nonamecat's advice column

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Q: I never drank before yesterday but my friend had a bottle of gordans london dry gin and i took i big mouthful and swallowed it at once. I felt really sick and was about to throw up. It tasted like wood and my throat was all tensed up. I looked on the back of the bottle and it said 40% vol something. Am I allergic to alcohol or is gordans gin just strong? I did not throw up in the end. 13/m

The 40% meant that it is 40% alcohol by volume, meaning the other 60% is mostly water. While it's not the weakest alcoholic beverage, it is not strong either. Sometimes it may say 80 proof in addition to the 40% alcohol by volume. The proof is twice the percentage of the alcohol content (40% x 2= 80 proof). Pure alcohol is 200 proof. It is possible that you have an allergy, though it wouldn't be specific to alcohol, it would be to brewer's yeast. But, it is more likely that you just were not prepared for the taste and effect of the alcohol. Best to wait until your body is fully developed and you are more prepared for the consequences of drinking alcoholic beverages.

Q: So, a hymen is skin covering the entrance to your vagina, right?

Well, then how does menstrual blood get out if your hymen is still intact? Does it diffuse through it?

I always wondered about this. Sorry its kind of gross =/

The hymen is a fold of skin near the entrance of the vagina that is usually present at birth. This is often considered a sign of virginity, but it can be absent or ruptured by tampon use or even vigorous exercise. The hymen usually has an opening to allow blood to pass through it during menstruation. However, this hole is missing in imperforate hymen, and so menstrual blood cannot escape.

Q: 15/f

i orgasm really easily. like i spent the night at my boyfriend's house recently and during like 6 hours of sex i had 57 orgasms.

one time, when our sexual tension was really high, in 10 minutes, i managed to have about 15 orgasms.

what causes this, and is this irregular? like is something wrong?

i dont fake and i know that they are actual orgasms.

what makes this happen?

There's nothing wrong with you. Some women simply orgasm much more easily with penetration that others.
As far as chemically, it is hard to tell what exactly causes an orgasm, and I'm not sure anyone is able to give a complete explanation of the process. However, experts know a little more about the physical changes that go along with having an orgasm. First of all, an orgasm is defined as the sudden discharge of accumulated sexual tension resulting in rhythmic muscular contractions in the pelvic region that produce intensely pleasurable sensations followed by rapid relaxation. It typically lasts for several seconds. Orgasms vary from person to person and for each individual at different times. Some orgasms may be explosive and amazing others may be milder and less intense. These differences in intensity may be attributed to many different factors that are physical (such as fatigue) as well as psychosocial (such as mood or expectations). As far as physiological components of orgasm, the most characteristic physical feature of orgasm is the sensation produced by the simultaneous rhythmic contractions of the pubococcygeus muscle (pc muscle). The pc muscle, anal sphincter, rectum and perineum contract to form an orgasm, along with the uterus and outer third of the vagina. Generally, the first few contractions are intense and close together, occurring at about 0.8-second intervals. As orgasm continues, the contractions diminish in intensity and duration and occur at less frequent intervals. Interestingly, it has been shown that orgasm is a total body response. Changes have been shown in brain wave patterns during orgasm, and muscles in many different areas of the body also contract at this time. Orgasms in men and women are fairly similar. The main difference is that far more women than men have the physical capability to have one or more additional orgasms within a short time without dropping below the plateau of sexual arousal.

Q: I was suppost to get my period on like the 13th and it's the 19th and it still hasn't come. I've only had my period for a year so is this normal?
I'm scared to go anywhere like the beach or something because it might come then and I won't be able to do anything about it.

And I also want to start shaving "down there" but i'm scared my skin will get like irrated or i'll get like an infected hair when it grows back and I don't want to have to go to the doctor for that. Any tips?

You are only a few days late, no worries. In the first couple of years it is normal to have an irregular period. If you are overweight or obese you are at a higher risk of having an irregular period. Likely you will experience early periods, late periods, and some months you may skip your period. If you are sexually active, take a pregnancy test after you are two weeks late.
You don't need to be scared to go to the beach/ pool etc. Just pack a tampon in your purse/ beach bag.
I would actually suggest waxing instead of shaving your genitalia. However, if you must shave, shave with the grain of the hair growth. It will itch when it grows back, but that is a short lived sensation. Ingrown hairs may occur but are not a guarantee. You do not need to go to the doctor for them. A little antibiotic cream helps and if it's close to the surface, just take the hair out with a pair of tweezers.

Q: I know this isn't the right category but it's the most popular so please just bear with me.

I am so miserable. I've had nothing but a run of bad luck for the last two months.

First the business I worked for closed down, so then I had to find a new job, I found one but hate it.

Then my car was broken into $600 dollars worth of damage.

I live with my grandparents and my grandma is so strict on me, I do absolutely nothing wrong, I don't go out and drink and party, i'd rather stay home with my boyfriend or have a night with the girls. My friends are good people, most of them are at uni.

My boyfriend and I have been together for just over two years. I'm 19 he's 21 in 3 weeks.

In my new job I have to study for it. I have a computer at home but it's easier for me to use a laptop so I could study quietly in my room so my boyfriend lent me his.

We plan on moving in together in the next 12 months so instead of me buying a laptop he's getting a desk top computer and i'm using the laptop.

Well last night I was saving things in my memory stick so he could have all his stuff on the new computer then I cam across conversations between him and all these other girls.

Ok mind you the conversations were two years ago just as we got together but they were dirty conversations with other girls and some of them even said um you have a girlfriend and his response was what goes on here stays here.

I was hurt although they happened a long time ago it was hard to read something like that from someone you love so much. At that stage he was sweeping me off my feet and tell me he loved me for the first time.. why was he still talking to these other girls...??!

I confronted him about it and he said they meant nothing and that none of the convos went any further then that.. where has my Mr Perfect gone?

Am I over reacting because they were a long time ago..?? I guess it was just a shock to see that side of him.. I have never seen that dirty side of him... never!

Could he have just been after a bit of fun because I wasn't there? But then again that's still no excuse right??

I live in a small town so I know who all these other girls are.. I guess I just feel embarrassed becaue those girls knew that I was with him and he was still after more.

Now back then, I was still at school.. As I said my grandma is very strict so I want only allowed to see him on the weekends.. We did only just get together.. about a month before those convos started.

Should I give him credit for waiting for me or be mad at him for disrespecting me?

I'm tired of being miserable.. I love my boyfriend with all my heart and I know he loves me and I know he has always been faithful to me.

I can kind of understand if he was looking for someone else back then but I just wanted to know if it was right to be mad at him..!

Thanks guys! :)

Sounds like quite the fix. I understand your anger, but I do not see a reason to continue to linger on it all this time later. The conversations were not recent, and you do not suspect him of cheating currently, so I suggest moving on. It sounds like you two moved awfully fast back then- maybe he felt intimidated or held down. Or maybe he was unclear of your relationship status. I have dated many men without serious commitment for several months time. You present it as if you were committed to only each other after only knowing one another a month. Maybe he thought the relationship was still open- so the both of you could still date other people and explore.

Q: I know the theory is that if you have sex without birth control and he cums in you, you're pregnant.

But does this really happen ALL the time?
Can you have sex without getting pregnant?

Even if it IS a small chance, I just wanna know.
And dont tell me "dont have sex", I dont plan on it, I'm just wondering.

I'm sick of people preaching about sex on here.

Science has pretty much gotten us past pregnancy being a theory and actually being a fact. However, for you to actually be pregnant an egg has to be present and the sperm has to make it to the egg. Women do not have an egg present at all times of the month, and sperm are not always successful in their journey to the egg. A woman's most fertile days are just before ovulation. Ovulation is the release of a mature egg from the ovary during the menstrual cycle. For most women ovulation occurs 14 days before the next menstrual period. The short answer is, yes, you can have sex without getting pregnant. However, you still risk contracting STIs.

Q: I have this thing on my forehead. I don't know what it is. It hurts when I touch it. It's up my my hair line. It's small, but VERY red. Any ideas?

Sounds like a pimple. You are likely getting acne. Clean your face 2 to 3 times daily. If the outbreak continues- you experience black heads, pimple outbreaks, cysts, infected abscesses- consider getting a few products from clean and clear or neutrogena to help.

Q: what's the difference between hives, poison oak, and poison ivy?? how do you get hives and what do they look like? what does poison oak & ivy look like?

Hives are an allergic reaction to an allergen (such as food or medication). Typically they are 1/4" wide or larger and paler or redder than the surrounding skin (Mine are purple).
Poison Ivy is a climbing plant with ternate (in threes) leaves, greenish flowers and white berries. Contact with the oil of the poison ivy causes the development of blisters within a few hours time. Unless there is a history of severe allergy, or the blisters are on the face/ genitalia home treatment with calamine lotion and benadryl should work.
The poison oak of the southeastern United States has its leaves divided into three leaflets; the leaflets are densely haired and generally have three to seven distinct lobes. The white, berry-like fruits are also somewhat hairy. The poison oak of the U.S. Pacific coast is a shrubby or sometimes climbing plant that grows to 2.4 m (8 ft) high; its three-leaflet leaves are toothed or lobed and are hairless.

Q: i want to get a piercing somewhere on my ear that is simple.

i like a certian spot, but im not sure if its pure carlige, or had bones or vessles

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/peta2piggy/DSCF1959.jpg

i circles the spot in red where i was wondering if thats all pure cartlage

PLEASE only amswer if you are 100% sure! =] thanx

You're fine. I have that spot pierced on both of my ears. There are no bones in your ears at all, so no worries.

Q: well,
i am a 15/f and a varsity cheerleader.
for my megaphone, i would like to get a picture of barbie because everyone calls me barbie because im blonde, blue eyes, skinny, and "perfect"(not really). anyways. i need a picture of a cheerleader barbie and i have been looking and can not find one.
if anyone would like to help it would be really appricated...
here are the requirments:
1.big picture
2.cheerleading BARBIE
3.blonde and white barbie

thank you so much.

Do you have permission from Mattel to place Barbie on your megaphone? Not that it isn't a good idea, but there are certain legal matters to consider.

Q: you know when a guy says you smell like fish? yeah, well I know it's because your vagina, but how do you get rid of that smell& what starts it?

Do Not Douche before talking to your doctor. Douching is a dangerous practice and you should consult your physician about the fishy smell before doing anything. The fishy smell can be any number of things: an STI, urinary tract infection, yeast infection, etc. Talk to your primary care physician about it, or, if you have a gynecologist, talk to him/ her about it. Only if they tell you to douche should you douche.

Q: hi.. im 17, 5'9, 122lbs, and a female
i'm extreemly active/atletic

recently i have been getting lightheaded really easily.. like when i work out really hard or when i just get up too fast in the mornings.. i'm thinking its my blood sugar.. but i am not sure

if you have any ideas on maybe what it is or what i need to eat to make it better than fill me in... it is just weird becasue i always have a ton of energy i just have been getting light headed.

sounds like a blood pressure problem. Talk to your doctor about it. Some people have issues with their blood pressure not evening out quickly enough when they move quickly, thus resulting in them having low blood pressure for a time causing the lightheadedness.

Q: Does anybody know what a wiki is? Is it like a website? I need to know ASAP!!!!!!!! PLEASE!

Wikipedia is an example of a wiki, but it is not the first wiki nor will it be the last.
A wiki is a website, or similar online resource, which allows users to add and edit content collectively.
I have an wiki for each of the english classes I teach.

Q: how does a female, well, douche?

A douche set is a plastic squeeze bottle with a nozzle. It is typically filled with warm tap water although some manufacturers offer other solutions. The nozzle is inserted gently into the vagina and the bottle squeezed to release a jet of water.
Sit comfortably on the toilet or in an empty bath. Some women find it easier to stand over a bowl or in the bath or shower.
1. Fill the container with warm tap water only and screw on the nozzle. Do not add any soaps, creams, deodorants etc as they may cause irritation.
2. Insert the nozzle into your vagina as far as the third hole. If you find this difficult, put a water-based lubricant, such as KY Jelly on the nozzle (available over the counter). Don't use an oil-based lubricant like vaseline or baby oil as these may irritate your vagina.
3. Squeeze and release the container gently a few times until all the water has been used. Allow the water to flow out of your vagina.
4. Gently pat your vaginal area dry
5. Clean and dry the douche set with warm water

You should consult your physician before you douche to make sure it is the appropriate action. Douching on a regular basis is not suggested for anyone.
Regular vaginal douching changes the delicate chemical balance of the vagina and can make a woman more susceptible to infections. Douching can introduce new bacteria into the vagina which can spread up through the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. Researchers have found that women who douche regularly experience more vaginal irritations and infections such as bacterial vaginosis, and an increased number of sexually transmitted infections.
Regular users of vaginal douches face a 73% greater risk of developing PID, a chronic condition that can lead to infertility, or even death, if left untreated. Bacterial vaginosis and PID can have serious adverse affects on pregnancy including infections in the baby, labor problems, and preterm delivery.
For these reasons, douching is no longer recommended as a safe or healthy way to routinely clean the vagina. The only safe and healthy way to clean the vagina is to let the vagina clean itself.

Q: what is the meaning/difference of these words?

oral sex:
anal sex:
blow job:
hand job:

also, can a blow job and hand job be performed on both a man and a woman?

thank you very much

Hand job: This is form of sexual stimulation in which the male's penis is massaged by his partner, normally to the point of ejaculation. Hand jobs can only be performed on male genitalia.

Blow job: Common slang term for fellatio. Fellatio is oral stimulation of the male genitalia. Blow jobs can only be performed on men.

Anal sex: also called anal intercourse. This is intercourse via the anus (Insertion of the penis into the anus).

Oral sex: Sexual act in which one's mouth, tongue, teeth etc are used on another's genitalia. Applies to both men and women. May also be referred to as "head" or "giving head."

Q: okay i need to know what all this stuff means cum, head, masterbation, figering, herpes and how do you do a threesome sex. thanx

cum: is a misspelling of come, which means to ejaculate

head: is the tip of the penis. to "give head" is to use one's mouth, tongue, teeth etc on another's genitalia.

Masterbation: is a misspelling of masturbation. Manual (by hand) stimulation of the genitalia (vagina/ penis) resulting in an orgasm.

fingering: Slang for stimulating a woman's genitals with the fingers.

Herpes: This is a family of viruses that infects humans. Herpes Simplex viruses infect the lips and genitalia. Presents in the form of genital blisters and ulcers. On the lip it presents as a cold sore.

Threesome: There really is no right or wrong way to have a threesome. You do whatever comes naturally to you. For example: In a threesome with one man and two women- If one woman is sitting on the man's face having her vagina licked, the other woman may want to give head to the man, or engage in vaginal intercourse with him.

Q: 16/m

i was wondering something I heard about. I got some spermicide condoms with nonoxynol-9 and I was wondering if they often irritate women? I just want to make sure my girlfriend is comfortable during and after sex. What do you guys think? Should i go get diffrent ones?

Condoms with spermicide are no more effective at preventing the passage of an STI than condoms without spermicide. Here's the deal: N9 (a detergent) causes irritation to the lining of the vagina increasing the chances that there will be the transfer of an STI, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. N9 also causes urinary tract infections (which are very painful for women). It is best to get latex condoms and a separately sold lubricant that does not contain N9 or condoms lubricated with a silicone lubricant. Go here for more information: http://www.stopn9condoms.com

Q: Okay so how long does it take for the symptoms for TSS to show? And is it curable? I left a tampon in for probably like 16 hours (give or take) and I'm scared that I'm going to get TSS. Is it a sure thing that i'll get it?

P.S. I didnt purposely leave it in. I put on a pad after my shower because i forgot i had a tampon in and then went to bed and now i have been awake and i just took it out because I saw the string.

Most symptoms have a quick onset, others you will not see until a couple weeks post. It is not a sure thing that you have TSS, but you should definitely call your primary care physician or gynecologist and tell them you are concerned. Here is what you can expect to see with TSS: sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, or a rash that looks like a sunburn during your period or a few days after. One or two weeks after initial symptoms begin, flaking and peeling of the skin occurs, mainly on the palms and soles. If your doctor determines you have TSS you will likely be sent to the hospital. With proper treatment, improvement is seen in two to three weeks.

Q: i'm on iron supplements twice a day for my anemia. this is causing, yep, you guessed it- constipation! i haven't pooed in about 4 days, but i haven't had any painful cramps yet. what should i eat that has good fiber and when should i eat this? thanks!

Your doctor probably suggested the iron for your anemia, right? I'm going to suggest you take a fiber supplement for the constipation. My mother has the same issue and her fiber supplement helps keep her regular. Call the doctor whom put you on the iron for the anemia to verify that this is an OK solution to your problem, and then proceed.

Q: when i just took a shower i noticed a red bump on the inside of my labia? i have never made any sexual contact or anything so it couldnt be like warts or anything. what is it