Life after Puberty

sexuality and u's site regarding life after puberty

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Book: Life after Puberty
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Date: Wednesday, 29 January 2025, 12:06 AM

Table of Contents

What's happening to my body?

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-1.aspx

As teenagers become adults, their bodies go through a lot of physical changes. The links below describe some of these changes. Remember, everyone goes through these changes differently, so you may recognize some of these changes happening now, and others may not happen at all.

All about the Menstrual Cycle

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-3.aspx

If you’re here because you just started having your period, congratulations! If you’re here because you haven’t started your period yet but you know it’s coming and you want to find out more, welcome! And if you’re here because you’re a guy and you want to find out more about what is happening to women’s bodies you’ve come to the right place.

Menstruation is a natural and normal part of becoming a woman. You have probably noticed many of the physical and emotional changes that young women go through as part of puberty (including breast development and new hair in new places!) Menstruation is one of the last signs that a young girl is turning into a woman.

It is good to learn all you can about the menstrual cycle, how to manage your period, how to take care of cramps, and other physical or emotional changes that go along with your cycle, and how to recognize what’s normal and what might be a sign that you should see your doctor or other health-care professional.

Your menstrual cycle doesn’t have to be a mystery, a secret, or a pain. Read on to learn more!

Taking Care of Business

When you have your period, you need to use something to absorb and dispose of the blood. You have a lot of choices about what to use – pads, tampons, cups, or sponges. Many girls use more than just one product depending on how active they are, their flow, and how comfortable they are with their bodies. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help from your mother or another woman you trust and are comfortable with.

Most girls start with pads, because they are the easiest to learn to use and you don’t have to put something in your vagina. Some products are disposable (you just throw them out when you change them), others like the menstrual cup are reusable (you wash and reuse them, good for the environment!). Read below to find out what might be best for you.

What are my choices for managing menstrual bleeding?

Whatever you choose, remember to change or empty it regularly. Leaving any product in place for a long time allows bacteria to grow and can cause infection. Most products come with instructions that tell you how often to change it and how to use it.

Pads: Pads come in many different sizes and thicknesses. You wear a pad inside your underwear. It absorbs the blood that flows out of your vagina and protects your clothes. Some women wear a pad as a backup for a tampon or other methods so they don’t have to worry about leaks. Many use pads at night.

Pads can be disposable (made of soft absorbent paper – they usually have a sticky backing that you peel off and then attach to your underwear) or reusable (made of cloth).

You can find disposable pads in almost any store, including the corner store! There are so many different varieties that you might want to try a few. Some women keep different kinds and sizes on hand for different situations. For example, they use a panti-liner (a thin pad) on days when they have a small amount of bleeding or spotting, and they use larger pads when they have heavier bleeding or at night when they are sleeping.

You can dispose of pads by wrapping them in toilet paper and putting them in the garbage. Pads should NOT go in the toilet.

Reusable cloth pads are made of cotton. Some you leave in place and change the liners, others you change completely. They come with Velcro or snap closures that let you attach them to your underwear. When you change a cloth pad, you replace it with a new one and soak the old one in cold water before washing it. This helps remove the blood stains. You can keep a small plastic bag with you for used cloth pads.

You cannot wear a pad while swimming.

Tampons: Tampons are about the size and shape of a finger. You place the tampon in your vagina (some come with a cardboard applicator) so that the string on the end is hanging out. The tampon expands and absorbs your menstrual blood. When it is full you pull it out by the string and throw it away.

Tampons can be small or large, slender or thick. From “slender” to “super,” you can pick the size that matches your flow. If you have just started getting your period you might want to start with the slender size.

Tampons are disposable and come with important instructions about how to use them and how often to change them. Read these instructions! When you first try to insert a tampon it helps if you are in a room that gives you lots of space and privacy. A mirror can be helpful too! It might take a couple of tries before you get the hang of it. When you put the tampon in your vagina it helps if you squat or stand with one foot up on the toilet seat or other ledge. This helps open up your vagina. You can use a mirror to help you find your vaginal opening and it’s a good idea to feel around with your fingers. It’s really important to place the tampon in your vagina, not your anus (the hole between your buttocks).

You need to get comfortable with your body before you use a tampon. If you have difficulty inserting the tampon, ask a parent or another woman you trust for help. If you still can’t insert it, check with your doctor.

You can wear a tampon when you swim or when you are doing other physical activities.

When you change a tampon, you should wrap it up in toilet paper and put it in the garbage. Some people do flush tampons down the toilet, but this doesn’t always work and the last thing you want is to overflow a toilet with a used tampon.

Tampons should be changed every 4 hours during the daytime. This helps prevent leaking and infection. Tampons can be used overnight for up to 8 hours.

With tampons, there is a small risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome [link to SOGC section on TSS] (TSS). This is a serious and life-threatening syndrome. You can reduce your chances of getting TSS by changing your tampon regularly.

Toxic Shock Syndrome is caused by a toxin (a poisonous substance) that builds up in your system.

Signs of TSS include:

If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.

Cups: A cup [link to SOGC Q&A on cups] is a small plastic cup-shaped container. To insert a cup you just squeeze its sides and slide it into your vagina. It sits over the opening of your cervix and it collects the blood that is flowing out. It can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time, depending on your menstrual flow. When you remove the cup, you empty it (into the toilet), wash it with warm water and soap, rinse it and put it back in your vagina. It can also be sterilized by boiling it in water for 2–5 minutes. The cup has been approved by Health Canada since 2002.

Like tampons, it’s a good idea to get comfortable with your body first. Or you could try using a cup or a tampon as a way to get familiar with your body!

There are a variety of cups available (both reusable and disposable):

Sponges: A natural sea sponge can be placed into your vagina to absorb the blood. You must take it out and rinse it at least every 3 hours. And you must boil it before and at the end of your cycle for at least 5 minutes to remove any bacteria.

How do I choose?

With so many menstrual products available, how do you choose? A pad is a good place to start. It’s simple to use and you can take your time getting comfortable with the way your body works (and what it feels like) before you start using something that you have to put in your vagina. But if you are very active and you love to swim, it might be a good idea to try tampons or a cup.

Many girls and women use a combination of products – tampons or a cup and pads, pads at night time, different sizes of pads and (or) tampons during different times of their period.

You are the expert on your body and your comfort level, but don’t be afraid to experiment and find out what works for you. To help you decide you might want to consider:

It is always handy to keep a supply both on hand at home, and in your purse or knapsack. If you are sexually active, you also have to remember that it is possible to get pregnant if you have sex during your period.

What other options are there?

Some girls, even after a year of having their period, are still very irregular or have an extremely heavy flow or very painful periods. A doctor can help you find out why this is happening. For some girls hormonal birth control helps to regulate their cycles and makes them lighter and less crampy. You don’t have to be sexually active to use hormonal birth control. Talk to your doctor or health-care professional to find out if this might be a good choice for you.

Cramps, Pimples and PMS

You might notice physical or emotional changes around the time that you get your period. Some changes happen just before you get your period (premenstrual), some happen with your period (such as cramps). This is normal and it has to do with the hormones that are running through your body and controlling your cycle.

Just before you get your period
(during the premenstrual phase)

Physical symptoms may include:

Emotional symptoms may include feeling:

Some girls experience symptoms during this phase of the menstrual cycle that are:

This might be a sign of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). If you think that you might have PMS talk to your doctor.

During your period (menstruation or bleeding):

Physical symptoms may include:

Emotional symptoms may include feeling:

Cramps

Almost every girl has cramps during the first few days of their period, but the amount of cramping is different from person to person and may change as you get older.

What causes cramps?

You get cramps (called dysmenorrhea) during menstruation because your uterus is contracting to help shed the lining that is not longer needed. Prostoglandins (which are hormone-like substances) make the uterus contract and affect the size of the blood vessels.

What can I do about cramps?

Take Care of Yourself

Staying healthy, eating a healthy diet, reducing stress and getting enough exercise will make it easier for you to handle the changes that go along with your menstrual cycle. But if any of your symptoms get worse or begin to interfere with your daily life, talk to your doctor. If you are not sure whether your own personal pattern has changed, keep a menstrual calendar [link to calendar]. This might help you prepare for changes that come with the different phases of your cycle or give you enough information to talk to your doctor.

PMS

Lots of people talk about PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and blame it for many of the symptoms that women have just before and during their period. Moody? Blame it on PMS. Tired? Blame it on PMS. While many women have premenstrual symptoms, not all have PMS.

What is PMS?

PMS is a severe set of symptoms that occur just before a woman’s period starts. It is quite common and affects four out of every 10 women. There are no tests that can diagnose PMS and there is no one symptom that is unique to PMS. All women have probably experienced, at one time or another, some of the symptoms that go along with PMS.

However, in order to be diagnosed with PMS a woman must have certain symptoms during the premenstrual phase of her cycle. These symptoms must be bad enough to interfere with her daily life and must be felt for at least 3 consecutive cycles.

What are the symptoms?

Some of the symptoms of PMS are experienced by almost every woman at some point in her life. They include:

If you think you have PMS, you should keep a log of your symptoms, their severity and their pattern of occurrence. Make an appointment with your doctor or health-care professional and you can work together to rule out any possible underlying condition (other than PMS) and to manage your symptoms and find some relief.

Overview of Periods

Getting your period is a totally healthy, normal part of your life cycle. Your first period, or menstruation, will start some time between age 9 and 18. Don't worry if you haven't gotten your's yet.every body develops at a different speed.

Periods are a sign that your body is now physically mature enough to have a baby. The blood comes from the lining of your uterus after it has prepared for the implantation of an egg. This is what happens when you get pregnant. If you are pregnant, you will not menstruate again until after you give birth. You'll likely get your period for about 40 years, until your body runs out of its supply of eggs. When your body runs out of eggs, there is no more need for you to have your period, and you will be too old to have children. This is called menopause.

If you have had sex recently and you go a month without getting your period, this may be a sign that you are pregnant. Or it could happen because you're really underweight or have a medical problem.

You should get your period every 24 to 35 days or so. The time frame is different for everyone because all bodies are so different. When you're older, you'll probably be able to predict the start of your periods to the exact day, but as a teenager they may not be so predictable.

The first day of your menstrual cycle is the first day you start "bleeding", and the last day of your cycle is about a month later, on the day before you get your next period. The length of your cycle will not always be the same, so don't worry if it's not always 28 days.

It's normal to get cramps and other symptoms before and during your period. Usually they are annoying but harmless, but for some women they can be really painful. Here are a few things you can try to deal with them:

To avoid staining your clothing, you will need to wear a sanitary pad, a tampon, or a combination of the two. It's important to choose the right absorbency so that there is no leakage. You may find that you will have to change your pad or tampon every 4 hours or so. Because the tampon is worn inside the body, it is important to change it regularly because of a very rare but serious condition called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). It is caused by a common bacteria that lives on everyone's skin. Doctors believe that because blood is a breeding ground for these bacteria, leaving a tampon in too long causes the bacteria to grow excessively. When this happens there is an EXTREMELY SMALL chance that you may develop a sudden high fever and achy body, and become very weak. Serious side effects follow, and it can even cause death. Remember, this is extremely rare and if you change your tampons regularly they are very safe - in fact, about 100 million women across the globe use them!

But the moral of the story? Change your tampon every 4-8 hours! If you are removing a tampon, and after 4-8 hours the white fibre is still showing, you still should change it. You might want to try a lower absorbency. When using a tampon overnight for up to eight hours, insert a fresh one right before you go to sleep, using the lowest absorbency needed, and remove it right when you wake up. (Read below for absorbency answers).

Tampons are simple to use, but women tend to have a lot of questions when they first start using them. Many girls ask if they're still a virgin if they use a tampon but have never had sex. The answer is yes.nothing but sex will make you lose your virginity. Some girls want to know if inserting a tampon will hurt. The answer is simple.if used correctly, a tampon won't hurt you, although they may be a little uncomfortable the first couple of times you use one, especially if you're a little bit nervous or tense. The best advice is to follow the steps written on the instruction sheet in the tampon box. There are usually pictures to help make it clear.

When deciding on the level of absorbency to use, the best thing to do is to get to know your cycle a bit first. You'll find that a slim tampon on lighter days will do the trick, while on your heavier days a super tampon is best.

Other important internet resources

There are other great internet resources about menstruation for teens and young women. Check these out:

Reproduction

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-6.aspx

The Body and the Hormones

Most of us are equipped to have kids. Of course there are exceptions, for example when individuals suffer from certain diseases. In addition to organs like the liver, heart, and lungs, we have reproductive organs and we produce hormones inside our bodies. Hormones are courier substances that travel in the blood to carry messages from one organ to another. There are many different types of hormones. One group, sex hormones, controls the ability of women and men to reproduce.

The most important sex hormones in the female body are estrogen and progesterone. The male hormones are called androgens. The most important androgen is testosterone. It is not true that androgens are found only in males and estrogens are found only in females. Men carry female hormones and women carry male hormones as well.

Let’s look at the difference between the male and female reproductive organs. When choosing a method of contraception these “little” differences actually make a big difference.


The male

From the reproductive point of view the major differences between males and females are:

The sperm production - How men produce babies

There are internal (epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, urethra) and external reproductive organs (penis, scrotum holding the testicles or testes)

Sperm production begins at the onset of puberty, at an average age of 13 years, and lasts throughout the life of a man. The sure sign for a young man that he is able to reproduce is that his erection is followed by an ejaculation. This is of course only “physically speaking”. Emotionally, you might be very far from being ready to take on the responsibility of becoming a father. Sperm, more precisely spermatozoa, are produced by the testicles, which are glands within the scrotum. The scrotum functions like a thermostat, regulating the temperature of the testicles. If you’re a male then you know that the scrotum becomes smaller and more wrinkled when you enter a cold pool. The scrotum contracts to bring the testicles closer to the body to keep them warm. The testicles produce hormones and sperm. Sperm production is an ongoing process. It takes about 70 days for one sperm to mature.

Let’s have a look at how sperm actually grow. At the beginning, sperm forms in the testicles, then travels through the epididymis. After that, the sperm reaches the vas deferens. It is stored there until ejaculation occurs. The prostate gland produces a liquid that helps sperm to survive after leaving the male body. During ejaculation, spermatozoa and liquid from the prostate and other glands make a mix while travelling through the urethra. This mix is called semen. The urethra is a tube that also connects to the bladder for passing urine. During sexual excitement, for example during lovemaking, this connection is interrupted so that the semen does not come into contact with urine. A sperm has the ability to swim and travel on its own. It has an oval-shaped head and a tail that serves as a propeller. Sperm carry the genetic information from the male and can unite with the female egg to produce an embryo. After two months, the embryo becomes a fetus, and later becomes a baby.


Survival of the fittest

Spermatozoa are very fragile and their chances of survival are very low. This is why the testicles of each individual produce millions of spermatozoa each day. The milky or creamy looking ejaculate consists of hundreds of millions of sperm, but only a few of them will survive the journey through the female vagina to the fallopian tube where the female egg is waiting to meet a sperm. Out of those few, only one will actually penetrate the egg and fertilize it.

Sperm, although it is very fragile, can also be very persistent. Occasionally pregnancy can occur without intercourse and even if the hymen is intact. The hymen is the membrane that partially covers the virgin vagina. This is called “splash pregnancy”. Sperm have been known to move very quickly from outside the vagina into the uterus. After intercourse sperm can survive up to three days in the reproductive organs of a female.


The female

Remember what we said earlier about the differences between the sexes? Here are the little differences that make up a female:

Puberty: when hormones start working overtime

female reproductive organs

The female body has internal and external reproductive organs. The exterior ones are: Mons pubis, clitoris, urethra, opening of the vagina (6-10 cm), inner and outer lips, and hymen. The interior organs are: cervix, uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (8-10 cm) and ovaries. The cervix is the entrance to the uterus

Already at birth, the female body is equipped with a bank account of 300,000-400,000 egg cells, which are located in the ovaries. Of this large amount only 300-500 will be released during the reproductive years of a woman’s life. Starting between the ages of 8-10, hormone production rises and makes the body change from a girl to a young woman. The first menstruation, between ages 11-14, is the sure sign that the body is preparing to have children. This is of course only “physically speaking”. Emotionally, you might be very far from being ready to have children of your own.

Did You Know?

25% of young women who have intercourse without using a method of birth control at any time during the cycle will become pregnant within one month.

85% will become pregnant within one year.

From puberty on:

Keep in mind that we’re talking about the usual stuff here. Of course there are exceptions such as the production of more than one egg, which might lead to two or more babies. This all happens due to the amazing teamwork between the hormones and organs. These things go on over and over again each month and this is what we call the female cycle.



The amazing female cycle

The cycle covers a time frame of 23-35 days. The average cycle lasts 28 days. The first day of the cycle is the first day of menstruation. The last day of the cycle is the last day before the following menstruation. Cycle lengths vary individually and they are not always regular. Stress, weight gain or weight loss, for example, can disturb it. After the first menstruation it may take 1-3 years until a woman gets a regular cycle.

During the first 14 days of the cycle (usually, but depending on cycle length) an egg is ripening. A hormone in the brain, which is called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), stimulates the ripening process. The coat around the egg produces estrogen. This most important female hormone makes the lining of the uterus grow to form a nutritious and secure bedding for the egg to settle into after fertilization.

Approximately at day 14 of a 28-day cycle, an egg is ready to be released. Another hormone in the brain, which is called luteinizing hormone (LH), gives the impulse for the egg to emerge from the ovary and be taken up by the fallopian tube. This important event is called ovulation. This is also the most fertile time of the month for the woman to get pregnant. The egg then travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus. The journey takes about seven days. In the meantime, another important hormone produced in the ovary, progesterone, ispreparing the uterus for a pregnancy by securing a sufficient blood supply and by preventing the uterus from contracting and losing a fertilized egg.

Did You Know?

In 2000, the fertility rate for adolescents (number of pregnancies per 1,000 women of reproductive age) was 17.3 compared with 33.9 for women in the 35-39 age group and 5.9 for women in the 40-44 age group. The highest abortion rates (number of abortions per 1,000 women) occur in women 18-19 years and 20-24 years of age.

Sperm can fertilize the ready egg in the fallopian tube during a 6 to 12 hour period. Fertilization happens when a sperm enters the egg and the embryo starts to form. Two cells divide and become four, the four cells divide and become eight, and so on. By the time the cluster of cells reaches the uterus and settles down into the lining of the uterus, it has become an embryo. This settling down is called implantation. It takes about seven days from fertilization to implantation. The rise of estrogen and progesterone in the blood stream of the woman, along with the pregnancy hormone HCG from cells surrounding the embryo, signals pregnancy. From now on, the female body concentrates on the growth of the embryo and stops the cycle until a few weeks after the baby is born. This is why women cannot conceive again while they are pregnant. A woman can only have one pregnancy at a time, but this does not exclude the possibility of having more than one embryo or fetus at a time, e.g. twins.

The rise in estrogen and progesterone signals to the ovaries: Do not produce any more eggs for now. We have to take care of this embryo first! A pregnancy test can be positive 8-10 days after ovulation. If no fertilization of the egg occurs, the production of progesterone stops. So does the production of estrogens. The message is basically: We do not have a fertilized egg to produce an embryo this month, so stop all the preparations and start all over again! The end of the story is that the thickened lining of the uterus, which was supposed to be the bed for the fertilized egg, is no longer necessary. The same applies to the egg, which did not get fertilized. The body rids itself of this bedding and the egg by bleeding. This is known as the period or menstruation.


Did You Know?

Did you know that a woman can become pregnant even...
...when she has intercourse for the first time?
...when she has her period?
...if she had no period yet?
...if her partner ejaculates not inside her vagina but close by?

Pelvic Exams

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/pelvic-1.aspx

What is a pelvic exam?

A pelvic exam is an examination that your doctor or a nurse performs to make sure that your reproductive organs are healthy.

Here are a few reasons why a pelvic exam is a good idea:

“Pelvic exam”, “Pap test” or “Pap Smear”?

During a Pap smear, the cells from the cervix are "smeared" onto a microscope slide using a q-tip.

You may have wondered before if there is a difference between a “pelvic exam”, a “Pap test” and a “Pap smear”. A “Pap test” and “Pap smear” are the same thing – they are a test that involves collecting cells from your cervix and then looking at them through a microscope to make sure they are normal and healthy. It is sometimes called a “smear” because the cells from the cervix are “smeared” onto a microscope slide. A pelvic exam is a little different – it refers to the entire exam of your reproductive organs, part of which is the collection of cells for the Pap test. Some people think that a Pap test is a screening test for all sexually transmitted diseases, this is not true.

When do I need a pelvic exam?

If you are sexually active, or if you’re 21 or older, your family doctor or health care giver will discuss the necessity of a pelvic exam. Sometimes, a pelvic exam might also be necessary if you have unusual discharge or bleeding from your vagina, or unexplained pain in your pelvic area. A pelvic exam can sometimes help identify the cause of these problems.

It’s very important for women to have regular pelvic exams. After your first visit, ask your doctor or nurse when you should schedule your next visit. Typically, you will be asked to schedule your next exam a year later. After you’ve had two or three yearly exams, your doctor may suggest that you can reduce your exam frequency to once every two or three years.

You should also speak to your healthcare provider about how often you should be having pelvic exams.

According to Statistics Canada, more than five million Pap tests are performed annually in Canada.

My Story

Yeast Infections

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-7.aspx

Yeast Infections

What is a vaginal yeast infection?

Yeast InfectionsA vaginal yeast infection is a common fungal infection caused by overgrowth of Candida, naturally occurring yeast. Yeast are normally found in a woman’s vagina in small numbers, but sometimes they can multiply and change the normal balance of bacterial growth. When the fungi begin to grow in excess, they may develop into candidiasis. These are the most likely fungi to cause yeast infections as well as infections in other moist areas of the body, such as the mouth (thrush), skin folds, and beneath the fingernails.

What are the risk factors for getting a yeast infection?

What are the symptoms of yeast infections?

Women may experience:

  1. Vaginal itching
  2. Burning while urinating
  3. Pain during intercourse
  4. Swollen or red vulva
  5. Thick, white discharge resembling cottage cheese

Men with an infection may develop balanitis, an inflammation of the head of the penis, and may experience:

Is a yeast infection a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

A yeast infection (or candidiasis) is not considered a sexually transmitted infection. In fact, they are a very common and normal part of women’s lives. An estimated three in four women will have a yeast infection in their lifetime, and many of these women will have recurring infections. In rare cases, a yeast infection can be spread through vaginal intercourse among partners who have unprotected sex, but the risk is low. Like any other vaginal infection, they should be treated immediately, and if you are sexually active and your partner is having symptoms, he or she should also seek treatment.

In any case, sex should only resume once symptoms disappear. Women commonly misdiagnose themselves with yeast infections when they need to be treated for other conditions. Recurring yeast infections can sometimes be a sign of an STI or some other condition that requires treatment, such as a bacterial infection. If you or your partner frequently experience some of the symptoms, it’s advisable to get tested to rule out STIs.

What if I experience any of the symptoms?

If you think you may have a yeast infection, but have never had one before, it is a good idea to see a health-care professional the first time to be diagnosed correctly before trying an over-the-counter treatment. It’s important to establish that they are truly yeast infections. Some women have a different vaginal discharge just before their period, and if it is itchy or irritating, it may be perceived as a yeast infection. There are many other things that can cause the same symptoms, and yeast creams may not fix the symptoms or can make them worse.

If the yeast species is resistant to the treatment used, the infections can recur, or never go away. In this case, your doctor can look for yeast under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis and can culture the yeast with a vaginal swab if the organism is resistant to treatment. Women who have confirmed recurrences of yeast infection in the week before menstruation can often get relief by taking a single tablet of a prescription medication each month about the time the infections have been recurring. Recurrent candidiasis (yeast infections) affects 5-8% of pre-menopausal women.

If you have a yeast infection, you and your partner should both abstain from sexual activity until the infection has been treated, or else you risk further irritating the vagina or reinfecting each other.

How are yeast infections treated?

Most yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal (local) medications, but it’s recommended you consult a health care professional before trying anything, especially if you are pregnant. Talk to a health-care practitioner about all the prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking before you start any treatment. Burning of the genital area and rash after application is a common side effect of the treatment.

Once the yeast infection is confirmed, it is usually easily treated by over-the-counter treatments or prescription medications. Over-the-counter treatments are easily available and usually less expensive, such as tablets or suppositories that are inserted into the vagina, or ointments and creams (clotrimazole) that can be applied directly to the infected area for one to seven days. Prescriptions are typically taken in pill form and usually cure the infection faster, although they have more side effects like nausea and vomiting and are more expensive.

Some women do get cyclic yeast infections based on hormonal changes in the vagina. In this case, your options would include:

How do I prevent another infection?

A well-balanced diet with plenty of fibre can be the best preventative medicine. Wear loose dry clothing and avoid wearing wet clothing for extended periods of time.

Women can also take hygienic precautions to decrease the likelihood of developing an infection:


Masturbation

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-4.aspx

When you were really little, you may have learned that touching your body makes you feel good. A lot of you have probably stopped since then. Masturbation involves touching your penis or your clitoris, vulva or vagina in a way that gives you sexual pleasure. Exciting sexual thoughts fill your head, and, if you go long enough, you'll probably have an orgasm (rhythmic muscle contractions that produce a feeling of pleasure). Masturbation is a great way of giving yourself sexual pleasure, getting to know your body and what you like sexually, or just to burn off some sexual tension. It's also completely harmless, and can give you a lot of sexual pleasure without the risk of pregnancy or getting a sexually transmitted infection.

These days, most people don't see masturbation as "wrong", provided it's done privately. But some religions may call masturbation immoral or a sin, and some parents may frown upon it. Masturbating is a great outlet for your body's sexual responses, but you're free to practice it or not. It's your choice, and it's completely up to you. If you're comfortable with it and you want to masturbate, do it. Just find a private place and a time when you're not going to be disturbed and give it a try. If you don't want to masturbate or you think it's wrong, that's perfectly fine too. The truth is, each person is different and each person has to decide for themselves how they feel about it. But one thing you should know is that masturbation is VERY common and isn't going to harm you.

Guys usually masturbate by stroking and rubbing their penis, while girls usually rub or press around their clitoris with their hands or a comfortable object. Fantasizing about sex or something you find sexy may also help to enhance the experience. It's perfectly okay, and it's a great way to add to the pleasure of masturbation.

How you masturbate is a matter of whatever feels right for you - you can't masturbate "wrong". You'll probably find that you get better at it each time you do it. There's also no such thing as too much, but you might get sore if you rub a lot. And no, you won't go blind, you won't grow hair on your palms, your hands aren't going to fall off, and there is no such thing as a man running out of sperm. Masturbation also will not hurt your sex life later on. In fact, the things you learn about your own body now may actually help you be more comfortable when you decide you are ready for sex.

It may seem like guys talk about masturbating a lot more, but masturbating isn't just for guys, and it's not weird to be a girl who enjoys it. Millions upon millions of women masturbate. In addition to being really pleasurable, some women may not reach orgasm as easily as men, and masturbation is a good way for a woman to "practice" getting there. Knowing her body and knowing what feels good may help make sex better for her and her partner in the future. But again, masturbation is your choice to make. Do it if you want to, and don't if you don't. Some women may also masturbate to the point of orgasm as a way of soothing cramps during menstruation. Others, though, find that masturbating can make cramping worse.

Think of it this way...whether or not you're having sex, masturbating helps you get to know your own body. It helps you figure out what turns you on, what feels good and where you're sensitive. Once you know your own body well, you can tell or show your partner what you like best.

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Am I Normal?

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-5.aspx

Am I too interested in sex? Am I not interested enough? Are my fantasies unusual? Is my penis large enough? Is my clitoris in the right place? There's no end to the questions you might ask yourself about your sexuality, but most of them tend to break down to one single question: sexually, am I normal?

The answer: everybody's different, and different is normal. In fact, when it comes to sex and sexuality, there really is no such thing as "normal". Just as teenagers grow to different heights, they grow into people with unique sexual identities. It's normal to be very interested in sex and it's normal to be only mildly interested in sex. It's normal to want to try new and different things and it's normal to just be happy with more of the same. It's normal to have very romantic fantasies and it's normal to have very sexual ones. The best advice we can offer you is this: just try to enjoy your sexuality. Don't judge it and don't compare it to other people's sexuality or what you think you think you "should" be experiencing.

Of course, certain situations may call for counseling or for medical help. If a boy's voice hasn't deepened or a girl hasn't started menstruating by very late in adolescence, for instance, a hormone problem might be the culprit. In such a case, you might want to see a doctor. In other cases, counseling may also help uncover the cause of any sexual problems you might be having.

But in almost every case, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal - for you. Observe and enjoy.


Genital Piercing

from: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/life-8.aspx

Genital Piercing

Genital PiercingJust as some people get their ears pierced, others choose to pierce their genitals and nipples with jewelry. Whether you are thinking about getting your first piercing down there, or you are a veteran in the piercing parlours, there are procedures you can follow to minimize the health risks.

Piercing the area

It’s not a good idea for anyone to pierce themselves and needles should never be shared under any circumstances. It is possible to spread bacterial skin infections, and other infections like herpes, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, through improper piercing practices. Look for an experienced practitioner with professional training, and ask if he or she follows the Infection Control Guidelines for body piercing. Practitioners must always wash their hands before wearing latex-gloves and handling equipment, and use new needles that have been sterilized for each treatment. Piercing guns with fixed parts should never be used because the components that make contact with the body are not disposable. Medical needles are the standard method for genital and body piercing.

Before the area is pierced, it should be treated with an antiseptic, just like a piercing anywhere else. Otherwise, any bacteria or viruses present on the skin can enter the body and cause infection at the site of the piercing. Some piercers may use surgical forceps to stabilize the area, but others tend to avoid them when piercing the genitals over concerns that they can delay the healing process. The needle is passed through the tissue and out the other side, then the jewelry is pushed through the opening.

For further reading, you can consult the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Personal Services.

Personal hygiene and having sex with genital piercings: What are the health risks?

Any kind of physical activity during the healing periods can increase the recovery time, and sex introduces the possibility of complications. The genitals have a higher number of bacteria than other piercing sites on the body, and the piercing needs to be cleaned twice a day with soap and water, as well as after sexual activity. Condoms and dental dams are essential during the healing period, which can last anywhere from a couple weeks to months. It’s important to use condoms with larger receptacle ends (the space at the tip of the condom) during genital contact and oral sex to prevent the pierced area from getting infected. Otherwise, the bacteria, viruses, and yeast that are naturally present in your partner’s body fluids could trigger an infection.

There is limited medical literature exploring the relationship between genital piercings and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The speculation is that piercings increase the risk of transmitting STIs and blood borne viruses. Jewelry in the genital area can easily damage condoms making them less effective at preventing pregnancy and the transmission of STIs if either sexual partner is pierced.

Health and Safety concerns

Risks to men and women:

Men with genital piercings have reportedly suffered from the following conditions in rare circumstances:

Women have reportedly experienced the following conditions: