Episode Guide
Am I Normal?
First Broadcast on Tuesday 28th October 2008, 9pm Channel 4
Repeated Wednesday 15th July 2009, 8pm Channel 4
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The Embarrassing Bodies doctors are returning to meet some of the teenagers who they last met in the Summer of 2008 to see whether they have overcome their embarrassment.
This weeks episode seeks to answer the burning question on the lips of teenagers and their parents when dealing with puberty – ‘Am I Normal?’
The docs are hitting the beach at Weston-Super-Mare, where a host of hormone-fuelled teenagers are having puberty wreak havoc with their bodies. The docs are setting up their clinic in the heart of the festival, leaving our teens with no place to hide!
But first on Dr Christian’s rounds is a family of four bed-wetting boys, who have put-up with their embarrassing problem for long enough. Now aged between 16 and 22, the brothers are entering adulthood and seeking to put their shame to bed.
Dr Pixie meets 19-year-old mum Carly, whose teenage pregnancy has left her with a bouncing baby boy, but also a badly stretched and saggy stomach. Unable to cope with her extra weight any longer, Dr Pixie refers Carly for a tummy tuck, but the operation is not without risks.
Meanwhile Dr Dawn is far from red faced when discussing periods with Milton Keynes’ Iced Gem cheerleaders, though she has some surprises in store when she asks them to guess the average amount of blood they lose during their monthly menstrual cycle…
The onset of this cycle came as a big shock to 13 year-old Hayley, who began puberty at only 3 years old – a condition called precocious puberty …
Also through the clinic doors is eczema sufferer Claudia, who’s hoping that Dr Dawn can help her get control of the condition that is controlling her life. And she’s not the only one with a troublesome condition. Dr Pixie meets 19-year-old Charlotte, whose dream job as an airline stewardess has been grounded by a bad case of hyperhidrosis that leaves her clothes soaking.
In a packed episode there is still plenty of time for the docs to hand out some advice on infected piercings, as well as to launch their teenage hearing campaign – encouraging teens to wear ear-plugs to avoid damage that could leave them with severe tinnitus in later life.
And remember that you can access our exclusive Mobile videos by texting Normal to 84444.
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Terms and Conditions at channel4.com/mobile
The ETB team would like to thank:
IAC
Earplugshop.com
London Regents Park Clinic
Royal National Institute of the Deaf
All Ear Plugs
Health Edco
Cosmetic Surgeon – Alex Karidis
Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence
Lynda Hudson
Useful Link
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Comments and Questions
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i have stretch marks all over my belly,legs,breast and arms, i wouldn't class myself as obese, but i wouldn't ass i was skinny either i have tried rubbing cream on them to try and reduce it, but it never worked, as i am 14 i find this very embarrassing please help me?
hi im 16 and im fair skinned, my skin inbetween my legs on my inner thighs are a really dark brown, it looks black..its been like this for ages. I live in australia WHAT DO I DO ???????? please help.its discusting and ive tryed everything and it wont come off, its not dead skin cell either. plz help
Hi, I'm 26 years old and I have been suffering from psoriasis from the age of 15 and it's been bad but a few weeks ago I realise I have developed ezcema on the inside of my arms and the back of my knees...I just wanted to know how can I treat this and is it possible for me to be suffering from ezcema and psoriasis at the same time and can psoriasis turn into ezcema???
Hello i am 13 and i have unexspected bleading of the voulver
I am nearly 18 and started puberty at 13. I have only used a tampon once and even though having regular sex and not a particuarly 'tight' vagina- i still find it impossible to insert a tampon. I cannot relax my body and stop tensing, making it hurt alot and never really possible to put one in. I am starting to find it embarassing and un hygenic allways using sanitary towels- what could i do to try and help get used to using them and stop me cringing?
I had that problem and it sounds really silly but bend over so that your body is in a L shape and put your legs just over shoulder width, you will feel silly but I can promise that it will help, :) and also maybe try a little bit of lube on the tampon, :)
I am 22, I am having problems with my vagina since i gave birth to my daughter a year and a half ago, during birth my Labium minus was ripped in half on the left hand side and never stitched up, also inside my vagina there was a tag of skin left protruding. It is causing me major problems, It has effected my sexual relationship with my partner as both intercourse and foreplay can be very painfull, also wearing tight jeans or pants can at times be painfull too. Im am very embarrased by my problem and dont know what to do, can you help me please??
Hi!! i'm 14 and have started growing hair around my penis but i'm still quite short and i don't know if my balls have dropped because they are not very large and neither is my penis. I'm embarrased to be in front of my friends and try to act like i'm fully through puberty when i'm not and i'm quite scared that they will find out. How long will it take until puberty's finished?
Hi, it's normal to have thoughts, or even doubts about your penis or pubic hair, but don't worry as they will grow once puberty has kicked in! It's common in most teens to feel self-concious about what's down below, because some may feel they have an inadequate penis size, or something like that - but you'll find that most of your friends who claim their penis size is higher than average are often still in early development stages themselves. In saying “i dont know if my balls have dropped” I assume you mean your voice isn't that deep, well this is also another common thing teen's worry about. As you get older, your voice depth usually increases, and one of your testicles (usually the left one) hangs to the side. That is in usually mid stages of puberty. Thanks!
Hi The area around my anus has turned into black colour from peach.I am very scared as this is very embarrasing to me and my new b/f. My ex.had anal sex all the time .Is it normal or a skin disease.Please help and suggest how regain the origional colour.
Hi ,im almost 16 and i weigh 8 1/2 stone , whenever i sit down i feel like i look 5 months pregnant, i have cut out snacking as much and been doing more exercise but it doesnt seem to work , CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE!!!
um well im 13 and im 7 1/2 stone and i look underweight people always call me anarexic and that and thats not a bad weight at all and trust mei can wear t-shirts that show my stomak but when i sit down i feel like a wale with my legs pushing down and they look weird and my stomak looking larger and its just the way your stomak goes when u sit down i guess
hi im 14 , & one day when i was inserting a tampon i pushed it further with my middle finger.&. i felt sort of a bumpy feeling in my vaginal hole. but it doesnt hurt me at all & im worried what if somethings wrong with me. please help im scared. im going to my first obgyn appointment in a couple days cause i have pms really bad i guess my mom said .& im scared what if she says i have an infection. please awnser me someone. im also scared to tell my grandma about it. what will she say.? i just dont wanna here the words you have a vaginal infection.!
im shore its normal but i think you should see you gp or somthing but im shore u might have just put it in a bit on the side and not noticed and it hit somethign inside like the vagina wall thing or something im not shore im not a doctor but im shore you'll be fine sweeite
