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A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control

A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control

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Sexual Health

Sexual health is about being aware of your body and mind. It can be important for overall well-being, as well as healthy sexuality and sexual partnerships.

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Our Bodies

Everyone’s body is unique. Understanding the basics of gender, genital health, and topics such as pregnancy can support sexual health.

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Sexuality

Sexuality is about how you experience sexual and romantic attraction and identity. We cover topic such as sex positivity, sexual orientation, and more.

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Having Sex

There are lots of different ways to have and enjoy sex with partners, alone, or not at all. Find information about different ways people have sex, pleasure, and keeping yourself and your partners safer.

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Partners & Communication

Good communication can help strengthen relationships of all kinds. This includes topics such as consent, relationship types, online interactions, and more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get pregnant from the clear penis discharge that occurs before ejaculation?

Pre-ejaculate (pre-cum) is the clear fluid that comes out of the penis before ejaculation. If this fluid comes in contact with the opening of the vagina or vulva or into the vagina, it is possible to get pregnant.

To learn more about pregnancy, click here or visit the Options for Sexual Health website.

There are several ways you can prevent pregnancy. Take a look at our ‘Birth Control’ page or visit the Options for Sexual Health website, to learn more.

Sometimes discharge coming out of the penis can be caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (like chlamydia or gonorrhea). If someone is having discharge that is not normal for them, then it is a good idea to get tested for STIs. For more information about getting tested, see our ‘Get Tested’ page.

Resources

This answer was posted on June 10, 2015.

This answer was updated on August 16, 2022.

What do you do if you think you have torn the frenulum on your penis?

The frenulum is the stretchy band of skin on the underside of the penis that connects the shaft to the head of the penis and the foreskin (if you are uncircumcised). This area is very sensitive and can deliver a lot of pleasure.

Sometimes the frenulum is tight and can tear during sex or masturbation. In most cases, the tear will get better without treatment. Be sure to keep the area clean and dry.

If the tear does not heal, you see signs of infection (redness, pain or pus) or the tear keeps happening, see your health care provider.

To prevent tearing, you may want to take it slow and use lubricant with masturbation and sex. Using condoms is a good idea to protect the area until it is healed, as whenever you have any tears or sores on your genital skin, you are more likely to get STIs and HIV.

Resources

This answer was posted on March 11, 2013.

This answer was updated on August 16, 2022.

Is it safe for your vagina to use coconut oil as a lubricant?

Coconut oil is an edible vegetable-based oil that can be used on external skin. While there is a lot of interest in using it as a lubricant during sex, there is no formal research on using it in this way.

Like all oil-based lubricants, coconut oil should not be used with condoms, as they damage latex and polyurethane condoms causing them to be more likely to break. If you are using condoms, it is safe to use water- or silicone-based lubricants.

If you do want to use coconut oil as a lubricant, be sure to do so with caution. People can be allergic to any type of substance so, be sure to watch for any changes in your genital skin, vulva and vagina/internal genitals, and stop using it if you notice any irritation.

Every vagina is different. Some people can use different lubricants and oils, and not have any problem with upsetting balance of the vaginal/internal genital flora; while for others, coconut oil may alter this balance, which can lead to yeast infections and/or bacterial vaginosis.

Take a look at our ‘Lubricants’ page to learn more.

Resources

This answer was posted on November 15, 2014.

This answer was updated on August 16, 2022.

I want to experiment with fingering but I have never experienced any vaginal penetration before. How should I go about doing it so, I don’t hurt myself?

Learning about self-pleasure is important. Here are a few tips about masturbating with your fingers.

It is always a good idea to wash your hands before touching your (or other people’s) genitals, the same way you would wash your hands before eating.

Using your fingers for penetration does not usually hurt. You can trim your nails if they feel too sharp or long. 

Using some lubricant is also a good idea for fingering. Although most people produce some of their own sexual fluids, using lubricant enhances genital sensation and makes sure that the delicate genital skin is not pulled or pinched. To learn more about lubricants, click here.

We do not see people getting infections from fingering, although it would only be possible if you had someone else’s sexual fluids on your hands and then fingered yourself.

Take a look at our ‘Masturbation’ and ‘Pleasure’ pages to learn more.

Resources

This answer was posted on September 7, 2017.

This answer was updated on August 16, 2022.

My boyfriend and I had sex with a condom a few weeks ago. The condom didn’t break and he withdrew before ejaculating. I was suppose to get my period a week ago, but it never came. What is the likelihood of me getting pregnant?

Based on what you have described, if your boyfriend had a condom on and he did not ejaculate inside your vagina, the chances of getting pregnant from that encounter are unlikely. 

The only way to determine whether or not you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Most home (or clinic) pregnancy tests will be accurate after you have missed your period. To learn more about pregnancy testing, click here.

Besides being pregnant, several things can cause you to miss your period. Some of these include:

  • Birth control may cause a changes in periods including, not having one
  • Certain medications can cause changes to your periods
  • Some illnesses can change or delay your period
  • Malnutrition and low body weight can cause problems with your periods
  • Excessive exercise can disrupt your hormones and cause your period to stop

If you have concerns about your changes in your period, see your health care provider.

Besides using condoms consistently, there are several ways you can prevent pregnancy. To learn more, see our ‘Birth Control’ page.

Resources

This answer was posted on July 9, 2019.

This answer was updated on August 16, 2022.

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