Doctor's ADVICE: I finally gave in. Am I infected?

Doctor, I am a female, and up to last week, I was a virgin. I gave in to a boy who had been pestering me. I got tired of saying no. I recognise that this was unwise of me. What I would like your reassurance about is the subject of sexually transmitted infections (STI). I have always understood that if the guy does not discharge, the girl will not catch anything. Is that correct? Anyway, because that is what I have heard, I did not allow him to orgasm but made him pull out before he 'came'. Was this the right thing to do, Doc? And have I avoided getting infected?

Unfortunately, quite a few young women have the idea that an STI will only be passed from a male to a female if the guy orgasms. This is just a myth.

Alas, the germs of STIs can be transmitted whether anybody climaxes or not. All that is necessary is for the genitals of one person to touch the genitals of someone else. When that happens, it is easy for the germs to move across from one person to the other. Admittedly, transmission is easier if the surfaces are moist, which they usually are. But orgasm, whether male or female, is definitely not necessary.

Let us hope that you haven't caught anything from this young man. If you are in the slightest doubt, please see a doctor and have a check-up.

Have you considered that you might be pregnant? Even though the young man didn't discharge, conception has to be a possibility, especially as it appears that you didn't use a condom. So you must wait and see if the menses arrive this month. I hope they will.

Finally, may I stress to you that if this guy is a reasonably highly sexed young man, there is little doubt that he will be back for more! In other words, he will want to have sex with you again, probably hoping that this time, he will get the chance to orgasm inside you.

My advice to you is to tell him no way. Please do not let him in at all.

Hi, Doc. I am a guy of 21, and I was circumcised when I was younger. I am pretty resentful that my parents had this done to me. However, now it seems like my foreskin is kind of regrowing. I am pleased about that. But is regrowth really possible?

Yes, to some extent, especially if the surgeon did not remove all of it.

In the United States, there are many guys like you who want to regrow their foreskins. It would be worth your while seeing what they have to say. Begin by checking out this website: www.wikihow.com/Re-grow-a-Foreskin.

How is it possible to put a tampon in if one is still a virgin, Doctor?

Well, there is usually a hole in the hymen or virgin's veil. So the tampon could go through this.

But in many cases, the first tampon actually breaks the hymen. That should cause very little pain. And, usually, there is only slight bleeding.

Doc, my fiancée and I recently started to have sex. We were both virgins. What I cannot understand is the fact that when I have intercourse with her, she doesn't discharge. Is there something wrong with her?

No. Like many young men, you have not understood one simple truth: Having intercourse with a woman does not make her orgasm. Most females cannot climax unless they receive a reasonable amount of stimulation of the clitoris. And it seems likely that you are not giving her any clitoral stimulation.

An additional factor is this: Many young women take a long time to learn how to orgasm. In many cases, it may be a couple of years before the girl has become accustomed to sex and can climax regularly.

I am female, age 20. Should I go on the Pill or the Mini-Pill? Which is better, Doc?

Well, the Pill contains two hormones, while the Mini-Pill only has one. This means that the Mini-Pill is milder.

Therefore, the Mini-Pill causes fewer side effects and is very rarely associated with any serious health problems. On the other hand, it is slightly less effective than the 'real' Pill so that occasional pregnancies do occur in women who are taking it.

Finally, a big difference between the two types of medication is that the Mini-Pill has to be taken every single day of the year at around the same time. In contrast, the ordinary Pill does not have to be taken at the same hour each day. And you have a week's break after every pack of the ordinary Pill.

Really, it is up to you to choose. But in practice, most younger women go for the Pill rather than the Mini-Pill. This is partly because the Pill has such a good effect on their menses, making them pain free, short, and regular.

I am a young guy who was seduced by an older woman last month. Now I have discovered that she is actually married! I feel guilty about this. Does what I have done count as adultery?

Well, technically, this was adultery, but you didn't know it at the time. If her husband decided to bring divorce proceedings against her, I believe he could name you as the adulterous partner, however, that does not seem very likely.

From a medical point of view, my main concern is that you should make sure you didn't pick up any STIs from this lady. Did you wear a condom? If so, that greatly reduces the risk.

Nevertheless, if you have any symptoms related to your genitals like a discharge or pain in passing urine you should see a doctor.

I regret to say that I had sex with two boys last month. With the first guy, it was during my menses, and with the second guy, it was about two weeks later. Now I find that I am overdue. What I would like to know is this, Doc, if I am pregnant, which one is the father?

On the basis of what you have told me, it is much more likely that the second guy would be the baby-father. However, it is also possible that the first guy could have impregnated you.

The only way to find out for certain would be to do DNA tests on everybody after the baby is born. But let us hope that the menses will arrive and that there will be no baby.

Please do not take such risks in future.

I am a young guy who does not know very much about sex. Is it true, as my friends have told me, that a guy's penis can be badly hurt when he puts it inside a girl?

No, that is just a foolish old myth. I think your friends are having a little fun with you. Pay them no mind.

Email questions to Doc at saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com and read more in the Outlook Magazine tomorrow.