An armpit tip and question and I need a suggestion, pleaseee.

[orangewrath.livejournal.com]

( This has gotten so long, and it's only about armpits and body scrub. Wtf? )

So if you read through all of that, I thank you for JUST that. I guess I'm a rambler. Anyway, any help is greatly appreciated, as always.

Faith in birth control

[jazzysteffy.livejournal.com]

Hi girls,

I'm very skeptical. I'm one of those people that never believes what others say right away. I always need to see it for myself or find empirical evidence to back it up.

I'm on the pill. I take it pretty religiously (always within 15mins of the same time everyday). But "take this pill everyday at the same time and you will not get pregnant" isn't enough for me. I try to tell myself that millions of women take the pill BECAUSE IT WORKS. However, I'm impossible to convince. Clearly, I can't prove this to be true unless I stop using condoms, but I'm afraid to do that because I don't have enough faith in the pill by itself. I'm silly, I know.

Here's my question in an attempt to believe through understanding: What, exactly, is the biology behind the pill? What is this pill doing to prevent pregnancy?

I know it stops an egg or something.. but I need more than that.

Thanks very much!

ze bio of Jen

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

Howdy, VP-ers! As many of you requested, the powers that be are posting little biographies for your perusal. We hope it'll let you get to know us a bit better, and we also invite you to introduce yourselves over here. My bio is only the third, and there're alot of us, so keep checking back, or click on the tag so you can read up on each of us.

( Without further ado, I present ... me! )

taking pills backwards to skip a period?

[lunabelle.livejournal.com]

I looked through the archives, but found nothing of this sort

Im looking to skip my period by taking my pills 'back-to-back'. I've done this before with some spotting, which isn't my question.

I remember hearing people talking about taking their pills 'backwards' like starting at the last day and working to the first day of pills- whats the point in doing this? does it only work with certain brands of BC? Im on Tri-Cyclen

thanks

Constant Urinating...

[msfashionguru.livejournal.com]

I've been having this problem for over a week. I get up at all times during the night to urinate. Today between my (5) 50 minute classes (that are back to back from 8 am - 12:50) I had to urinate 3 times between some of those classes. What is wrong with me and how can I stop it? have an appointment scheduled for the 23rd. I can't wait that long. Please help with any suggestions you may have. I

Quick Question about Birth Control and drugs

[https://users.livejournal.com/----lavo/]

I will keep this as short and sweet as possible.

I read the "DO NOT SMOKE" warning on my packet of birth control. What I gathered is that in a few amount of women, smoking and taking B.C. leads to serious disease, but I don't understand where the connection is made. Cigarettes are obscenely cancer and other bad things causing in general, and I can't make sense of how adding birth control in the mix can make things worse.
Also, I don't smoke cigarettes, but I do somke weed about twice a week. Should I be concerned that I'm going to get a disease because I'm smoking and on birth control? Should twice a week not count?
Has anybody ever gotten a disease from taking birth control and smoking?

Vag slogans.

[badcinderella.livejournal.com]

Any snarky Vag/Fem related one liners?

I'm looking to make some new T's.

I'm already starting on my Viva La Vulva one, just looking for any other suggestions. Thanks :)

breast questions

[lovekaty.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone! I'm working on a project at my school called The Breast
Monologues. We decided that the Vagina Monologues were fabulous, but
it's time to talk about breasts, too. So I figured, what better group
of people to ask for stories than VaginaPagina! I'm looking for a lot
of voices to contribute, which we'll then put together into play format.



( More info... )

Maintaining acidity through topical products

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Can anyone recommend anything topical (inserted into the vagina, like a gel, balm or salve) that will make the vagina more acidic? I already know all the things I can eat, drink and otherwise ingest to maintain acidity, but are there any kinds of botanical ointments or anything like that? I've got stuff with neem oil, and I know that is spermicidal, at least. And sperm need an alkaline state to survive; too much acidity kills them (in case you haven't figured it out, I don't want to pregnant anytime soon; I'm on the Pill as well).
I've heard some things about hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, apple cider vinegar, lemon oil... I'm trying to sort fact from fiction.

Much obliged.

Oh, and on a similar note, I would like some opinions on a particular skin salve that I ordered and, a few days ago, used in place of my usual lubricant because for some reason I was feeling very dry and had left my usual stuff at home. I found the salve to be unusually effective and gentle for me.
http://www.naturesinfusions.com/skinnourishment.html (it's called the Working For A Living Balm, all the way down the page)

No soap on the vulva, please.

[autumn-sylver.livejournal.com]

We've been told many times not to use soap on the vulva, but what can you use?
I don't feel like I'm getting myself clean if I just use water. I think that using soap might be causing me a bit of irritation and itching, but I would still like to use something to clean that area, so any suggestions?

(no subject)

[antisocialite.livejournal.com]

I looked through the archives and didnt see anything regarding this, pardon me if I missed it.

I've been in the middle of a minor health crisis for a few months now. I get a UTI every time I have sex. I take cranberry supplements, I pee before and after sex, I've done *everything* you're supposed to do to not get them. I started with Bactrim recently, where I take one pill after sex. Unfortunately, the first time I had sex after filling the prescription it was probably about 40 minutes after til I could take it. So now I'm at home from work again with a Levaquin prescription and my doctor said this is my last chance - next time, I have to go see a urologist or GYN because, obviously, I shouldn't be sick this often.

Anyone have any additional advice? To prevent me from getting sick again again, maybe something I havent tried yet, I can't imagine what that would be. Or even tell me that it's not going to be that bad to go to the specialists, even though I can't afford the doctors, tests, or time from work (though, in my work's defense, they've been very understanding)

I'm just sick of being sick and pretty freaked out right now. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

sex position question

[jackdiamond.livejournal.com]

That recent entry about anal inspired my question. But my question is about help with vaginal rear entry positions.

( how can I make rear entry more fun for me? )

gynecologist encouraging shorter placebo week

[essos.livejournal.com]

I went to the gynecologist today to discuss switching birth control methods and went with the ring. While explaining how it works, she encouraged me to NOT take it out for a full 7 days, but instead to wear it for say, 24 days and only have 4 days off, or just wear it for a full 4 weeks and put in a new one the same day I take it out. According to her, there are a decent number of gynecologists who are advocating against the 21 day on/7 day off pattern of most hormonal birth control, I think just on the premise that it's difficult (the technical term, of course) to go from 3 weeks of hormones to suddenly nothing for a whole week and then back on hormones. Some doctors are starting to encourage a Mircette-like schedule (26 days on/2 off, right?) or a Seasonale-esque approach (84 days on) but with a less-than-7 day placebo week. The key in all this is not the number of days on hormones but the number of days off them.

Has this already come up here? Anyone else heard this sort of thing from their doctor or elsewhere? 1) It makes sense to me. 2) It doesn't compromise your protection. 3) It works especially well with the ring because for 21 days you have the required amount of hormones for protection against pregnancy, and anything left over helps you ease back down to nothing for a couple days. 4) Theoretically, I might end up having a shorter period or skipping it occasionally, though I'm worried about spotting.

Anyway. That's it. Thoughts?

Confusing herpes diagnosis

[quixotic.livejournal.com]

This post is being made on behalf of a user who wishes to remain anonymous.

---

I am a new/old member here and have a question for the group. A few days ago, I noticed an ulcerated lesion on my vulva. I didn't immediately think herpes because I've been in a monogamous relationship for nearly a year and a half and I had a full STI panel run last February that was entirely negative. Then, as I began to research the possibility of herpes over the weekend, I learned that it was possible my STI panel didn't include herpes. I also knew that the time between initial infection and first outbreak can be years. So then I began to worry.

I went to see an OB/GYN this morning. She informed me that my STI panel last year had, in fact, included a herpes test and it was negative. Then she looked at the lesion for a brief moment and asked if my boyfriend had ever had any cold sores. (He doesn't remember having any in recent history.) She then told me that the lesion was a herpes lesion. She said it was no big deal, not to worry and gave me a prescription for an ointment. She said if I have more than 5 outbreaks in a year to come back and she'd give me a prescription for an oral medication like Valtrex. I asked if any tests were necessary and she said no. So I took my prescription and left, feeling thoroughly confused.

So I guess I have herpes? I've never heard of diagnosing herpes simply on gross visual examination alone. I don't understand why my doctor wasn't concerned with what type of herpes it was or how she knew that simply by looking at the lesion. Has anyone else experienced this? I've made an appointment with Planned Parenthood for later in the week to have an actual herpes test run, but at this point I'm not sure how necessary that is or how accurate it will be if I start using the prescription ointment now.
Any ideas?

Help!

(no subject)

[https://users.livejournal.com/-roygbiv/]

Do any of you experience any positive side effects whilst you are on your period? I was just wondering because personally, for me nothing changes during my period. I've never had a cramp in my life, never experienced bloating, depression, cravings etc. that I've been able to directly associate with my period. I feel exactly the same as always. I was just wondering because someone out there must be more fortunate than me.

a little blood on the diaphragm

[finitealright.livejournal.com]

hi there. i hope i do this right. i've never posted anything on LJ but i've been reading VP for a long time. it's wonderful, as we all know. my question is about diaphragms. sorry if it's kinda long, i'm a bit of a rambler and i have no clue how to do the cut thing. i just got a diaphragm a few weeks ago, after telling my new gyn that i never ever wanted to take HBC again because it really really does not agree with my psyche. she said, 'well hell, let's get you fitted for a diaphragm honey!' (being new to the area, i had asked a woman i work with who to see, and she said, 'well, there aren't a lot of choices since we live in the middle of nowhere, i guess you could see this woman but she's a little gruff!' which is certainly not my FAVORITE adjective to use for my gyn!), which to be honest, i didn't think anyone even used anymore! but, i don't trust condoms only and i've felt much more relaxed regarding (and even during) sex since getting it. thumbs up for diaphragms though i'd be nervous if i relied on it for our sole method of BC (they have an effectiveness rating of only 84% for typical use according to PP). i've probably only used it 6 or so times (the fellow lives about 2 hours away and we both work mad hours all the time, sad i know cause the sex is so fun). i just took it out, about 11 hours after sex (oops, totally forgot about it because morning sex turned into lying in bed, turned into long breakfast, turned into super lazy day, etc), which i know is not ideal but not something i'll make a habit of. when i just took it out, there was a coat of dark (reddish brown, almost purple) thick mucous across the inside of the cup (concave side), even more so than the little bit that's usually there when i take it out. i finished my period last thursday or so. could i be allergic to the spermicidal gel? there's no pain or anything. i'm not really worried, just wondering if this happens to other diaphragm-users. also -- anyone have any tips for removing the diaphragm? i have some trouble with that step of the process. thanks for your help. i love this community, i really do!

Boobies!

[loanwords.livejournal.com]

I know it's not vagina-related, but it's about my body. If it's unrelated, please feel free to delete.

Every so often, my nipples get extremely sensitive to the point that cloth on them, from a bra, a shirt, a bed sheet or whatever, is really uncomfortable, but it eventually goes away on its own. This happens very infrequently, but I'm curious. I'm not near or on my period, I'm not pregnant, no liquid if I squeeze... anyone know why this happens? Anything to help ease the discomfort?

PCOS - Embarrassing?

[the-fee-fairy.livejournal.com]

So, i don't know if anyone else has been watching it, but tonight, on UKTV Style, there was a program entitled 'Embarrassing Illnesses'.

There was a couple on there, and the woman had PCOS, Endometriosis and an Underactive Thyroid.

Am i the only one who feels that none of these illnesses is embarrassing?
I have PCOS and i don't find it embarrassing.

They said that they found it embarrassing to tell people that that's why they didn't have children...

I don't have a problem with it, i come right out with it.

I suppose i just wanted to know whether i was the only one annoyed by this concept - the idea that an infertility problem is 'embarrassing', and as it is a women's health issue, and i know that some people in this community also suffer (i hate that word!!) with it too, i wanted to canvas opinion.

So:
PCOS - Embarrassing? Discuss
Endometriosis - Embarrassing? Discuss
Underactive Thyroid (or indeed, any thyroid problem) - Embarrassing? Discuss

I really would like to know others' views and know whether i am overrreacting by being annoyed.