Ashley Peaches
Dear Ashley,
If you have cold sores on your mouth when giving oral sex, can your partner contract genital herpes?
Sincerely
Infected
Dear Infected,
Cold sores are a string of the herpes virus called HSV-1. They are very contagious and can be spread from kissing or close contact. The sores are the most contagious when they are still blistery. Although it is possible cold sores can be transmitted even when a sore is not present or receding.
According to WebMD, HSV-1 can be transmitted to the genitals during oral sex. When this occurs, a person has contracted genital herpes. And in the reciprocal, someone who has genital herpes can transmit their herpes to their partners mouth, giving them oral herpes.
So my advice to you is to keep your mouth to yourself while you have a cold sore. In the long run, that oral stimulation you gave to your partner could turn into genital herpes for you.
Dear Ashley,
How does the rhythm method work?
Sincerely
Timely
Dear Timely,
The rhythm method is a natural form of birth control that utilizes a women’s ovulation cycle to help predict when she will be the least fertile. Women can learn to recognize the signs that determine when they will ovulate.
According to WebMD, women who have regular menstrual cycles and are cautious find this method effective. It is much harder for women who have irregular cycles to use the rhythm method.
The changes that occur in a woman’s body each month, and her awareness of them, can help a women learn when she will ovulate. Typically, a woman is able to get pregnant for about five days each month.
According to WebMD, ovulation occurs 12-16 days before menstruation. Since sperm can live inside a women’s body for up to five days, it is possible to get pregnant if sex occurs several days before ovulation.
If you are considering using this method, you should try to track your ovulation for a period of months before switching completely.
The first step is to try and guess your ovulation dates by tracking your menstruation from previous months. A women’s body temperature also has to be tracked. The body temperature usually drops a few days before ovulation and rises again a few days after.
The mucus secreted by the cervix also changes during a women’s cycle. Before and during ovulation, cervical mucus will be thin, clear and stringy.
Other, physical signs of ovulation can be detected to help prevent pregnancy such as breast tenderness, mood changes and stomach pain.
And if all else fails, just keep it in your pants.
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