Asked by: M.A, Everett,Ma

Answer: Rubbing in private areas with your clothes on cannot spread disease, however it's definitely going to make it harder to cool things down and not go further! (like taking your clothes off, which would put you at risk for sexually transmitted diseases). Check out the limits section of our site below for ideas about how to make sure you don't go further than is safe or than you want to.

Asked by: , lawrence, Mass

Answer: Hi! Thanks for your question. You asked about the meaning of oral sex. Oral sex is mouth to private area touching. Some people consider this type of touching sex, while others might call it a type of sexual activity. However you choose to define it, you should be aware that choosing to engages is oral sex could mean putting yourself at risk for things like STIs or sexually transmitted infection. Thanks again for asking!

Asked by: AB, lowell,ma

Answer: I'm glad you wrote. If you have any reason to think you might have a sexually transmitted disease, you should get tested as soon as possible. The earlier you find out if you have an STD, the better, in terms of being able to handle the situation. The closest clinic to you is at St. Joseph's Hospital: St. Joseph's Hospital Public Health Clinic 220 Pawtucket Street Lowell , MA 01854 Phone : (508) 453-1761 Day/Hrs : Tue (3:30 pm - 5:00 pm), Thu (11:30 am - 1:00 pm It's important that you know that the more you are involved in sexual activity, the more you are at risk for getting an STD, having an unplanned pregnancy, or suffering from the emotional impact sex outside of a faithful, lifelong relationship can have. The healthiest relationship you can have is one where you find ways to show you care about someone that don't involve sexual activity. Although you don't need to tell you mom in order to get tested, it will most likely be a lot easier for you emotionally to go through this with the support of her or another trusted adult in your life. Please email us again if you want some suggestions about how to approach your mom with this information and to ask for her help.

Asked by: J.R, Dorchester, MA

Answer: Since you're 15, you should be able to see your regular doctor without your parents coming with you. Any information shared during your appointment legally has to remain confidential (they won't tell your parents). If you would rather not be seen by your regular physician, Boston Medical Center has an STD clinic that offers testing at no cost. Being concerned that you might have an STD can be a stressful and scary situation. I would encourage you to think about talking to a parent or other trusted adult in your life so that you don't have to go alone and can have their support.

Asked by: JL, Boston, MA

Answer: Yes. Sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted either through the exchanging of bodily fluids or through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area. Vaginal sex, oral sex, and anal sex could all put someone at risk for STDs.

Asked by: ABC, lowell, ma

Answer: If neither person has an STD when they get married (and they can only know for sure if they are tested) and they are faithful to each other, then they will not be at risk of getting STDs from each other. Sometimes people also use condoms to prevent pregnancy. In that case, the couple would have to decide if they wanted to have children then, and if not, could choose among many options for avoiding pregnancy.

Asked by: AD, Dorchester Mass

Answer: Well, that depends on what you mean. Sex by itself is not dangerous, and can be a wonderful part of a lifelong relationship with just one person, like marriage. But sex outside that kind of relationship is risky, because one person could infect the other with an STD that they got from a previous relationship (usually without even knowing it!) That would probably count as "dangerous", especially if it's an infection that doesn't go away, or that doesn't get treated and leads to bigger problems like not being able to have children. But remember, you can avoid the risks associated with sex by choosing to wait for sex until you're in a faithful, lifelong relationship!

Asked by: y.m.c, Lowell, MA

Answer: STDs all take a different amount of time to show up in a person's body after s/he is exposed (usually through sexual contact). It might be several weeks or even months sometimes before the disease or infection would show up on a test.

The only way for someone to know for sure if s/he has an STD is by getting tested, since many people experience no symptoms (they look and feel fine). It's very important for any person who has been sexually active to get tested, and then get tested again a few months later to make sure nothing has shown up (while making sure s/he's not getting re-exposed in the meantime- that means no sexual contact).

Asked by: AMT, Cambridge, MA

Answer: Cold sores are a form of the Herpes virus. There are two types of Herpes- Type I, which is primarily in the mouth region and is often called cold sores, and Type II, which is primarily in the genital region and is called genital Herpes, which is considered an STD. Both forms are very contagious. Genital Herpes *can* be spread to the mouth region through oral sex. It sounds as though your friend may have contracted Herpes this way. This is a viral disease, which means that there is no cure for it. However, there is medication that can make the outbreaks less painful and less frequent. Your friend should get tested. Herpes is a highly contagious disease which can easily be passed to others through kissing or even sharing a water bottle or lip balm. It's important to know that oral sex is not a "safe" form of sex- all sexually transmitted diseases/infections can be spread through oral sex. If you have any more questions or would like to talk to someone, please feel free to email again. Hope this helps!

Asked by: rs, dorchester

Answer: The bump could be a number of things. It could be nothing, or it could be something more serious. If you have been sexually active, it is possible that it's a sign you have a sexually transmitted disease. Since you are concerned and it seems to be something that wasn't there before, you should go to a doctor and get it checked out. Boston Medical Center does free STD testing and testing is confidential. I know it can be scary to go to a doctor to get tested, but it is so much better to know than to not know and the earlier an STD is detected the better. If you have any more questions, please write again.

Asked by: ,

Answer: It is rare, although possible, for someone to contract a sexually transmitted disease through oral sex and then for that STD to be passed on to someone else through kissing. Most STDs actually do not have signs or symptoms, so it does not mean that someone doesn't have an STD just because there is no STD visible. An STD does not need to be visible to be passed on to someone else. If you or someone you are in relationship with has been sexually active, it is important that you/they get tested. There is probably somewhere in your area that provides free, confidential testing. In Boston, you can go to Boston Medical Center. YOU ARE PROBABLY FINE, so don't get too worried. Definitely know your partner though and take your time to get to know someone before becoming physical with them.

Asked by: JD, boston ma

Answer: By protection I'm assuming you mean condoms. Condoms can reduce the risk of transmitting most STDs if they are used correctly and consistently (every time any sexual contact occurs), but they cannot provide 100% protection. The only way to avoid risk completely is to wait to be involved in sexual activity until you are in a faithful, lifelong relationship (like marriage) with an uninfected partner.

Asked by: S.E.G., taunton ,Mass

Answer: I’m glad you asked. Oral sex has been getting a lot of attention lately, and lots of teens have questions about it. Both oral sex and vaginal sex have similar risks associated with them. You can't pregnant from oral sex, but all the other risks of sex outside of a faithful, lifelong relationship are still the same, like STDs and emotional impact (heartbreak or regret, for example). All sex, whether oral or vaginal, is best left out of a relationship until marriage, which is the only way to be 100% protected against these risks.

Asked by: ,

Answer: The safest sex is in a mutually faithful lifelong relationship (like marriage). Having sex outside of that kind of relationship puts you at risk for sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and emotional heartache. While condoms may reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy and some STDs, there is no 100% way to be protected from the risks of sex before marriage except abstinence. And condoms do nothing to protect the heart. Abstinence is choosing not to have sex until you're in a faithful lifelong relationship. Waiting for sex is the healthiest choice someone can make before they enter into a relationship with someone they know they are going to be with for life.

Asked by: mf, california santa maria

Answer: Anal sex does have risks. The first risk is getting a sexually transmitted disease. Sexually transmitted diseases can be contracted through the exchange of bodily fluids and through skin to skin contact--both of which occur during anal sex. Many STDs are actually more easily transmitted through anal sex than other forms of sex. The second risk is the emotional impact sexual activity can have between people who are not in a faithful, lifelong relationship. There is a bonding that can occur when two people are sexually active and it can be painful when that bond is broken (i.e. the relationship ends). The safest sex is between two people who are in a mutually monogamous (no other partners) lifelong relationship (like marriage).