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Know what? While alcohol can reduce a person’s inhibitions, another thing it often does reduce how aroused – how turned on – a person can get. It also tends to inhibit orgasm, as well as vaginal lubrication. And that’s just the minor stuff. Date rape is far more common when alcohol is involved…

What I don’t know is how strongly attracted you’ve felt to your boyfriend over the years, well before now. I bring that up because loving someone doesn’t always mean we want to have sex with that person, or that we’re sexually attracted to them. In some ways, sexual chemistry is something separate…

Sperm can be pretty hardy when they’re in hospitable environments, like the reproductive track of someone with a vagina. They can survive for days in there. However, in an inhospitable environment (on towels, clothing, sheets, the wall, bathtub, etc.), they don’t last very long at all. In those…

Before the two of you do anything sexual, I’d say it’s REALLY important that you work out the issue of him seeing sex as a way for you to prove your love. It’s not. Take a look at the bare basics from our Sex Readiness Checklist: If either of you wants to do it because you feel you must or should…

Is your period late? If it is, then by all means, take a pregnancy test, as withdrawal is one of the least effective methods of birth control in typical use. If you don’t know when to expect your period, or your periods are often irregular, then just take a test when it’s been around 14 days since…

It is okay to have a desire to explore sex with the same gender; it is okay to have a desire to explore sex with people of a different gender. We also don’t need to view any of that exploration as an “experiment,” nor is same-gender sex somehow more of an experiment than mixed-gender sex is. I mean…

If you shaved your vulva very recently before sex, then I’d say the chances are that yes: that’s the reason for the irritation. That skin is pretty delicate, and all the more so when it’s been irritated by something, and shaving certainly does that. Add a bunch of friction and body heat to an…

Elydia: I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this with so little support. Being pregnant can be scary enough for anyone, even when it’s wanted, but it’s even more overwhelming when you’re going it alone. First of all, understand that NO ONE can force you to abort, or make your reproductive…

Well, it’s important to remember that bodies are not machines and they’re not exactly the same all the time. Just like many other things in our lives, our desire for sexual activity can wax and wane over time. In other words, everybody goes through periods where they may be interested in sex (of any…

Assuming that it’s definitely not menstrual blood, whenever a person with a vagina bleeds after sex, it’s generally the result of an injury. Sometimes if there’s blood spotting and pain after sex, it’s because there’s an infection in the cervix like trichomoniasis, chlamydia or gonorrhea. Irritation…

(Eoin’s questions continued…) 1) Abstinence-until-marriage is not superior (this will also come up later with respect to “the parents” and other concerns with my girlfriend); is it such a big deal if I have sex with my girlfriend tomorrow, in a couple months, or several years from now, including…

It won’t do you harm that once, nor will using emergency contraception more than once: there isn’t any data at this time which shows single or repeat use presents health risks beyond those we see with other hormonal BC. You can take a look at this page or this one for more information on EC…

Good on you for being proactive! A huge marker of sexual readiness is sussing this stuff out before anything happens, so you two are definitely on your way there. The absolute BEST way to avoid the unpleasant consequences of sexual activity is to use a condom, correctly, every time. Condoms are easy…

If weeks after this risk, you had a normal period, then there really is no reason to be concerned about pregnancy. But if you’re still worried, even knowing that, the best thing to do so that you can relax is just to go to the drugstore, get a home pregnancy test and take it so that you can see that…

Of all the antidepressants around, Zoloft is actually most often linked to sexual side effects, and inability to reach orgasm, ejaculate with orgasm, erectile dysfunction and impaired libido (sexual drive) are common effects of Zoloft (and other SSRIs). So, since that is a very likely possibility…

Hey there, Susie. You’re welcome! Birth control pills are equally effective every single day of your cycle so long as you are taking the pills as directed, and on time every day, and without any other medications which could interfere with them. Some antibiotics, for instance, may decrease…

I can certainly do my best. Let’s start with the basics. Thing is, “premature ejaculation” is actually not the best term in the world, because it is seriously vague and incredibly arbitrary. I can tell you that I run too slow, for instance, and what you’re likely going to ask me is “Compared to who…

There isn’t anything TO do save to wait for when she does also want to have sex with you. Really, have a think about this. Would you want it any other way? Who would want to have sex with someone who didn’t want to have sex with them just as much? And unless both people really want to, is it really…

CHOOSE WIFE. That was a sign being held up by a protester this week in front of the clinic where I work in addition to my job here. Two words, but they speak volumes. (Though I confess, it took me a little while to get pissed, because I couldn’t stop saying it in an Elmer Fudd voice for a few minutes.)

There is no way that any sexual partner of yours would be able to tell that you’ve had sex before unless you tell them. Here’s the thing though; even strictly sexual relationships require honesty. You need to be honest about your sexual history because when you’re involved in a sexual relationship…

I don’t think I need to explain that this is a step in the right direction. The Boston Globe and AlterNet have articles going into more detail.

The closer you take your birth control pill to the ‘normal time’ the better. That said, you do have some flexibility (you have a twelve-hour window before the pill is considered “late”). You don’t sound comfortable using the birth control pill as your sole method of birth control. Have you talked to…

Pre-ejaculatory fluid is secreted by twin structures called the Cowper’s glands. These glands are tiny, and they are located at the base of the penis. The fluid they make lubricates the urethra and facilitates semen flow during ejaculation. Pre-ejaculatory fluid starts to seep out during sexual…

If you’re considering condoms as a birth control method, or already use them and want more information.

LUBRICANT! Lubricant, lubricant, lubricant! (Sorry, I just had to stand up and shout that. There was also a song and dance number involved, which is why I had to repeat it a few times, but you obviously could not have seen my little lube dance from your side of the screen. Consider yourself very…