Nurse_Nettie

@piperr42 you’re definitely not alone. Sex is one of the most common causes for UTIs (Urinary Tract infections) in young people with a vagina. Peeing ‘immediately’ after sex is the recommendation. Peeing works by washing away any bacteria that’s moved around the urethra (the hole where wee comes out) during sex.

UTIs aren’t contagious though. If…[Read more]

That’s a great question! When it comes to periods we say a “normal” cycle can vary between 21 to 42 days. Coming off the Pill you’d usually expect your cycle to normalise within about three months. There are factors that contribute to irregular periods like travelling or weight loss or even intense physical exercise. There are also some pretty…[Read more]

Hi @champagnepapi, it’s great that you’re keeping a log of your periods & are keeping aware of changes. Having a period is a result of a complex hormonal cycle that ranges over 4 to 6 weeks (21-42 days). In fact no period cycle is exactly the same as the one before. It may mean that every 6 months your cycle lasts longer.
A common reason for no…[Read more]

Good to know @Raincoat 🙂 Agree, there’s lots of good info in this thread!

Hi @ark24, do you want to know who penis size really matters to? The answer is men, not women. I get so many questions from young guys worried about the size of their penis. I have never had a message from woman complaining about the penis size of a partner.

Part of the problem is a distorted idea of what penises look like. Guys may not actually…[Read more]

This is an important topic and I appreciate all of your thoughtful comments. Just wanted to acknowledge here that any discussion of sexual violence can be triggering for people, particularly those who have experienced assault or abuse before.

If you’re feeling distressed, make sure to reach out to a friend or have a chat with a counselor over…[Read more]

Hi @tea, if it’s a true period, I’d agree with @champagnepapi. Even if you’re usually pretty regular, a week early or late can be normal. However, bleeding between periods can be a sign of infection. If the bleeding is much lighter or heavier than what’s usual for you or if you’re experiencing pain, especially pain with penetrative sex, then it’s…[Read more]

@earthmama @aunt_flo @stephaniaaaah, a lot of sexual health services are changing due to the impact of COVID 19. Unfortunately Transtest which is a partnership with ACON and Kirkton Road Centre is closed indefinitely. The same with Check Out service. Currently the best way to find out what services for HIV & STI testing are near you, is to call…[Read more]

Hi @curious, thanks for your question! yes, it’s generally considered safe to only take the active pills & skip your periods, however this is based on research only looking at 12 months continuous use. If you want to skip your period more long term, you might want to consider one of the LARC methods like Mirena IUD, depo injection or the implant…[Read more]

@Tea just wanted to check in to see how you are going. You got some great info from beautiful allies on this thread, but I know it matters to hear from people who can speak from lived experience too. ACON just launched a new resource called TransHub. It addresses all of the issues you’ve mentioned here and provides guides and practical info about…[Read more]

Hi @nasty67, your resident Sexual Health Specialist here. Make sure to read the replies to the original post before you worry too much about what the OP said. Safe anal sex is pretty simple 🙂

@tim2020 its great that you’re thinking of safe sex! It’s not only gay & bisexual men at risk through condomless anal sex, it’s all sexual orientations too. The anus is full of nerves that provide sexual pleasure & people may want anal sex as their is no pregnancy risk. Whilst sex toys reduce the risk (particularly when changing condoms between…[Read more]

Hi @sextronaut @stephaniaaaah…did you know that almost one in five women with an IUD can’t feel their strings? True. It’s because the strings can bundle or get tucked in the cervical opening or vaginal folds or they can be cut short too. It’s great that you’re aware of your menstrual changes. One of the concerns about not feeling the strings is…[Read more]

Hey @purple, great question 🙂 The reason you may have gotten mixed messages is the actual test that’s done on the cervix completely changed a couple of years ago!

When you were 20 years old we were still doing the pap smear test. We used to recommend people start getting this test from age 18 (or two years after becoming sexually active). After…[Read more]

Thanks for getting back @butterfly01. As the intense cramps are frequent see a doctor earlier. They can order an ultrasound test to check the IUD is in place.
If you can’t see your GP then another option is to call your local Family Planning Clinic. You can also speak to a nurse on their Talkline by calling 1300 658 886 (weekdays 8.30am to 5pm).…[Read more]

Hi @butterfly01, that sounds really intense. Would you make a note in a diary about when it happened (day, time of day) & what you were doing? Mapping it like this is helpful to know how frequent the cramps are & any triggers that may cause it. If it continues you will need to see your doctor.

Thanks @sextronaut, those are great points & useful links!

There is absolutely no reason people need to fear anal sex. It’s not for everyone, but it can be perfectly safe. STIs aren’t a spontaneous result of sex. One person has to have the infection first in order to pass it on to someone else. If both people get tested first, you can rule that…[Read more]

@rodeo14 and @sextronaut, if your not sure if the condom broke or not, having an STI test will give peace of mind. Be reassurred that the risk of STIs from receiving oral sex is lower than giving oral sex. That’s because saliva is the only body fluid a person is exposed to (like kissing). The best time to have an STI test would be 2 weeks after it…[Read more]

@butterfly01 I’m glad you’ve got some peace of mind. All these are new sensations & will take time to learn what they mean. It’s ok to ask the nurse or doctor in the early days of IUD insertion if you’re ever unsure.

Hi @butterfly, it is normal to have cramping after getting the IUD. If it’s severe cramping, you have a fever, or it’s getting worse over time, that’s not normal & you should go back to the doctor. The vaginal soreness could be related to the IUD insertion & muscle tension, but I would definitely mention that & the itching to the nurse.
I hope you…[Read more]