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Q: How much of a risk is there of contracting STDs from oral sex? What about manual genital stimulation? A: There is a risk of contracting many STIs through oral sex, though that risk can be lower if you properly use barrier methods. According to the CDC, the following STIs can spread through oral sex: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes (herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2), HPV (human papillomavirus), and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). There is a lower risk for manua

Q: Is it normal to experience dysphoria and still masturbate or have sexual thoughts about your body? Is there anything wrong or weird with masturbating because I feel like there is and it creates shame for me. A: There is nothing at all wrong or weird about masturbating, and it is totally normal to have dysphoria and still masturbate and think about yourself and your body in a sexual way! According to a 2018 survey by the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, approx

Q: I hear that HRT (At least MtF) increases emotional sensitivity for a while. If I'm undecided on if I want HRT, is this effect something substantial to consider or is it not a problem at all? I'm already pretty emotionally sensitive, so I would just want to know what other people's experiences are with this aspect of medically transitioning so I can make an educated decision. A: Your emotions may feel heightened or more sensitive when starting HRT, especially for folks who

Q: Is discharge every day normal? Are there ways to manage it to make it not so uncomfortable or often? A: Discharge every day can be normal, but it's more about what the baseline is for you. If the amount, texture, smell, etc. changes, then it's probably something to talk to your doctor about. As far as making it more comfortable, you can try wearing a liner in your underwear that you can remove and change, or maybe just trying different underwear material — some, like 100%

Q: Why is pubic hair generally curly even in people who have pin straight hair? A: There are a few reasons that scientists believe pubic hair is different than head hair. The most common reason scientists propose is that pubic hair is curly because curly hair does a better job of capturing the pheromones (chemical signals our bodies release) from your sweat glands. Pubic hair is also coarser than your head hair, which can help prevent friction burns during sexual activity. Al

Q: How does bottom growth from testosterone work? Like science style...why does it do that? A: Tricky question because unfortunately there is very little information and research out there about trans bodies and experiences and why and how we can change when we go on hormone therapy. However, in basic terms, our bodies all have androgen receptors, and when we go on T, those receptors receive the T and then tell our body how to grow and change based on what messages those horm

Q: What is an areola, pubic mound, and A/G spot? A: The areola is the area of skin around the nipple. The areola is usually darker than the rest of the skin on your chest and may have a different texture. The pubic mound is the area above the pubic bone - over the external genitals. This is where we grow pubic hair. It's also usually a bit squishier than the other surrounding areas because it has more fatty tissue, to protect the important bones and organs below it. The A-spo

Q: What is discharge and why do people with vaginas have discharge? A: Vaginal discharge is a clear, white or off-white fluid that comes out of the vagina. The uterus, cervix and vagina produce vaginal discharge, which is mainly made up of cells and bacteria. It helps clean and lubricate your vagina, and helps fight off bad bacteria and infection. Discharge from your vagina is a natural and normal process. Changes in the color, texture, smell or amount of someone's typical va

Q: Is it normal to be thinking about sex a lot? I feel like society makes it so we shouldn’t talk about it, but I genuinely have so many questions about sex and I don’t know when it’s appropriate to ask them. A: It's totally normal to think about sex a lot — it's also totally normal to not think about sex a lot! Everyone's sex drive is different, and especially when your body is going through all the changes of puberty (and possibly second puberty for my trans friends) the am

Q: Is there a specific kind of bra that’s recommended if you’re still in the early stages of breast development? Just not sure what I should be looking for because I’m pretty sure I’m too flat for a typical bra to fit but I’m also not so flat it’s unnoticeable. Would something like a sports bra be a good place to start? A: A sports bra, a "training" bra, or a bralette would be a great place to start! You can look online or in stores to buy any of those pretty easily. Here's a

Q: Do binders exist but for your hips? Has anyone ever tried making sculpting shorts or something similar? If so, where would I get these? A: There is shapewear available for your hips that could help, and there are also exercises that can specifically target that area if you'd like to try to change that. Here are some links to places that sell shapewear for your hips: https://www.underworks.com/ https://www.shapewearusa.com/ https://leomen.com/ Here are some exercises that c

Q: Can you be trans and not have gender dysphoria? I remember struggling with it a lot while I was younger, but now I’m more indifferent… A: Yes, absolutely you can be trans without dysphoria. Check out this post from Transgender Together for a metaphor that explains gender dysphoria, gender euphoria, the trans experience, and how you can be trans without experiencing gender dysphoria: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ1ZjgKvdja/?hl=en I hope this helps you better understand how

Q: Whenever I talk about my period pain/symptoms (insanely bad cramps, lower back pain, pelvic pain, and mood swings before and during my period) as well as how I don’t use tampons because of how much they hurt to put in, everyone tells me to talk to my gynecologist about endometriosis. But I thought endo was specifically when you have uterus lining in places you shouldn’t and you can have the symptoms with having endo itself? Anyways, should I see my gynecologist about endom

Q: I have a crush on one of my friends, and I want to tell them but at the same time I don’t, and I think I shouldn’t. I don’t want to mess up one of my friendships for no reason, especially because there’s a little-to-no chance they actually like me. What should I do? I feel like it’s driving me a little crazy. A: Having a crush and not knowing if it's reciprocated can really drive you crazy! Before you decide to tell your friend, do you have any mutual friends you could tal

Q: I’ve heard a lot about Indigenous cultures and traditions where those assigned male at birth embrace their femininity and embody a third gender, and was wondering if there was something similar for those assigned female at birth in the past? A: Yes, there are historical examples from different cultures where AFAB folks also explored gender expression and identity outside of the binary. Here are a few articles with more info about some different gender identities and expres

Q: As a transfemme, could I hide the fact that I’m on estrogen by binding while I’m around people who I’m not out to? Also, is there any way I could hide the rest of the effects of estrogen for the same reason? I’d like to get an early start that way I don’t have to wait until I live alone! A: Absolutely you could conceal some of the effects of HRT if that makes you more comfortable in certain settings or circumstances. Binding could definitely be an option to conceal chest g

Q: I want to start estrogen, but the side effects are scary, particularly the high risk of breast cancer. I don't know what to do. A: If you're unsure about going on HRT, I recommend that you make an appointment with an endocrinologist, which is a doctor that specializes in the endocrine system and hormones, so you can talk to them about what questions you have about HRT, what effects you want if you were to go on it, and what concerns you have about going on it. They'll be a

A: Unfortunately, there's really no way to pick and choose what effects you do or don't want from HRT, and that's one of the big reasons why it's so important to talk to a doctor before making the decision to start. There are some effects of T that may be able to be lessened or directly treated, depending on the effects you are looking for or not wanting. For example, lots of people worry about hair loss when taking T, but there are some medications like finasteride that can

Q: I’m relatively early on T and I’m feeling discouraged at my progress. I’m not genetically predisposed to certain “masculine” features (like body/facial hair). Even though I’m nonbinary, I stress to people that I’m not trying to be androgynous or “twinkish,” but they still seem to think that calling me that is supportive because of my unconventional T expression. How long did it take you to feel like HRT was “working”? A: A lot of people overestimate how fast the effects of

Q: I want to bring up starting hormones around college/when I graduate high school with my parents, and I mentioned it to a sibling and they said that our family “reacts weird” to things and that I should wait until I'm out of college to do anything. Is this is something I should take into closer consideration? I just don’t know if I could wait that long. A: There's no exact right answer for what you should do in this situation. Once you're a legal adult, it's your choice if