Can that wart get down there? Learn the facts! | Source: ShutterStock

If you have warts on your finger can you pass them to your vagina?

ChickRx expert Bob Smithing, Family Nurse Practitioner, says:

First, let’s discuss what warts are. Warts are skin growths. They can vary in color–from gray to brown to pink–and size–anywhere from a small pebble size to an eraser.

Warts are caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. Yep, that HPV. Here’s the thing though, the HPV viruses that cause warts on your fingers are different strains than the HPV viruses that cause warts on your genitals.

So, it would be very unlikely that you could transfer a wart from your foot or finger to your vagina.

But, that doesn’t mean that warts on your finger aren’t contagious. The virus from one wart can go to other spots on your body or even to another person’s body. You can infect yourself again by touching the wart and then touching another part of your body. And if you share razors, towels or other personal items with a friend, you can transfer warts between the two of you.

And of course you know how genital warts are spread–through sex. Be safe when you have sex.

Both genital and common warts can be treated with medication. If you think you have either, check in with a doctor for treatment.

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or head on over to ChickRx.com.

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How can I tell the difference between a cold sore and a canker sore?

ChickRx expert Evelyn Resh, Certified Sexuality Counselor and Nurse Midwife, says:

This is a great and important question and I’m sure a lot of people wonder this. So, I’m really glad you asked.

Both a cold sore and a canker sore appear somewhere in or on the oral cavity, which means your mouth. The difference is that a cold sore is caused by the oral herpes virus and a canker sore is caused by other viral infections.

Some differences are that canker sores are generally on your tongue, while cold sores are most often on the lips, side of the mouth, or even immediately beneath the nostrils. Canker sores are very small and very tender and are present for only a few days. Cold sores can last ten days or longer. Canker sores are super sensitive to both cold and hot things and they’re even sensitive to salty sweet foods.

Also interestingly, many people contract oral herpes before the age of five. This typically happens because they have either been kissed on the face or mouth by an adult who has a cold sore and doesn’t realize how contagious it is or from kissing a classmate or sharing food with a friend who has a sore.

If you have oral herpes, it’s critical to remember that unless you are completely free of sores–and I mean completely free, not even a scab on your mouth–don’t kiss a sex partner’s mouth or genitals. You could spread the virus to them. Wait until the sore is completely gone, scab and all, before resuming intimate contact.

There is treatment for herpes that can reduce transmission and shorten the time of the outbreak. These are viral-suppressing drugs that are helpful, especially for people with frequent outbreaks.

I hope the above was helpful. But, if you’re still wondering about your mouth sore, I’d say go to a doctor for an official diagnosis and treatment.

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or head on over to ChickRx.com.

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Yikes! This should not be your sex face. | ShutterStock

Sex isn’t something new for me, but lately it’s been painful. Why could this be happening?

ChickRx expert Dr. Kathy McMahon, Clinical Psychologist & Diplomate of Sex Therapy says:

Thanks for writing in. And sorry that sex has been painful for you recently. Sex is something that should be pleasurable, so let’s try and figure out what’s going on and get to the bottom of this sex pain.

I can think of three reasons sex could suddenly start to hurt.

The first cause is what some would call a “bruised vulva.” Your vulva, the outer part of your genitals, can get bruised just like any other part of your body. This can happen from a number of causes–like hitting a hard bump when you’re on a bike or even from sex. The nerves and muscle of your vulva tissue get bruised, but you might not notice right away. Sexual arousal and penetration could cause swelling, which would would irritate your injury and make the bruise more sensitive. The solution here is time. A vulva bruise will heal, just like any other bruise. You might just want to take a break from sex until it does.

The second issue you might be facing is called vulvodynia, which is a burning in your genital region. There are many causes and possible cures for vulvodynia. The issue that I’ve come across most regularly is actually caused by particularly alkaline urine, which basically means the acid levels in the urine are off. The urine splashes up from toileting and creates irritation. One woman I worked with found that taking 1 to 2 grams of calcium ascorbate (a form of Vitamin C) help ease her pain. If you think you could have vulvodynia, I’d recommend going to a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Another potential reason is that some women have a hymen that is particularly thick and tough. This will make her first intercourse painful. Following this, there is often little or no pain for quite some time. Then, about a year afterward, the remaining tissue of the now broken hymen gets scarred from repeated intercourse, and eventually stops stretching. This scar tissue could be what’s causing the pain. Again, the fix for this involves going to the doctor for a closer look.

I know that I said it a few times above, but please check in with a doctor. He or she will be able to diagnose you and get you back on the path to pleasurable, pain-free sex!

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or head on over to ChickRx.com.

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Yikes! It’s no where as bad as this looks! | ShutterStock

What is a pap smear? What actually happens during a Pap test?

ChickRx expert Evelyn Resh, Certified Sexuality Counselor & Nurse Midwife says:

Great questions and I’m really glad you asked them.

Going to the gynecologist can be a scary thing if you don’t know what to expect. But once you know the info, it’s far less scary. And once you actually go, you’ll realize that it’s not scary at all.

After your doctor has checked your thyroid gland in your neck, listened to your lungs and heart, done a breast exam and an abdominal exam, he or she will have you remain laying down and then get ready to do your Pap smear.

The first step is to get you into position. There are stirrup-like foot rests on either side of the exam table that you will put your feet into. Your buttocks will need to be at the very edge of the exam table to do this. Your legs have to be spread apart for the exam. As weird as stirrups look, do your best to relax. The exam is much more comfortable if you’re relaxed.

Now that you’re in position, your doctor will first simply look at your external genitals to see if their appearance is normal. Then, a vaginal speculum (a devise designed to open the vagina) will be inserted into your vagina and opened. This will allow your doc to view the inside of the vagina and take a collection of cells from your cervix. This collection of cells is the actual Pap smear.

Most women have very little sensation in their cervix and don’t really feel their Pap smear being done. And even if you do feel it, it isn’t painful. After this, the speculum is closed and pulled out.

The cells collected from the Pap smear will be tested for any abnormalities. This test can help catch the problem cells that lead to cervical cancer.

After the Pap smear, two well lubricated fingers are inserted into your vagina while placing the opposite hand on your lower abdomen and pushing down. This enables the examiner to feel the shape and size of your uterus and to make sure there are no abnormalities on your ovaries and Fallopian tubes.

Once that’s over, that’s it! That’s your entire pelvic exam, Pap smear at all.

I suggest you make a point of telling your doctor that this is your first exam and ask him or her to let you know everything he or she is doing to do BEFORE it’s done. This is a totally normal request for a first timer to the gynecologist.

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or head on over to ChickRx.com.

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A little talk & some tricks can make a whole lot sex better. | ShutterStock

What can I do if my boyfriend doesn’t last long enough during sex? How can I get him to last longer in bed?

ChickRx expert Amy Levine, Sex Coach & Sexuality Educator, says:

First, know that this is a common problem among guys, especially young men and teens who are new to sex. This isn’t anything he or you should be very worried about. However, I understand that a little more endurance during sex can make the experience much more pleasurable for both of you. So, let’s get to troubleshooting.

Start off by talking about it with him. To fix a problem, especially one in bed, you need to address it. And if you’re going to be trying new techniques to change his staying power, you need to clue him into what you’re up to.

This is obviously a very touchy subject and you should approach it very delicately. I might throw it out there casually like, “Hey, I read about this thing that can make us last longer when we’re having sex. Want to try it?” This doesn’t put the blame on him or his performance and makes trying something new sound fun and easy. Of course, you know what will work best with your guy though. So, bring it up however feels right to you.

Ok, now onto solutions. You could switch out your normal condom for one with added climax control lubricant like Extended Pleasure by Trojan or Performax by Durex. These really do help guys last longer.

Many AASECT-certified sex experts–like myself–can help guys with premature ejaculation, which is what it’s called when a guy orgasms and ejaculates earlier than he’d like. Our role is to gain insight into the situation and help retrain their minds and bodies through conversation and activities that are done alone or with a partner at home.

These techniques often include understanding how to identify sensations leading up to the “point of no return” (the time when a guy realizes he’s about to orgasm and ejaculation is inevitable) and developing the ability to control his arousal.

One tactic I suggest regularly is called the stop-start method. This method requires him to stop the in-and-out motion before he has the feeling he is going to climax, and start again once it subsides.

Another approach, called the squeeze method, works by applying pressure at the base of his shaft or the corona (ridge under the head of the penis) with the thumb and index finger before climax is imminent.

Also, a doctor can prescribe medications to help with premature ejaculation. This is really a last resort and, like I said above, probably isn’t needed if your guy’s issue is more inexperience and being new to sex than an actual medical problem. I suggest talking and trying one of the three methods I listed above before seeking medical help.

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or head on over to ChickRx.com.

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Can unprotected sex ever be safe? | Source: ShutterStock

I just started seeing this guy and we both got tested for STDs and came back clean. (PHEW!) I’m on the pill and thinking of having sex without a condom. Is it safe? Are there some STDs that might not show up or be too new in him to show up on the test?

ChickRx expert Dr. Mandi Beman, Ob/Gyn says:

PHEW is right! That is good news that your std tests came back negative. You should always get tested for STDs before sexual contact and have your partner do the same. So, good work.

The bad news is that there are several STDs, such as HIV and herpes, that can take several weeks before they will show up positive on a test. So, a clean STD test doesn’t necessarily mean a green light for disease free unprotected sex. For example, if he contracted herpes from unprotected sex on Monday and got tested on Tuesday, he would likely test negative for herpes when in reality he has the virus and can transmit it to you. And diseases like HIV and herpes aren’t diseases you want to take risks with.

My advice is to wear a condom any and every time you have sex. Also, the pill is very effective for birth control when taking properly, but using a condom as well definitely can’t hurt for pregnancy prevention.

And remember, while condoms do significantly decrease your risk of contracting an STD and are the smartest choice you can make for birth control and STD prevention, they do not erase your risk entirely. Condoms are not 100% effective in preventing STDs. The only true way to protect yourself is abstinence. And you should take an STD test even when you’re having sex with a condom.

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Talk to him about safe sex. | Source: ShutterStock

If I’m on birth control and use the pull out method. I can’t get pregnant, right? Which STDs could I still get?

ChickRx expert Dr. Mandi Beman, Ob/Gyn says:

First, you are correct. If you are on the birth control pill and using the pull out method, your chance of pregnancy is very low, as long as you are taking your birth control pills correctly.

To be clear, I’m not saying that the pull out method, which is removing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation, is adequate birth control. This method involves a lot of control on the guy’s part and frankly, many teen boys don’t know their bodies well enough to know when to withdraw without ejaculating. Out of 100 women who use the pull out method, 27 get pregnant within a year, per Planned Parenthood. That’s a mighty big percentage!

What I’m saying is that using the birth control pill effectively along with the withdrawal method, like you mentioned in your question, should keep you safe pregnancy-wise.

Ok, on to the second part of your question–STD protection. Neither birth control pills nor the withdrawal method protect you against STDs at all. So you are still at risk for contacting any and all STDs, which include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, HPV, genital warts, HIV and syphilis. This list goes on and on and isn’t pretty. STDs are no joke and you want to avoid them. So please, be safe and wear a condom.

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or head on over to ChickRx.com.

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Avoid post-sex stress by using a condom. | Source: ShutterStock

Can I time when I have unprotected sex around my cycle to avoid pregnancy?

ChickRx expert Dr. Mandi Beman, Ob/Gyn says:

The birth control method of timing sex around your ovulation cycle to avoid pregnancy is often called the rhythm method.

And theoretically, yes, you can time unprotected sex around your cycle to avoid pregnancy. In reality, if you are truly trying to prevent pregnancy I would NOT use the rhythm method.

Of every 100 women who use this type of birth control method, up to 24 will become pregnant in first year, according to Planned Parenthood! That’s so, so many and a huge risk to take.

There are a few reasons that the rhythm method just doesn’t work as effective birth control. Most women’s fertile time varies month to month. So, even if you’re keeping super careful track of your ovulation cycle, you could have it totally wrong just because you’re having an off month. It’s really difficult to know when to time intercourse.

Also, sperm can live in the vagina for as many as 5 days after intercourse. Even if you timed the sex right, sperm could be making their way to your eggs five days after your non-fertile time…when you’re very, very fertile.

I’d suggest talking to your doctor about other birth control methods that are more effective, like the pill.

Also, you girls are smart enough to know this and I probably don’t have to remind you, but birth control methods like the pill or rhythm method (even when it works) don’t protect against any STDs. You should wear a condom any and every time you have sex.

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Wait, I have muscles down there? | Source: ShutterStock

Are Kegels really something I should be doing? And, um, what are they?

ChickRx expert Evelyn Resh, Certified Sexuality Counselor and Nurse/Midwife says:

Kegels are a specific exercise to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor, which is a hammock-like group of muscles underneath your genitals and throughout your boney pelvis. These muscles hold up your vagina, uterus and bladder.

The best way to learn Kegels is to sit on the toilet and start peeing and then stop your flow of urine before you’re completely done. You do this by pulling up and contracting the muscles in your vagina and holding onto that contraction for 2-5 seconds. Then relax the muscles completely and finish peeing. Remember, this is the way to learn the exercise but you don’t have to actually do Kegels when you pee. In fact, Kegel exercises can be done any time and in any position.

The value of the exercise is that it helps prevent weakening on the muscles that support your pelvic organs. Doing Kegels improves muscle strength and blood circulation throughout the pelvis. In a perfect world, adult women would do these exercises daily in 2 sets of 15. But the fact is that despite their proven benefits, few women are diligent about Kegels. For teen gals, Kegel exercises are not as important as they are for woman after they’ve had a baby or after 40.

In your teens, your muscles tone is strong. But after childbirth and the longer we spend defying gravity by standing up, these muscles weaken. If I were you, I would learn how to do Kegel exercises, practice them and try to develop the routine of doing them. But if you don’t, don’t feel bad or worried. I guarantee you that someone later in life will suggest them to you and you can catch-up then.

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Keep your urinary tract infection free! | Source: ShutterStock

How can I avoid getting UTIs so often?

ChickRx expert Dr. Mandi Beman, Ob/Gyn says…

Unfortunately, UTIs, or urinary tract infections, are common in young, healthy women. A UTI is an infection in the area of your body that makes urine, or pee. Anything that can introduce bacteria into your bladder can lead to an infection. And lots of stuff can do that like wiping back-to-front after a bowel movement or sexual intercourse. Also, some women may have a difference in their anatomy or genetics that may make them more susceptible to UTIs.

Even though UTIs are common and not a problem if you treat them early, there are a few things you can do to decrease your chances of getting another UTI:

- Stay well hydrated
- Urinate after intercourse to flush out bacteria
- Drink cranberry juice (a compound in cranberry juice, called tannin, makes it harder for bacteria to stick to the bladder)
- Wipe from front-to-back after a bowel movement
- Do not have vaginal sex after anal sex

UTIs can lead to other more serious infections, such as pyelonephritis (infection of the kidney) or sepsis (infection of the blood) if left untreated. So, if you think you have one or you’re having frequent infections be sure to see your doctor!

Got more questions? Post them in the comments below or anonymously ask your own health and wellness questions and get expert answers at ChickRx.com.

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