Q: Should I see my doctor if my period hasn’t stopped for a week?

A: Menstruation can last anywhere between two and eight days; the average length is four to six days. Menstruation may not last for the same number of days with every cycle and some variation is normal. Often we think of periods as occurring once per month. While some women’s periods do occur precisely every month for the same amount of time, other women have cycles that are longer or shorter. There are spontaneous small changes, and there can be major changes when a woman is under a great deal of stress or loses a significant amount of body fat. As you get older, or if you have a baby, you may notice more significant changes in your cycle length.

Q: What is your chance at pregnancy if you use two methods of birth control (ie. the pill and a condom)?

A: In most cases, the percentage of women who actually conceive as a result of using hormonal/non-hormonal birth control varies from person to person, as every body reacts differently to various things. There are a number of factors that actually reduce the effectiveness of the pill, such as various other medicines and herbs, being overweight, as well as alcohol and marijuana use. If you were to use two or more types of hormonal/non-hormonal birth control, your pregnancy prevention does go up; however, no method is 100 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy or the transmissions of STIs.

Q: When should girls first see an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn)?

A: It has been recently recommended that females see an ob-gyn between ages 12 and 14 before becoming sexually active, the purpose of which is not to get a Pap smear, but to discuss reproductive health issues. A Pap smear is strongly recommended within two years after becoming sexually active for the first time. Sexual preference is not a determining factor here, as STDs/STIs can be spread through sexual contact and sexual intercourse.

Betty and Johnny is a University of Winnipeg campus-wide anonymous question and answer program. Questions are posted on posters in bathrooms and are researched, answered and verified by professionals before being posted again in both places.
Betty and Johnny is a project run by Peer Support, a student-run support group for students that provides a safe and confidential environment to discuss concerns and referral information for other organizations.

Published in Volume 64, Number 9 of The Uniter (October 29, 2009)