most common topics people c...

Self-love and accepting our body as it is… two things society can make pretty difficult to master. We have an article that talks about just that Sex Goddess Blues: The Pressure to Look Perfect . However, recently, I watched a TedTalk by sex educator Emily Nagoski where she shared a tip on how to sta...

Hi Raffels, It is your choice in what you want out of this thread, we are here to support you. The ways that we can help are to be a virtual ear to listen and support, provide advice, answer questions around any of the topics on our website, help you to understand something you've read on the websit...

Hi AnonAS, and welcome to the Scarleteen boards! First off, I want to say that I'm sorry that people around you are not hearing and believing you. It sounds like you do have a pretty good understanding of your sexuality but that other people's opinions are making you feel confused. No one else or yo...

Hi Raffels, From what I've read, it seems like you have a lot of empathy for this friend but you are having a difficult time taking care of yourself in the ways you take care of others. If you would like we could talk through what some boundaries and limits could look like for you. However, I wanted...

Hi Mangomangomango, It's great to hear that you're feeling more confident about masturbation and having a curious and open mind about it. It does sound like those anxious thoughts and expectations you are having about wanting to feel a certain type of pleasure could be causing some of the trouble at...

Hi Theansweris42, It's alright to just rant sometimes. It can be super important and relieving to get things you are feeling into words and out there. Feel free to take as much time as you need and come back to the boards when you are looking for more support. But, I do want to respond to a couple o...

Hi cosmo.naught and welcome to Scarleteen! It sounds like this is causing you quite a lot of distress at the moment. So, it seems you have the right idea to make an appointment with a gynecologist to talk through some of these worries. I think it's important to not get too ahead of yourself here wit...