Nine Of The Best Dolly Doctor Questions In Memory Of Dolly’s Closure

Dolly magazine has been somewhat of an institution in the Australian media landscape, and for the young girls growing up, it was a bible – along with Girlfriend – to all things adolescence. But more importantly, it was Dolly Doctor – the sealed section in the middle – that was most revered.
Dolly kicked off in 1970, and on Wednesday, publisher Bauer Media announced would be finishing its print editions this December, just shy of its 47th birthday.
The mag had suffered severe drops in recent circulation reports, dropping 26 per cent to 30,010 in year-on-year sales for 2016.
And while the digital edition of the Dolly brand will keep its content alive – Dolly Doctor included – we thought it best to honour the sacred ripping of the sealed section with a recap of nine of the most amusing and confusing health questions sent to Dolly Doctor over the years.
After all, a recent study showed that the advice that sprung from this health Q&A are more factual than any other magazine in the country. Can’t argue with science.
Q. I have an irritating itch in my throat after giving my good friend’s boyfriend a blow job in the movies. I am scared to tell my mother as she is friends with my boyfriend’s mother and I am sure he will find out about what I’ve done. Is there such a thing as throat thrush? It flared up about two weeks ago and has since returned. I am 15 years old.
A. Oral sex means stimulating each other’s genitals with your mouth or tongue, such as giving a blow job. Although oral sex is a normal sexual activity practised by many people, there is a risk of spreading some sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, and possibly the AIDS virus. Often there are no symptoms of such infections, but a sore throat may occur.
Also, stress through feeling guilty or worrying about the possibility of an infection can result in an irritating feeling in your throat. If the problem persists you should go and see your doctor or go to an STD clinic where the advice you will receive is free and confidential.
Q. I’m 10 years old and my mum thinks I’m too young to have a boyfriend. She won’t let me see my boyfriend, who is the same age as me, and I don’t want to lose him or hurt my mum’s feelings. What should I tell him?
A. How about compromising? Ask your mum if your boyfriend can visit you at home, where your mum can keep an eye on you both. That way at least you’ll see him, and your mum might even get to like him! You can prove to your mum that you and your boyfriend are not only trustworthy, but also mature enough to accept the limitations of your age.
Talk to your boyfriend about this idea. If he’s an OK guy, he’ll understand your position and agree to compromise too.
Q. About a year ago I had pubic lice. I was too scared to tell anyone so I poured a lice control dog wash over the area. Just recently it has come back. I would like to know if the wash harmed me and if I can buy a proper wash or cream from a chemist without a prescription. Concerned.
A. If the wash you used did not burn, and you obviously didn’t absorb enough to make you ill, I think you can stop worrying about it. You can buy lice treatments over the counter from your chemist, without a prescription. For pubic lice, a shampoo such as Lyban foam would be useful. Your chemist can show you what’s in stock, and will explain how to use it.
Q. Is it wrong to be in love with your first cousin? I’m 18 and I’m attracted to my cousin, who is six years older than me, and I don’t know what to do about it. Would it be considered incest if I married him and had his children? Could you tell me if people ever marry their cousins?
A. Yes, marriage between cousins does happen and it’s quite legal. The other good news is that you wouldn’t be committing incest if you married your cousin. Incest is generally defined as sex occurring between an adult member and an under-age member of the same family, where the adult is taking advantage of the child.
You and your cousin certainly don’t fit into that category! If you have any legal questions, they can be answered by the chamber magistrate at your local courthouse.
Q. Is it possible to catch AIDS from a public swimming pool? My mum won’t let me go to the local pool because she says she is certain I will catch AIDS but I don’t think she is right. Is she?
A. It is impossible to catch AIDS from normal use of a public swimming pool. It is now quite well established how AIDS is transmitted, and swimming pools and normal social living are not amongst the methods. Very close personal contact… and infection via contaminated blood, such as from using another person’s needles which have been unsterilised, are amongst the known methods.
Really, the experts now say that apart from the known methods, the germ is not highly infectious, much less so than the virus causing the common old cold. You can swim in peace, and have no fears.
Q. I really like chunky black shoes, striped socks up to your knees, and big shorts, but when I wear them to school, people laugh and start teasing me. I really hate this, so I usually end up wearing ordinary clothes that I don’t like very much. How can I stop them teasing me? Upset.
A. Can you help it if you’re a trendsetter? You can’t stop people being narrow-minded and petty, so if they really are getting too much for you, consider these options. Assert yourself – let them know you’re an individual, not a sheep. Or simply admit it’s too much to cope with at school on top of your studies and just dress like the sheep.
Maybe it’s best to strike a balance between what you love wearing and “normal” clothes. For example, wear your shoes and socks with a skirt, instead of your shorts. Meanwhile, try hanging around with people at school who aren’t afraid to be themselves.
Q. I have a really embarrassing problem – I have crabs. When I am in the company of my girlfriends and I start to scratch it gets embarrassing. But I can’t help it as I get very itchy. What can I do to get rid of the crabs?
A. Crabs, also known as pubic lice, are the size of a pin-head and cling to pubic hair and sometimes chest and underarm hair. These grey lice can be passed from one person to another through close physical contact such as sex or by sharing bed linen or clothing. Although they aren’t dangerous they can cause itching which may result in a red rash.
Treatment is simple. Lotions can be bought from your local chemist. The bottle will contain instructions on use. Your partner and other people in the house should also be treated. Clothing and bed linen should be washed in hot water at the time of treatment and again one week later.
If the itching persists after the treatment there may be another problem, so you should visit a doctor. If the crabs were caught sexually you should be checked for other possible sexually transmitted diseases, especially if a condom wasn’t used.
Q. I am a 14-year-old model and I have been offered a pornographic job with a well-known magazine. The money is extremely good and I think it would be good experience for me, but my agent doesn’t want me to do it. Should I do the job and forget about my agent or simply take my agent’s advice?
A. Fortunately, your agent is sensible. While there will always be girls who are willing to do this kind of work, you should realise that what is acceptable to you today can harm your career tomorrow. In other words, if you are serious about a modelling career, doing pornographic work, for any magazine, can have a nasty rebound effect on you long after the money has gone.
A typical example of this is the recent nude photos of Madonna. While they weren’t strictly pornographic or offensive, they weren’t exactly the image the star wanted to project years later. So no matter how attractive the money might seem now, think about your future.
Q. I am 16 and go out a lot at night. As a result I don’t get much sleep, so have started to take “No Doze” tablets to help me stay awake during the day. Are these tablets dangerous, and is it possible to still drink alcohol whilst taking them?
A. Anybody taking nerve stimulating pills to keep awake during the day due to stupidity in having successive late nights needs their brain examined. Be sensible. Wake up to yourself. Growing teenagers need eight hours sleep every night to assure continued good health and normal development.
You can fool yourself but you cannot fool nature. Do not take daytime nerve stimulants, and certainly do not take alcohol with any form of medication, doctor orders or otherwise. The combinations are bad, bad news.
Latest News

Ideally Nabs Simon Gawn From Denomination
Customer insights platform, Ideally, has expanded its regional footprint as part of its ambitious growth strategy, announcing the appointment of Simon Gawn to lead Australian operations. Ideally appoints Gawn on the back of exponential growth since launching in August this year, already boasting a strong and established Australian-based client roster. Gawn’s immediate remit is to capitalise on Ideally’s significant growth opportunities in Australia, a market five times larger than New Zealand.

SurfStitch Unveils New Brand Position & Summer Campaign
Aussie coastal lifestyle brand SurfStitch has announced a bold repositioning with a new brand identity and campaign, “Ready for Everywhere”. Reflecting the brand’s commitment to inspiring people to embrace their lifestyle, whatever it may be, the strategic shift reflects a commitment to facilitating style that adapts to the life its customers lead across a broad […]

Man of Many Welcomes Naman Singh & Alex Martinez
Man of Many has Announced Key Hires Amidst a Year of Extraordinary Achievement Lead image: Naman Singh & Alex Martinez Man of Many, recently crowned B&T media platform of the year, Australia’s premier men’s lifestyle digital publication. Announces the addition of two crucial members to its team – Naman Singh as SEO Content Specialist and […]

realestate.com.au Extends Major Partnership With Sydney Swans
Australian property site realestate.com.au has announced the extension of its partnership with the Sydney Swans for two further seasons. Lead image: Tom Harley, Owen Wilson and Tom McCartin realestate.com.au has partnered with the Swans since 2016 and has called the back of the club’s iconic guernsey home since becoming a major partner in 2020. This […]

Tuesday TV Ratings: “There Are Too Few Episodes” – Dessert Masters Finale Leave Viewers Wanting More
Dessert Masters finale reportedly leaves viewers wanting more. Weight Watchers also keeping a keen eye on things.

Avenue C Nabs Paula Lopes From KINESSO
Leading independent media agency, Avenue C, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Paula Lopes as Digital Director. Paula, a seasoned professional with over 17 years experience in the media industry, joins Avenue C from her role as Chief Operations Manager of KINESSO (merger of Reprise, Matterkind, and Kinesso specialities).

Dave ‘Rabbit’ Rabbetts Departs Star 104.5 Breakfast
Dave 'Rabbit' Rabbetts departs Star 104.5 breakfast. Has asked everyone call him Dave for a little bit.

MOO Premium Foods Admits “100% Ocean Plastics” Claims Misled Consumers
Yoghurt brand in strife over green claims. Meanwhile Mars Bars still getting away with "helps you work, rest & play".

IAB Study: Online Advertising Expenditure Hit $3.73B For September Quarter
Digital continuing to be advertising's star performer. Although that's not intended as a slur to the humble catalogue.

More Than 15,000 Watch On YouTube As An Emotional Brittany Higgins Takes The Stand
One of the biggest stories of 2023 looking like it's heading into 2024. Has the legs to even make 2025.

oOh!Media Fuses People & Performance At National Annual Revenue & Growth Conference
oOh!media brought together more than 260 of its sales, operations, commercial, marketing, finance and leadership teams last week for its national annual revenue and growth conference. Held over two days at the picturesque Rydges Resort in Hunter Valley, the event ‘Fusing people and performance’ focussed on how to build a high-performance mindset and how it […]

The End Of An Era: Millionaire Hot Seat Comes To A Close After 25 Years
Eddie McGuire set to become even more annoying after his game show hosting gig comes to an end.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: These Are The Moments That Dominated Media Coverage In 2023
It's 2023's biggest news stories counted down! And whoever wrote it clearly didn't miss out out Taylor Swift tickets.

Free-To-Air TV Welcomes Landmark Win Against Streaming Giants
It's a win for the free-to-air networks this morning. However, it's not stopped the incessant squabbling between them.

KFC Spoofs Fragrance Ads With Its Own Unisex Scent Shaped Like A Drumstick
Want stray dogs to follow you home after a night out? This chicken-inspired scent could be just the ticket.

Jimmy Hyett Drops By B&T TV To Talk Christmas Presents, AI & Basketball
Have you ever met a Jimmy you didn't like? Confirm it here with the eminently likeable Jimmy Hyett's B&T TV debut.

Rocket Agency Appoints Samantha Dodson As Creative Director
Rocket serves up the lettuce, nabbing Ex-Ogilvy and DDB creative, Samantha Dodson.

Free TV Welcomes Government’s Prominence & Anti-Siphoning Framework
Free TV has welcomed the federal government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Australians can access their local free television services on connected TVs through the introduction of legislation to implement a prominence framework in coming days. Free TV CEO Bridget Fair (lead image) said: “Right now, Australian viewers are being steered in the direction […]

Watch Out Fifty Shades! Nova’s ‘Wippa’ Publishes His Very Own Erotic Novel
Radio host 'Wippa' has published an erotic novel! Presumably with many of the protagonists whipping it out.

Burger King Wins For Strangest (Anti) Christmas Campaign Of The Year
In exciting news for turkeys & our piggy friends, Burger King attempting to flog burgers as alternative Christmas fare.

Study: Invest In Customer Experience After A Data Breach To Future-Proof Your Brand
Study finds brands should invest in CX after any data breach. Either that or sack your IT department.

“What Do S*x Toys Have To Do With Makeup?” – Sephora Faces Backlash From Parents For Adult Toy Ad
Snag the hard to buy for colleague in this year's office Kris Kringle? This vibrator news may stimulate the thinking.

Kendall’s Infamous Pepsi Ad Tops List Of Most Controversial US Ads Of All Time!
It's the greatest flops in US ad history. Strangely, Hillary's 2016 election campaign conspicuous by its absence.

Pilot Tackles Sex, Shame, and Stigma With New Campaign Challenging Men To Share Their “Shocker Performance Stories”
Men's health campaign shines a light on impotence. And not just the 18 schooners variety.

Guinness Compared To A Cosmic Phenomena As Beer Brand Taps The Chinese Market
Guiness once again ignoring the tagline every drinker wants - "Great going down, even smoother coming out."

The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel To Host ABC Breakfast Radio, Valentine Returns To Afternoons
It's jarmies, hot Milo and bed by nine for Craig Reucassel after he lands new early morning breakfast gig.

Tyreright Appoints 27 Degrees Media
New-generation media agency 27 Degrees Media has been appointed to manage digital media for national tyre retailer Tyreright in one of its first Australian client signings. Lead Image: Loan Morris – 27 Degrees Media CEO Under the partnership, 27 Degrees Media will be responsible for all digital media strategy, planning and buying, along with influencer […]

The Works Distills “Question Everything” For Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Who doesn't love a spicy Archie Rose gin to get you publicly blabbering about an ex or non-existent sex life.

farsiight Unveils New Market Positioning Putting Growth for Good Over Growth At All Costs
Brisbane performance agency farsiight has announced the launch of its new market positioning, Growth for Good, in response to a changing business landscape, marking a departure from a “growth at all costs” mentality that has defined the industry in recent years. Agency founders and brother duo, Josh and Ben Somerville, envision Growth for Good as […]

By Land Or By Sea: GoTransit Offers Options Galore For Transit Advertisers In Newcastle
Australia’s largest privately owned transit media supplier, GoTransit Media Group, now offers unprecedented options for transit advertising in Newcastle – on both land and sea following their successful tender to supply interior advertising inside the popular Stockton Ferries. The national transit media company is already well acquainted with the thriving NSW market, having successfully operated […]

‘People First Bank’ Heritage & People’s Choice Bank Unified
Heritage and People’s Choice have launched People First Bank, the new name for positive change in banking Australia’s largest customer-owned bank has unveiled its new brand, announcing that Heritage and People’s Choice will be unified under the new name of People First Bank. Chairman Michael Cameron said the highly anticipated new brand offered a compelling […]

“Cozzie Livs” Announced Macquarie Dictionary 2023 Word Of The Year
We're not sure how many logophiles read B&T, but this one's for you. That's a lover of words, not a lover of logging.

🏆 Hear From The B&T Awards Winners! 🏆
It's the B&T Award winners all in video form! We're putting the slurring down to their excitedness.

Today The Brave’s Hannah Lawson & Kate Idle On What’s Hot & What’s Not In 2024
Planning your own what's hot/what's not for 2024 list? There's some good ones here if plagiarism is on your what's hot.

Cultural Shift For Australians With ‘The Great Slow Down’
Don't ever really go beyond what's asked? Loathed by colleagues? Bone idle, in fact? The 'great slow down' is calling.

L’Oréal Aus & NZ Partner With Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Announcing Large Investments
L’Oréal Groupe Australia and New Zealand have announced one of the largest investments to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to pioneer new coral restoration efforts in the region. L’Oréal Groupe Australia and New Zealand have announced today a new partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF), to help coral reefs withstand the devastating impacts […]