Anonymous asked: I personally think that you should inform people that having sex before the age of 16 for cisfemale's puts them at a higher risk of cancers since you're here telling people there is no right/wrong age to have sex.

Thank you for the feedback! Here’s some more information on that research for those who are interested. That research shows an even higher risk for younger people, but basically, having sex at any age increases the risk of STI’s such as HPV that can increase the risk of cancer. That is certainly a factor all people should take into account when making the decision to have sex.

Like I said, hopefully people decide to have sex when they are informed enough to protect themselves from STI’s (by using condoms, dental dams, etc., and getting vaccinated). I suppose I was looking at that particular question more from a moral point of view because society shames so many people for having sex, but of course health and safety are the top priority.

-Rachel

Anonymous asked: The other day I was forced to step into a wet bathroom floor to change. I had to be quick so I kept my shoes on and I took my pants off, the shoes with dirty water got on the inside of my pants, I was also made to put em back on, should I get checked out?

You really can’t contract infections this way. As long as you showered/bathed afterwards you should be fine.

Dirty water can have lots of things in it but generally with std’s and sti’s they generally can’t live outside the body for very long. Here’s a link that provides you with ALL the information you need about the different types of STD’s and STI’s.

It is a good idea to get tested before engaging in sexual activity with another person however, but if you’re worried about catching anything right now, you should generally be fine!

Lyna

Anonymous asked: STDs/STIs scare me so much. I feel like they're WAY too easy to get. It terrifies me. It severely discourages me from engaging in sexual activity. If I were to ask you your advice, I have a feeling you'd say something along the lines of, "Just be open with your partners and get tested." Fortunately, I have no problem doing either. But you keep saying many STIs can't be tested for, and I just get way too overwhelmed and worried about it. It kills me. That all being said, any advice? Cismale, btw.

Your fear and worrying about STI’s is normal. I definitely was not as educated about them when I first engaged in sexual activity, as I am today and being educated really helps relieve some of your anxieties.

First of all, you are right, being open and communicating with your partner/s and getting tested is extremely important and should be one of the first steps before engaging in sexual activity.  

The two main STI’s that are generally harder to test for is Herpes and HPV.  However you can still engage in sexual activity and enjoy your sexual experiences without worrying too much if you always use a barrier method (condoms and dental dams). Educate yourself about different STI’s and how they are spread! Here is FYSE’s link to some FAQ’s about STI’s and STD’s.

Knowing the risks is important, educating yourself about STI’s, communicating with your partner/s, getting tested and knowing how to protect yourself will ease some of your anxieties. Hope this helps!

Lyna

Anonymous asked: This might seem stupid im 16 and im afraid to have sex with a guy in the near future after all i've heard and all the diseases im afraid to catch something so what are the safe protections to use?

That isn’t stupid at all—in fact, it’s fantastic that you are trying to educate yourself about safe sex! 

So first of all, here is our safe sex post, which details how you can protect yourself against STI’s when having various kinds of sex (including oral, manual, and anal). 

The main thing is to get tested with your partner before you have sex (either at the doctor’s office or a local health clinic such as Planned Parenthood), always use a condom if you or your partner has a penis, and use a dental dam/condom when having oral sex. 

As for pregnancy, if you have a uterus, consider using birth control, of which there are many different kinds of varying effectiveness. 

Finally, if you are afraid to have sex, it is possible you might not be emotionally ready—be sure to only have sex if you feel comfortable with it. Here is a post with a few questions you can ask yourself to help figure out whether you are ready to become sexually active or not, but ultimately only you can know what feels right for you!

-Rachel

Anonymous asked: This might be stupid. But say I'm a virgin and I have never done anything sexual, not even made out with someone, and I get with another person who also is a virgin and hasn't kissed or anything before, If we have sex or do oral together frequently, is it possible to get an sti?

Never be afraid to ask questions!! There is a possibility of still being able to get herpes or hpv even if both partners have never engaged in any type of sexual/intimate activity.

Check out FYSE’s link for frequently asked questions regarding sti’s here for more information about herpes, hpv and other sti’s that may be harder to detect or are not passed through sexual means.

Lyna

Anonymous asked: I don't quite understand how STI's transmit through oral sex on a female, is there a prevention of it? And can you possibly get one from fingering and then licking your fingers?

STI’s such as herpes and HPV can be transmitted from genitals to mouth and mouth to genitals, so performing unprotected oral sex on anyone with an STI can give you that STI. Many STI’s are spread from skin-to-skin contact, so that’s how it can go from a vulva/vagina or a penis to a mouth, and vice-versa. 

However, when performing oral sex on someone with a vulva, you can use a dental dam to protect yourself and your partner from STI’s! Here’s our post on barriers for safe sex, which will explain various ways to prevent STI’s, including dental dams and how to use them. 

I would say for licking your fingers after fingering someone, it would probably depend on the amount of time between them, and such things as washing your hands. The chance is a lot lower but with highly contagious STI’s like herpes it could be possible if you touched an open sore and then licked your finger right away. It’s best to avoid licking your fingers after touching genitals (unless you wash your hands) to avoid that possibility entirely.

-Rachel

Anonymous asked: I have odd pimple looking things on my labia, I've popped them but I'm worried that these may be genital warts. should I check this out with my doctor?

If they look more like pimples than like cauliflower-like bumps, they are probably not genital warts. However, if you’ve had unprotected sex or oral sex, you may want to check with your doctor to get tested for STI’s. Be sure to protect yourself and your partner(s) using condoms and/or dental dams in the future, especially while you’re not sure what your bumps are. 

Here’s our FAQ answer about genital bumps:

Q: I get weird bumps on my genitals, what could it be?

A: If it’s a large, red, painful bump with a head it sounds like a cyst. If you put a warm compress on it it’ll help with the pain. If the bumps are on either side of your vaginal opening it could be a bartholin gland cyst. If it’s painful you need to go to a doctor. Usually the infection goes away before it gets painful but if it doesn’t it’ll need treatment. If it’s a clump of bumps that looks like a cauliflower it’s genital warts. if it’s a few to a lot of painful red blister looking things that pop and crust over it could be herpes. If it just looks like regular acne, vulva acne is common and will go down as you age just like regular acne. If it kind of looks like gooseflesh (or your arm whenever you get “goosebumps” and you’ve always had them, it’s probably fordyce spots. They can occur on both penises and vulvas and are totally harmless. If it is small, painless and kind of resembles a pearl it could be  Molluscum contagiosum. It can also occur in a line of bumps. This is a viral infection and you should see a doctor for it. If you have multiple red lesions and blackheads that enlarge, break open and drain pus it could be Hidradenitis suppurativa. It is a skin problem that’s considered a severe form of acne.

-Rachel