A If you are 20 or under, I don't think a Pap smear would really help in the diagnosis. Pap-smear tests diagnose cells that could possibly lead to cancer. Such cells do not usually develop until at least age 22. Even then, they are not very likely to cause a discharge.

However, it would do no harm to have a Pap-smear test done. At the same time, the doc could take swabs to check for infections. How do you know that infections do not exist?

If you are sexually active, it's possible that your discharge is caused by some form of vaginal infection, such as trichomonas or bacterial vaginosis. Whether or not you are sexually active, you could have a thrush infection.

Another possibility is that you might have left a tampon, or part of a tampon, inside your vagina. That is quite a common cause of vaginal discharge in younger women.

However, it is possible that what you are seeing is just an unusually large volume of natural secretion. It is important to appreciate that females are supposed to produce a certain amount of vaginal liquid. In young females, that amount can be very considerable, particularly if they happen to think about sex.

I would say that your best course of action would be to consult a doc, who will conduct the necessary tests. I wish you well.

QI am a 20-year-old man and I want to know about some kind of diet or food that will increase the size of my penis.

A Sorry, young man. There is NO diet or food that will increase the length or bulk of a guy's organ.

I note that in your email you have mentioned the measurements of your penis. I can assure you that they are normal.

Q I am an 18-year-old female who is really depressed. This has been worse since I started college. I am not very tall. The fact is that being short has lowered my self-esteem. I feel less of a person and inferior.

I have been doing some research on the Net to find out about drugs that can increase height. A lot of them are on the market. I imagine you will tell me about side effects but I don't really care.

What drugs are available in Jamaica that could increase my height? How do I go about sourcing them? Would they actually work?

A I am very sorry to hear about the distress you have been going through. It is sad that you are so depressed at a time when you should be having great fun at college.

Regarding your depression, I urge you to see your college doctor right away. She may well suggest that you go on antidepressant medication for a short while.

Perhaps she will send you to a therapist or counsellor, who can help you with these irrational feelings of inferiority. Short stature is hardly a reason for feeling inferior. You need help such as cognitive therapy to recognise this fact.

I have not printed your actual height, in order to prevent you from being recognised, but I would like to tell you that you are not far below the average height of Jamaican women.

Now let us turn to the issue of using drugs to increase height. Nothing that you are likely to find on sale on the Internet is likely to work. So please don't think of sending off any money for these products.

There is one prescription drug which can increase height: human growth hormone. It is only used in quite extreme cases, where the person's stature is quite abnormally short.

However, you should discuss the issue of your height with the college doc. She may well have some suggestions regarding nutrition and exercise.

QI am a 16-year-old guy. I don't know much about sex. I am deeply concerned by the fact that I have wet dreams many nights.

Why is this happening? Am I ill? Is there any way I can stop the dreams, before they affect my health?

A These dreams are known as nocturnal emissions. What you have not realised is that they are normal for a virile young man. They are nature's way of getting rid of the huge number of sperms that are being produced by your testicles.

The dreams will become less frequent as you grow older and establish a sexual relationship with a girl. However, some guys have them throughout life.

They will not harm your health. You are not ill. And there is no way you can stop the dreams. My advice: Just accept them for what they are.

Q I am a 19-year-old woman. Since September, I haven't seen my period. Why?

This has happened before. When it occurred earlier this year, a doctor gave me antibiotics.

My menses then returned, but have now stopped again. Why?

A Possible causes of absent menses include pregnancy, anaemia, stress and hormonal problems. So I think you should see another doctor and get some blood tests done. Good luck.

Q I am 19 years old and I recently read a pornographic novel. From it, I learned that women produce a jet of water, like a fountain, when they discharge.

Last night, I managed to make my girlfriend discharge for the first time ever. But she did not do this 'fountain' thing. Is she abnormal? Or am I doing it wrongly?

A Like generations of young men, you have been misled by these silly pornographic novels. They are often written by guys who simply don't know what they are talking about!

Again and again, such books suggest it's normal for girls to squirt liquid like a man when they climax. This is foolishness.

In fact, the medical truth is that only a small proportion of women do produce a jet of a secretion at the moment of orgasm. So quit fretting.

Want advice from Doc on sexual and other issues? Email questions and comments to saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.