Ask the Doc: Answers to Questions Teens Ask

With unprotected sex, there is always a chance you could be pregnant, regardless of the time of the month.  Even if you are currently on your period, YOU CAN STILL GET PREGNANT.

It is NOT true, however, that when your ovaries hurt, you get pregnant. Your ovaries can hurt for many reasons. Ovulation (when your ovary releases an egg), ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy), sexually transmitted diseases, or twisting of the ovary (torsion) can all cause pain.

You may need an ultrasound to determine the cause of your ovarian pain if it is severe. If,  however, you have had unprotected sex, you definitely need to start with a pregnancy test.

Highly unlikely. Should things progress, however, you are going to want to think about birth control/protection.

As an important reminder, birth control pills do not protect you from HIV or other STD’s. Having said that, when switching from one type of pill to another, it’s best to completely finish the pack of your original pill before starting the new one.

Additionally, you should use another form of protection for 7 days while starting the new pill.

Yes. The average teen girl will have irregular periods (missed period, heavy period, light period, more than one period/month) fairly often. Irregular periods are due to hormonal changes which can be caused by stress, diet, weight gain, weight loss or medications.

 However, if you are sexually active, you need a pregnancy test. Using protection during sex is also important as it protects not only against unwanted pregnancy, but sexually transmitted diseases as well.

Answer:

It’s  difficult to know if the changes you are noticing simply represent maturity  and better judgement or represent a problem. It’s very possible that your reputation as a “crazy guy” doesn’t fit you anymore; that may be who you were 4-5 years ago, but not now, at age 19.  Perhaps you now have more adult responsibilities that make cliff diving less appealing. Sometimes when people change, their friends have a hard time accepting the changes; you might notice your friends still expect you to be a “crazy guy,” even though you are not comfortable with this. A cause for concern would be if you find yourself becoming increasingly fearful or panicky in everyday situations, such as driving to school or work. Another concern would be if you find yourself avoiding routine events or activities because of fear or anxiety. This sort of anxiety can be treated with counseling and/or medication. Visiting your physician to discuss the situation is a good option.

You are having very normal feelings. As we enter puberty, weight gain is normal and unfortunately insecurity about our body is very common. It is important to eat right - plenty of fruits/vegetables, and less sweets/junk food. This will help with weight control, and your blood sugar. Exercise is also important.

You do not need to diet or work out every day. This is NOT healthy. Moderation is key. Smaller, more frequent meals, stopping when you are full and drinking more water instead of soda is a great place to start. Don’t deprive yourself, this will not only lead to rebound weight gain, but dangerous drops in blood sugar.

You may need to see your family doctor to be tested for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Short walks 2-3 times a week are also a good way to help with weight gain, reduce stress, control blood sugar and help you to feel better overall.

The most common cause for hair loss is stress. The good news is it usually stops and the hair grows back. There is no medication you can take, and nothing you can do other than reducing your stress level. Other causes include certain medications (such as chemotherapy), wearing the hair too tightly, and pulling out one’s hair (know as trichotillomania). These conditions usually result in a patchy hair loss with bald spots. Iron deficiency, fungal infections, and  thyroid problems can also lead to hair loss (known as alopecia).

When we are stressed, our hormones get a little out of whack and this leads to hair loss. It it temporary and the hair almost always grows back. The best thing to do is eat right, get plenty of rest, and exercise to reduce the stress in your life.

Medications prescribed for ADHD/ADD are stimulants. They require a prescription for a reason. These medications (Ritalin, Provigil, Adderall) help teens with Attention Deficit Disorder focus. When abused by others to “help focus” or get high, the effects can be very dangerous.

Taken inappropriately, these medications can lead to changes in heart rate, hallucinations, nervousness, psychotic episodes, seizures and sometimes death. This can happen the first time the medication is abused.

The dosage of each medication is prescribed based on diagnosis/weight of the patient – when you take a prescription medication NOT prescribed for you, you are risking serious side effects and possibly death.

Thank you for taking the time to work with and educate teens, this is a great project and I applaud your creativity.

This is worrisome. You will need to be tested again and please do it NOW. The important thing is to be tested while you have the lesions (“bumps”/ sores). For two of the more common STD’s, herpes and genital warts, the testing requires active sores. Herpes is not always painful and neither are genital warts. Chlamydia does not give you sores. It is also possible you have pubic lice or folliculitis (bacterial skin infection).

You are contagious while you have sores, so please use protection or more importantly, refrain from sexual activity, including oral sex, until the lesions have completely cleared and you have a diagnosis. Although it is difficult to make a diagnosis without actually seeing you, this does unfortunately sound like an STD.

If you are still using, you will need help as Ecstasy is very addictive and withdrawal can be dangerous. I suggest you speak with a trusted adult, such as a teacher, parent, school counselor, or doctor. There are also local centers that treat addiction and will speak to you anonymously.

If you have stopped using, I applaud your courage for taking this important step. Unfortunately, some of the long term effects of chronic Ecstasy use, such as memory problems, mood disturbance, and impulse control may last as long as 5-7 years.  No one knows yet if this is permanent. 

There is no medicine you can take that will fix this. Time and no further Ecstasy use are your only tools. However, remaining drug and alcohol free will allow your brain to heal and this will be your best chance for recovery.