Body Image

Our relationships with our own bodies: how we see and feel about all or some of our parts, the good, the bad, and the work-in-progress.

Articles and Advice in this area:

Advice
  • Sarah Riley

When I was very little, I developed really severe atopic eczema. My parents and doctors had the worst time getting it under control, but eventually they managed to find the right set of lifestyle changes and medications to take care of the problem. I didn’t really have a lot of issues (as long as I…

Article
  • Nicole

My body hair first became a problem for me when I was 10. One summer day at the pool, I looked down – there was pubic hair showing out of the bottom of my bathing suit. I was absolutely horrified. I had never heard of anyone having such a problem. I knew that it was normal to have pubic hair, but surely this was abnormal. I felt like such a freak.

Advice
  • Susie Tang

First up, I think you ought to rent a movie called ‘Real Women Have Curves.’ It stars America Ferrera, and is about a fat girl who has to deal with all the usual teen stuff: family, boyfriend and going to college. I think you’d identify with it and probably learn something from it. At the least, it…

Advice
  • Heather Corinna

You know, there are good reasons why we distinguish fantasy from reality. If your boyfriend not only expects that both of you CAN do everything he sees in pornography, but also that you will both – and not just because one of you does – even WANT to, then he needs a reality check. You don’t need…

Advice
  • Heather Corinna

Whether or not you’re going to believe me, I’ll be plain with you anyway. Your lack of confidence and low self-esteem are ALWAYS going to be a WAY bigger impediment to “getting the attention,” and more importantly, to having great relationships with romantic partners AND friends…and most…

Advice
  • Heather Corinna

Well, it might help to start by simply acknowledging - or reminding yourself – that there is no one “best” or “right” body type. Clearly, you feel yours isn’t – and that’s understandable in a world so messed up about looks – but without external messages that something was wrong with your body…

Advice
  • Heather Corinna

If we pay attention to our whole bodies every day, what we’ll usually notice is that nothing is ever static. In other words, one day running a couple miles may be relatively easy for us, while the next day, we might get winded with half that, or feel like we’re dragging. One day our skin is clear…

Advice
  • David

Hi Help! This is a good question and I’ve got a good answer. A couple of good ones actually. First, no, nobody’s supposed to shave their pubic hair any more than they’re supposed wear the hair on their head only one special way. Can you shave if you want to? Of course! Do you have to shave if you…

Advice
  • Heather Corinna

Hey, Scott. Having one testicle has absolutely no physiological impact on sexual performance. Arousal, erection and orgasm are not reliant on the testicles in any way. As well, having your testicle removed, and but one remaining would not have impacted your sexual or general development, and your…

Advice
  • Heather Corinna

Overall, body size doesn’t influence penis size. In other words, plenty of tall men have average-sized penises, like you, and plenty of short men have larger-than-average sized penises. Same goes for weight: penis size isn’t influenced by body mass, either. At the age of 20, it’s pretty likely that…