As of
June 2007, there are 26 pages of questions and answers.
For some reason the sex FAQ index doesn't work with old versions
of Netscape, sorry, I don’t know why that is. BTW, there
are a lot of answers for guys in the following pages. I am
working on NEW FAQ pages all the time, so stop by again.
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Q.
I had some dried semen on my hand from my boyfriend. I may
have gotten some on myself when I went to the bathroom. What
is the probability that I could become pregnant from this?
My hands touched a very small amount of semen about 4 hours
before I touched myself.
A.
Although sperm can live for up to six days inside the female
body, they tend not to survive very long on clothing or hands.
I would be very surprised if there were sufficient living
sperm on your hand to create any risk of pregnancy. Obviously,
if you miss your period take a home pregnancy
test and act accordingly. Read more about home pregnancy tests.
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Q.
What is the difference between taking birth control pills
and getting the birth control shot?
A.
Birth control pills need to be taken every day in order to
prevent pregnancy. The pill is basically out of your system
within 24 hours and that is why it is important to take it
every day and at the same time each day. The birth control
shot (Depo-Provera)
is given every 3 months in order to prevent pregnancy. Most
women who take birth control pills will get their periods
every 28 days. Most women who get the shot will stop having
periods after they have been getting the shot for a while.
Both the pills and the shot may cause a slight weight gain
(3-5 pounds). It is important to see your health care provider
and ask for help in selecting which method of birth control
is best for you. ASK lots of questions if you have them. Ask
about the safety of Depo-Provera too. Remember that condoms
and spermicide are still necessary in order to prevent sexually
transmitted diseases.
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Q.
Can I swim when I have my period?
A.
Sure, use a tampon. If you don't know how to use one there
are very good instruction on the info sheet inside all boxes.
You should not be able to feel it if it is inserted correctly.
See vagina for help with inserting
a tampon for the first time.
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Q.
What do I do if I miss taking a birth control pill?
A.
Okay, this is how it goes. If you miss 1 pill, take 2 the
next day. If you miss 2 pills take 3 the next day. If you
miss more than that, don't take any, call your health care
provider and always make sure to use condoms and spermicide
as backup protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases since you are no longer protected from pregnancy
by the pill.
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Q.
What happens
to pubic hair after you shave it off? Will this be permanent
or will it grow back? If it does grow back, would it become
hairier than before?
A.
I
get asked this question A LOT! Shaving your pubic hair is
not a good idea, but it is not permanent. As the hair starts
to grow back it will be very itchy and uncomfortable. If you
only shave once, your hair usually grows as it was before.
While shaving any body part may seem to increase hair growth,
which may appear more coarse, the number of hair follicles
actually stays the same. (What may have appeared to be increased
hair growth when someone was maturing and beginning to shave
was not due to shaving, but to normal growth and development).
So please stop shaving your pubic hair. Yes, you can shave
under your arms all you want. For shaving your "bikini line area" see that page.
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Q.
Is It okay if my
breasts are different sizes?
A.
Yes. It's normal
and common to have breasts of different sizes. You might feel
like you're alone when you look in the mirror and you realize
that your breasts are different sizes, but this is very normal.
Breasts
come in many varieties - large, small, medium, flat, round,
full - so you shouldn't freak out just because yours don't
look exactly like the ones you see at the movies. Every woman
is different and no two breasts are exactly the same. For
more, see Breasts - Questions
and Answers.
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Q.
Can I get pregnant if I have sex during
my period?
A. YES,
Yes, Yes! A lot of people think that if a woman
has sex during her period, she can't get pregnant. Even though
this is a common belief, you CAN get pregnant while you are
bleeding. Sometimes ovulation can occur before the bleeding
from your period has stopped, or it may occur within a few
days after your period is over. In both cases, having sex
before your period is finished can result in pregnancy. Having
unprotected sex at any time, including when you're menstruating,
is very risky. Along with the risk of becoming pregnant, there
is also a risk of getting an STD.
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Q.
My left testicle hangs lower
than my right one, is this normal?
A.
Yes. For more, see TSE,
Testicular Self-exams.
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Q.
All of my friends have started having their periods before
me, what should I do? I'm 14.
A.
Remember, everyone reaches puberty
at a different age. Also, everyone goes through puberty at
a different pace. Some fast, some slowly. If you are concerned
that you are delayed in the start of menstruation ask your
health care provider. When you go to that person for a physical
examination, he or she should tell you at the end of the exam
if everything seems to be growing and developing okay. If
he or she does not, go ahead and ask! Any health care provider
that is working with teenagers understands these concerns.
If
you're concerned about not having your period, ask your mom
how old she was when she got her first period. Girls who get
their first period (also called menarche,
pronounced: men-ark-EE) later than average (about 12 1/2)
often find that their mothers may have gone through puberty
later than average also. * Update: There is now a ' Puberty
Stage Chart' on the page after 'Puberty'.
