My nipples kind of point in different directions. Is this normal? What percentage of people does it happen to?
As far as percentages go, I cannot find a number, but usually this is completely normal, for both men and women. Nipples come in all different shapes, sizes and colors; people have nipples that are inverted, flat and even that point in different directions. It’s important to ask yourself if this is a new thing, or if your nipples have always pointed in different directions. Keep in mind that when you go through puberty, your nipples will change and mature with the rest of your body-if you are a late bloomer, this could be the cause of recent changes. But if your nipples have changed recently, it would be a smart idea to get your nipples and breasts checked out. There can be any number of reasons for changes in the breast and nipples-most being harmless-but in some cases, they may be the first sign of cancer. Don’t freak out; just make an appointment at Student Health and Counseling so that a clinician can examine you and go over your health history. October is actually National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so it’s the perfect time to get checked out. You can make appointments at Student Health and Counseling by calling 935-4996. It’s also the perfect time to start doing breast self-exams (BSE) every month. Many people don’t know that men can also get breast cancer. Although it is rare, men may also want to do periodic breast exams, especially if there is a history of breast cancer in their family. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2003 some 1,300 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States. Keep in mind that breast cancer is about 100 times more common among women.
Are you more likely to get STDs if you’re not circumcised?
After a thorough review of the medical literature, there do not appear to be any well-done studies to support this common myth. Physiologically, uncircumcised men do not seem to be any more or less likely to be at risk of contracting an STD than circumcised men. Men who are uncircumcised do have to be more careful about their hygiene. After puberty, men secrete hormones from their Tyson’s glands (located in the foreskin and under the corona, the ring around the head of the penis). These glands secrete an oily substance that, if not removed, can lead to the formation of a cheesy substance called smegma. If the smegma is not regularly removed, it will become granular and irritate the head of the penis (glans), causing discomfort and possibly infection. It’s really important for uncircumcised men to manually pull the foreskin back and clean underneath. So unless you are engaging in unsafe behaviors, you are no more likely to get an STD than your circumcised friends.
Questions?
How many times have you had a question about your body or your health that you felt weird asking a friend or someone older? Especially when it’s about sex? Jill Ringold, who received her master’s degree in Public Health and is a certified health education specialist, is the health educator in the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness. And she’s here to help answer those questions that you really want to ask. If you want to submit a question, please send it to [email protected] or via our anonymous portal on the Student Life Web site (www.studlife.com).