Dear Dr Condom
My girlfriend and I had unprotected sex last month then she took the "Morning After" pill the following morning.I just wanna ask, how often can chicks use this pill and what are the side effects?
Anthony, APB
Dear Anthony
The most common side-effects of the morning-after pill are headache, nausea, painful breasts and irregular vaginal bleeding. One very important side effect of the morning-after pill is possible pregnancy, because the morning-after pill is not always 100% effective! Until fairly recently, the standard advice was that the morning-after pill could be taken up to 72 hours after sex, but now doctors advise that the morning-after pill should be given as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours of having unprotected sex for it to be effective.As you are probably aware, having unprotected sex also puts you at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, herpes and chlamydia. Remember that you cannot tell if someone is healthy or not just by looking at them, and it is really important to take personal responsibility for your own body so that you do not have future regrets!!
Emergency contraception is not the best form of contraception to keep using regularly, because it causes havoc with a woman’s menstrual cycle and can have serious long-term effects on fertility. So it would probably be worth talking to your girlfriend about other forms of contraception too, so that you don't have to worry about this again in the future. Correct and consistent condom usage is the safest method of contraception, prevents transmission of STI’s & has no side effects!
“Remember – You can’t go wrong, if you shield your dong!!”
Dear Dr Condom
I am really feeling the pressure to have sex because everyone around me is. Well they claim to be. Sometimes I think that I should go to a party, get really drunk and then get laid by a guy I do not know then problem solved. Will this be the right thing to do?
Tumi, DFC
Dear Tumi
Sex is a big deal – and deciding when and how to do it should be up to you.
Sex is not just a physical act – there can be pretty intense feelings involved. Emotionally, it might feel amazing to be that close to someone else – but also you might feel vulnerable and regretful, especially if you have sex with someone that you don’t really know.
Also remember that having unprotected penetrative sex is risky business! There are physical risks like getting pregnant or getting a sexually transmitted infection, like HIV.
Mixing alcohol with sex is also not a good idea…A person with a Booza brain is less likely to use protection when engaging in sex and is likely to regret their actions later.
I often tell people that they are ready to start thinking about having sex with someone, when they are prepared to use the same tissue as that person! I don’t mean that literally, but rather that you should pick your sex partner wisely and should be comfortable with that person before doing the deed!
We know it’s hard, but if you can, try to ignore people putting pressure on you. Good friends will accept you for who you are, even if you’re different to them.
Also, know that not everyone is having sex – research shows that almost half of all students have never had sex, even though they say they have.
“Remember that what goes on in Vegas ...stays in Vegas. What you CATCH in Vegas comes home with you!!”
Dear Dr Condom
Can I catch an STI from giving my new boyfriend a blow job? I do not think I am ready to go all the way with him yet. Is oral sex even classified as real sex?
Kimberley, APK
Dear Kimberly
Is oral sex real sex? Bill Clinton would probably say no. It depends on your definition of sex. If you think all real sex is penetrative, then you would answer no to the above question. But if you think of it as mutual stimulation to the point of orgasm, you would probably say yes.
The fact of the matter is that oral sex is definitely a sexual activity and can be very pleasurable for you and your partner, if you both consent and if protection is used!
We know that one cannot become pregnant from having oral sex, which is what makes it particularly attractive to many people who are hesitant to go to a family planning clinic or buy contraceptives elsewhere. No tell-tale packets of pills or condoms can be found by snooping parents or siblings, which for many young people from conservative homes is a considerable worry.
The harsh truth of the matter is that while pregnancy can be avoided by having only oral sex, sexually transmitted infections can still be contracted. While the chances are very low of contracting HIV in this manner, other STIs such as herpes, gonorrhea, oral thrush and chlamydia can get passed on in this manner. So, while pregnancy is not on the cards, many other unwelcome ‘visitors’ could be.
Take heed that oral sex carries some risk of HIV transmission. Here are the facts - HIV is present in blood, vaginal fluids and semen. If the person who is performing oral sex has any cuts, sores or open wounds in the mouth, while performing oral sex on a person who is HIV positive, there is a chance that HIV can be transmitted. It is a low chance, but still a chance…
Abstaining from oral, anal, and vaginal sex altogether or having sex only with a mutually monogamous, uninfected partner are the only ways that individuals can be completely protected from the sexual transmission of HIV. However, by using condoms or other barriers between the mouth and genitals, individuals can reduce their risk of contracting HIV or another STI’s through oral sex. The long and the tall and the short of this is that people should be just as careful choosing a partner for oral sex as they would for normal sexual intercourse.
“Remember - If he can't shield his rocket, rather leave it in his pocket!”
