Yet another question about antibiotics, BC, and now condoms!

[boomchicka-ah.livejournal.com]

Alright. This is probably a stupid concern, but I'm freaking out right now because it's just in my nature and I can't help it.

( Cut for some length... )

(no subject)

[copenhagen77.livejournal.com]

I had sex for the first time in October, with a great guy who loves me very much. I was 28 years old and had waited until I felt ready and had met someone I trusted. I come from a religious family that would definitely not approve of sex before marriage. My sister asked me point blank about a month ago, and I didn't want to lie. I thought I could trust her, as she started having premarital and honestly promiscuous sex at age 22. She became the "black sheep" in our other sister's eyes, but my parents gradually accepted it. I never judged her. She has just informed me that she went and told my mom about it. My mom hasn't said anything to me, but she has been acting a bit strange, staring at me at times. I figured she'd guessed, since I've been with my boyfriend long enough that we're talking marriage. I feel betrayed. I am inclined to never speak to her again.

Morning after pill

[daliahrainha.livejournal.com]

Since usually there are a lot of states that have been trying to conteract abortion rights as well the access to the morning after pill I had a story that may be a little more positive.

Connecticut it trying to vote/pass a law that makes it mandatory for all hospitals (including Catholic hospitals) to provide women, especially in rape cases with the morning after pill.

Also they are trying to make it mandatory for all Walmarts to carry Plan B as well.

I couldn't find a great article on the hospital part online, but I heard a lot about it on the news yesterday.

Here's an article stating a little about it: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-pill0222.artfeb22,0,5737253.story?track=rss

Changing pills/strange taste & smell

[gemmagic.livejournal.com]

About a week ago I changed to a different brand of the pill, and now my boyfriend and I have noticed a strange taste and smell down there for the last couple of days. Has anyone else experienced this when changing brands? Could that be what's causing it? It's not an STI (I have been tested), it isn't sore or itchy at all, and the discharge is pretty much the same texture, consistency and colour as always... it just has a funny smell, and my man says it tastes more sour and less salty than usual. I don't wear tight jeans or synthetic undies or pants either. Does anyone know if this will be a permanent thing while I'm on this brand, or will it settle down and go back to normal eventually? I can't go without oral sex for much longer! LOL. Thanks in advance for any help.

Egg donation

[thatartychick.livejournal.com]

What do you ladies (and gents) have to share about egg donation?

I've been considering it lately. I've researched lightly, but not as much as I feel I must before beginning the process myself. I'm aware of the steps involved (vaguely) and no, I'm not in it for the money, although a spare $2,500 or so wouldn't be unwelcome.

The only parts that are really turn-offs for me are the daily self injections (I don't think I could stick myself, however my neighbor is a nurse and I'm quite sure she wouldn't mind doing it for me) and the surgery (what exactly goes on in this procedure and what's it like?). I don't mind the idea of a month-long period as my menstrual symptoms are almost never problematic.

Any info, stories or otherwise welcome. I'm very interested in this.


Edit: I'm well aware of Cosmo's article now, thanks! ;)

spinning=discharge?

[thequeenofquiet.livejournal.com]

question time!

i'm on mircette birth control pills and am at the end of my 3rd week (meaning next week i start the 'other' ones)

i've been exercising regularly for the last month and a half or so but only this week started spinning (indoor cycling). obviously this puts a lot more pressure on my crotch and after class last night i found some light colored brownish stains and this morning after having gotten dressed for work noticed there was slight brownish discharge...

this is from the pressure of cycling, correct? and nothing to worry about?

(no subject)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

NYC has free gyno care for women who make <$24.5k per year. (I know nothing about the program and have never been to NYC, just thought you should know.)

bath time

[passage-clock.livejournal.com]

I have a bath and lie back in the water & relax etc. When I stand up, and get out,(sometimes before I even get out) water gushes out of my vagina. I want to know if this is what you'd call normal or not? It puts me off having baths because sometimes it'll leak out after and make a mess either in my panties, if I'm dressed at that stage...or on to the floor.

What do you guys think?

Seeking Female Research Participants for Online Survey--win up to $250

[slot-fever.livejournal.com]

Researchers at the University of Texas are seeking women to participate in a research study examining how women think of and describe themselves as sexual beings. We are trying to develop a new scale to assess sexual self-views---information that will lead to a fuller understanding of female sexuality in qualitative terms. The survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Participation is confidential and participants will be entered in monthly raffle with the chance to win up to $250.

Eligibility:
1) Female
2) At least 18 years old

There are no foreseeable risks associated with this project. However, if you feel uncomfortable answering any questions, you can withdraw from the survey at any point. Your responses will be strictly confidential and you will not be asked to provide any information relating to your identity.

This research study is affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin. For more information, please call (512) 232-4805 or visit the website listed below. All calls will be strictly confidential.

If you would like to participate in this interesting and fruitful research opportunity, please click on the following link:

https://www.psychdata.com/surveys.asp?SID=10816

(no subject)

[zombie-attaackk.livejournal.com]

so i know that birth control pills effect everyone's body differently. BUT im looking for a tad bit of guidence purhaps? Im on yasmin...its good! except its giving me dryness, and thats not such a big deal since theres such thing as lube and all, but sometimes when you wanna be spontanious ....ya know, not near the lube it ruins it. anyways what im getting at is...has any of you ever experienced this? then switched to another kind of BCP and had better luck? i wanna look into getting on something diff basically.

The Patch (Or birth control generally) & Antibiotics

[pirin.livejournal.com]

I know that antibiotics can highly affect the effectiveness of birth control (I'm currently on the patch). How long should I be using backup after I'm off my antibiotics? I just want to see what you girlies have to say and I'll consult the Ortho Evra people soon as well. I mean, generally, we use condoms more than not but there is that occasion where we don't.

Any input would be nice! Comments, input, experiences. I'd like it learn more.

Birth Control Question

[twinstar87.livejournal.com]

I just started taking EstroStep almost 2 weeks ago (this being the first time ever taking BC).

I just want to know what people have to say about it because it's giving me some rough side effects (like emotionally distress and occasional nausea) that I want to know whether or not I should just wait it out for the rest of the pack and see how I feel, or go and talk to my doctor now, before things get worse.

Thanks!

Hooded clit??

[ohyoutrendygirl.livejournal.com]

Sorry if this is on the site, but I couldn't find anything on it.

A friend of mine was complaining the other day about how it is very difficult for her clitoris to be stimulated. She read somewhere about a condition called a "hooded clitoris," where the clit is covered by a thickened membrane that prevents it from being stimulated, but she hasn't found a lot of information about it and her gynecologist hasn't pointed it out.

Has anyone heard of this? Does anyone have it? Advice?

(no subject)

[sushi-roll.livejournal.com]

Lately, I've noticed that my amout of discharge has increased... significantly. It doesn't smell different there is just alot more of it. Just a few months ago, within the context of a monogamous relationship, I was screened for STD's and found negative for everything. I was on the pill for about 5 months and just stopped last month when I didn't get my period during placebo week.

...Which of course, led me to take a pregancy test, which also came out negative.

So, here's my question. I'm not pregnant, I don't have an STD... Is it normal for a woman's body to change the amount of discharge she has? Can being on the pill affect this?

Also, is it common to miss periods while on the pill? Well, I know it's not supposed to be so, but has it ever happened to any of you?

no period, cramps, discontinuing pill and yucky discharge

[lindzardz.livejournal.com]

1) hey ladies (and lads!) so, i went off the pill a little more than a month ago. after being on it non stop for 6 years i thought maybe some of my anxiety and depression was partly due to the pill so i said enough of extra hormones! ...after i went off it- i had sex right after stopping for about three days unprotected (i know- not too smart) but didnt think much of it since i wasnt ovulating and i had been on the pill for so long...i just didnt worry so much- anyways- after getting off the pill and having sex with my new (now ex) partner- i noticed i was getting some very thick, large, sitcky globs that looked like boogers you would get when you're sick. i know this kind of discharge is associated with ovulation but i've had it very often for this past month. its a bit yellow as well...and just really gross looking. i smelled it- it doesnt smell strong at all and i tasted it- to see if my taste changed- and its salty (gross again- sorry!) and im normally on the sweeter side as ive been told and as i've noticed myself. as of now, im not itchy, red, swollen, anything...but i noticed while i was having sex with this new partner i felt very swollen and cramped and just no good internally (physically) when we would have sex....
so now that my period is overdue by about a week...i took a pregnancy test to see if maybe that was an issue- it said negative..which is good. but ive been getting migraines, cramps, dizziness, major fatigue and super anxious, derealization-like feelings, which is common around my period...but still no period! im also aware that going off the pill and living in a new country (moved to holland from california almost 2 months ago) can screw up your cycle but i hate how i feel before i get my period and if its not coming anytime soon, how can i start it or at least try to feel better in the mean time? parsley tea? how does that work to start your period?

2) i've also been experiencing some really weird depression which i think is associated with the weather here (freezing, gray all the time and short days) and this whole pill/period/hormone thing is only adding to it and i was wondering if any of you ladies have experienced this and found ways to feel better? i exercise quite a bit, maybe i should exercise more? i just feel exhausted and grumpy and in a major fog...but i want to do what i can to feel better...any ideas?!?! thanks so much in advance!

hmmm speaking of condums...

[damonsgirl.livejournal.com]

Hey guys:

i searched but couldnt find. I think im allergic to ALL condums. Lifestyles are worse, Durex is better...trojans better than lifestyles but it still causes painful burning and dryness. we have tried other condums that i cant remember the name of and its always been the same thing...

...the lifestyles burned throughout sex...the others seem to burn only when timmy (my bf) or any other guy slowed down the thrusts or stayed in me after sex (i love it when they just lie on top of me still in me). this isnt that big of a deal since timmy and arent using condums any more since im on the patch ...i was just curious on why it seems like im allregic to everything else.

My Boric Acid Experiment

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Some background: Yucky yeasties, blah, blah, blah. Store out of type of antifungal I need. Neither acidophilus nor other antifungal doing much good, not even in combination. My vagina is a vampire: garlic causes her great harm, if not quite instant death.

Several VPers have mentioned their enthusiastic acclaim for boric acid. Have tried it in the past; capsules (I only used one at a time) caused nearly as much vagina fire as did garlic. It was ungood, but so is this YI.

So I read this post as well as this one in the Archives. But I got my main idea from this archived post, since it involved diluting the powder in water and "mini-douching" with it.

Though I finally found a pharmacy in my new city that carries boric acid, I also spent $2.61 of my last $2.65 on it. This meant not enough money left for a syringe/plunger/douching mechanism of any sort. Neither can I use any sort of household kitchen utensil like a turkey baster since such items are reserved for people who cook.

I finally had the acid: now how to get it inside me?

( I bet MacGyver never had to deal with this one. )

( EDIT: On Diva Cups and Cartwheels )

Ideas?

(Can't wait for payday! Also whatever day it is when my local pharmacies restock their shelves!)

Post-LEEP Woes

[josiethefiend.livejournal.com]

Well, you all may remember that I had my LEEP back in October. I just had my first pap since then, and it came back with moderate dysplasia, already.

So I'm worried. I go back for another pap in six months, and if it's gotten worse they'll have to intervene, whatever that means. Another LEEP? Not sure.

Show of hands who's been here, done that, and is perfectly fine and alive and all that. Surely you're out there...

cross posted to vaginapagina and hpv

miscarriage question

[alabasterwitch.livejournal.com]

Hi. My name is Sarah, I'm 25 and this is my first post. I got pregnant for the first time in Dec.'05 and found out I was having a miscarriage in Feb.'06. I joined a couple of the LJ miscarriage communities while trying to deal w/ the emotional side of things and I've found that helpful. I saw this community mentioned on one of them and decided to check it out. I think its really great to have a place where women can talk about health issues openly and honestly w/o being embarrassed.

Here is my situation. I decided to let the miscarriage progress naturally instead of having a d and c. My doctor confirmed I passed the tissue and my uterus is now empty (I passed the sac 4 days ago). However I've been bleeding for 14 days straight now and I feel like its never going to end. My doc seemed unconcerned saying there still might be a little bit more tissue my uterus wants to clean out. My question is to anyone who had a natural miscarriage how long did you bleed for? I know everybody's body is different but I'm trying to get an idea of what an average amount of time might be.

UTIs and Instead cups, and a side note about menstrual cup sizes

[althea]

I went to the doctor the other day because I've got a UTI. Joy. I've been using Instead cups (switching between those and tampons) for the past three cycles, but I used them almost exclusively during my last period, which was last week. I mentioned that I wondered if they had contributed to me getting the UTI, since they're supposed to be like diaphragms, and women who use diaphragms sometimes get UTIs more frequently due to the pressure. (One thing I don't like about Insteads is how HUGE they are, to the point that sometimes I can feel the rim inside me. During this last period, I also felt like the pressure was making me have to pee more often.) Anyway, she agreed that this was likely. So I'm posting this because:

1) I wanted to let the rest of you who use/may start to use Insteads that this is a possibility,

2) I wanted to know if anyone else who uses Insteads has already had this problem, and

3) I wanted to ask any DivaCup/Keeper/Moon Cup users whether these types of cups cause similar pressure.

( about menstrual cup sizes )

hi everyone!

[beutfulone.livejournal.com]

im new.. will introduce myself a bit later.. but quick question. what is the best pregnancy test, and how long do i have to wait after having sex to take it? thanks everyone!

Friendly Reminders from the VP Team

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

My Dearest Vulva-Loving Superstars:

Just a few gentle and friendly reminders from the VP Team--

( This way for more on abortion, grammar, tact, yeast and gratitude. )

Pain and bleeding during sex

[plastic-love.livejournal.com]

I have been sexually active for 7 years but lately, for the past month or so, every time I have sex it is painful. It mostly feels like something is scraping me inside but other times it stings and occasionally, I'll start bleeding (not period blood - it quickly stops bleeding after sex). I have never experienced this before and it only hurts during sex. Unfortunately, I'm not easily able to see a doctor. I'm originally from Canada but living in the US for a few months without health coverage - although I do have health insurance if absolutely necessary.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any idea what might be causing this or any possible solutions?

Thank you.