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No matter how young or old you are, everyone has questions about sex. Read through some of these FAQ's and you may find answers to questions you that you have wondered about, too.
LIVING SPERM IN DRIED SEMEN?
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 5 days or longer inside the female body, they survive only minutes to hours outside the body. 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.
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS VS. SHOTS
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 to prevent pregnancy. The hormones in the pill are basically out of your system within 24 hours; that is why it is important to take it every day and at the same time each day. The birth control shot is given every three months. Most women who take birth control pills will get their period every 28 days. Most women who get the shot will stop having periods after they have been getting the shots for a while. Both pills and the shot may cause a slight weight gain, typically 3 to 5 pounds. It is important to see your health care provider and ask for help in selecting which method of birth control method is best for you. Ask lots of questions if you have them. Remember that condoms are still necessary help prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
SWIMMING DURING PERIOD
Q. Can I swim when I have my period?
A. Sure, but use a tampon. If you don't know how to use a tampon, there are good instructions on the information sheet included in the box. You should not be able to feel the tampon if it is inserted correctly.
MISSED BIRTH CONTROL PILL
Q. What do I do if I miss taking a birth control pill?
A. What to do if you miss a pill depends on what type of birth control pills you take. There is an information sheet with each pack of pills that tells you what to do. If you can't locate the information sheet, call your doctor right away. You may need to use a backup method of birth control.
SHAVING PUBIC HAIR
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. 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, the number of hair follicles actually stays the same.
BREAST ASYMMETRY
Q. Is It O.K. 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 common. 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 in the movies. Every woman is different and no two breasts are exactly the same.
GETTING PREGNANT DURING PERIOD
Q. Can I get pregnant if I have sex during my period?
A. 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, it is wrong. You can get pregnant while you are bleeding. Sometimes ovulation occurs 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.
TESTICLE ASYMMETRY
Q. My left testicle hangs lower than my right one. Is this normal?
A. Yes. It is also common for one testicle to be larger than the other.
WHEN PERIODS START
Q. All of my friends have started having their periods before me. What should I do? I'm 14.
A. Everyone reaches puberty at a different age and goes through it at a different pace, some fast, some more slowly. Although most girls have their first period between age 11 and 12, it doesn't happen for some girls until 15 or 16. 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) later than the average often find that their mothers went through puberty later than average, too. If you are concerned that you aren't going through puberty, you may want to see your doctor. When you go for your physical examination, she should tell you whether everything seems to be growing and developing normally. If she does not, go ahead and ask.
