I have a few questions/commets.

[didiconn.livejournal.com]

First let me say I've never been a user of LJ and found your page quite by accident, but it really interested me so I decided to join just to post.

When I was 15 or so, I made my first visit to Planned Parenthood, and had a complete checkup done, and also got on the pill. While I was there, they gave me condoms to use without checking for any allergies I may have had. Well a few days after I used one of the condoms, my vagina was red, swollen, and itchy. It hurt to do anything, so i sat in a warm bathtub for hours trying to ease the pain and itchiness. When I called PP, they said my test results had come back negative and probably had nothing to worry about and it would just 'go away'. It did go away, about a week later. I was never afraid of it being a yeast infection, there was no discharge of any sort, and I'd always heard there was with a Y.I. After it went away, my boyfriend and I started to have sex again, and the same thing happened. When I called PP again, they still told me I had nothing to worry about. I was a bit ticked off at this point. I mean, I can barely walk and they weren't doing anything to help, so I made an appt. with a doctor at my local clinic. After running a few tests, he told me I was allergic to nonoxyl-9, the spermicide they use on the condoms PP hands out. Once I switched brands, all itching and swelling stopped. I thought I would share that experience with you, and maybe it will help one of you.

I also had a few questions. I've since stopped taking the pill, my memory is far too weak, and got on the shot about 4 months ago. Since getting on the shot, I've had to urinate about 10 times more a day. I used to go two or three times on average, but now it seems I can't go an hour without needing a toilet, even if I haven't had anything to drink for hours. When I mentioned this to my gynecologist about a month ago as I was getting my second shot done, she said it isn't a side effect of the shot and that I may have an infection, yet she never bothered to test me for one, and I can't get in for another appt. until June 20. Also since being on the shot, but totally unrelated to the urination, I've had these sharp stabbing pains on the right side of my abdomen, kind of between my hip and my bellybutton. This started recently, so I haven't ben able to speak to anybody about it yet. I was wondering if any of you have had either of these problems, and if so, what was your solution? Was it an infection, or something different?

My second question is this, sometimes, for no apparent reason, my vagina really starts to itch. Usually, it's on the outer lips, near the top, and occasionally right inside, but not very deep. My STD tests have come back negative, but it still persists. When I have sex while it itches, the itching always stops the next day, but my vagina always smells for a day afterward. It's not a bad or different smell, it's just a regular vagina smell but stronger than usual, even after showering and cleansing the area. Again, my gyno. says it may be nothing, but never bothered checking. Does anybody know what it could possibly be at all?

Sorry for such a long post, I had a lot to say.

(no subject)

[ex-lollirot61.livejournal.com]

Posting on behalf of a friend:

I have a lump, it's around the area of the 'leg pit' where the pantyline rubs and has been there for about two weeks now.
It's defiantly under the skin and is about the width of a marble, hard and very sore.
There is a shadow to the left of this lump that looks like bruising, if I touch this big lump I get liquid puss from the shadow, although I can't say that the puss is actually coming from this lump it's obviously related. There is also now a smaller lump on top to the right of this larger lump that I noticed today, the little lump looks like it could be a spot deep under the skin, it's lighter in colour, it could be a spot from irritation where the lump has been rubbed by my panties.
The larger lump is defiantly not a spot, but I don’t know what it is, some people have suggested it could be a cyst but I don’t know because this second lump and this pussy shadow are a little weird.
It is worrying me because I don't know what it is and I can't go to the sexual health clinic until 25th.
Does anyone know what this is, how to try to get rid of it and whether I should be worried?

Thank you.

IUD Baby

[mercurysmile.livejournal.com]

My sister who against all odds got pregnant with her IUD in just had her baby! He's luckily fine (there was a lot of fear at the beginning of the pregnancy that the IUD would damage the poor little guy).

What I didn't realize until today was that they never got the thing out! Her doctor fished the IUD out of the placenta and showed it to her, "the great failure". This quite freaked me out really, it's weird to think of the baby sharing the womb with something designed to keep him from ever being conceived. Is this pretty much just the way it goes? I guess it'd be hard to remove it without messing with things.

The whole thing is so strange. Anyone else ever hear of someone getting pregnant with an IUD in? It certainly came as a surprise to all of us, especially my sister who now has a very unplanned 4th child!

(no subject)

[cathedralstep.livejournal.com]

long time reader here. i'm in a long distance relationship, and this perhaps may have something to do with it due to such an length between massive sexual encounters. recently i've been drying up rather quick; the time it takes for his head and penis to switch positions between my thighs and us switching positions. i've read up a bit on personal lubricants. bad things on ky warming gel-- ky in general, and good things on astro glide. i'm pretty sure i'm going to go the astro glide route because i haven't read of any adverse reactions-- yeast infections of it yet.

but what do you girls use?
and i assume i just rub it all around down there, not put it inside? but knowing some will get inside, i don't want to get any kind of ill reaction.

vitamin c and periods?

[askmeaskmeaskme.livejournal.com]

i know that you can take massive quantities of vitamin c to spur an abortion, but can it also bring on a period? has anyone tried it for that?

New BC Pack = New Protection?

[loanwords.livejournal.com]

Something I've always wondered about birth control pills: Is each new pack like a clean slate in regards to protection? Let me clarify:

This week is my last week of active pills. Last night, I took my pill about three and a half hours late... oops.I took it right when I remembered and then went to bed. I'm not worried about it because I'm definitely not having sex in the following week due since my boyfriend won't be around. Next week is my hormone-less/period week. So when I start the new pack the week after that (on April 25), does my late pill make a difference since I'm starting up a fresh pack? I will probably have sex on April 29 (two weeks from yesterday) and we don't use a condom, so I just want to make sure I'll be all right. I've only ever skipping/taken a pill three times before in the last two years, so I'm a little wary.

Thanks :) As always, you ladies are wonderful.

Has anybody heard of Min-Ovral

[glow-bug007.livejournal.com]

a.k.a. levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol

my doctor put me on these and nobody I know has ever heard of them. What I would really like to know is if they are the strongest or weakest, and anything else at all that anyone might know about them. my reason for asking: I was on them, had troubles (legs going numb), stopped takeing them (everything back to normal), and my dr. put me back on them. I have an appointment with him next week and I elected to not take them, even if it might make him angry.

any info that anyone may have would greatly help me

Swollen Breast Update

[willow-starr.livejournal.com]

I posted last week about my Swollen Breast. My period came and went and the breat was still swollen so I made an appointment with the student health centre. I am perfectly fine, my hormones just hiccuped or something and I have a build-up of liquid in my duct. Twice a day I have to put a warm wet compress on and then milk myself by massaging in from each corner (as if my boobs were square) until a little bit (barely noticable) comes out.

Evidently this kind of thing can be a breeding ground for infection so things I'm supposed to watch out for are: a lot of discharge, discoloured dicharge or any blood, pain/soreness (it is just tender right now), bright redness, heat and then I have to go on antibiotics. The swelling should go down within a couple days of compresses and massaging, if not I go back to the clinic in 7-10 days.

Thanks for all your help!

Parsley Tea

[zerogirl29.livejournal.com]

I tried using parsley tea to induce my period last month, and it worked within about 6 hours of the first cup. However, I drank it early on day 28 and I have about a 28-30 day cycle, so for all I know I was about to start it anyway. I had a really weird period where it was fairly light, only lasted two days, disappeared, and then came back again for a day full force, and then stopped again. Usually my periods are pretty heavy and painful with a really bad day 1 and 2, and sometimes day 3, but they always last 5 days This was all sorts of strange for my body and I just assumed it was because of the parsley. Has this happened to anyone else, or could my body be telling me something?

Also, how early can you induce your period with parsley tea? I'm a little under a week away from my next one (day 28 would be Thursday), and I really don't want to have to deal with my period (and my 1st time trying a DivaCup!) when I'll be on a 12hour field final when I won't have any access to a bathroom.

eczema

[redlizzy.livejournal.com]

does any one have eczema in their pubic area? and if so how do you deal with it?

Planned Parenthood

[dolce3767.livejournal.com]

Hey all.

I just wanted to know something about PP, and I am sure all you lovely ladies are familiar with the organization.

I called PP for an appointment for an annual last week, and I wanted to know about the price of things, since I am a pooor college student and dislike the health center on campus. They told me the price of an annual would be a flat $98. I thought PP was on a sliding scale and this would change depending on the financial situation.

Are the different centers different as far as the rates go?

ps, if it helps, I am in Chicago.

Thanks!

Pre-Cum Question(s)

[lostboy-tootles.livejournal.com]

This is technically about male bodies, but I didn't really know of anyone else to ask. So when my guy and I had sex, he waited until he's close before putting on a condom (on the rare occasion he didn't get off he never put one on). He claims that he can feel when he pre-cums, and that he doesn't do so before he puts the condom on. To me, that sounds like he's just talking tough, probably to convince himself that there was no risk once he found out that I could potentially get pregnant from pre-cum. But I dunno. So my question is this. How likely is it that he really can tell? And when does a guy pre-cum? Is it just when he gets close, or earlier too? I don't really know much about the male body's functions, much less what he can feel or not, so I was just wondering. Thanks for your help!

(no subject)

[annimh.livejournal.com]

Last night my boyfriend and I had sex for the third time. The other times were brief and my boyfriend pulled out and ejaculated on my stomach (for the record, I am on birth control!). Well, last night he ejaculated inside of me instead and, having read up on things, I wrapped a towel around myself and hustled into the bathroom to squeeze the semen out of me. I figured I had gotten as much out of me as I could, so I wandered back to bed, lay the towel down beneath me, and ended up conking out.

Fast forward to this morning. I wake up, putz around for a bit, and wander over to the bathroom to go pee. And what followed was possible the most uncomfortable, painful experience while taking a piss. It was just the biggest burning sensation ever. I tried to squeeze some more semen out of me, figuring that's what it was, and continued to just wipe away anything that came out of my vaginal region from then until I went to get breakfast with my boyfriend. Things went back to normal (no itchiness, just a mild discomfort for a good ten minutes before it went away).

Then, a few hours later, I went to take a shower. And I guess the shampoo or the body wash went down my body and went over my vaginal region. More burning. It wasn't as bad, but bad enough where I quickly had to rinse the shampoo off my hands to try and make sure that there wasn't any soap in that region.

Went pee again and some more mild burning. Nothing like this morning where it was just full-out pain and misery.

I don't know what to make of it. I don't believe I have a yeast infection since I'm fine unless some soap gets near there or I go take a pee. I've had yeast infections before and it doesn't feel the same. Maybe I'm allergic to the semen? But I've never had a problem with it before. It's been on my skin and in my mouth with no problems. And it didn't bother me last night...just this morning. I also know we're both STD free. We've both never been with anyone else intimately before. I figure if it goes away then there really isn't a big deal, but if it happens again the next time I have sex and my boyfriend ejaculates into me...there's obviously a problem. But I don't want to brush it off like it's nothing to worry about.

I don't like burning :(

cervical biopsies

[constructingme.livejournal.com]

yuck, so i had my cervical biopsy wednesday, it hurt a lot but i was fine within the hour. i have a few questions:

i was told not to have sex for 3 weeks afterwards. good god! is my doctor nuts, or is it possible that it will take my cervix 3 weeks to heal from a biopsy? we've put up a calendar and are taking bets as to how long i'll make it (my boyfriend and i- he gives me one more week, but i think i could make it a bit longer than that)

discharge- i was imagining it would be... well...liquidy or mucusy. it's been sort of solid and coming in chunks. is it part of my body? was i packed with gauze or tissue that's being expelled? is it mucus that's just solidified? has anyone had this with a biopsy?

Question for those who are 30+

[woobiewoobster.livejournal.com]

Do any of you notice as you get older that your stomach sensitivy is changing? What I mean is this: where you were once able to eat fried foods with no issues you now experience stomach discomfort (to put it lightly) afterwards? I wonder only because I have been gradually experiencing this with not only fried foods but of all things waffles. Maybe its the sugar? I don't know. Anyways if ya'll have experienced or are experiencing it would you let me know? Thanks in advance.

strange & persistant breakthrough bleeding

[punchfight.livejournal.com]

I started my perscription for Aviane (generic Alesse) last Saturday on the first day of my period, making this my eighth day of bleeding. I'm well aware that it's normal to experience spotting and breakthrough bleeding on the pill, especially while your body is still adjusting, but the consistency of the blood is making me concerned.

( pretty gross detailed description behind cut )

Has anyone else had breakthrough "bleeding" like this? When should I start to be concerned? I'd feel silly calling my gynecologist about breakthrough bleeding after only having been on the pill for a week, but dangerous or not, I don't think I can put up with all this brown tissue stuff for possibly the rest of the month. Any advice/experience/commiseration?

vaginal cuts

[foreverthursday.livejournal.com]

sorry to post so many times recently, but its vagina-trouble central over here.


i often get little cuts (that seem like skin seperating) after sex or messing around. i am pretty sure it comes from being too dry and having too much rubbing or what have you that irritates and seperates the skin. they usually go away soon after coming, but right now i have a killer cut of this sort right in the top of the folds above my vag. it is so fucking painful, and i just don't know what to do about this. if any of you get this sort of thing, how do you go about dealing with it? does anyone use vitamin e or something on the cuts to help them heal faster? normally i wouldn't bother treating it with something, but this cut is in a place that cant help but be touched when i wipe, and it's really really painful (not to mention having that ontop of this yeastie). any suggestions?


ps. you ladies, as always, have been super helpful lately. thank you!

a little nervous

[oneone10.livejournal.com]

I heard you girls here really know what you're talking about and you don't judge, so I'm really hoping that you girls can help me out. I've been spending a while looking things up and asking sex forums for their opinions, but they really don't know what they're talking about. One of the boards, who are really great and are more trusted sent me here. The best way that I've found is just to recap everything:

- I'm 16 and I've had sex more than the two times I'm going to be talking about.
- I had my last period almost a month ago
- My boyfriend and I had sex a few days after I had my period. We used a condom; I came before him so he pulled out. He never ejaculated in me or near me.
- We had sex again about two weeks later. We used a condom; he ejaculated a little inside of me and then pulled out; the majority of his ejaculation was outside of me.
- A little before we had sex the 2nd time, I started to spot. It was dried blood and I thought that it was just spotting so that's why we had sex again. Only, it lasted about 3/4 of a week afterwards.
- It's been two weeks since my spotting and four weeks since my last period. I was supposed to get my period around this time (from the 10th-15th was my expected date since my last period).

I've been stressing a lot just because I've heard different people telling me different things (you're pregnant, no you're not pregnant, you should be worried, you shouldn't). I'm scared because I already think I'm the stupidest kid in the world for having sex and plus this. I'm planning to take an OTC test soon, but I just need someone's opinion or advice on whether this is something that I should definitely be worrying about or if taking the OTC would just be precautionary and that I shouldn't really be so worried. I was thinking that maybe the spotting was what my period was and I was just irregular? I don't know- does anyone have any factual information or something that can help calm my nerves?

Thank you so much for any help you can give.