Can the mini-Pill transfer hormones?

Doc, my girlfriend has got the idea that she would like to go on the mini-Pill - whatever that is. We have a lot of sex. Can I be absolutely sure that this mini-Pill thing would not get transferred to me during intercourse? I don't want to get any female hormones in my body.

A: Yes, you can be absolutely sure that nothing will happen to you. Neither the Pill nor the mini-Pill is transmitted to the male partner during sex.

The mini-Pill is a pretty good contraceptive, and if your girlfriend remembers to take it every single day at around the same time, it is unlikely that she will get pregnant.

Porn-loving boyfriend

I was shocked to discover that my boyfriend is heavily into watching Internet porn, which features lesbians. Is he crazy, or what?

A: No, I would not say that he is crazy. It is a statistical fact that a substantial proportion of the male population is turned on by the idea of two pretty girls having sex together. That is why so much pornography features what is termed 'girl-girl' action.

Psychological experts have not come up with a reason why this sort of thing appeals to so many men. It doesn't seem to make much sense, does it? Maybe it is because guys tend to think that two attractive female bodies must somehow be better than just one.

Infection from a blow job

I am a male, and two weeks ago, out of curiosity, I got someone to give me a blow job. It was my first time doing anything like this. But now I am worried about whether I have caught any infection, including HIV. What do you think, Doc?

A: This activity is technically called fellatio. And, of course, it is a form of oral sex.

It is important that young people realise that oral sex can transmit sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly chlamydia and gonorrhoea (the clap). So if you now have any symptoms at all, you should consult a doctor - fast.

However, expert committees have determined that the risk of transmitting HIV through fellatio is relatively low. It certainly can happen, but the danger is not as great as it is with other forms of sexual contact.

One final point: Your email makes it clear that the person who gave you that blow job was in fact not a girl, but a boy. Are you sure that that is the road you want to go down?

I am afraid that statistically, sex with other men is more likely to give you STIs than sex with girls.

Shameful masturbation

I am a female student age 20. Currently, I do not have a boyfriend. I feel bad because recently, I masturbated on several occasions. I am just so ashamed of this. I feel that I am probably the only one in my year to have done such a thing. In fact, I am quite depressed about it. Help!

A: If you really are depressed, then I urge you to go and see a doctor, talk about your low feelings, and probably get some medication.

As it relates to masturbation, you should cheer up. Contrary to what you think, this is actually quite a frequent practice in young women, particularly when they are under stress. Admittedly, it is nowhere near as common in females as it is in males, but there is no question that a large number of women of your age do it sometimes.

For example, the well-known Cosmopolitan magazine recently did a survey among its readers. The results would surprise you. While some of the respondents said they did not masturbate at all, the majority reported that they did.

Indeed, just more than 60 per cent of those who responded said they went in for masturbation three times for the week, or around 150 times a year. Apparently, most of them did it while thinking about a current boyfriend.

I suppose I should point out that the readers of Cosmopolitan are well known for being more sexually liberated than the average person. Nevertheless, I think you can now see that you are very far from being the only young woman in the world who has gone in for masturbation.

Getting the male Pill

I am engaged to a beautiful girl, and we are going to start having sex soon, Doc. What I would like to know is this: Where could I get that male Pill that I have read about?

A: Sorry, you can't. Although there are often stories on the Internet about the male Pill, it just doesn't exist yet.

Scientists in China and elsewhere are working on it, but there is no chance that it will be available to the average guy before 2020 at the earliest.

Side effects of Ponstan

I get very bad period pain, and my doctor wants me to take something called Ponstan for this. But what is it? And does it have any side effects, Doc?

A: As you know, many young women suffer pain during the menses. The first line of defence should be aspirin or paracetamol or ibuprofen. But if these medications aren't strong enough, it is often a good idea to switch to Ponstan.

Ponstan is actually an anti-rheumatism drug, but it also works well on menstrual pain. It is also known as mefenamic acid.

Like all medications, it can have side effects. The most common ones are pain in the belly, stomach discomfort, skin rashes, and 'running belly'. If you get side effects, you should stop.

To reduce the risk of getting abdominal symptoms, such as bellyache, do not take the tablets on an empty stomach. Always have some food first.

Concealing my 'stiffness'

Doc, is there any tablet that would stop me from getting erections? I am almost 17, and I develop stiffness all the time. This is becoming very embarrassing. I get them if I see a pretty girl, or if I think about sex, or if I am on a bumpy bus. It is difficult to conceal them.

A:I appreciate that this is embarrassing for you. But alas, there are no anti-erection pills! However, you will find that the tendency to develop unwanted stiffness will get less as you grow a little older.

Disappearing menses

Doc, my menses have suddenly stopped, but I have not been with a boy for over a year, so I cannot be pregnant. What is going on?

A: Sudden absence of periods is quite common in young women. Common causes include stress, anaemia, anorexia nervosa, and excessive physical training like daily distance-running.

So you should consult a doctor and have a complete physical check-up.

I wish you well!

Sex with bruised testicle

I got hit in the right testicle while playing football last week. It is slightly bruised and I think a little swollen. What I want to know is whether I can safely resume having sex, Doc.

A: Yes, you can. There is no way that sexual activity could harm you despite this injury. I hope that the swelling and bruising disappear shortly, but if not, then you should ask a doctor to take a look at your scrotum.

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

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