Sex Question: Why Do I Feel Burning During Sex Without the Use of Condoms?

Dear Dr. Kate,

My husband and I stopped using condoms because we are trying to get pregnant. But now, every time we have sex I feel burning with every move and thrust. What's happening to me?

Were you using lubricated condoms before? The burning may simply be due to the lack of lubrication that your body was accustomed to during sex. The tricky thing is choosing the right lube to use when you're trying to conceive. Fertility doctors don't recommend using traditional drugstore lubricants, because the chemicals may kill sperm and decrease your chances of getting pregnant. (That said, know that lube is definitely not a reliable method of birth control!) The safest form of lube when you're trying to get pregnant? Plain mineral oil-you can find it in Bed, Bath and Beyond or stores like it, near the wooden salad bowls. Just be aware that the oil will stain your sheets and PJs, so you may want to throw down a towel first, and have a box of tissues handy for clean-up.

Sex Question: I'm Self-Conscious About My Inverted Nipples, Should I Have Surgery to Fix Them?

Dear Dr. Kate,

I have inverted nipples-and it took me two years of being in my last relationship before I let him see me completely naked because I'm so embarrassed about them. Will this ever change, or is there surgery to fix it?

You're not alone-about 10 to 20 percent of all women have flat or inverted nipples. It's normal, in the same way that the color and size of areolae differ from woman to woman. So it's pretty likely that a man you're with has seen inverted nipples before! Your nipples won't change-while they may become erect and protrude when you're aroused, they won't stay that way-but I don't think there's anything to "fix." If you search the web you'll find multiple surgeons offering surgical "correction" of inverted nipples, but there are real risks. You may not ever be able to breastfeed (surgery would likely break up the milk ducts connecting to the nipple). And surgery may cause permanent nerve damage, making your nipples insensitive-so they would no longer be inverted, but wouldn't give you pleasure, either. Doesn't sound like a worthy trade-off to me. My advice would be to consider your nipples one of the many quirks that make you unique-and beautiful.

Sex Question: How Can I Stop Back Pain During Sex?

Dear Dr. H,

Sometimes I have some slight lower back pain during sex. Is it OK to put a pillow under my back?

Read on for Dr. Hilda Hutcherson's response.

A. Absolutely. You are probably arching your back, which can cause straining. Placing a pillow under your back may not only make you more comfortable, but the angle can also help your partner reach some of your sensitive spots.

Readers, do you have this problem? Any other discomfort when you're having sex? Let's talk about it here!

Ouch alert! Try These Wacky Hangovers Cures from Around the Globe

We just learned that beer goggles are real--and might last (gulp) forever. So if you wake up tomorrow suffering from too much New Year's Eve fun, try some of these hangover cures and call me in the morning...

Unfortunately, we've all been there. We know, we know: The best way to head off a hangover is to drink moderately, of course, and chug plenty of water. But sometimes you gotta throw moderation to the wind!

People around the world have been drinking (and getting hangovers) for centuries, and they've devised some clever ways to soothe their throbbing heads and queasy tummies, according to this story from National Geographic. You're sure to be familiar with some, like coffee and (more) beer, but others were brand-new to me. Shrimp? A quick sauna session? That sounds more like a spa day--sign me up!

On the C.L.: Would You Ever Share Prescription Drugs With a Friend? Um...Have You?

When you go into the hair salon and they ask you if you'd like a magazine while you wait, would you ever, ever dream of saying, "No, but do you by any chance have a Xanax?" Me neither, but that's exactly what a stylist friend told me a client recently asked him. "Hello, aren't you supposed to go to a doctor for that stuff?" my friend asked me, freaked out. You are, of course, but lots of people (especially women) are bypassing that step these days. Now I'm curious about what you're doing...and I promise not to be judgmental.

My stylist friend told me the Xanax story because I was prepping to be on the Today show this morning talking about the trend of women sharing one another's prescription drugs. We did a big story about it in the November 2009 issue of Glamour, and studies show that somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of women have swapped pills, often seriously heavy-duty stuff like stimulants, antianxiety drugs and sleep aids. (I've had people sitting next to me on planes offer me Ambien twice. And I swear I'm not one of those annoying airplane talkers either!)

Oh Boy, More Soda News: Could Its Brown Coloring Cause Cancer?

So this has been a big week for bubbly beverages, huh? First, the news that diet soda might be linked with strokes and now this:

The Center for Science in the Public Interest says that the stuff that gives the soda its brownness--the "caramel coloring"--might possibly be carcinogenic,. The group is petitioning the FDA to ban the coloring or at least put warning labels on the cans, saying that 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole--two chemicals produced during the processing of soda--have been linked with lung, liver and thyroid cancer in lab mice.

There's still a lot of question marks--the FDA is reviewing the claims, and groups such as the American Beverage Association say there's no evidence the chemicals are cancer-causing to humans. A biochemist at Vanderbilt University, Fred Gurengerich, says: "My advice would be just to relax ... I did some simple math. ... If you look at the study in terms of what the mice got, in terms of causing any effect, a human being would have to drink more than 1,000 sodas a day."

New Trend in Childbirth: Women Forgoing Epidurals for Hypnosis

Personal question: Are you an epidural kind of gal or all-naturale? I thought I was the latter until 30+ hours of painful back labor with my first baby nearly did me in. But, I read about a newish trend in childbirth called HypnoBirthing, where a woman uses a form of hypnosis to control the pain of childbirth, and I was so fascinated ...

HypnoBirthing has been around since the 1950s, but celeb moms including Jessica Alba, Giselle Bundschen, and Pamela Anderson who are said to be fans, have a lot of women interested, ABC News reports. (Actress Tiffani Thiessen of "Saved By the Bell" and "90210" has reportedly just signed up for a HypnoBirth.).