the cosmohealth report What should my labia look like? Plump or thin, even or asymmetrical, inches long or barely there. If they don’t cause discomfort, they’re normal. All the Questions You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask Your Gyno Tune Inosmo This month, C leastwill tackle your sues o is talked-about gyn e of od is on an ep heck your e Th Doctors. C or local listings m for cosmopolitan.co e. an exact airdat 192 Cosmopolitan / june 2010 COSMOPOLITAN.COM Emmet MalmstrÖm. Senior fashion editor: Rebecca Hessel. Hair: Miki Mori at Tresemmé. Makeup: Jordy Poon for La Prairie. Manicure: Deana Blackwell for Mark Edward Inc. Prop stylist: Jesse Kaufmann. (Soap) Jesus Ayala/Studio D. Is “pulling out” effective birth control? No way. It’s tough for guys to hold off and withdraw in time. Are there any health risks to being totally hair-free down there? Barring any waxing mishaps or infected ingrown hairs, no. Chances are, your doc has heard it all. But that doesn’t make it any easier to bring up cringe-worthy topics. So we got top gynos to address your most common queries in 20 words or less. By Zoë Ruderman I think I have chlamydia. How would I know? Heavy, greenish yellow discharge and burning while peeing. But you won’t always have signs, so get tested ASAP. What can I use to get rid of pubic pimples? How long after sex will STD symptoms show? Bacterial STDs may appear within weeks; viruses can take a year or longer. But STDs often have no symptoms. Even after a shower, I smell down there. How can I get rid of it? If the odor is unusual for you, see your gyno. Otherwise, don’t worry: Vaginas are supposed to be musky. Am I likely to get preg nant during my period? No, but it happens. Sperm can live in your body for up to seven days, during which you could ovulate. What color should daily discharge be? White or clear, depending on where you are in your cycle Dab on salicylic acid. Or if they’re close to your labia, wash with soap and water. Is it weird to queef during intercourse? Are condom allergies common? Is it normal to get wet in nonsexual situations? Very few people are allergic to condoms made of latex. They can use nonlatex condoms. I’ve been with my guy for a while, and I was just diagnosed with HPV. Does that mean he cheated? No. You may have picked it up years ago and the infection only now showed up on a test. Men do testicle self-exams. Should I be examining my vulva? Just do a monthly visual check with a hand mirror for suspicious moles, bumps, or lesions. Can I get my inverted nipples to point out? They usually pop out temporarily when you’re turned on. But without surgery, there’s no permanent way. No. Yes, just like guys getting erections when they’re not horny. Will my vagina permanently change in any way after I have a baby? It might. But for the most part, it’s designed to stretch then return to its shape. Are blood clots in my period cause for concern? Probably not, but see your doc. Large clots can signal fibroids, which are common, benign growths in the uterus. If my guy has a wart on his hand and he touches my vulva, could I get a wart there? It’s possible but not likely, so don’t panic about it. How would I know if my clitoris is unusually big? Average size is ¾ of an inch. As long as it swells and becomes sensitive when you’re aroused, you’re fine. Should I worry if my vulva is tender after sex? If it was a long round, no. Just give it time to recoup. Can I get an STD by swallowing semen? I had an abortion. Will it be harder for me to get pregnant? Could I have a breast growth spurt in my 20s? Is it normal to have pubic hair all the way to my anus? Yes, but swallowing isn’t the issue. You can contract STDs from any oral contact. Yes, it’s common between ages 20 and 23. As long as there were no complications (like an infection), no. Yes. If it bugs you, consider having it waxed or lasered off. My vagina is often really itchy, but I know it’s not a yeast infection. What could it be? Probably an allergic reaction to soap or lotion. If switching these doesn’t help, have your gyno investigate. june 2010 / Cosmopolitan 193 Does diet affect the taste and smell of my vagina? It can, but if the taste and scent are unusual, it’s more likely to be a sign of an infection. Get tested every six months for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV since condoms don’t totally protect you. Why are my nipples hard even when I’m not cold or turned on? They simply could be supersensitive. Or it’s a size thing: Women with smaller breasts tend to have perkier nipples. Is it weird if I squirt liquid from my vagina when I have an orgasm? No. Some women ejaculate fluid (no, it isn’t urine) during orgasm. I think I may be allergic to my boyfriend’s semen. Is that possible? It’s extraordinarily rare. If your vulva swells, you probably need extra lube or a break from sex. How much discharge should I have daily? Up to 2 teaspoons, but it varies throughout the month Is there a way to tell the difference between a harmless bump and an STD? You can’t. If it doesn’t go away in a week (ingrown hairs and pimples generally do), see your gyno. Why am I not as horny when I’m on the Pill? Some contraceptives can suppress the production of natural hormones that affect libido. What can I do to make anal sex safe? Use lube and a condom, go slowly, and don’t switch from anal to vaginal. I have HPV. Will getting the vaccine get rid of it? No, but it could protect you from other types of HPV. How do I get a “lost” tampon out of my vagina? Squat, bear down, insert a finger, and “sweep” the vaginal wall. If that doesn’t work, see your gyno. What color should my pee be? Colorless to dark yellow, depending on how hydrated you are Do I need to clean my sex toy every time I use it? Yes. Use warm soapy water; it’s safe for silicone. Avoid “jelly rubber” toys, which can’t be easily disinfected. Semen leaks out of me after sex. Does that mean I’m not tight or I won’t be able to get pregnant? No, neither. Even if a lot drips out after ejaculation, plenty stays in. Will my vaginal lips hang lower as I get older? They might, but not noticeably. Why is there an odor when my guy’s semen and my wetness mix? It’s a chemical reaction between semen and vaginal secretions. In some sex poses, I feel like I may pass gas. Why? The tissue between your vagina and rectum is ultrathin. You may get that feeling if your guy thrusts deep. 194 Cosmopolitan / june 2010 Is it risky to let a guy blow inside my vagina while he goes down on me? Yes. While very unlikely, it could result in a deadly embolism. Will sex feel better if I’m hair-free down there? It may be a urinary tract infection (UTI). See your gyno for a test and antibiotics. It might since the skin is exposed and more sensitive to touch. Why does my sex drive skyrocket when I have my period? Is it okay for him to stay in me after he ejaculates into the condom? Levels of progesterone, a hormone that can squash libido, are down at this point in your cycle. Only until his erection softens, at which point he must pull out or semen can spill into your vagina I’ve heard people say I can use yogurt to treat a yeast infection. Is that true? Inserting a dollop (with live active cultures) on the end of a tampon may ease irritation but won’t cure it. A lot of the time, I’m so wet during sex, there’s no friction. What can I do? Have him pull out, wipe off with a towel, then continue. My labia get in the way when my guy enters me. Should I be worried? No. Pull them aside as he penetrates or use lube. Sometimes sex with my boyfriend burns. Why? It may just be dryness. If extra lube doesn’t help, it could be a yeast infection. The condom broke. What do I do? Is there anything I can do now to keep my breasts from sagging later? Don’t yo-yo diet; it stretches out breast skin. Surprisingly, there’s minimal evidence that bras help. Within three days, take emergency contraception (Plan B), which you can buy at a pharmacy without a prescription. Will using a vibrator desensitize my clitoris? You’d have to use it multiple times every day for that to happen. It’s easily reversible: Take a week off. My breasts are so sensitive that I can orgasm just from having them licked or touched. Am I normal? Normal and lucky Can waxing cause STDs? It’s unlikely, but cut your odds by going to a salon with a nodouble-dip-in-the-wax policy. Is nipple discharge ever okay? Yes, if it’s clear. Check in with your gyno if it’s bloody or milky. Is it okay if my clitoris is covered with skin? Yes, that’s called a clitoral hood. COSMOPOLITAN.COM I often feel like I’m going to pee when I have sex. What can I do? I have gigantic nipples. Should I be embarrassed? What can I do to have an orgasm during sex? Could I get pregnant if my guy finishes near my vagina but not in me? If I’m hardly wet while hooking up, does that mean I’m not enjoying it? I had sex with a wellhung guy. Am I stretched out permanently? Is it risky for a guy to put his whole hand in me? Pee right before sex. And avoid doggie-style, which can put pressure on the bladder. Don’t rely on just penetration. Have him stimulate your clitoris (or do it yourself). The more answers you read here, the fewer questions you’re forced to ask your doc in there. No. Areolae and nipples come in a wide range of sizes unrelated to the size of your breasts. Yes. No. Postsex, the vagina will go back to its regular size. Are there supplements that increase breast size? No. Is it strange for a vagina to pulse during an orgasm? No. The canal, labia, and anus spasm during and after climax. Do I need to use a condom if I miss one Pill? Probably not; check the instructions on your Pill pack. Emmet MalmstrÖm. Top: Urban Outfitters; jeans: 7 for All Mankind; shoes: Bebe; bag: MCM; bracelets: Etiika; Erica Simon; ring: Paige Novick. (Condoms) Stockbyte/GettyImages. (Cranberry juice) Marc O. Finley/GettyImages. If I always use condoms when I hook up, do I need to be tested for STDs? What does a little blood in my urine mean? My guy’s stubble leaves me chafed after he goes down on me. What can I do? Dab on OTC cortisone cream. My boyfriend has herpes. Will I get it? Not necessarily. Cut your risk by always using condoms, abstaining during outbreaks, and having him take antiviral meds. What’s the white stuff between the folds of my vulva? Sebum, a normal secretion from the oil glands. You can wash it away with soap and water. After I exercise, my crotch stinks. Should I use vaginal deodorant? No. If the smell bothers you, try sports underwear to wick away sweat. Why do I feel a quick, sharp pain when my guy thrusts too deep? He’s probably hitting your cervix or your bladder. Am I more likely to get an infection from a guy who’s uncircumcised? Probably not, but yeast and bacteria can hide under the foreskin. If he washes there with soap daily, you’re fine. I almost always get UTIs after intercourse. How can I prevent them? Drink a cup of cranberry juice or take one cranberry-extract pill daily. And always pee after sex. What’s the best way to get rid of an ingrown pubic hair? Hold a hot washcloth to it for 10 minutes two or three times a day. No. Many women get turned on but not wet. Just use lube. Not if his hands are clean, he’s gentle, and it doesn’t hurt Will my breasts get bigger once I have a baby? Yes, but they’ll probably go back to a similar size afterward. Does the size of my clitoris have anything to do with my libido or my ability to orgasm? Not at all. Is it all right to wear a small tampon on days when I have a lot of discharge? No. It could dry out your vagina and lead to an infection. Will a guy be able to tell if I’ve had an abortion? No. Sources: Lisa Masterson, md, from The doctors; Mitchell Creinin, Md, director, Division of Gynecologic Specialties, at the University of Pittsburgh; Carol A. Livoti, ob-gyn in New York City; Mary Jane minkin, MD, clinical professor of ob-gyn at Yale university school of medicine; Elizabeth G. stewart, md, coauthor of The V Book: a Doctor’s Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health