Is it possible to take your own virginity

Her writing covers issues relating to social justice, cannabis, and health. You can reach out to her on Twitter. Condoms are one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections. There are a lot of myths around sexual activity, one being that your first time having sex will hurt.

Although minor discomfort is common, it…. We created an LGBTQIA safer sex guide that understands the true complexity and diversity across gender identities, sexual orientation, attractions…. I learned a lot of absurd things about virginity. Here's why these myths are so damaging and what I've now learned instead. Knowing your current STI status, including your gonorrhea status, is imperative.

At-home gonorrhea tests make this easier. Here's how to get started. Read on for an explanation on what qualifies as a kink vs. People have anal sex for many reasons, including to avoid pregnancy. But can you get pregnant from anal? This is an all-encompassing term for any type of orgasm related to female genitalia. It's also possible to notice a bit of bleeding and tenderness. It's different for everyone. It is possible to engage in sexual activity without breaking the hymen.

It's very possible that the hymen could not be broken during fingering or oral sex, explains Dr. It's even possible though uncommon to have intercourse without breaking the hymen. It bears repeating: the presence or absence of a hymen does not prove or disprove whether someone has engaged in sexual activity.

If you try to look at an intact hymen, it may be difficult to pinpoint. If you do want to go exploring, though, it's located about about centimeters inside your vaginal opening.

Hymens are not one-size-fits-all. There are actually five types of hymen which are medically classified as:. Imperforate, microperforate, and septate hymens interfere with menstrual flow and tampon use. In these cases, you can have a minor surgery called a hymenectomy to remove the extra tissue and open up the hymen so period blood can flow through.

Long nails can make the experience uncomfortable. Go slowly when it comes to penetration. Gentle, shallow strokes with a finger, sex toy, or penis can help the vagina relax and loosen slightly. Many people find this more comfortable. In truth, most vaginas -— Think about it: How else would blood get out during your period? However, not everyone bleeds the first time their vagina is penetrated.

When it comes to having anal sex for the first time, lubrication is a must. There are sex toys that are specially designed for anal sex. This can help you physically and mentally relax. Slow, gentle movements are key. The anal tissues are quite delicate, and fast or rough sex can result in pain. Yes, you can even spread STIs through hand jobs. In rare cases, HPV can be spread from the hands to genitals, and vice versa. If you want to have penis-in-vagina or penis-in-anus sex, the best way to prevent STIs is through using a condom.

For oral sex, use a dental dam. Condoms, dental dams, and other barrier methods are the only way to reduce your risk for STIs. Make sure you and your partner are routinely tested for STIs.

And virginity is a cultural idea or concept: it's not a physical state of anything. In other words, the bodies of "virgins" and the bodies of "non-virgins" are often impossible to tell the difference between. Sometimes that term "popping the cherry" is just a euphamism for someone having sex -- or doing anything new -- for the first time. Sometimes, people are making reference to the hymen , but when that's the case, it's usually pretty misinformed. For starters, the hymen isn't several inches into the vagina.

When it is present, fully or partially, it is, instead, RIGHT at the vaginal opening , its edges attached just inside that opening. As I recently explained to another user, the hymen is to the vagina as a front door is to the screen door that is just in front of it, if you follow. If you still have a partial hymen since you're sticking your fingers inches into your vagina, we can be very sure that, at best, it's partial for you -- a fully intact hymen would prevent the entry of your fingers at all , you can sit with a hand mirror and even see it right for yourself.

It's a very thin membrane, right around your vaginal opening.