(no subject)

[mercurysmile.livejournal.com]

( freaking out. )

Switching from depo to ortho evra

[maclyn.livejournal.com]

I was due to have a Depo Provera injection today, but I switched to Ortho Evra patches instead. I'm a little unclear about whether I'm protected right now or if I need to use condoms for the next seven days. I've looked up several websites and they have conflicting information. Can anybody help?

I'm also a tiny bit freaked out because I've been using Depo for a while now and I trust it. I switched because I was uncomfortable with Depo Proveras links with depression (if it's making mine worse then it's just not worth it) but I'm a bit paranoid about the effectiveness of the patch. Can anybody here who uses the patch reassure me? I'm thinking about having a Mirena fitted but in the meantime I'll be using the patch. Thanks :)

EDIT: I just phoned the FPA's contracpetion helpline and they confirmed that I'm protected right now. Thanks for your help everybody! :)

epilators

[paix.livejournal.com]

has anyone used or heard of epiliators? they look like electric razors, but instead of shaving the hair, it pulls the hair out from the root. i just bought one on my vacation to japan, and tried it on my underarms. to my dismay, it is a bit painful. has anyone used one on their bikini line?

boobs and more boobs

[yuhoo.livejournal.com]

...alright. i know the begining is off subject but it is related. i hate it how all my guy friends if I get mad at something they do or I am depressed it is because of my "monthly visitor" *rages* g-d forbid i am actually angry, right? anyway, my question has to do with breast swelling. I just started the nuva ring but even before that about 2 weeks ago from today my boobs just...said hello one morning and are about 2 cups bigger now than before. I have had some mild swealing before, but this is crazy. Anyway how long is or would people here consider "normal" for this to last? I mean...in one way it is funny but I do not want to spead book money on new bras if I do not need them. thanks.

ps: also is it normal to have cramping in the vaginal cavity for about 30 minutes after inserting the ring/tampon ? it has been happening for the last few days and just want to make sure i should not be worried. thanks again

perhaps a little too excited..lol

[thebadlilkittie.livejournal.com]

So last saturday i got my period.Yay! After 4 almost 5 months w/out I never thought i'd be so happy to get my period.Even tho its almost been a straight 7 day week(is that normal?)......Anyway..this is so weird and i keep most period stuff to myself but I was terrified today( Read more... )

DivaCup Issues

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

( I still haven't been able to get a satisfactory answer for this. )

Suggestions, anyone? Help would be much appreciated.

Sore girly bits.

[lindsey-nichole.livejournal.com]

( Cut for potential length issues. )

Lexapro

[mon-oubliette.livejournal.com]

I am about to start Lexapro tonight, after years of anxiety and depression related issues. I concerned over the side effects. It's a SSRI, and is suppose to have low sexual side effects. I am party taking it to help with some overwhemlling anxious behaviors that will occur during intense romantic situations (as in my inability to speak, tensing up, and becoming overly emotional). This is in combination with therapy sessions.

*Has any one had any luck while taking this?
*How did it have any effect on your mood swings or period blues (I have been on the Nuva-ring over a year)?
*Did you have a significant weight gain?

Hopefully this will help me out of the corner I feel trapped in.
Thanks in advance.

leg BO

[justakid.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend suggested I keep my "area" trimmed so that it doesn't smell like girl sweat when he goes down on me. He doesn't mean shave it, he just means keep it shorter and neater. But whenever I've tried that, I've always gotten REALLY itchy...even when I barely trim ANYTHING! He thinks it's psychological, but I'm not so sure...has anyone heard of this before? Is there something to counter it? Remember, it's not my natural vaginal smell I'm talking about, it's the B.O. from any sweating I do between my legs.

I've referenced VP's archives, and I'm going to try giving myself a little wipedown before playtime and see if that helps. Any other suggestions?

Avlimil, Enzyte, Altovis Update

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Some of you were members of the community back at the beginning of last year when I made a post about the makers of Avlimil (a non-prescription supplement for women) engaging in dodgy billing practices. I then reported them to the Better Business Bureau, and got a full refund.

The manufacturer, Berkeley Premium Neutraceuticals, has recently had three locations raided by the FBI, FDA *and* the IRS in direct connection with their fraudulent billing practices.

They are still in operation, but I warn you all not to be tempted by their product if you see it advertised anywhere.


Lesson learned: Don't fuck with me. ;)

another blood pressure and birth control question

[hikerpoet.livejournal.com]

Hello! I've mentioned this on here before, but never as the main poster. I have been on Ortho-Novum 777 birth control pill for something like 12 years and I'm very happy with it. But I have borderline high blood pressure (120/80) and my doctor wants to take me off.
I've done some research, but it is confusing, with sometimes conflicting info, or not enough details, or the right angle, or incomplete answers. I trust you experienced women!
Also, I am a 28 year old athletic non-smoker at a normal, healthy weight, with good eating habits, and great test results when it comes to my other vitals, so while I could try a super-specialized diet, or more cardio as opposed to the cross-training type of exercise I usually do, that might not work (as I essentually AM doing everything right, aside from some recent stress) so my doctor just wants to take me off the pill to see if that brings it down. Makes sense, even if it is a little sad and frustrating as it has worked so well for me otherwise. But it will be good if it does work, as that will be a quick fix--otherwise I'll have to go on blood pressure meds.
So my main question, as it seems to be a tangled jungle of info out there which I am having trouble bushwhacking through, is what birth control options ARE open to me?

Is it just the copper IUD and barrier, or are there other things that may work, too, due to a lower dose or working differently? My doctor is pushing the IUD hardcore, which I'm open to, but are there other safe options? I'm on a deductible plan, so while I take care of my routine health, I can't afford a second, third, fourth, and fifth professional opinion.

So does anyone know? Thanks!

(no subject)

[angelsdemise.livejournal.com]

I just found out we have medical insurance again, and I've now got to find a doctor. So, I've got a couple questions for you ladies.

1. Is anyone in or around the Sacramento, CA area? And do you know of any good Women's Health groups, or Gynocologists (I think I spelled that wrong)in the area. I'm looking for someone like my last doctor, very helpful and understanding and who is willing to explain to me the things that are going on in my body. I've had some scary gyno experiences, and I'm worried.

2. I'm thinking of switching from taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (aka "The Pill") to possibly having the patch instead. Mainly because I forget to take my pills all the time. I'm not neccesarily trying to keep from getting pregnant, but my periods are very -VERY- irregular and I need to be on BC to regulate them. So anyway, what I want to know is how the two compare as far as emotional/physical side effects or anything like that. I never really had any side effects with OTC-Lo. And, does the patch help regulate your cycles?

Thanks in advance for any of your help!

First day with NuvaRing - burning sensation

[another-comfort.livejournal.com]

Okay, after googling the Quick Start method and asking about it here (got some very helpful info, thanks!), I decided to go ahead and insert my first NuvaRing today. I inserted it in the morning, right after I woke up. (So I was excited about it. :P)

First impression...easy to insert. That's good. Second impression...I could feel it, even though it was definitely up far enough (I felt it hit my cervix...I have an extremely sensitive cervix...ow). That has since gone away and now I'm checking randomly to make sure it's still there, heh. It's lodged up there pretty good, though.

Third impression, one that worries me: I felt a very slight burning sensation from the moment I put it in. It was so slight that I questioned if I was really feeling burny or not, but I was. But it's gotten stronger as the day has gone on...I'm *definitely* feeling burny now, to the point where it's slightly uncomfortable and even feels almost cramp-y. But it's definitely burny.

Is this normal? If so, will it go away? I already react badly to the pH of my partner's semen (he has to drink a ton of water before we have sex)...when I read through the archives there was mention of burning after sex. With the way I have to be careful with my partner anyway, I really don't need that! Yikes!

I already wondered if I was dry and that was causing irritation, but the large amount of discharge makes me doubt that a lot.

If this is not normal, does it mean I'll have to discontinue using the ring? I am on it for the hormones and I really, really, really, really want it to work out.

(no subject)

[tanoshii-chan.livejournal.com]

Hi, I have a whole bunch of stuff going on at the same time, so I couldn't really find any straight answers for what is going on.

I'm 21 years old, married/sexually active, had a child vaginally six months ago, am currently on month two of the depo shot for the first time in my life and now have weird things going on vaginally.

I think (jeez, there's no way to be sure) that my periods have stopped. Could be in part due to breastfeeding and in part due to the depo. I have no idea. That's fine, I could care less. But I've been having these little *pinching* pains in my vagina. Due to the pregnancy and baby, I've become much more acutely aware of any happenings in that area. These are kind of short, sharp pangs, that really do feel almost as if someone were pinching the flesh with sharp fingernails. Sometimes I'll have them a few times in one day. Other times they'll only happen once every few days. But they started happening about 2 months post partem and keep happening.

I wouldn't be concerned if it wasn't pain, which I generally don't like. I don't think it's associated with sexual activity or orgasms. I haven't been bleeding, so I'm not sure if it's associated with cycling. It feels mostly like it's happening to those muscles on the vaginal floor. Any thoughts or ideas? It kind of sucks.

Time for another panic attack

[angeleyes2699.livejournal.com]

I recently switched from Depo to the patch, and since I put my first patch on before my next shot was due, I was told that I would be protected from day one.

I was perusing the NuvaRing site, and they suggest that when switching from a Progestin-only method of contraception to use a backup method for the first 7 days.

Why is it different? Would this also apply to the patch? Can someone please enlighten me, for the love of all that is good in this world, before I have yet another panic attack??

cross-posted to ortho_evra

scare? herpes?

[lokibat.livejournal.com]

so i got a fat lip a couple days ago, but wasnt from a bump to the face.. which seemed fluid filled, so i squeezed it. because i poke and prod anything abnormal. and a little fluid came out and a tiny bit of blood,

my lips have been insanely chapped lately. ive been using the same chapstick since december.

the fat lip has gone down but theres a little scab where i chewed and squeezed..
then i made a connection that it is a little like a small pimple type thing i get on my nether lips.. not very often at all, and never more than one isolated bump at a time. which i can usually pop and then it goes away.

and now upon closer inspection of my lips, there are little tiny tiny smaller than a pore-sized white looking bumpy things, like, under the skin..
i seem to have something similar on my nether lips too. but everyone insists in the past, that its a gland thing.. if i pinch my inner labia, it sortof feels like sand under the skin..

someone below said something about herpes and now im freaking out. ive googled images and what i have doesnt look like that, the eruption thing anyways, but the white cottagecheese type skin business is similar. but wayyy smaller than any of these pictures.

i just broke up with my boyfriend this week, altho we still talk.. but its been insanely stressful.
i know i need to see a doctor. but right now im out of town on a business trip, so i have to wait at least a couple days.

is what i thought was gland type stuff actually herpes? any thoughts?

boy has had a blood test more recently than i have and hes clean.. this is just stressing me out more.
the white bumpy things are on my inner labia, and the (what i thought were) pimples happen on the outer.
im so confused.

yay for illinois

[rachelish.livejournal.com]

from cnn.com Illinois governor: No delays in birth control prescriptions

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved an emergency rule Friday requiring pharmacies to fill birth control prescriptions quickly after a Chicago pharmacist refused to fill an order because of moral opposition to the drug.

Shaving issue.

[gottabewhoiam.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I took the advice I found in this LJ and its separate website, and bought a bikini trimmer to shave. I bought a pink/purple remington bikini trimmer (if that makes a difference) and tested it out Wednesday after showering. I didn't shave fully, I just trimmed part of the front area to get used to the trimmer. So here's my problem: I've had a pretty much nonstop itching where I used the trimmer since I shaved. I've showered since then, so I'm pretty sure I got rid of any cut hair that may have been irritating me, but now I just don't know what to do. It itches all the time, to the point where I can barely restrain myself in public. If anybody has any advice on this, I'd really appreciate it. It's not a yeast infection or anything, since it's not even near where that would be. Thanks so much.

Interesting Convo, and Random Question

[lostboy-tootles.livejournal.com]

Hee. Just wanted to make a quick Yay post. My roommate and I actually discussed masturbation (or more specifically, the fact that we both masturbate) for the first time. We're really close friends and happily discuss intimate details of our sex lives with each other, but masturbation is such a taboo subject that we've never talked about it. Broached the subject a few times, but never come right out and admitted it. I started it, without thinking about it, by saying something to the effect of given the choice I'd choose to give up sex for alcohol, cause I can take care of my own needs sexually, but I can't duplicate the effects of alcohol. It wasn't a long conversation or anything, but I was just Yay cause it's the first time I've discussed it with another girl in person.

Also, why on earth do so many guys find it sexy to find out a woman masturbates, or to see them do so? I certainly don't think there's anything hot about a guy jacking off in front of me. We discussed that too (both of our guys have asked us to masturbate in front of them), and were unable to come up with a satisfactory answer. Any opinions are appreciated!