Real Talk: Winter 2019

The short answer is no! A tampon is designed to sit in the back of your vagina and collect blood from your monthly period. When placed properly, you shouldn’t even feel it no matter how active you are! And most tampons come with special applicators that help you place them the right way every time. When you’re having your period, your cervix (the opening to your uterus, or womb, that looks like a little pink donut) opens ever so slightly to let blood out, but this opening is nowhere near big enough to push a tampon past! Remember to change your tampons every 4 to 8 hours and make sure to check out the instructions on the box. If you can’t easily find the string when you need to remove it, don’t panic! Take a few deep breaths, wash your hands, and gently reach into your vagina with a finger. You may need to squat or lie down for the right angle. Once you feel the string or edge of the tampon—which may require you to reach a few inches—gently remove it. Relax, there is nowhere past the walls of your vagina for a tampon to go!

Ralitza Peneva, M.D

Hmmm. Well, most of the time the answer to this question will be NO because you need sperm from a male and an egg from a female to create a pregnancy. However, if your male partner has masturbated prior to foreplaying with you, then there is the possibility of transmitting sperm from his semen into your vagina, which could possibly lead to a pregnancy. Not very likely, BUT something to ALWAYS keep in mind. If there is ever any doubt…don’t hesitate to STOP!

Markeiya Polite, M.D.

It is absolutely normal to have a rush of feelings, including anxiety or excitement, when you unexpectedly see someone from your past. You had a relationship with this person who meant a lot to you at a certain time period in your life; this does not simply go away. These feelings are a healthy part of letting someone go. It takes time to heal after a breakup and no one can define how long that period of time is for you. Now, it would be concerning if you were genuinely fearful of running into this person because of something he had done to harm you in the past. In that case, it is important to tell someone and make sure to set boundaries so that you are not running into him or putting yourself in an unsafe position. But overall, having an anxious or excited feeling when seeing an ex-boyfriend is normal and will slowly go away over time!

Vibha Rao, M.D.

Each month, your brain produces hormones to prepare the body for pregnancy, and in response, the uterine lining thickens. This is called the menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is about 28 days. A period is the release of blood and tissue from the lining of the uterus through your vagina, which happens when the brain does not receive a pregnancy signal. It takes several days for the blood and tissue to be shed. The brain has its own clock and releases hormones in a pattern that makes girls get their periods once a month. This pattern is not the same for every girl so your cycle may be different from your friend’s cycle. Also keep in mind that when you first start having your period your cycle may be irregular—you may skip a month or be early or late by a few days—but with time, your periods should become more regular.

Yetunde Akinde, M.D.

All people, including those with disabilities, can participate in sex. Sex is a combination of both physical and emotional experiences that can be different from person to person. Similar to people without disabilities, most disabled people can participate in many forms of sexual activity. Remember, sex is a fundamental and natural part of life. When two people decide to have sex, this should be a shared decision that both people agree on. One person should never feel pressured to have sex or participate in any form of sexual activity that he or she does not feel comfortable with. People can show affection for one another in many different ways. For example, holding hands, hugging, or kissing allow two people to deepen their connection without the need for sex. There are many different ways to show you care for someone, and sex may not always be the answer!

Samantha Prats, M.D.