Doctor's ADVICE: Is masturbation affecting my sight?

Q Doc, I am male, aged 18. My eyes are not as good as they were, and I am worried that this might be due to masturbation?

A No, that is not possible. Contrary to what you may have heard, or maybe read in old books, the eyes have absolutely no connection with the genitals.

Q Doc, I am a guy of 19, and a student. I recently spent the night with a really attractive woman of 23. However, she did not let me have full sex with her. Apparently, she is still a virgin.

So I did not go inside at all, and I finished up by just ejaculating on the outside of her vagina.

Well, last week she called me and told me that she was pregnant! She said that I must be the father.

Is this possible? I never went inside her. Also, I have always understood that virgins cannot get pregnant. Please help me.

A Well, that is quite a complex question. The first thing I must say is that you only have her word that she is a virgin. Many young women say that they are still virgins when that is not the truth.

Secondly, it is possible for a female who is still a virgin to become pregnant. That is because of the fact that the hymen (or virgin's veil), which is the thin membrane guarding the vagina, almost always has a small hole in it.

That gap allows the menstrual blood to escape. It can also allow sperm to get in.

Pregnancy without actual penetration is known medically as fecundation ab extra. It is pretty rare, and I have only seen a couple of cases in my entire career. Nevertheless, it can occur.

However, you and other young men should appreciate that it is potentially dangerous to ejaculate on a woman's vulva - which is what I presume you mean by 'the outside of her vagina'. If the seminal fluid lands on the vulva, then it is not all that difficult for the spermatozoa to start making their way inside and climbing upwards. After all, that is what they are programmed to do!

So it is quite possible that your sperms have found their way inside this young woman.

But, is she actually pregnant?

Your email makes no mention of any pregnancy test. OK, the lady thinks she has conceived, but is there any scientific proof of this? It could be that all that has happened is that her menses are late.

So, you must call her right away and urge her to do a pregnancy test. If it is positive, then unless she has been with any other guy this last month, you are the likely father.

However, if it is negative, then you are 'in the clear'. All you need do is to take more care in the future.

Terrible period pains

Q I get really terrible period pains, Doc, and on the bad days I cannot study. I just have to lie in bed. Aspirin is no good. Is there anything stronger?

A Sure. I recommend that you discuss medication with a doctor, but there are several tablets which are of great help to young women with menstrual pain.

In particular, there is one called mefenamic acid, which is intended to be taken three times daily, starting as soon as the menses begin. It can cause ache in the top of the belly, so, as a precaution, you should only take it after having some food.

An alternative is to go on the Pill. Your doctor should be able to find a brand that will abolish your period pain altogether.

Losing my nature?

Q Doctor, I am worried about my male organ. I have seen in porn films where the guys' penises always point straight up towards the sky.

This does not happen with me. When I get an erection, it only points straight out in front of me, Doc. Am I abnormal? Does this mean I will lose my nature one day?

A It is real unfortunate that these silly 'blue movies' often give young people a totally mistaken view of sex. And that is what has happened here.

Let me acquaint you with the facts. American researchers have carefully studied the question of angle of erection. And what they found is this:

The average angle of erection is only just above the horizontal;

In about a fifth of males, the erection is roughly at 45 degrees above the horizontal;

In around a tenth of males, the erection is more or less vertical.

So, there you are. It is only about 10 per cent of males who regularly achieve an erection that points skywards. The great majority of guys are like you, and point forward rather than upwards.

The makers of porn films tend to pick actors with large penises. It is probable that they also pick guys who have vertical erections, since they probably feel that this looks rather more dramatic.

Anyway, you have no need to fret. It is clear that you are perfectly normal.

Smelly sex

Q Doctor, I am a 25-year-old female, and lately when I have sex with my boyfriend, he says it smells.

Unfortunately, this is true. Yesterday, I was talking to someone when I noticed the embarrassing smell from my panties. I went to the bathroom immediately, and found that something liquid was running down.

A couple of months ago, I had a miscarriage, and was in the hospital for three days. What do you think is wrong with me?

A Sorry to hear about this problem, which must be pretty distressing for you. Sounds like you have an infection in the vagina. It could well be that germs got inside you after the miscarriage. That is really common, because the female tissues are very vulnerable at a time like that.

I cannot tell you which infection you have, since I have not examined you. But that kind of bad-smelling discharge is often due to a condition called bacterial vaginosis.

This disorder has become real common in recent years.

You can look up bacterial vaginosis on the Internet if you wish. You will see that, although there are some natural remedies, many doctors treat it with an antibiotic called metronidazole.

What you must do now is to see a doctor in your hometown and get some tests and treatment right away. Good luck!

Why was I abandoned?

Q Last month, I gave up my virginity to a boy I met in Falmouth. Since then, I have not heard from him at all. Do you think I did something wrong during sex, and this has made him abandon me?

A No, I don't. I am afraid that you must face up to the fact that there are lots of young guys who just want to score with as many females as possible. Once they have had sex with a young lady, they are off to look for another one!

This boy may come back, but he may not. I suggest that you do not waste your time fretting about him.

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