December 20, 1999
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 17:15:24 -0800 (PST)
From: "drDrew.com" mail@drDrew.com
To: "drDrew.com Newsletter" mailinglist@drDrew.com
Subject: drDrew.com's Weekly Dose -- December 20,1999
THE OFFICIAL DRDREW.COM NEWSLETTER
December 20, 1999
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IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
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* The drDrew.com Show
* What's New on drDrew.com
* Bonus Q&A with Drew
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DR. DREW AND DRDREW.COM
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Dear Members,
Everyone at drDrew.com would like to wish you and your family happy
holidays! We hope 1999 was a great year for you and that the new
millennium brings nothing but the best of luck.
The holidays can be an equally great and stressful time for everybody,
so I would just like to urge you all to take care of yourself. If things
feel a little overwhelming, there are places that can help you. Check out
the Get Help section of drDrew.com (http://www.drdrew.com/office/help.html)
if you're ever in a place where you don't feel like you can handle things
alone. Please use this page as a resource for yourself or your friends
if they need outside assistance. It is full of toll free numbers for
organizations that are there to help you.
Happy Holidays!
Stay Well,
Dr. Drew
Send this newsletter to a friend! Tell them to register at
www.drdrew.com.
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THIS WEEK WITH DR. DREW:
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* JOHN OSZAJCA is the guest on the next drDrew.com Show on WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 29 at 7:30 p.m. P.S.T.
* Watch the drDrew.com Show live at
http://www.drdrew.com/show/index.html.
You can also call in toll-free during this half-hour show to ask Drew
your questions at 1-888-4DR-DREW.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY (http://www.drdrew.com/office/qotd.html)
ASK DR. DREW YOUR QUESTION at http://www.drdrew.com/office/askqotd.html
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* Today: What is this discharge after sex?
* Tuesday: How can I treat chronic vaginal pain?
* Wednesday: Am I giving my girlfriend a yeast infection?
* Thursday: What do you think of weight-loss pills?
* Friday: How do I stop my drug abuse?
Scroll down for more Q & A!
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PERSONALITIES: STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE STARS
http://www.drdrew.com/profiles/index.html
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* Today: Michael Clarke Duncan, star of "The Green Mile"
* Wednesday: Tim Robbins, director of "The Cradle Will Rock"
*Friday: "Man on the Moon" star Jim Carrey
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HEALTHWISE: HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE ISSUES THAT MATTER
http://www.drdrew.com/office/index.html
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* Tuesday: Long Distance Relationships: Tips on making a relationship
work when you and your partner live in different cities.
* Thursday: Vegetarian diets have many health benefits, but cutting out
meat (or poultry, fish, dairy and eggs) can leave you with some serious
nutritional gaps. We'll tell you how to fill them.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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QUESTION:
Will using a tampon break my hymen?
DR. DREW: The hymen is a delicate tissue that covers the opening to the
vagina. It is commonly ruptured spontaneously in childhood. A tampon
will not affect your virginity, and it won't necessarily break your hymen
completely, but it may cause some disruption to the hymen.
QUESTION:
My boyfriend recently discovered a lump under the skin on the side of
his penis. It isn't painful, but he says it "just feels weird." When he's
erect, the lump gets harder, but it is not visible. He has no medical
history, is not on any medication, and was not recently hit or kicked
in that area. What could this be?
DR. DREW:
The lump could be caused by several things, including a clotted
superficial (meaning just under the skin) vein in the penis or a small
scar. Sometimes repeated irritation or trauma to an isolated region
will cause a patch of scarring. I suspect the reason it seems to get harder
when he is erect is because it's being pushed to the surface, not
because the lump is actually changing. Your boyfriend should definitely get
this checked out by a doctor.
QUESTION:
How accurate are home pregnancy tests? I just took one and it came out
positive.
DR. DREW:
Home pregnancy tests are extremely accurate, but they're not
perfect. Regardless of the results, if you question the accuracy of
your test, there's no harm in repeating the test with another home pregnancy
kit. However, chances are if the first test was accurate, you are
pregnant. If this was an unplanned pregnancy, be sure to get some
counseling to help you through this, and surround yourself with people
who are supportive.
I highly recommend the services available through Planned Parenthood.
Contrary to popular belief, these facilities are not abortion clinics.
They offer objective, confidential counseling and medical services and
can
help you make informed, healthy decisions about your pregnancy. To find
the clinic nearest you, call (800) 230-PLAN, or see
www.plannedparenthood.org. Good luck.
QUESTION:
I went to see my doctor about some sores my mouth, and he said I have
herpes. He told me the sores would be gone in a week, but it's been a
week and I still have them. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them
quicker?
DR. DREW:
Herpes outbreaks (cold sores) often recur and can last for a few weeks,
especially if you have a lot of stress. There are several ways to treat
oral herpes. The most common way is with a medication (acyclovir) that
comes in pill form. The pills have proven more effective in treating
oral herpes, but there's also a new cream (pencilovir) that has been shown
to be clinically effective. Talk to your doctor about a prescription for
either, and the problem should start to clear up in two or three days.
QUESTION:
I'm a 14-year-old male and I am wondering if my penis, which is about
three inches long when erect, is small for my age. If it is, what can I
do to make it longer?
DR. DREW:
At 14, there is a tremendous range in male penis size. You're at an age
when lots of boys are well into puberty, but just as many haven't even
started puberty yet, so size varies. I suspect for you, puberty is a
bit delayed, but you can expect a steady, continued growth over the next
seven years. There's nothing you can do to affect the size or increase the
rate of development of your penis, so don't waste your time worrying about
it. If it makes you feel any better, delayed onset of puberty has been
associated with longevity, meaning you may live longer.
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IMPORTANT NOTE
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The content presented in this newsletter is not intended to take the
place of professional medical treatment. For specific medical concerns, you
should seek the advice of a qualified health provider.
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MORE DRDREW.COM QUESTIONS COMING YOUR WAY NEXT WEEK
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