09 July 2009 @ 11:51 pm
HPV  
I'm very nervous and scared. I'm 22. I guess you could say I'm a little worried about having children too. I want at least one more than the world! I don't know what this HPV can turn into or anything and I'm going back next week for a Coloscopy or something like that so they can test it some more. I've been with my boyfriend for a year now and yes, we have unprotected sex. Should I have him start wearing condoms? I mean, how do I get rid of the virus, if its possible and should I be worried. I guess I just need facts. Thanks!
 
 
Current Mood: crappy
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 09:27 pm
I'll just get straight to the point...  

As the title says, I have these white bumps along the inner lips...  I've had them for 1-2 years and they don't seem to really disappear, maybe swap spots, but never disappear.  They don't hurt, they are just hard bumps that happen to be white.  I've been told several things, and truly I'm concerned because I don't know what they are...(been meaning to go to a doctor but with work, and just life it's been hard) 

Any ideas?  I was recommend to come right here by a friend so I figure I'd ask.

Edit:

Btw, I'm not sexually active...

 
 
09 July 2009 @ 09:27 pm
In addition to having particularly heavy menstrual cycles, I also have exceptionally painful bowel movements whenever I'm on my period. Does anyone else have this problem? Is it normal? Can I do anything to lessen the pain?
 
 
10 July 2009 @ 12:21 am
Hello all, my name's Jaimie and I'm in the process of getting my old group up and running again: letsgogreen.livejournal.com and I'd like to post about this on it in the near future.

In light of this, I was wondering if any of you could give me some feedback on a particular brand of tampons. I've wanted to try them but I still have yet to. I'm trying to become as "green" as possible and Seventh Generation's tampons claim to be green and organic. I'm just wondering how they are from your personal experiences (as opposed to what the site says they're like) as far as absorbency, if they work well when swimming, are they flushable, or any other feedback you'd be willing to give. Do you prefer them to another brand? Hate them, love them?

I'm hoping this is the right place to ask this sort of question. I guess it's almost silly to say I would like to have "greener" periods, but it's the truth!

Thanks!
 
 
Current Mood: bouncy
 
 
10 July 2009 @ 03:06 am
I gave birth (C-section) on June 18th. I had sex again 10 days later. Everything seemed to be ok.

This weekend I had sex and have continued to have sex all week. For the past 2-3 days, my bleeding has returned BRIGHT RED.

Nobody told me how long I was suppose to wait, I stupidly thought that if I felt ok, it was Ok to have sex again. I googled it and found out I'm putting myself at risk of infection. So, no more sex until I'm completely healed.

Should I be concerned about the bleeding? Should I call the doctor? I'm really embarrassed to tell them I had sex so soon. (But damn, the sex has been great!)

There is no pain or anything. Just bright red bleeding. I know they said that could mean I was overdoing it, I just want to know if it could be a sign of concern.
TIA
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 10:51 pm
I developed a UTI after sex with my partner. It cleared up, then we had more sex (using a different lube), and I got more of the symptoms, but without an actual infection (as indicated by a complete lack of leukocytes in my urine when I ran a urine test).

We were using polyurethane condoms because I think I have a latex sensitivity. Basically, I'm wonder what thoughts are on this. Are polyurethane sensitivities uncommon? I wonder if it could be the lube on the condoms, but that's such a small amount that it seems unlikely. The condoms are the only thing I think I really had in common between the different times having sex.

I'm just trying to figure out what causes this so I can avoid it in the future. Thanks!
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 10:48 pm
I picked my arm for the first time ever using the patch, bad choice lol I look dumb and it is fuzzy around it and I want to change it tonight, which is a day earlier than I should, is that okay though? =] thank you for your advice lovelies.
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 08:54 pm
So. I am on Ortho Cyclen. I generally stack, so as to avoid bleeding. Sometimes that backfires, and I bleed anyway. When that happens, I stop taking the pills for 7 days and let myself bleed, figuring my body wants to. However, I generally only have to do that once every 2 or 3 months. I bled, like, a month or two ago. So this week I WANTED to stack. But, I ran out of pills 3 days ago. I started slightly bleeding today. I also finally got more pills today. Should I just wait a few more days til it's been a week to start the new pack? If I did start the new pack today, it'd probably take a while to halt the bleeding that's already started anyway, right? I guess what I'm asking is what would you do?
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 08:10 pm
I was wondering who all went to a school that had Abstinence Only programs, what were they like, and if they weren't helpful where did you find out the truth? 

I'll start.

My high school's sex ed was Abstinence Only. It was basically an entire week of bullshit. I learned nothing useful, other than the fact that women had a vagina (note, not a vulva), and men had a penis and testicles. The man put his penis in the woman's vagina to make a baby, and that sex before marriage was un-fullfilling and emotionally scarring. Masturbation was just as bad if not worse, because it would lead to feelings of guilt and take away from the experience when you finally got married and wanted to have children. There was no mention of homosexuality, and they used scare tactics and unrealistic statistics when talking about STDs and pregnancy. It did in no way encourage me to stay abstinent, and I think it was actually more hurtful than it did good because now it was leaving a bunch of young, hormonal teenagers in the dark about sex and left on their own to find out what was accurate and what was not.

I did NOT go to a religious high school either, this was the program presented in my regular public high school. I ended up finding out from friends or my own research, which was not always accurate either unfortunately as my parents never took it upon themselves to talk to me about it. Their views very much were in line with what my school taught and I was always afraid to ask because it was a very taboo subject.

So, anyone else? I'd also like to hear from those who went to a school that actually had a decent sex-ed program.
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 07:19 pm
Okay, I know this is another one of those not-really-vagina-related questions, but again, I honestly don't know where to ask.
Yesterday, my guy came in my mouth. It tasted very, very strongly of lemon - lemon juice, not lemon flavoring, to be specific. Not only at first, but all the way through him ejaculating and afterwards.
It wasn't unpleasant, in fact I kind of liked it, but it was just really odd.

What in the world would cause this?
The only thing lemon-flavored he'd eaten in the past few days was Skittles the day of, and only about a half a cup of those (and besides, they're several different flavors!)

Help?
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 07:00 pm
Alright, quick question!

Seems that I've been suffering from an external YI. (Just the discharge around my labia). I've been eating yogurt with probiotics for about 2 weeks now and I can see a significant difference (much less discharge but still some). I tried about 2-3 weeks ago to treat it with Canesten and then my period came and still not entirely gone.

So I was at my grocery store, and I saw a mention about Apple Cider Vinegar to be used in a bath. But what about the tablets? I didn't know it came in tablet/vitamin pill form, so I picked some up. Seeing as I have to go back to the grocery store later today, if I need to return it...it's all good. If I was to ingest the pills, would it have the same effect as if I was to bathe in it? Or what if I put the tablet in vaginally? (Can I do that? Well no I know I physically can put anything up there, but is that an ok thing to do?).

Simply put, I am just curious whether or not apple cider vinegar in the tablet form would be just as effective as it would be in liquid form and being used in a bath. Or if there are some other really good remedies for external YIs I would love to hear about your success stories! Thanks!!!
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 01:40 pm
Last night I was having some fun (sex) with my bf and I started to really get into it - usually I'm not one to be vocal or loud, but last night it felt so good that I was moaning and getting louder and louder. I could tell by his reaction that he was enjoying it, so I tired my hand at some dirty talk, didn't really say much but at least I tried.

After we were through he told me how much he enjoyed seeing me that excited and also said he was pretty sure the people next door could hear me. That kinda (in a wierd way) brought a little smile to me face.

My question is - are you loud/vocal during sex? Has anyone ever heard you or heard them?

TIA
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 04:28 pm
Hello! :] I'm 18 years old and finally able to be put on birth control.
I was wondering, what is YOUR favorite type of birth control?
As in, the pill, the shot, the patch, the other stuff.
I've been researching different types, but I'm still on edge.
I'd like real answers from real people!

Please describe which method you are using, the name, what it was like when you first started, and some pros and cons.
If you are using something that has to be inserted, please describe what it was like having it put in.

Thank you for your help!
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 08:27 pm
I stumbled across this today and wondered what the general consensus of the community is. It seems fake to me but I have no experience with pregnancy.

I’ve got to say that when I was seven months with my first son, I didn't know. I was very trim and small before I got pregnant. I was on birth control and still had a period like clock work. I didn't start gaining weight until I was almost done being pregnant. I didn't have any symptoms until later only because I thought it was gas and the kicks didn't feel like kicks. Just gas bubbles.
—Posted by ABMommy on Oct. 15, 2006


http://health.msn.com/pregnancy/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100148059
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 02:15 pm
Okay, so I've been having problems with smells down there for awhile. I first went to the gyno for it about three months ago, and he said I had bv. Took some pills, the smell went away, but then came back in my urethra. [I know this because I did a finger-urethra smell test haha, sry TMI!] It's not coming from my vagina anymore. I went back, he said I had bacteria in my bladder and gave me some different pills. Took those and voila! no more smells down there! But, it came back within days of being done with my antibiotics. DAMNIT! So I called and he prescribed me this inside vagina creme because he said things from my vagina could be contaminating my urine? 


I'm just tired of it--I want to get rid of the smell before I go to college. [About a month.] The smell is affecting the way my clit smells-it's a very prominent acidic smell and it really comes out when I'm sexually aroused. I'm very embarrassed by this--do you think this is how I naturally smell? Or it would be my diet?


Yes, I've looked through the memories! I couldn't find anything about this. Thanks.
 
 
 
I know everyone is different but I was hoping that maybe someone else has either had the same experiences with HBC or been in a similar situation or has any advice whatsoever on what I should do next. Cause I'm kind of lost and not thinking clearly.

My back history and my thoughts on treatments cut to save space... )

Basically I know I'm chasing a cure that doesn't exist and that I can't have what I want, which is to be happy and pain free at the same time. But I'm kind of at the point that I don't see the point of existence if I have to keep doing this same old song and dance. Now I know that's the hormones talking, but you can kind of see how clouded my thinking is right now. So any advice is greatly appreciated.

Also if my theories about the hormones are completely wrong please feel free to tell me I'm being an idiot. :) And thanks for reading the mini novel.

x-posted to the endometriosis community as well, hope that's okay.
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 04:01 pm
Okay, hopefully a more-knowledgeable fellow women's health buff can help me out here.

From what I understand, the Patch is more dangerous than pills when it comes to cardiovascular risk because it is metabolized differently. On paper, it's supposed to release 20 mcg of estrogen, but since it is distributed directly into the blood stream, more estrogen is circulating because pills lose a good amount of their estrogen when broken down by the gut before being absorbed into the bloodstream.

With the ring, the hormones are also direct-to-blood, so I'm wondering if it's also possible that people are getting overall higher estrogen doses. I've been on 8 different pills and took the ring as a last resort, and I've gained 15 kg and have sore breasts all the time, something that never happened in all my years of pill-taking. I know that the NR has a theoretical increased risk of DVT and other complications, but that's because of the third-generation of progestin used. Mostly curious about the estrogen.

Thanks for any insight!
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 07:52 am
Hi all! So here's the deal. Ever since I went on Ortho Novum about 10 months ago, I've had green-ish discharge off and on. The doc cleared me of any STIs or other infections, but gave me an antibiotic "just in case" the first time she noticed it. After the course of antibiotics, though, it stayed green. I don't have discomfort or anything, it's just odd looking. Is this normal with birth control? It seems like all the cultures my doc ran would have turned up something if it really was an infection, but I keep reading online that green discharge = infection. Could it just be from the birth control?

Thanks! :)
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 12:36 pm
 I had a search through the tags and couldn't find anything like this, so here goes...

A couple of weeks ago I posted asking for some advice cause I was trying to figure out which method of HBC would be best for me, and I was leaning towards the patch. Well, I went and got it and it was fine for the first 10 minutes or so. After about an hour the edges of it were covered in black fluff from my jeans (I put it on my right butt cheek, and I generally wear tiny underwear, so my ass is exposed to my clothing). Although this didn't seem to cause any problems it made it look messy and dirty, and by the end of the day the layer of fluff was pretty nasty looking. I could cope with this, though I'm not keen on the furry look! I had a bath later on and when I got out the patch was floating about in the water. I put a new one on asap, though on the front of my pelvis to cover it with underwear and avoid more furring and haven't had any problems with it (it's been on for about 48 hours now)

I'm not questioning whether I'm still protected, I know I'm fine on that front, I just wanted to know if anyone else has had the problem of clothing fluff sticking to the edges of the patch, or if anyone else has had theirs come off in the bath. I wasn't in there for very long, maybe half an hour, and it's meant to stay on during bathing/showering... =\

 
 
Current Mood: curious
 
 
Hey Ladies, I need your help.

I always get UTIs, i'm talking like one every couple months or so. For the last two months, I've been dealing with a Kidney infection that will just not quit. I've been to a urologist, who has going in for an ultrasound and xray in the next couple weeks, with a follow up appointment on August 7th. Now i saw him last month, and he gave me some Cipro. I was told to take it when i feel the symptons of the infection coming on, one pill for three days.

Now it hasn't been too bad until today, when i pee, i get a sharp pain in my side, and all day today my lower back just aches. Working all day today didn't help matters now. I won't see the Urologist until the 7th of August, but i can start taking Cipro again since i have more. But, should i go back into the Doctor who orginally refered me to see what he says about the pain? Or hold off until i see the urologist?


Ugh. I feel so terrible! Any one else been through this? It just never seems to go away! I'm so sick of being sick!
 
 
Current Location: Vancouver, BC
Current Mood: sick
Current Music: Sensible Heart - City and Colour
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 01:12 am
Hey y'all,
I picked up some Avanti Bare condoms, made of polyisoprene, same as Lifestyles Skyns. It appears that they have completely replaced the original polyurethane Avanti condoms. I was excited to find them, because I love the material of the Skyns, but the lube on them gives me yeast infections. I tried them solo, and they caused no problems for my vag, but this morning when I used one for intercourse, the guy said he couldn't really feel much. My previous sex partner LOVED the Skyns, saying that he could feel everything (and I could even feel him ejaculate). I assumed that, since it's the same material, the Bare condoms would be just as good at transmitting sensation. Have any of you compared the two brands? Could it just be that this guy doesn't have a very sensitive penis?
 
 
Current Music: Iron and Wine - Passing Afternoon
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 01:07 am
I was just wondering if anyone had experience with these. I've recently gotten an IUD put in(this will be my 3rd cycle with it in), and since, I've had more discharge with a different odor than I'm used to. Because of this, I bought some powder so that my pants don't smell terrible after one wear, and so that I stop using pantyliners constantly. I wear cloth pantyliners and use a cup, does anyone know if either of these will be a problem to use with the powder/deodorant? I just don't want to get anything inside there that shouldn't be inside there, like powder residue or deodorant residue. I could just be completely silly for asking this as well, or paranoid.

If you have any useful info about this, it'd be awesome! Thanks!
 
 
Could someone PLEASE suggest a good OBGYN in the Ohio/Cincinnati area! I have seen a total of 7 different doctors in the past year to try to figure out what the heck is going on down there but I can't seem to find any good doctors that won't just treat my symptoms.

Also, I've been told I have endometriosis but I'm unsure if there is any kind of specialist I could go to for this.

TIA!
 
 
09 July 2009 @ 12:23 am
A couple of years back I came down with a delightful case of BV. I went on a bunch of antibiotics and tests came back clear.

But the symptoms linger. Itch, discharge, weird smell. It's the smell that gets to me the most - I used to have a nice scent, and now it's all...musty, I don't know. I can deal with the nonstop discharge and the irritation and itching, but I don't smell like myself and it's driving me insane!

My GYN's given me a clear bill of health, so I have no idea what could be causing this. I'd say it's psychosomatic, but even my mind couldn't create this smell! Has anyone else experienced BV symptoms that just won't quit? And is there anything I can do to keep myself from smelling like a basement full of old books?!
 
 
08 July 2009 @ 04:31 pm
I'm on week 2 of my first pack of Tri-Sprintec. My doctor switched me to it from Yasmin because of severe mood swings. Before the Tri-Sprintec my sugars were as follows:

Fasting: 70-100
2 hours post meal: 110-140

Since starting the Tri-Sprintec, they're:

Fasting: 140+
2 hours post meal: 200+


I've searched around on the internet and found that this is a common side effect. Does anyone know of any other HBC that has a more natural release - a tricycline, I guess - that doesn't do this? Any Type II Diabetics here run into this kind of problem? If so, what did you do? I'm on HBC because of PCOS. The fertility docs want to keep me on it until all their testing is finished - which, strangely, do not include hormone testing. Which I found odd. I thought I had an appointment with a reproductive endo. - upon advice from this community - but instead was seen by a fertility specialist. Hmm. :\
 
 
My period is supposed to start next wednesday but I have a camping trip planned Thurs-Saturday.
I'm on birth control and I plan on just taking another week of active pills next week and then the placebo pills.

my question is, will this somehow mess up next month's period? because it will technically be a week early?

I guess I'm a little confused as to the side effects of having periods 3 weeks apart rather than 4 weeks apart
 
 
08 July 2009 @ 03:51 pm
I got a Diva Cup recently, and before that hadn't done much exploration of my vagina. In my spelunking adventures I discovered a spongy lump on the front wall of my vagina (toward my stomach). It is not very deep in. I know it's not my cervix, but could this be my g-spot?  I keep searching what this "spongy part of my vagina" could be and that's the best answer I can find. (Or is it just plainly some spongy tissue, and do others have this?) It doesn't feel good (or bad) when I touch it but from what I understand this is normal.

I looked through the tags to find an answer to this and saw that some say the g-spot is spongy tissue but wanted to clarify...so delete this if it is irrelevant.:)
 
 
08 July 2009 @ 02:41 pm
I am a vegetarian, and use Depo as bc. I noticed that my vagina smells kinda like mild bleach, I don't know the best way to describe it other than to say that. Has anybody experienced something like that? When it smells like that my pantliners are like torn-up by what I guess is discharge Idk. It doesn't hurt.
 
 
08 July 2009 @ 02:15 pm

I chart my cycles through fertility friend so I have some statistics to help out.  So, a bit of background first:

Average cycle: 31 days
      6 cycles of 28 days
      4 cycles of 36 days  *these are by far the most frequent, other time frames were just 1 or 2 cycles.
shortest cycle: 25 days (just last month)
longest cycle: 38 days (a year and a half ago, and I started spotting on day 37 and 38)

Right now I am on day 38 of my cycle and there's nothing.  Not even spotting.  I have been having slight cramps everyday (like I sometimes get before my period) since day 33.  I knew that there was a possibility I was pregnant (my husband and I just use withdrawl method, and while it's worked for us for 6 years so far, I know it's not perfect) so on day 36 I took a test.  It was negative.  We had sex on days, 5,6,14,20,23,27,28 and 29 of my cycle.  I am trying to figure out if I maybe took the test too early or am having an anovulatory cycle.  It wouldn't think day 36 was too early, but I'm not sure.  Last time I went to my gyno I mentioned my 38 day cycle and she said it sounded like an anovulatry one, but not to worry unless it was a recurring pattern.  Can an anovulatory cycle go on this long though?  I would have thought I would have had at least SOMETHING by now, especially with the cramps.  I don't really have any other symptoms.  I get sore breasts sometimes before my periods, but not all the time and not now.  Nothing in my life/patterns has changed this month either.

So, to quit rambling.  My questions are:  Do you think it's an anovulatory cycle?  Do you think I tested too early?  Should I test again and if so when? (I don't want to waste money on tests for no reason)  I'm fine (and possibly excited) if I am pregnant since we were planning to try for a baby in a few months anyway.  I just don't feel like I am though.  Any thoughts/help? :)

 

 
 
Current Mood: confused
 
 
08 July 2009 @ 01:15 pm
I'm on Yaz birth control to keep my acne under control. I'm 17 years old, and I had my first pap smear after I turned 15, to see if I could go on birth control. My doctor was very gentle with me, and the exam went as planned, but it was one of the worst experiences in my life, basically. I have no idea why I am so afraid of anything going into or around my vagina opening, I have never tried to explore down there or finger myself before or after my exam. The whole time I sobbed and cried, and wanted it to stop but I went through it.

I went for another one last year, and I was so upset before I even went, and when I was in the room, I was just freaking out. He said he would just use his finger to feel if everything was okay, but as soon as he did, I just brokw down and he didn't do anything. I've never been raped or sexually molested, and have no bad connotations to anything sexual. Thinking about having to go back has me literally in tears. He told me that after I turned 18, I needed to come back once a year in order to stay on my birth control (and nothing else has helped my acne, it's purely hormonal). I highly doubt I will be sexually active any time soon, I have no interest at the time, but my question is:

Do I need a yearly pap if I'm not sexually active? Can I get any strain of HPV without sexual activity?

I'm really not sure if I am willing to give up my birth control and have bad skin again, but...this is all very nerve-wracking for me. And it's pretty embarrassing for me to admit, so I'm thankful for a place like this to be able to get it off of my chest.