Spotting/pain problems.

[mediawar.livejournal.com]

Pills, random bleeding, pain, etc.



I've been on Yasmin for about 6 years (I’m 28). I'd tried 5 or 6 pills before and they were all awful, and Yasmin is the only one that I don't seem like a lunatic on (ie. not crying all the time, double periods, etc). Other than the odd time I was REALLY stressed, my period was like clock-work. Take last pill in pack (I'm a Wednesday start, not a Sunday), and by early Friday morning (between 5 and 7am) I'd have my period. I do not miss pills (only once, 2 years ago), and take them within 15 minutes of 7:30pm every single night (except the beginning of the month I had to take one at 6:40pm due to a work presentation I couldn't really pause, and another I took at 7:00pm a week ago due to another presentation).

But the last 9-10 months or so, my period didn't start until Saturday morning, or as late as late Saturday afternoon. It always lasted until the same day I started the next pack (Wednesday). During this time, every 3 months or so I would get what seemed like breakthrough bleeding either 3, 7 or 10 days before. If it was 3 or 7 days before it would last up to and including my period, 10 days before usually only lasted a day or two. I've also had strange "shooting pain" in either my cervix/vagina/that general area. It usually only lasts a few hours and stops, only every few months. Also, a few times after we’ve had sex, there’s been the tiniest amount of blood, but I think it’s because he’s too rough sometimes *delicate, haha.* Also, I sometimes hurt for a day or two after sex, more often in the last 6-8 months. I mentioned this to my doctor and he said maybe I’m too dry or something :/

Thursday night I had a strange pain inside and mild itching, and wondered if I was getting a yeast infection. Friday morning the pain and itching were gone, but I was bleeding very lightly, which continued all day, and has continued up until now (Saturday afternoon). This afternoon there was some darker blood (honestly, and TMI, it looked like thick-ish hot sauce). I'm not supposed to get my period until NEXT weekend. So 8 days early with the blood again.
I've been with the same partner in a monogamous relationship for about 3.5 years. I was last tested for STDs/STIs 3 years ago, and he’s been tested at least twice in the last 3 years (for Visa purposes, not just for fun), and I’ve seen his results – all negative, most recently about 6 months ago – so I’m assuming it’s nothing like that.

I don't know if this is a cause for concern, or just hold tight until next weekend when I *should* get my period? Since I was young I’ve had this horrible fear of ovarian cancer. My aunt had it several years ago (after menopause), so it’s not just pregnancy I’m scared of as I do NOT want kids, unfortunately my boyfriend does – an issue we have been dealing with. it’s also cancer, ovarian cycts, etc.

Any advice?

Comments

(frozen) 3.5 years

[dcwttaoo1.livejournal.com]

And you are not married? Good luck with the no kids part; that will break you guys up. Sorry.

As for you timing, have you tried planned parenthood, or your doctor (just a call)?

(frozen) Re: 3.5 years

[teacupcake89.livejournal.com]

your reply is unhelpful, rude and disrespectful. What does it matter whether the OP is/has been/plans to be married??

(frozen) Re: 3.5 years

[dcwttaoo1.livejournal.com]

The truth is all.

(frozen) Re: 3.5 years

[mediawar.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I didn't even know what to say. 3.5 years of dating doesn't mean everyone is ready to walk down the aisle (35 years of dating might not!)

(frozen) Re: 3.5 years

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

Word!

(Do people still say "word"? I hope so.)

(frozen) Safe Space Reminder

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Hi dcwttaoo1,

I'm writing as a VP maintainer to remind you that VP is a safe space, and your comment isn't in accordance with our safe space policy.

While you're certainly entitled to define what is an ideal or workable relationship for you, that definition is not a universal "truth" -- and in VP, you're not entitled to judge others' relationships as less than based on your personal definition.

This is a friendly reminder to please review VP's policies to help us make VP a nicer place for everyone. You can follow these links for more information:

--What are VP's rules? (http://wiki.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ#What_are_the_rules.3F)
--What is "safe space"? What does "empowerment" mean? What does "accountability" look like? (http://wiki.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ#Safe_Space)

We issue safe space reminders to help our members acknowledge and include everyone, and to help keep VP a safe space for all. We hope you'll continue to participate in VP with this in mind. Safe space means a lot to many of our members, and it's amazing how much we can help just by being a little more careful with what we say.

If you'd like to talk more, your thoughts are welcome in contact_vp or via email (vpteam@vaginapagina.com). However, we just ask that you not discuss your reminder in this VP thread, since it would draw attention away from the original post.

Thanks for understanding.

-- Tori
for the VP Team (http://www.vaginapagina.com/contact.php)
contact_vp

[stothyra.livejournal.com]

On the period side, one possibility could be that your hormone levels have changed. They do that every so many years (I don't recall the number). I'm assuming that will interact with your pill, not in a you aren't protected sense, but a "withdrawal bleeds are effected" interaction. That can result in breakthrough bleeding. When I was on Yasmin I was a Sunday start but didn't get my period until Wednesday or Thursday. I'm on a different pill now, Sunday start, and I still don't get my withdrawal bleed until a few days into the placebos. Go talk to your doctor about it, and changing pills is definitely an option.

The tiny amount of blood and pain after sex? I've gotten spotting after rough sex, even if I use plenty of lube. I also end up sore for a few days afterward. It feels great at the time, but not after. I get better if I abstain for a few days. If I don't, the sex tends to be pretty painful even with a lot of lube. I leave it alone and let it heal.

The shooting pain I don't have experience with. That's another thing to bring up with your doctor.

Also, can you change "clean" to something like STI-free? Thanks.

[teacupcake89.livejournal.com]

This :)

it might be just the you need to change to a new pill, but best to check everything with a GP, especially the shooting pains :)

I've had breakthrough bleeding when I've stacked for several months, when I was stressed with university work and when I was sick/had a tummy bug so my body thought I had missed a pill. Have you taken a pregnancy test? (even if it's just for peace of mind until you can get a drs appointment)

agreeing re the sex: lots and lots of lube can help a lot. I get very very sore after sex even with lots of lube but it's no way near as bad as if with didn't use it. I've had some tiny spotting after sex too but I think it was more dislodged from orgasm/sex and another time when I was stacking and my body was desperate to bleed!

[mediawar.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit uneasy about switching pills -- Yasmin has been the only one that hasn't made me an emotional mess. Also, it has eased my cramps and amount of blood loss tremendously. For the first 9 years of my period (pre-Yasmin), regardless of whether I was on other pills or not, I would have horrible, debilitating cramps, and miss a day or two of work/school because I'd be at home in pain and with what seemed like the flu EVERY SINGLE TIME I got my period (vomiting, dhiarrea, etc), blood flow so heavy I'd not be able to leave the safety of my black security blanket and double-pads....

As for the pains, yes, I do think I should see a doctor. They freak me out a bit. The literal after-sex pain I can deal with. But the shooting pain is odd.

Thank you for your help :)

[mediawar.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was hormone level changes. That does ease my troubled mind a little.

I was just looking for a little reassurance here, as I can't get in to see my family doctor for about 3-4 months. A random doctor in my clinic will just try to shove pills on me, and I'm not interested in that.

And sorry, I will change it, but I meant as in, had testing done for various things, had a clean bill of health -- doctors words, not mine.

Thank you for your reply!

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it's not a clear open and shut case from your descriptions. So it's really hard to say "you'll be fine, just do x" with any confidence.

Just so I'm clear, you're dealing with:
1. Breakthrough bleeding, not just spotting, but full-on needing a tampon levels of bleeding
2. Shooting pains in your cervix, vulva and vagina, connected or triggered by...what? Do you have any ideas? Do they happen post-sex, or at certain points in the month, or after doing other activities?
3. Soreness post-sex
4. Itching, though this is most recent and the least worrying to you

Is that about right?

1. Yeah, breakthrough bleeding happens, even if it has worked just fine in the past. Others are right, you might need to experiment with other formulations.
2 & 3. The source of this could really depend on what triggers it, and what it feels like.

If it's related to sex and only happens during or afterwards, my personal pulpit is to examine your lube. Try a formulation that's free of glycerin, methyl paraben and propyl paraben. When I switched from JO H2O to Sliquid Botanicals, my vagina got WAY happier, and my pain during sex decreased. (It didn't go away completely until I switched from the NuvaRing to the Mirena.)

If it only happens afterwards and could also be described as cramping pain, maybe your body is reacting to your partner's semen. The prostaglandins in semen can cause cramping, and some people are allergic to other stuff in their partner's ejaculate. To test for this hypothesis, try withdrawal or condoms for a while.

4. On that note, semen can trigger mild imbalances (and worse) in a vagina, leading to itching and dry sensations. Mild imbalances can be BV or yeast in hiding, and not show up under a swab or visual exam until they get worse. Trying one of the reacidification methods in the vulvapedia (link in top bar) articles for yeast or BV should help things out.

Maintainer Note

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Hi mediawar,

I'm writing as a VP maintainer to remind you that VP is a safe space - as such, we'd like to ask you to edit your post so that it does not include the word "clean" to describe someone who is STI-free. Using "clean" that way implies that people who have STIs are "dirty," and we prefer not to further that harmful stereotype.

This is a friendly reminder to please review VP's policies to help us make VP a nicer place for everyone. You can follow these links for more information:

--What are VP's rules? (http://wiki.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ#What_are_the_rules.3F)
--What is "safe space"? What does "empowerment" mean? What does "accountability" look like? (http://wiki.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ#Safe_Space)
--What is VP's language policy? (http://wiki.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=VaginaPagina_FAQ#VP.27s_Language_Policy)

Please don't think we're scolding you or don't want you here. We issue safe space reminders to help our members acknowledge and include everyone, and to help keep VP a safe space for all. We hope you'll continue to participate in VP with this in mind. Safe space means a lot to many of our members, and it's amazing how much we can help just by being a little more careful with what we say.

If you'd like to talk more, your thoughts are welcome in contact_vp or via email (vpteam@vaginapagina.com). However, we just ask that you not discuss your reminder in this VP thread, since it would draw attention away from the original post.

Thanks for understanding.

-- Tori
for the VP Team (http://www.vaginapagina.com/contact.php)
contact_vp

[dkwgdk.livejournal.com]

When I was on the pill I sometimes had ovulation bleeding about ten days before my period was due to start. I also often had my withdrawal bleed (it's technically not a period) begin four days into the placebo pills. In addition, I had the random stabbing pains in my vagina, those have continued. In short, what you are describing is consistent with my experience. However, I'm not a doctor.

At the moment I have a Mirena, which I got because I can't take oral contraceptives (mood problems, migraines) and I needed help controlling my extremely heavy periods. So far it's great. If it turns out you need a Yasmin alternative, I'd encourage you to check it out. I'm 35 and have never been pregnant, FWIW.

About the itching...whenever I have light bleeding with very dark/thick discharge I often get itching with it. Sometimes this bleeding happens at ovulation, and sometimes it happens before I get my period. My understanding is that the itching occurs because the blood hangs out in your vagina longer and sort of dries, pulling on the skin around it and causing itching. It's like when you have a scab and the skin under it heals but the dry, tight scab gets itchy before it falls off. The only thing I've found that kind of helps is cleaning my vulva off with a damp washcloth to help dissolve some of the blood/scabby bits.

About the pain with sex...if it's internal, achy pain, that's something I get too, about 30% of the time I have sex. It doesn't seem to matter if hitting my cervix is or isn't involved in the sex. I find that if I start getting twinges during or shortly after sex, I can take some cramp bark and it will head off the problem.

If it's external and/or burn-y pain (which is what it sounds more like), I'd suggest trying non-latex condoms, avoiding spermicidal lubricant, and avoiding glycerin-based lubes. Allll of those things make me itch like nobody's business. You can develop sensitivities to latex or spermicide at any point, even if you didn't have trouble with these things before. I like Durex Skyn and Trojan Supra condoms, and Babeland silicone lube or Liquid Silk, both of them available online.

Hope this is helpful.

[mediawar.livejournal.com]

Thank you, you have been very helpful! I'm still going to try to get into the doctor in the next little while, but it does put me at ease a little knowing I'm not the only one who has experienced certain symptoms (whether they're normal or not, haha, I don't know!).

Thank you for the alternative suggestion (Mirena) as well. I had HEAVY, HEAVY, debilitating painful periods up until I went on Yasmin. Double-pads heavy, or stay-home-until-it's-over heavy periods. I can't imagine ever having to do that again.

[dkwgdk.livejournal.com]

Oh geez, the stay in the house periods! Those are the worst! Nobody believed me about them, either. Before I got the Mirena I was wearing Depends because that was the only thing that could handle the flow.

If your periods are that heavy, you might want someone to look into whether or not you have endometriosis. Despite what I was told (rolls eyes) about 10 years ago, the only way to diagnose endo is with laproscopic surgery. My docs then insisted that transvaginal ultrasounds could reveal endo and I didn't have it. I've got almost every common endo symptom and have had a number of causes (fibroids, adenomyosis, etc) ruled out.

The good news is that (in my understanding) the most common first-line treatment for endo is what you and I are already doing: the Mirena or oral contraceptives. I've not had laproscopic surgery because I figure "eh, what I'm doing right now is working." But, if I needed to go off the Mirena in the future, I might get it checked out.

If you are going to the doctor anyway, you might want to ask and see what they think. Good luck!