JENNIFER LIVINGSTON / TRUNK ARCHIVE

frame, medical common sense says it’ s the same as not taking your Pill. When you feel better, take the next pill in your pack— there’ s no harm in swallowing two in one day. It never hurts to have him wear a condom as backup though. Remember: The Pill has a 9 percent failure rate with typical use.

Q Can a vibrator numb me if I use it too much?

A No one has formally studied this, but physiologically speaking, it’ s possible— too high a speed, too much pressure, or excessive frequency could all irritate the skin around the clitoris or form a callus. There’ s a theory that ODing can cause desensitization in the way that we can damage our hearing by listening to extremely loud music. That said, I’ d rather women experiment with a vibrator— either alone or with a partner— than not. Many women have never experienced that sensation. If you’ re requiring more and more stimulation to climax, set your toy aside for a few days, then try again.

Q My friend told me

that having sex during your period makes it go away faster. Does this work?

A That would be awesome, but no. One reason why it may seem like sex speeds up your flow: Semen contains something called a prostaglandin, which is a kind of hormone that can induce uterine contractions. It can help expel blood that’ s

already in your vagina but won’ t make your uterine lining shed any faster. For some women, this makes period sex more painful, but for others, the endorphin release of an orgasm can temporarily relieve period symptoms.

Q Could a“ bigger” guy give me more UTIs?

A Probably not, and here’ s why: One cause of UTIs has to do with a guy slipping out midthrust, which happens to all guys but is more common among the less endowed. If he accidentally jabs your rectum or perineum before he reenters you, that could carry bacteria from one area to the other— it only takes a teeny amount of bacteria to cause an infection. Whatever his size, simply having more sex increases the likelihood of ending up with a UTI. To prevent postcoital unpleasantness, do two things before and after sex: Clean yourself( with a wipe or shower) and pee.

Q Is it okay to have sex

the night before my gyno appointment?

A You can do the deed but only if you use a condom. It’ s not an official policy, but the vast majority of ob-gyns recommend skipping sex if you have a checkup that day or the following one. Semen in the vagina can obscure Pap smear results or interfere with testing and cultures. And don’ t think you can sneak unprotected sex past your doc— we can tell.

SOURCE: JENNIFER ASHTON, MD, OB-GYN AND ABC NEWS CHIEF WOMEN’ S HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

PERCENTAGE HIGHER VITAMIN-D LEVELS ARE IN WOMEN WHO USE HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION COMPA RE D W I T H THOSE WHO DON’ T, THANKS TO ESTROGEN.

SOURCE: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM

HEALTHY HACK

Some lubes can seriously up your chances of contracting bacterial vaginosis, which in turn is associated with a 60 percent increase in your risk for HIV. That’ s because glycerin— an ingredient in many lubes and some pre-lubed condoms— can upset the bacterial balance in your vag and damage your vaginal-cell lining, according to multiple studies. These natural lubricants are glycerin-free and feel just as good.— DANIELLE KAM

GOOD CLEAN LOVE Bio-Match Restore Moisturizing Lubricant, $ 15, target. com

SLIQUID Naturals H2O, $ 8, sliquid. com

WET Organics, $ 9, walmart. com

ASTROGLIDE Natural Liquid, $ 8, walmart. com