My problem is my guy friend. We had a one-time sexual encounter, and he promised there would be no awkwardness between us, but there is. I see him online, and we don't even say "hey." I feel like we ruined a friendship over something so stupid. How can I fix the friendship if he won't even talk to me?

Help! --Nikki, 18, San Antonio

Unfortunately sex isn’t just physical. Despite what the media says, there is an emotional connection to sex. The awkwardness that you are experiencing with your friend is a result of the emotional bond that happens when two people have sex. Make sure that you give yourself to process everything that happened. It’s ok to feel sad and to give each other your space while you figure things out. Hopefully you two can eventually be friends, but it may take time and it may never be the “same” as it was before. Hang in there!

Is oral sex really sex and could I get an STD?

Oral sex IS sex and it does put you at risk for STDs. According to the Medical Institute, some of the STDs you can get infected with include syphilis, gonorrhea (which can infect your throat), genital herpes (which causes painful blisters) and HIV (which can kill you). You may also be able to get HPV (which can cause cancer) and Chlamydia. And, if that weren’t enough, oral sex can also increase a woman’s risk for multiple yeast infections.

Can I get pregnant the first time I have sex?

Any time a person has sex there is a risk of pregnancy. There is even a very small possibility of getting pregnant without having sex, if there is sperm released near the opening of the vagina.