Q Doc, I'm an 18-year-old man. My girlfriend told me recently that she is not interested in sex. I've told her that that is OK.

But I can't help feeling that if I stay with her and do not have sex, that might not be healthy for me. What do you think? Is lack of sex unhealthy for a male?

A Well, I think you should remember that until recent times, huge numbers of young men did not have any sex until they were either married or at least living together with a partner (in what is often termed common-law marriage). This was because society strongly disapproved of sex between unmarried young people.

I can assure you that these guys did not come to any physical harm as a result of not having sexual intercourse. The one physical symptom they used to get was 'the gravels', which is a term for the aching in the testicles that so many males experience when they are frustrated.

In practice, most of those young men relieved their sexual feelings through masturbation. They also had climaxes in their sleep, in the form of 'wet dreams'.

But did they suffer any mental or psychological problems? Looking back, I would say that the answer is no. Some young males were a little grumpy - or cross, angry and miserable, as is a popular phrase - about the fact that they were not having intercourse, but I do not know of anyone having any serious emotional consequences from that enforced abstinence.

They did have some mental-health benefits from not having sex. They did not spend their time worrying about whether they had got somebody pregnant. Nor did they have to fret about whether they had caught a sexually transmitted infection!

So really, no harm should come to you if your girlfriend continues to tell you that she is not interested in sex right now.

However, I should point out that in this world, what very often happens is that as time goes by and a young woman grows slightly older, she starts thinking that maybe a little lovemaking would be kind of nice after all. It is quite possible that eventually your girlfriend will change her mind.

When and if that day comes, make sure that you are equipped with some form of contraception and practise safe sex!

Q I am a 25-year-old woman and I just keep getting attacks of that 'thrush' fungus thing in my vagina. The doc gives me treatment, which clears it up. But a couple of weeks later, it comes back again. Why?

A The likeliest reason is that your partner is reinfecting you with thrush. Men generally do not realise that they have it, since they may only have a slight soreness, or no symptoms at all.

Therefore, it is a good idea for both men and women to use anti-thrush cream on their genitals for a week or so. That frequently gets rid of the problem.

One final point: Women who keep getting thrush sometimes have diabetes, so you should get a doc or nurse to test your urine for the condition.

Q It seems to me that my male organ is only three or four inches long when erect. Is that normal for a guy of my age, 18? I have heard of a kind of surgery called micropenis. Could that help me?

A The average male of 18 has a length of around 5.75 to 6.0 inches when erect.

You need to measure yourself accurately with a tape measure or a ruler. At the moment, your measurement seems to be a little vague, since you mention 'three or four inches'.

If you really are on the short side, you should consult a doctor for a check-up.

There is NO type of surgery called 'micropenis'. In fact, 'micropenis' is a term applied to the condition in which a guy has a very tiny organ of about one inch in length. Such cases are very rare, but they can be helped by surgery.

Q I get attacks of flaking, itchy skin between my fourth and fifth toes. Why?

A This is athlete's foot, a fungal infection which is quite common among young people. This is probably because a lot of young folks tend to walk around barefoot in sports changing rooms.

You can buy some anti-fungal cream, which tends to be inexpensive, at a pharmacy. But you may need to use it regularly for many weeks.

Also, after showering or swimming, make sure that you dry your feet very carefully, including in-between the toes. Fungi love moisture, but hate dryness!

Q I am a 19-year-old man and whenever I have had sex, I notice something odd.

After intercourse, when I get out of bed to pass urine, I find that I 'spray' everywhere. This is most embarrassing, particularly when I am at my girlfriend's house. She gets annoyed with me because she says that it makes her parents' bathroom look messy.

What can I do? I try to clear up the puddles.

A What you are describing is completely normal. When a guy has orgasmed, there is usually quite a bit of seminal fluid left in his urinary tube. As a result, the next time he goes to pass water, he may not be able to shoot straight, and so urine is therefore likely to spray in various directions.

If you are fretting about this, next time you have had sex, you can avoid the problem entirely by simply sitting down to pass urine.

Q I am female and I first had sex a week ago. Shortly afterwards, I developed pain in the lower part of the belly while passing urine. My mother says it is cystitis. What's that?

A Cystitis is inflammation of the urinary bladder. It is real common when a young woman starts to have sex. You can buy cystitis medication from any pharmacy. If it doesn't work within a few days, you must see a doc. Please make sure that you take with you a small specimen of your urine, in a completely clean glass container, so she can test it.

Cheer up. Cystitis won't last forever!

Q I am a 22-year-old woman and my clitoris is only about the size of a gungo pea, even when I am excited. Am I abnormal?

A Definitely not! The clitoris is much smaller than many people imagine, which is why so many males have trouble finding it.

It sounds as though yours is average size, at the very least. Quit fretting.

Is a medical problem stumping you? Doc's got the answer. Email questions to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.