Cramping on BC

[amhranai9.livejournal.com]

Hey girls, I have another question for you all... I'm currently starting on my second week of HBC ever (OTC-Lo to be precise) and have so far suffered from no side effects as far as I can tell. However, the past couple of days I've been feeling some cramping down there. Nothing abnormal or anything, but if I weren't taking the pill, I would assume I was ovulating (as I should be around this time). I have been taking my pill at the same time every day so it should be working. Someone in the birthcontrol communtiy told me this is just side effect cramping. So that's cool, but can anyone tell me what exactly/biologically is going on to make it happen? (Like I know without the pill that I feel that way because the ovaries are working hard to release an egg, and when I'm menstruating, my uterus is working hard to shed the lining.) But if the chemicals are supposed to be inhibited ovulation, what *is* side effect cramping?

lactating

[gaiadaughter.livejournal.com]

This isn't directly vagina related but is it normal to have breast that lactates if you are not pregnant by massaging them? I was rubbing my breast earlier and a small amount of what looked like breast milk escaped my nipple, should I be worried?

I looked through the archives and searched google and I couldn't find anything. Thanks for any input you all might have.

discharge...HELP

[momofcandc.livejournal.com]

I am new to this community and I had a question. For quite awhile now, I have had this milky white discharge. It happens all the time. I know that I dont have a yeast infection. But I am getting tired of changing my underware all the time. Any suggestions?

"Dangers of Tampons" Chain Email; Legit?

[squeezypie.livejournal.com]

Hey all you lovely little people! =) This is my first post here, although I've been reading for a while.

I just received a chain email from a friend about the dangers of tampons. Do you guys know whether it's legit or not? I posted it under the cut. Thanks!




( cut for length! =) )

strep b

[box10.livejournal.com]

this is not an urgent problem but i have been wondering whether there are other ladies out there who share their lives with some strep b.
i have been tested for yeast infections a couple of times and they tested for other STIs too on these occasions (with my consent of course...). apart from the yi i have never had any problems but the tests always came back positive for strep b (and staphylococcus epidermidis on one or two occasions but that's ok i think). apparently there are just some of them (i don't know if it is common in the us or canada but over here the test results say if there are many of respective bacteria or just some) and i guess that must be the reason none of my doctors considered treating me for it although the lab always attached an antibiogram (maybe that's just standard, i don't know).
so, to all of you (hobby?-)microbiologists out there: is it normal to have strep b in your vag? i mean, i know that it is normal to have small amounts of yeast and non-pathogenic/facultative pathogenic microorganisms there but what about strep b?

Divacup/How to tell if you're hymen is still intact

[barefootbrocoli.livejournal.com]

Okay,so my mom bought me a divacup out of the blue. I'm rather excited, as it will put and end to all the waste due to my heavy cycle. And all that jazz.

Now, I'm not sure if my hymen has just been stretched or if it has actually broke. I have had sex twice. Both times it was a wee bit painful. I've been fingered many times. I've fingered myself many times-since I was eleven and I'm fifteen now! I've never been able to use more than one finger at a time or it would be extremely painful.

How do I go about "popping" my hymen so I can actually use my diva cup?

(no subject)

[greedy.livejournal.com]

So, I've been on antibiotics for about a week now.

The last couple days, my vagina has been itchy as hell.

There is no way I have an STD and I haven't changed soap or anything...

Can this be because of the antibiotic? (Im guessing yes.. but I still would like to know)

VP Team Bios - mangofandango

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

Recently, many of you requested bios of the VP Team Members, and since we aim to please - well, here we are! We hope it will give you a chance to get to know us better as Actual Human Beings. :) We'd also like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to introduce themselves at the big ol' introduction post. For more team bios, stay tuned - and check out the tag for more!

So. Hi! I'm mangofandango, your friendly neighborhood VP Team member, a.k.a. Sarah.
( Here's what I look like, for those of you who are curious: )

Alesse

[tazdevil-03.livejournal.com]

Hello Everyone, It's been awhile since I have last posted..

I am about to switch to a lower dose BC pill called Alesse, from Ortho Tri Cyclen. I am hoping that I can relieve a few side effects by going to a lower dosage. I just wanted to know, is Alesse good for skipping your period?? Thank you to anyone who can help answer my question.

Insteads Ripping Condoms?

[nato.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I were using a recreational condom (I'm on BC and we've both been tested) while I was using an Instead. We were going at it very slowly and taking our time and when he pulled out so we could move, I saw that the condom had ripped on the side and was pushed all the way down his wang. Later, when I took out my Instead, I found a small piece of latex.

I have plans to recreate this situation to test whether or not the Instead caused the condom to rip or maybe my condom skills, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone had a similar problem here or was willing to participate in the experiment too.

(no subject)

[peaceofpie.livejournal.com]

My friend mincey needs to do a project for a Human Sexuality class. The project is: "collect ten articles that deal with sexuality. They can be about anything pertaining to sexuality, including cultural perspectives, gender issues, anatomy and physiology, arousal and response, love, attraction, intimacy, communication, orientations, contraception, etc." I was asked to help with this project, so instead, I hijacked it. I mean, um, I decided to post it around to help my friend out, with the poorly disguised ulterior motive of collecting such articles myself.

I'll be crossposting this around, and editing this post on my own journal with links to where else I've post it, so all the responses will be easily linked together. Anything you've got, please add on! And let me know if you cross-post this too, so I can link it all together as well. My plan is to compile these resources on my own website, eventually.

Health Insurance

[emeraldmystique.livejournal.com]

I'm leaving the country for a year starting in September. I'll be in France with an internship program. The only thing is that I won't be a student (meaning I can't be on my parent's insurance) and I won't have a job (meaning I can't get insurance through an employer). I'll be uninsured starting in May.

My most pressing concern about life without insurance is birth control. I know I can go to Planned Parenthood while I'm here in the states, but that doesn't really help me when I go abroad. I'm trying to do some research on insurance that you can get independent of an employer or family member, but not having a lot of success with google.

Does anyone have any information about how/where to do research on this? I'm not exactly looking for specific companies that are good, though that kind of info is welcome too. I'm looking more for resources about how it works.

My dad is retired military so I've always had virtually free medical care and this is uncharted territory for me.

Thanks!

EDIT: I've never actually been to PP so I didn't realize that they might give a year at once. However, even though BC is my primary concern I also might get sick there so it would be best if I were covered in some way. Both to insure that I can get my meds and 'just in case'.

Stinging?

[tygerlilli.livejournal.com]

Hello, first time poster. I've scoured the faq's but still am a bit confused.

History bits:
I'm a virgin and don't like putting things in myself. I used to try (about two years ago) experimenting with narrow vibes coated with lube/lotion. Everything seemed fine then.
I have a yeast infection of sorts now (due to constant cephilexin use) and am taking an acidophilus along with applying tea tree oil to the area.

Problem:
I let my boyfriend put a finger inside me, but first I made him coat it with lube. Everything seemed ok at first, it hurt some but I thought it was due to the intrusion. But then it started stinging like mad and I ended up running to the bathroom to wash it off. I thought nothing of it.
Just yesterday I was experimenting for the first time since then and had a lubricated condom over a vibe with lotion on it. Same stinging problem. But it only affects my vagina, no other parts.

Question:
Why is the stinging happening? I did not have this problem in the past.


Edit: Ok, no more lotion. Check. Secondly, I am already taking steps to cure the yi. Thank you for your advice. I would like to know about the stinging, not the yi. Thank you though.

Breakthrough Bleeding aka "I can't deal"

[angeleyes2699.livejournal.com]

I have been on the patch since last March. For a few months, it was great: none of the yeast infections that I used to get while on the pill, and lower risk than the Depo that I was on for almost four years.  I have had zero breast ternderness, I even lost weight, and my periods were no where near the heaviness and painfulness of my pre-birth control days.

But for the past few months, only my first and second patch weeks are blood-free. The cycle is vicious -- for the first two weeks, I have next to no sex drive. Then, around the same time that I put on my thrid patch, my sex drive goes up and *wham* the cramps and bleeding start. Said cramps and bleeding stick around for two weeks, increasing slightly during my patch-off week, and then I start all over again with my first patch and my "low sex drive, no bleeding" time period.

Obviously, I have to speak with my gyno, which I will in March when I go for my physical. But until then, do any of you have any insights/suggestions/sympathy?? I know it's just blood, but it's frustrating and takes a toll on my mental health (a side effect that I am sure has a lot to do with my hormones). 

*grumble, grumble*

Cross posted to  vaginapagina, birthcontrol and ortho_evra.

Missed period, cysts.

[zooey.livejournal.com]

I have been on BC for the past three and half years or so, but this is the third brand I've been on and I started it in October. I've always had miscellaneous aches and pains in my nether regions, but moreso in the last six to eight months I've been getting particularly sharp, stabby pains in the same location, accompanied by nausea and a headache, in addition to the normal stuff. In October I went to my gyno. for a UTI and had an ultrasound done due to what (I think, I was never told) was thought to maybe be a cyst, but nothing was found other than a lot of excess fluid behind the left side of my uterus. I also switched prescriptions.
( Cut for length )

Acidophilus: It's Like a Sand Castle in My Snatch

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Since I'm posting about yeastie issues, I might as well ask this one. Am I the only one who's purchased acidophilus capsules that are... well... gritty inside? They're the Potent Acidophilus from Vitamin World, and they work better than the other acidophilus I tried years ago (which was also gritty). But no kidding, inside the capsules, the stuff is various shades of brown and has the texture of sand.

It really wasn't much of an issue when I could cure a mild YI with just one capsule. But current infection seems to be about as resilient as cockroaches and twinkies, so right now, my vagina feels like a day at the beach gone horribly wrong.

I guess this is partly warning for people to avoid that type, for vaginal insertion, at least. Also, are there acidophilus brands that would be more comfortable for my cooter?

Thanks!

(no subject)

[greedy.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's me again, antibiotic girl...

I went to the doc... no yeast infection, which doesn't make sense, since it's ichy or sore. I think my doc is a moron... anyway...

So, todays the day I'm supposed to get my period. I'm on the pill, so my periods ALWAYS come on the tuesday during my placebos.

I'm almost positive I'm not pregnant... so could it be the antibiotics that's holding up my period?

G-Spot?

[jaclynl.livejournal.com]

( Cut for some sexual detail )

Diva Cup cleaning question

[crckz.livejournal.com]

Hi,

So, I just bought a Diva Cup today, I'm really excited about it so I've played around with it a bit already, and I think I have it all figured out how to get it in (I'm not entirely sure if it's completely open when it's in, but I think there's some suction, since I can't pull it out without feeling like it's tugging on something (that's the only way I can think of describing the feeling, basically it feels like there's suction)). But my question is, for those of you that have a Diva Cup and boil it between periods or whenever you boil it, do you use the same pot that you use to cook with? I'm just kinda curious, since I'm thinking of just buying some cheap pot somewhere just to boil my Diva Cup in, but I'm wondering if it's necessary (I think it would be a little weird to use the same pot for food and Diva Cup, but at the same time, it would be cleaned inbetween both....). I hope this makes sense, I know it's a weird/odd/almost dumb type of question, but I'm just curious...

Thanks!

gyno visit

[willucry4me.livejournal.com]

This Thursday is going to be my first *real* gyno visit. Before I went to a youth clinic in the area, which was walk-in and had a nurse look at me instead. Well, I'm not exactly a youth anymore, so I'm going to someone my family doc refered me to. Whenever I went before there was nothing to think about.. (wasn't having sex, or anything)

Any rules? Should I not have sex for a few days before?

I'm finishing up my period.. Not going to be bleeding at the time of the appointment anymore, but will blood trace affect anything?

(no subject)

[aftercrash.livejournal.com]

Okay, weird, weird question that'll make me feel a little silly if it's as simple as I'm hoping it is:

So. Between my vagina and anus, there's like.. a round-ish flap of skin that seems like it almost hangs, but not too much. I've been wondering for years exactly what it is - I went to the gyno and had my annual, and they didn't say anything was weird, so I'm assuming it's a normal body part (I forgot to ask about it!). And no guy has ever gone down there and been like, "uhm.. (poke) what's that?"

Just for curiosity's sake, is there any sort of definition as to what that is? Is it just kind of a natural, uh, "separation device" of sorts?

I'm sorry, I probably sound like an ass. But I've always been extremely curious!

49 cents for the Nuva Ring!!!????

[wholuvsya.livejournal.com]

Hi Ladies,
wanted to vent a little and tell you a sort of amusing story at the same time. I just recently had to fill my rx for the nuva ring...I knew that my insurance covered it because they cover contraceptives....so I pick up my rx and they say that will be "$49.51" I said, "did you run it through my insurance?" (sometimes they forget) the woman stifled a laugh and said, "oh yes, honey, they are covering a whopping 49 cents of your prescription this time" I paid for it, grumbling the entire time, even thought it was NOT the the clerks fault, and came home and called the company...long story short, the man told me that I should be "happy they covered as much as they did because they don't consider the nuva ring an effective form of bc!" I said to him, "since when are you my doctor or the fda? you don't get to choose what I use in MY BODY" He told me to deal with it and then I, queen mother bitch that I am *bow*, offered to mail him a check for 49 cents so he wouldn't have to waste anymore of his time worrying about MY body...well, after my call, I was discussing this with my rather liberal mother, and at one point, I said, "excuse me, are you a republican....blah...." and my two year old democrat walked out of his room and yelled, "scuze me, publican" and I nearly lost it...ah..my budding liberal...I know this whole story wasn't totally vagina related...but...it contained a very cute boy, right?! have a nice night!

***EDIT***I hope no one took this post the wrong way...our family, while it is liberal, does not bash Republicans...in fact *shhhh* I have VOTED for 'publicans before...ha ha...