Love can mean a strong feeling such as satisfying basic emotional needs, it provides the most intense feeling of intimacy, and it usually signifies interpersonal love. Interpersonal love is a relationship between two people greater than the affection for each other, and is closely related to interpersonal relationships, and it also includes love relationships. 

A happy and stable romantic relationship is important for many aspects of our lives. A strong connection with a boyfriend / girlfriend and love provide us with support, improve health and relationships with other people. For a relationship to be successful, it requires investment and effort on the part of both partners. It is not always easy to preserve yourself when you are in a relationship and it is often easiest to give up at the first hurdle. Although we know that every relationship is different, there are still several characteristics that make every love relationship strong and successful. 

The first is mutual communication, which is important from the very beginning of the relationship and must not be interrupted. In a healthy and happy relationship, partners can tell each other without hesitation what is bothering them. An open and honest conversation is key to better mutual understanding.

Another is a quality time spent together in an activity. The time spent in conversation promotion connection and sharing and strengthens the bond.

The third feature that makes a relationship strong and successful is compromise. Relationships between people are based on compromises where there is no room for winners and losers. In quarrels and discussions, it is important to respect your partner, but also to tell him / her honestly how you feel. In a healthy relationship, it is normal to say what you feel without guilt that someone will feel bad because they have a different opinion. The goal of an argument is not to win and deliberately draw out old and past, unresolved disputes. Likewise, after an argument, one must know how to forgive and then forget.

The fourth would be to maintain physical intimacy for the reason that people need physical contact from an early age, which does not necessarily refer to sexual intercourse. Research shows that gentle touch is responsible for the growth of oxytocin levels in the body, a hormone that affects connectivity and attachment.

Furthermore, just as it is important to spend time together, as the fifth thing that is important in a relationship is time for yourself. No person can satisfy absolutely all your needs and desires, so relationships with other people such as friends are also important. Time together is important, but so is the time dedicated to yourself and time spent doing the things you love. However, after separate activities, there is no need to question the other person where he / she was, what he / she was doing and with whom.

The last fact important for a successful relationship would be accepting problems as a couple. People are different and often have different opinions and the way they deal with problems. Difficult situations in life, such as parental divorce or failing at school, have an impact on both partners and can make it difficult to understand each other. Different people in stressful situations position themselves differently, and misunderstanding can lead to anger and frustration. It is therefore important to understand that ups and downs are part of the relationship and not ignore the problems. It is important to be open to change and face it together, i.e. as a couple. 

Finally, it is very important to be involved in each other’s lives. Lack of involvement in the life of your boyfriend / girlfriend and lack of communication increases the distance between you. Working on togetherness enables understanding and connection. Being involved in each other’s lives means showing interest in the other person’s daily life, without exclusion from one’s life and with frequent conversations about everything.

Part of caring for health is a regular visit to the gynaecologist, usually once a year, which is part of the care for maintaining your reproductive health. It is often thought that a gynaecological examination is unpleasant. This opinion is associated with discomfort, shame, fear, and ignorance about what a gynaecological examination looks like in general.

Gynaecologists are specialists in genital diseases and reproductive health protection and treat female genitals like all other organs and systems in the human body.

When you go for a gynaecological examination, put on or take with you a skirt that you will put on in the changing room before entering the gynaecological office, because that will make you feel more comfortable, since you have to take off your clothes for the gynaecological examination. Some gynaecological clinics have disposable slippers in the changing room, but since some clinics do not, you can take the slippers with you. When entering the clinic and before the gynaecological examination, the gynaecologist will take your medical history (data) regarding your previous illnesses or diseases in the immediate family, the time of the first menstruation (menarche), your menstrual cycle (the interval between menstruation, so consider this and calculate according to your menstrual calendar), the length, abundance and pain of menstruation, as well as the date of the beginning of the last menstruation. After that, you will say briefly and clearly why you came, but without hesitation you can talk about other problems, if you have them. If you have already had sexual intercourse, the gynaecologist will also ask you about the methods of contraception you use during sexual intercourse.

Gynaecological examination of women and girls who have had sexual intercourse is performed on a gynaecological table, in a supine position. The legs are placed on special holders (legs) to facilitate the examination of the external genitalia. It is important to listen to your doctor’s instructions regarding being relaxed, as this avoids squeezing the muscles that can cause discomfort during the examination. After that, the examination is continued using instruments that are placed in the vagina so that the vagina itself and the cervix can be displayed so that cervical swabs and a PAP test can be taken. The examination ends with bimanual palpation, examination and palpation of the internal genitals, in order to exclude changes in the uterus and ovaries.

PAP test (Papanicolaou swab) is a cytological (cellular) analysis of vaginal and cervical swabs. The test is started during the first year of sexual intercourse, it is painless, and allows early detection of pre-stages and cervical cancer, as well as causes of sexually transmitted diseases associated with cancer. This is important because in the early stages the cancer can be completely cured. Risk factors for cancer are: early onset of sexual intercourse, changing sexual partners and a higher number of sexual partners, sexually transmitted diseases – especially HPV infection, and smoking. If the PAP test is normal, the second is repeated after a year. 

As part of the gynaecological examination, the vaginal discharge is examined and the so-called degree of purity of secretions is determined. The vaginal secretion is examined under a microscope where some microorganisms, individual causes of inflammation of the genital tract and sexually transmitted diseases can be detected immediately, and appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

After the gynaecological examination, the doctor will make a diagnosis, explain the results and recommend treatment, and make appointment for a follow-up examination. If additional tests are needed (laboratory examination of blood or urine, ultrasound examination), the doctor will give instructions to follow. If treatment is needed, the drug should be taken exactly as directed regardless of the cessation of the problems. 

When to visit a gynaecologist:

• after the first sexual experience
• if you are 16 and have not had your first period
• due to disorders and irregular menstrual cycle
• due to very heavy or painful menstruation
• due to absence of menstruation
• due to the appearance of altered and increased vaginal discharge
• in the event of sores, blisters, warts, or growths on the external genitalia
• if you are referred to a gynaecologist by another doctor
• if there is tenderness, burning and / or itching in the area of ​​the external genitalia
• if you experience pain, tenderness, or bleeding during intercourse
• if a “lump” appears on the breast
• if discharge from the nipple occurs
• immediately after forced sexual intercourse (rape, incest)
• for contraception use
• due to a desired pregnancy or due to an unplanned pregnancy
• for advice and information.

According to the instructions of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) in Croatia, from the age of 12, one can report to the primary gynaecologist at the Health Centre. The exception is the Children’s Clinic in Zagreb, where children and young people, aged 0-18, can come to the Clinic’s gynaecological clinic with a referral from a family doctor, primary paediatrician, school doctor or primary gynaecologist. After the age of 18, a girl chooses and reports to a gynaecologist within primary healthcare. 

CHIF instructions: You choose your primary gynaecologist by filling in the form “Statement on the selection / change of the chosen doctor” which you can get in the office of the doctor you have chosen or download it from the CHIF website. The second part of the form is filled in by your doctor and certified by your signature and the stamp of the office of a health institution or a private practice. You can receive health care from the chosen doctor no later than ten days after signing the Statement. The doctor is chosen for one year.

If you have problems finding and reporting to the primary gynaecologist, contact the CHIF for help on this matter.

Petting involves touching the genitals to incite arousal in your partner. It also involves “rubbing” the body of one partner against the body of the other, allowing sexual pleasure and orgasm in one or both partners. During petting, both partners are usually naked, however, what distinguishes petting and an actual sexual intercourse in this case is the lack of penetration during petting. 

There is no penetration during petting – the sexual organ does not enter the partner’s body. That is why petting is said to be an imitation of sexual intercourse. It therefore poses a significantly lower risk for pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases compared to an actual intercourse, although the risk still exists. 

Usually both partners are fully or partially dressed, so there is contact between the genitals, but through clothing. Partners can also be without clothes. As there is no exchange of body fluids during petting, it is also often referred to as dry sex. Despite the fact that there is no exchange of body fluids at that time, the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases can still occur. Some sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Therefore, petting is not completely safe, only the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases is lower because there is no penetration during petting. 

If a partner ejaculates and both partners are dressed during the petting, it is not possible for pregnancy to occur. Sperm, like bacteria and viruses, do not pass through clothing. Thus, there can be no infection with sexually transmitted diseases if at least one of the partners wears clothes that cover the genitals. For example, if a man ejaculates near the opening of the vagina and the partners are without clothes, there is little chance of getting pregnant, but there is a high possibility of infections or sexually transmitted diseases. 

What needs to be taken care of is that partners can get carried away during petting and have an actual sexual intercourse without being ready for it. Therefore, if you decide to try petting, you need to set your boundaries clearly and let your partner know that he / she must respect them. Otherwise, sex can simply happen, and then there will be a much higher chance of pregnancy.

1. It is not a permanent contraceptive, to be taken only as an “emergency”! 
2. Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections!
3. Preferably take within 24 hours, and no later than the recommended time of taking! 
4. Read the instructions in detail! 
5. After taking emergency contraception, it is safest not to have intercourse until the next menstruation or to use barrier methods (condoms) until the end of the cycle! 
6. Do not take emergency contraception multiple times a month! 
7. In case of side effects described in the package, contact your doctor! 
8. In case of vomiting within 3 hours of taking emergency contraception, the dose should be repeated! 
9. In case of delayed menstruation or scanty or heavy menstruation, contact a gynaecologist to confirm or rule out pregnancy!

Emergency contraception or post-coital or morning-after pill are the names for contraception used if pregnancy protection has not been used during sexual intercourse or there has been an error in the use of contraception such as a ruptured or slipped condom, or the girl/woman forgot to take two birth control pills. Emergency contraception is used only as an “emergency” and should not be used as a regular method of protection against pregnancy. 

Post-coital contraception works by delaying ovulation, it does not prevent implantation, nor does it have an abortive effect. Emergency contraception does not work if the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus, thus it does not have an abortive effect. The effectiveness of post-coital contraception is thought to be greater the earlier it is administered after unprotected intercourse, and is recommended within 24 hours.

After taking hormonal emergency contraception, side effects may occur: headache, nausea, painful next menstruation, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, back pain, premature menstruation or delayed menstruation. The effectiveness of each method is described below. Emergency hormonal contraception can be purchased in pharmacies, with a prescription, and recently the European Medicines Agency issued a recommendation for EU countries to change the regime of issuing hormonal emergency contraception ellaOne, so that it can now be purchased without a prescription. 

There are several methods of post-coital protection, but the most commonly used is hormonal method, so this contraception method will be elaborated together with other types of hormonal emergency contraception that are approved for use in Croatia. 

Hormonal methods of emergency contraception

1. Conventional or Yuzpe method. This method uses the same combination of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone as with the contraceptive pill, but in higher doses. As soon as possible, and no later than 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, take two birth control pills or four if the pills are low in hormones and the same dose is repeated after 12 hours. This method can be accompanied by side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, so the pills should be taken with food, and if vomiting occurs within 3 hours of taking the pills, the dose should be repeated. Due to a lesser effectiveness and frequent side effects, this method is no longer used in European countries and has been replaced by new methods of hormonal emergency contraception. 
2. Hormonal contraception only with progestogen, levonorgestrel (on the market called Escapelle and Vikela), in one pill contains 1.5 mg of levonorgestrel. This method prevents approximately 84% of pregnancies if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The pill is more effective if taken as soon as possible after an unprotected intercourse, preferably within 24 hours. Side effects that may occur after taking the pill include nausea, and in case of vomiting within 3 hours of taking the pill, the dose should be repeated. In most women, the next menstruation comes at the expected time, but it can also be late or come earlier. If it is more than 7 days late or is unusually scanty or heavy, you should contact your doctor.