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No, not all women bleed the first time. The reason that many bleed the first time is that the hymen tears. The hymen is a soft edge protruding from the wall of the vagina that makes it a bit narrow. When the penis penetrates for the first time, the hymen can tear resulting in a small amount of bleeding. This is completely normal. If you don’t bleed, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a hymen, it just means that it isn’t attached to your vaginal wall. All women’s bodies are slightly different.

The most important thing about sex is that it is enjoyable. The pressure to have an orgasm can be inhibiting. An orgasm means that the muscles in the walls of the vagina contract, often followed by a feeling of physical relaxation. A good way of learning more about satisfaction is to experiment on your own body without a partner. Use your hands, fingers and maybe even a vibrator. Let your imagination be your guide.

Many women perspire more than usual during puberty and during their periods. Daily washing is the best way to control perspiration. Make sure you’re very dry before you apply deodorant. Use a blow dryer with cool air before you apply deodorant if you have a problem with heavy perspiration. Deodorant that contains alcohol is the most effective. Tight tops and synthetic clothes are culprits for heavy sweaters. Go for cotton or wool instead. Ask your pharmacist about heavy perspiration; there are stronger products that can help.

No it’s not dangerous to shave your vagina. Be careful that you don’t nick yourself and make sure you use a clean, sharp razor. Use a mirror to see what you’re doing. The skin around your genitals is very sensitive and if you hurt the hair follicles with a dull razor it can lead to an uncomfortable inflammation. If you shave your vagina, you should also think about the function of your pubic hair, which is to provide protection and ventilation. If you remove that hair, these functions disappear. Tight clothing, synthetics, string panties and panty liners can further cut down on ventilation, which can lead to itching and yeast infections. So, shave your vagina if you like, but remember to give it chance to get some fresh air!

Yes, many women have protruding inner labia. This is just as common as having outer labia that cover the inner ones.

Women’s vaginas can differ considerably in appearance, just like men’s penises. Women have both outer and inner labia. Some women have larger outer labia and smaller inner ones, while the reverse is true for others.

Condoms are the most effective birth control and also provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Yes, there is no birth control pill that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. The risk increases if you forget to take a pill one day. Most birth control pills, however, give virtually complete protection. Remember, they give no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Only condoms give effective protection against disease.

It is easiest to get pregnant when you’re ovulating, about two weeks after the last day of your last period. Sperm cells can live in the vagina for several days and still fertilize the ovum, so even if you have sex on the day you’re ovulating or the day after, you can still get pregnant.

No, but some pregnant women bleed lightly at the beginning of their pregnancy at about the same time that they would have had their period. If you don’t know you’re pregnant, you might mistake it for a period. A small number of women bleed several times during the pregnancy.

Yes, if you’ve had sexual intercourse and you haven’t got your period you should test to see if you’re pregnant, even if you used birth control. The easiest way to see if you’re pregnant is to buy a prescription-free pregnancy test at your pharmacy. You can take the test anytime from the first expected day of your period.

The hymen helps to keep bacteria from penetrating the vagina and reduces the risk of infection.

Weight is very individual. Some women are naturally slim, others a bit huskier. During puberty, women get a larger amount of fat to make it easier for menstruation to begin. If you exercise regularly (at least a half hour per day) and eat regular meals, rather than constantly snacking, you will probably have the weight that’s right for your body. One indication of what you should weigh is BMI, body mass index, a simple mathematical calculation. If you are uncertain about your weight talk to your school nurse.

Pubic hair is meant to protect your genitals. The hair increases ventilation by keeping your clothes from pressing directly against your skin.

You can examine your breasts yourself with your hands and fingers. Start at the armpit and work your way inwards by squeezing and massaging with your fingertips. At /add link locally/ you’ll find complete instructions on how to examine yourself including pictures.

A breast contains glands that feel like small lumps. All women have these. At ovulation many women feel their breasts getting tighter with more lumps. After the age of 25 it’s a good idea to feel your breasts regularly to get to know them. Do it with every period and it will become a routine. Even younger women should examine their breasts regularly. If you have a partner, you can ask him to check them again. If you are worried about lumps in your breasts that aren’t supposed to be there, talk with a school nurse, a midwife or a clinic.

Increasing the amount of magnesium in your diet can help reduce your craving for sugar.

Many women take active steps to deal with their PMS. One of the best ways is regular physical exercise. Exercise can reduce, and sometimes even remove, menstrual pain. As a bonus, you will feel happier and less moody. Reducing sugar, salt, red meat, alcohol and caffeine while increasing low fat vegetarian food, legumes, fruit, grain and whole grain products has proven to help many women. Women who find PMS especially troublesome should talk to a gynaecologist.

Many women experience mood swings before their period. This is called PMS – premenstrual syndrome. Getting lots of sleep, exercising and eating right can help.

Discharges are a sort lubricant for your vagina and protect its membranes from drying out. Discharges also ensure that the vagina maintains the proper pH-value. Your vagina should have an acid pH-balance to check bacteria that can lead to infections.