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Girlfriend compelled to clean after intimacy

DEAR HARRIETTE: Whenever my girlfriend and I are intimate, she showers immediately after. At first it was just her, but now she forces me to join her in a post-intercourse shower. In these showers, I’ve noticed that she scrubs relentlessly – ferociously, even. It scares me a bit because I wonder what she’s trying to get rid of or wash away. She also changes the sheets as soon as we shower. As you can imagine, this is a tedious routine to keep up with at night when all I want to do is pass out. What do you think all this is about? – Clean Freak DEAR CLEAN FREAK: Seems that your girlfriend has some deeprooted discomfort about sexual intimacy. For some reason, she associates it with uncleanliness. Perhaps something happened in her childhood that scarred her. Maybe she listened to religious dogma about having sex before marriage being a sin, and she is trying to wash the sin away. The only way you will know is to ask her.

Elizabeth Ko, M.D.

Dear Doctors: Ever since I was little, I have absolutely hated the sound of other people chewing. Whenever I try to explain this to someone, they think I’m overreacting or even making it up. Is this something you have come across before? Does anyone know why it happens?

Friend shares opinion about boyfriend

DEAR HARRIETTE: A friend of mine is in a relationship, and in my opinion, her partner is not good to her. From what she tells me and what I observe, he seems selfish, abrasive, cheap and not affectionate or protective of her. At a social event, he asked me jokingly why it feels like I don’t like him. I gave him a serious answer – a diluted version of my thoughts on how he treats my friend. I did not disrespect him or raise my voice, and although he initiated this conversation, my friend is upset with me for sharing my opinion with him. Was I wrong? – Crossing the Line DEAR CROSSING THE LINE:

Elizabeth Ko, M.D.

Dear Doctors: Our 11-year-old son is fascinated with those astronauts who are stuck on the space station. One of the things he asks about a lot is how being in space for that long affects the human body. Do you know what the latest research says about that?

Partner seems inattentive toward his kids

DEAR HARRIETTE: At the beginning of last year, I met the man of my dreams. He continues to amaze me in more ways than one: He prioritizes me; he’s really considerate and affectionate; he’s accomplished and ambitious; AND he’s hilarious. Lately, though, I’ve been having some concerns about what our future will look like. He has three children from a previous marriage.

Elizabeth Ko, M.D.

Dear Doctors: I know that high-fiber foods keep your gut microbiome healthy. But I just saw on the news that spending a lot of time in nature is also really helpful. Do you know if that is true?

Holiday illness leads to family tension

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have two young daughters. One is 3 years old, and the other is just 8 months old. I invited my sister to stay with us during the holiday season because she lives far away and the rest of our family is in Delaware.

Weight-loss resolutions can be tough to tackle

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am one of those people who tries to make a New Year’s resolution just about every year. As you might imagine, it doesn’t usually work. I stay focused for a week or so, but something always distracts me.

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