(no subject)

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could answer my question. I'm 16 and don't know too much about this stuff. For the past few days I've had this uncomfortable feeling in my vagina. I don't really know how to describe it, it's almost like um I would say an itch kinda in my vagina. Sorry I can't really describe it any better, does anyone have any idea of what could possibly be wrong with me? Thank you so much for your help.

Comments

[leastlikely.livejournal.com]

Is the itch actually inside the vagina? Has there been any strange discharge or smells? Does it burn when you pee or anything like that?

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

Yeah it's pretty much inside. I haven't had any change in discharge or smell. It doesn't burn when I pee or anything like that.

[beachgurl122.livejournal.com]

Are you due for your period soon?

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

Yeah i should be due within the next week or two.

[beachgurl122.livejournal.com]

I have noticed on many occasions, that I get itchy inside when I am getting my period soon, especially if that is your only symptom. When your period does come, and the itching stops, then I wouldnt worry :) I think it has to do with a change in your vagina's PH at that time! Hope this helps! You can always buy an OTC cream, like Vagasil...that helps..and of course, if it does not go away then see your dr!! Hope you feel better soon :)

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

thank you so much :)

[beachgurl122.livejournal.com]

You are very welcome!

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

Two fairy common causes of vaginal itching are bacterial vaginosis (commonly referred to as BV) (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Bacterial_vaginosis) and yeast infections (YIs) (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Yeast_Infection).

I don't mean to be nosy, but are you sexually active? I ask because there are also some sexually transmitted infections that can cause itchiness, too.

My advice is to get this checked out by a health care provider, who can determine the cause and help you treat it. Sometimes women who have had yeast infections in the past and are readily able to recognize the symptoms in themselves may self-diagnose and treat the YI on their own, but since it sounds like you're not sure what's causing this and because the symptoms aren't definitively those of a yeast infection, I think it's important to get this checked out by a professional before you embark on any course of treatment. Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon. :)

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have been sexually active for about two months. I really want to go to a doctor, not only for this but just to make sure everything is ok because I am newly sexually active. My problem is I don't know how to propose this to my mom. I honestly don't want her to know that I am sexually active because knowing her she would flip her shit.

I would also like to know if it would be a stupid idea to continue to have sex while I have this?

[starthieving.livejournal.com]

Tell her you want to be on birth control because your periods are too irregular/heavy, you have acne, something like that.

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

I have because honeslty my periods are irregular, sometimes extremely heavy and I am always extremely and ridiculous emotional. Her response to this was I was the same way when I was young I had to deal with it so you can too. And to the emotional thing she told me it was all in my mind, that I wasn't the only women that had her period and that it's under my control.

She's impossible.

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

ridiculously*

[starthieving.livejournal.com]

How old are you? If you're over 18 you can go by yourself and your doctor is not allowed to share information unless you give him/her permission. I guess she might find out you had been going through insurance EOBs but you could just tell her that you were fed up with the period issue and decided to go yourself.
Also, look into Planned Parenthood. I don't know anything about them because there's not one anywhere near I live, but I assume they have a website with some info about their services.

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

I am 16 so I can't go by myself but I have given Planned Parenthood some thouhgt, I just need to look into it.

[jenn-possible.livejournal.com]

You could also try a county health clinic if there's one near you. That's where I went when I was 16.

[archangelbeth]

If you have irregular periods, you could ask to go and be tested for hypothyroidism. That was, apparently, one of the symptoms of my untreated hypo. (I was in denial about my hypothyroidism for a long while; now I'm an annoying convert. Harmless, mostly, though.)

You could also probably ask for privacy and explain to the doctor that you were concerned about a yeast infection or BV -- the former, at the least, can happen for any number of reasons, depending on the woman, such as wiping back to front, taking a bubble bath, getting soap near the vagina, or having a reaction to a detergent perfume in the undies.

If you do have a YI, having sex could give your partner the YI, and even if he didn't have much in the way of symptoms, he could pass it back to you. If you're using condoms, this is less of an issue, though not no issue -- the part of his body not covered in the condom could come into contact with yours and the yeasties might manage to colonize. (When an oral/skin YI is transmitted between a nursing mother's breast and her baby's mouth, it's called thrush.)

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

You don't necessarily have to tell her that you are sexually active -- you could just say "Hey Mom, I think that I may have a yeast infection or something." You definitely don't have to be sexually active in order to get a yeast infection -- they can happen to anyone.

I'd say it's probably a good idea to wait until you know the cause of the discomfort to have any sort of penetrative intercourse (that is, penis-in-vagina, or PIV sex, or fingering, or use of dildoes or anything else along those lines). It does suck to have to wait, but it's probably better in the long run.

Do you by chance use spermicidal condoms, or spermicide on its own as a contraceptive? For some women, spermicide can be super-irritating to the vagina and vulva, so that is another possible cause.

[xxannonymousxx.livejournal.com]

We have used spermicidal condoms probably three or four times.

I have another question, sorry for know pretty much nothing about this stuff.

I know a gynocologist (sp?) can tell when you're not a virgin but do they tell your parents?

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

I have another question, sorry for know pretty much nothing about this stuff.

No need to apologize! I think it's awesome that you're asking questions -- it's the best way to learn about any subject, and here in VP we are all about asking and answering questions about sexual health. Ask all the questions you want, and we'll be happy to answer them to the best of our ability. :)

This is kind of a tricky question. A gynecologist, or any health care provider who performs a pelvic exam, can tell whether or not a person has a hymen, which is typically viewed as a sign (or the sign) of virginity. However, some women are born without hymens, or lose them through non-sexual means. So really, a medical professional cannot know for sure. Most will ask whether or not you are sexually active, though, because it's important for them to know in order to give you the best possible treatment.

They definitely should not share any information about your sex life with your parents, especially if you ask your individual health care provider not to do so.

[bleedingcherub.livejournal.com]

I really want to go to a doctor, not only for this but just to make sure everything is ok because I am newly sexually active. My problem is I don't know how to propose this to my mom.

You could go to a Planned Parenthood alone, or you could tell her you think you have a YI. She's not likely to sit in on your chat with the doc.

Subject Line Request

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Could you please edit your post to include a descriptive subject line? This will help other members use your post as a resource in the future. For more information on what we mean, take a look at this part (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ#VP.27s_Courtesy_Checklist_for_Posting) of our FAQ (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ).

Thanks!
Tori
For the VP Team (http://www.vaginapagina.com/contact.php)
contact_vp

[notknowhow.livejournal.com]

Hi,

i really don't mean to be presumptuous, but why not have a conversation with your mom (or dad if that's more conformable for you? it was for me!) about your sex-life/sexual health?

You don't have to necessarily start with 'HEY MOM! i met this boy and the sex is GREAT!' but maybe start with 'hey mom, what do you know about HBC?' Talk to her about setting up your first gyn visit. If you are open about it, she might just think you're being responsible about your own health?

And about getting an appointment, just say something like 'my vag is itchy and i need to go to the dr.'. Don't make it complicated. And the dr. will only know you are having sex if you tell her (which you should so you can et testing for what might cause the itch.)

[shegotaflavor.livejournal.com]

I waited until 18 to become sexually active and was very ignorant with birth control methods. The condom ended up breaking and my mind went blank. I had no idea what steps I could take to make sure I didn't become pregnant. I ended up telling my Mother and she was actually really cool about it and told me about the morning after pill. The fact that you're now sexually active is a reason to go to the gynecologist and get all the information you can about sex. It's also a good time to get birth control and that doesn't mean you should stop using condoms. Honestly, you can never trust guys these days even if you think your in love with them.

I couldn't begin to tell you how many of my friends under 20 have sexually transmitted diseases. I also read a survey that said 1 out of every 3 high school girls has an STD now! So definitely continue to use condoms regardless of birth control. Men are silly when their young and sexually promiscuous. It sounds like you have a yeast infection and that is usually cleared up with one pill. I go to planned parenthood which is amazing because it's confidential and you don't usually have to pay.

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that your mom was there for you in that situation, and that she was able to help you get the care you needed. Moms (and dads, too) can be surprisingly awesome sometimes.

I also agree that the OP (and anyone else contemplating using HBC as her/his primary means of contraception) should be aware that it doesn't protect users against STIs. Not knowing the OP's situation, I don't want to tell her that she should or shouldn't continue to use condoms if she begins using HBC, though -- I think that's kind of her call.

However, I have to disagree with some of your statements about men. While it's unfortunately true that there are guys (and girls) out there who are dishonest about their STI status, or who are simply unaware that they are harboring an STI and pass it on to their partner(s) through simple ignorance, I don't think it's fair to lump all guys/men together that way. There are plenty of honest, educated men of all ages out there, and since we don't know the OP's partner, I think it's best not to make judgments about his character. :)

[tenna.livejournal.com]

Is it possible to talk to your mother about HBC, but more under the "I have not had sex YET, but would like to be prepared whenever the time comes?"

I had that conversation with my mother after becoming sexually active. I didn't want to tell her, but I still wanted to be on the pill to protect myself... so I told her I wasn't sexually active but could not guarantee I would stay that way.

[mydocuments.livejournal.com]

My advice would to be to explain to your mother that you think you may have a yeast infection or BV, and you would really like to have it checked out by a doctor, since this is the first time it's happened. Like every other woman who has suffered from a YI, she will probably understand why you're so physically uncomfortable, and why you really want to get it treated.