Finger frightener
Question
I'm a virgin and have been in a relationship for a while. Although my boyfriend and I do get intimate with each other we haven't been all the way yet.
The other night we had a bit of a session and whilst he was fingering me it hurt a bit. Afterwards I bled a bit. Could I have an infection or broken my hymen?
Answer
Although it's impossible to say exactly what the bleeding you're experiencing is, it's true that the hymen can break the first time you have sex or it can break before sex, e.g. by using tampons, taking part in sports or through fingering.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also be passed on in many different ways, such as touching or exchanging fluids. As you are concerned about this too, you can get advice and testing at a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic.
If you are thinking of having sex and need advice on different types of contraception, you can go along to your doctor (GP), any other GP (once you have registered there for 'Contraceptive Services Only'), your local Brook Centre (for under 25s) or a local family planning clinic. Advice is given in confidence and contraception will be free.
Updated: 20/07/2007
Question answered by YouthNet in association with Brook
