Center for Young Women's Health
Is it normal for a virgin girl to bleed a lot after sex?Not everyone who has sex for the first time will bleed. For those who do experience bleeding after their first sexual experience, it is usually spotting but not heavy bleeding. … read more
Ask Us questions
Each week we choose one new Ask Us question and post the answer. Feel free to search or browse our past questions and answers to see if yours is already there.
To ask a new question, use our form. Ask your own question!
I have hair on my chest. Is this normal? Do other girls have hair like me?
Some girls have hair on their chest, around their nipples and/or on their belly area which can be perfectly normal. Extra unwanted hair that is dark and coarse is called “hirsutism,” pronounced: her-suit-is-um, and can … read more
I get what feels like period cramps when I’m not on my period, sometimes accompanied with nausea. Also, when doing sports I get pain around where my ovaries are located. Why am I getting all of this?
Some girls have mild cramping the first couple of days of their period and/or a twinge-like pain when they ovulate, but this discomfort should be relieved with over-the-counter pain medicine … read more
I know so many people who have 800 or so followers on Instagram, I also know that they have only met about 50 of those people in person. Having a bunch of people who I don’t know look at my photos makes me uncomfortable, but I feel bad if I only have 50 followers when everyone else has hundreds, any suggestions?
You are doing a wonderful job of listening to your conscious (that inner voice/gut feeling) and allowing it to direct you away from sharing your pictures with complete strangers online. … read more
Can a doctor say when I’ll get my period? Is there some kind of way to see where I am in the process?
It’s difficult to know exactly when you will get your period since it’s normal for a girl to begin menstruation as early as 9 years old or as late as … read more
I was prescribed metronidazole gel for bacterial vaginosis (BV) today. Will the gel produce a clumpy discharge and will I still be able to have sex regularly while using the gel?
A common side effect from metronidazole gel is a thick, white vaginal discharge with or without an odor which usually goes away soon after completing a full course of treatment. … read more
Does PCOS stop at a certain age? If yes, around what age?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a long term medical condition that affects about 1 out of every 10 young and adult women. PCOS doesn’t stop at a certain age; however, … read more
Recently I have stopped experiencing emotions and am having weird and scary thoughts. I am not experiencing any guilt. My friends think I am getting really manipulative. Is something wrong with me?
It sounds like you are noticing some changes in how you think, feel and behave that worry you, and that your friends also notice some changes in you. Sometimes when … read more
I’m 15 and my breast size is not getting bigger. But most of my class friends have. What can I do?
Heredity, (the way certain features such as eye color are passed down from generation to generation), is the most important factor in determining what the size and shape of your … read more
If you are around another girl who is on her period, does it mess up your cycle where you get it too?
Menstrual synchrony (when girls/women get their periods at the same time) is actually a myth. In the early 1970’s there was a study done, later called the “McClintock Effect” that … read more