nuvaring protruding

[twohourdrives.livejournal.com]

i find that lately when i wake up, my nuvaring is sticking out of me a very little bit, perhaps a centimeter or less. it's completely fine during the day, and before i go to bed.
will this compromise its effectiveness?

Binding breasts

[glait.livejournal.com]

I have an odd question, is binding one’s breasts, in the long run bad for them? I don’t bind that often, this question is mainly out of curiosity. I was just wondering if it had any negative effects, like in the long run making them more saggy or what not.

For those who may not know, binding is when you bound your breasts with tape or ace bandages, so you appear flat chested.

Stretch Marks

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

Has being on HBC caused anyone to develop stretch marks?

I've been on the pill for the last 3 months, and I have stretch marks mostly on my thighs, I have gained weight, but not a lot. I was just wondering if the weight I HAD gained interacted with the hormones of the pill.

Overe the year my weight does go up and down a little, and I've never had stretch marks likes these.

Back up for one week only?

[darkprism.livejournal.com]

Hello ladies!

A good friend of mine is currently having a pregnancy scare. She started ortho tri cyclen lo in April and her first "week off" is this week. She spotted all last week. She hasn't started yet this week - and that's normal, as it can take the body a couple of days to go into the withdrawal phase.

My question is this: the ortho web site (http://www.thepill.com/html/ppil/faq.jsp?#faq2) claims that if you are a Sunday start, you need only use a back up for one week. That's a new one on me - my doctors and most of the people I've discussed BCPs with say that you use back up for an entire month.

Does anyone know why it has been reduced to one week? Is this just an ortho tri cyclen lo thing or all pills?

I ask because my friend has taken the pill EXACTLY as instructed, (meaning, same time every day, never missed a day, used back up for first two weeks to be on the "safe" side) but her doctor has told her she might be pregnant since she spotted last week and has only been using the BCPs as protection. She also has only one functioning ovary due to an ovarian cyst that left her minus one ovary after surgery when she was a teenager.

What are the chances of her being pregnant? Is the doctor overreacting/being overly precautious?

Thank you!!!

~*~

May be pregnant

[solongpretty.livejournal.com]

i took a pregnancy test and it came out positive.
i don't keep track of my period - and it should've came (or should come this week). but i hasn't.

so does this mean i am pregnant...?
or should i wait a few days later regardless if it said i am pregnant?

mono + oral?

[bellebass.livejournal.com]

( Mono + oral? )

Advice on abdomen pain with sex...

[gothrockgirl.livejournal.com]

So yeah, still working on getting used to having sex. We were going at it last night and I went to try me-on-top again and whoa, the pain. When he was fully inside there were sharp really awful pains in my abdomen. So much so I couldn't go on. Thoughts as to what this could be? The odd part is two nights before I was able to be on top and even had an orgasm, but we did it in a few positions and I was kinda sore the next day. So could it be soreness? Or is he hitting something? I was feeling really happy that I had gotten past most of the pain in sex and then this comes up :(

TIA

periods too close together.

[kill-a-raver.livejournal.com]

Hello. I'm sorry if this has been asked before but this is freaking me out.

I had my period a week ago, and now already I have it again .. This has happened before but not in a very long time. At the I was not sexual active, I am now. I am on birth control. First Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and now Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo.

Well, what I need to know is should I be worried enough to run to a gyno or what? :(

Any help is appreciated.

Is Estraderm birth control?

[kiltedflower.livejournal.com]

Today I went to my doctor to be switched off NuvaRing. She asked what I wanted instead and I asked for "the patch." I didn't give a brand name. She wrote me a prescription for Estraderm and read me how to apply it right out of the book. I assume all was well.

I stopped by CVS and picked it up... now I'm sitting at home reading the insert and no where does it mention in here that this is a birth control. It talks about postmenopausal hormone replacement and treatment for lack of estrogen. So I went online and I saw several sites that stated it was NOT a birth control but none of them were based in the US.

Did my doctor prescribe me the wrong thing? Is there a generic form of Ortho-Evra? I plan on calling my doctor but wanted to ask here, too.

Government distributed birth control!

[cachetona.livejournal.com]

I've been sexually active for almost 2 years now. I am ALWAYS safe. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS. I don't believe in the "hot tub" bullshit or "let's do it while yr on yr period" or "it feels better this way" or any of the other excuses boys will try to pull with you. My boyfriend understands that, and respects that, and has told me he respects me too much to risk something like pregnancy. If he is not prepared with protection, I am, and I always make sure it is ON and FUNCTIONING before I let anything happen and vice versa.

But because we are both teenagers with no job we don't have money to blow on a box everytime we want to bump and grind. And unlike the rest of my generation I say "wait" "no" and "stop" rather than go on and risk pregnancy because that is the LAST thing I want to happen right now.

So obviously my first choice is to put myself on birth control. Now, keep in mind my mother wouldn't let me use tampons because "you are not allowed to use tampons until after you are married." She doesn't feel I should date until I am 19 so I'm absolutely positive telling her I need birth control because I am sexually is NOT a good idea.

This is where my cycle comes into play, because BC is often used to control the length and level of pain/acne etc. related to menstruation. This whole thing was brought up around my last physical, and my doctor told me that if BC was used for the sole purpose of period regulation, I should rethink it unless I am sexually active. And because my mother was in the room and because I've had the same doctor since I've been BORN who is like a mother I said, "NO, of course, I will wait until I am married."

So with my mother there is no sense of urgency in putting me on birth control because she does not know. However, she has suggested to take me to the gyn. Thing is, no matter how many times I remind her to take me, she doesn't take me/doesn't feel like taking me/we have no insurance/etc.

Now my cycle lasts up to 8 days, heavy throughout, sometimes twice a month, frequent blood clots, EXCRUCIATING PAIN. I cannot stress this - a lot of people dismiss me on being a wuss when it comes to this, but I've broken bones and split skin bike riding to the muscle that have felt like a back massage compared to this. I also get cystic acne, and BC can regulate this. I am thoroughly convinced my body produces too much toxin (forgot the name) but it's the toxin that makes yr body shed the uteral lining - if you produce too much if causes more pain than usual. Anyways.

Birth control would not only be much easier/cost efficient when it comes to sex, but it could shorten my cycle, make it less painful and help with my acne.

But because of my situation I am deciding to be pro-active and take manners into my own hands and go to Planned Parenthood to get my own checkup and birth control. I heard it can cost anywhere from $20 to $100 and there are privacy plans that make sure any medical documents and calls will be "private" for those of us who have parents who will saw off our legs if they "find out."

I've also heard rumor you can get birth control for free if you don't have insurance and I've heard tell of a certain kind of card that lasts all year/good for refills. I've also heard of campus nurses who give birth control cards and contraception, but my school is small, lacking in funds, generally POOR and does not have that kind of resource.

I guess what I am trying to sum up/ask in this long overly personal paragraph is people's experiences with Planned Parenthood or with a gyn in general. Also on what kind of birth control is cheapest or the ways I could go about getting it. I've been in the clinic before for community service, but they close at 3 on weekdays (when I get out of school.)

I've been contemplating going to the clinic for quite some time now, I just would like some reassurance or what to expect or some suggestions/advice. Telling my mother is most definitely not an option. I will practice celibacy if it comes to that.

yasmin

[kissgoesbang.livejournal.com]

ive been on yasmin for almost a year now with little side effects (except my increasing boob size, but who can complain about that?) anyway this month has been a little weird. I had my period on schedule and started to take my yasmin the sunday after, just like normal. however I started to get cramps. I had one week off my period and then started bleeding again, only its not as heavy as a normal period and my cramps have lasted throughout instead of just the first couple days like on my normal period. Its been a little over a week and im still spotting. has anyone else had this problem? should i call the doctor?

Planned Parenthood and EC

[kill-a-raver.livejournal.com]

Could Planned Parenthood turn me away for EC? For any reason? I mean, as long as it's an emergency I think they would help me, right?

parental notification

[kateedancerchic.livejournal.com]

hey all. i looked for this info online at google and i couldnt really find anything helpful, so i was hoping some of you might have some info or thoughts that might help =)

i posted before about my period acting wierd. its still back for the 3rd time this month. kinda annoying. well, i told my mom and shes trying to make a gyno appt for me soon to to see if theres something wrong. and my period has been irregular ever since i first got it (about 5 years ago) so shes gonna ask about birth control or something to make it more regular.

ive been to the gyno before just for a checkup. and i had never had sex then so when she asked me i said no..obviously..but now i have a bf and we've had sex. and she's going to ask me if i have, of course. i want to be honest with my gyno about it but im afraid she'll tell my mom. so i went on google to try to find some laws about parental notification but all i got was having to do with abortion. are the gynos required to tell your parents if you've had sex? i live in Michigan and im 17. i know the laws probably vary everywhere but i couldnt find anything online.

is there anyone out there who can help me with this? thanks in advance to everyone!

scratched vagina/bubble baths

[waveof-fashion.livejournal.com]

I checked out the tags and archives, and couldn't quite find what I was looking for. So I was over at my boyfriends house over the weekend..and he was fingering me..this was the first time he was able to get 2 fingers in there (which I'm very happy about). After a while..it started to hurt. Not because of the two fingers..but it felt like there was a cut or scratch on the wall of my vagina, and he kept rubbing up against it. I'm pretty sure he cut or scratched the wall of my vagina with one of his fingernails. So my question is, do I have anything to worry about? Is this cut gonna get infected or anything? I haven't masturbated or inserted anything into my vagina for a while..nor do I intend to anytime soon, so I'm safe there. But do I have anything to worry about?


Also..just out of curiosity..whats the deal with bubble baths? Are they bad for the vagina/vulva? I know baths alone aren't that great..so I just kind of assumed that bubble baths weren't exactly healthy. Am I wrong?



Thanks for all your help!!

invitro

[damonsgirl.livejournal.com]

hey guys..i might have posted here before but do you know of any good communities/websites on invitro fertilization? i checked the memories,.....but i didnt find anything but im also stressed due to finals week. any help is greatly appreciated!

Small bumps on vagina

[x--heart--x.livejournal.com]

Ok I'm not exactly sure about how to go about this but I'll just be forward


I have these little bumps, I don't really know how to explain them, on the bottom outside opening of my vagina, a few on the lower right part of my labia and a few closer to my anus

These bumps don't hurt, not even if I like squeeze them. Their flesh colored and I guess kind of just feel like skin built up, if that makes sense at all. I noticed the first 3 a few weeks ago and then the rest have slowly appeared.

I've had sex maybe once or twice since they've appeared but I'm always safe about it, as well as with the only other person that was coming in contact with my vaginal area

If you need any other information I'm more then welcome to share.

Does anyone have any idea what they could be? Should I be worried?

depo-provera, bone density, and changing bc

[lady-door.livejournal.com]

I went in today to get my Depo shot, and mentioned to the nurse that I'd heard Depo could cause bone density loss (thanks much, Superstars!), and I was a bit worried because I've been on it for four years and my joints seem rather creakier than they should be (I'm only 22). She told me my provider would very likely take me off Depo and that I should definitely ask about getting a bone density test. I'm going in for my yearly exam next Thursday, so I'll be discussing my options with my provider then, and I'd like to be super well-informed.

( Cut for length )

Any input y'all have would be greatly appreciated, especially if it keeps me from freaking out about the odds of developing osteoporosis before I'm 30. Thanks so much!

P.S.: Have purchased a LayaSpot on the advice of some of you lovely ladies and tried it in conjunction with Virgil, my dildonic vibe, with excellent results--clit definitely not defective. Thanks for the recommendation!

Sex After BV Treatment

[licentiouslivvy.livejournal.com]

I looked through the archives and didn't find what I was looking for. If I missed it, I apologize.

Friday night I used my last Metrogel application to cure my BV. It seems everything is back to smelling and feeling normal; the only thing is that I have a little but of that funky gelatinous Metrogel discharge still coming out.

I was wondering if any of you knew how long I should wait before resuming sexual activity. Can condom lubrication upset my vaginal balance? Can anything else upset the balance--bacteria from under fingernails, saliva? Is it really delicate as I feel like it is, just being over BV, or am I back to having a healthy vagina? Should I wait until the wacky Metrogel discharge has completely stopped?

Thanks in advance!

Discharge Question

[nerdpony.livejournal.com]

Okay, here's what's been going on. First, a bit of background information: I'm 16, and not sexually active with the exception of masturbation. (As far as I know,) I don't have any sort of menstrual/vaginal/reproductive system problems, although my cycle is irregular.

As I said earlier, my period is irregular, although it usually comes in a cycle of 25-30 days. This time, my period is late, and, starting yesterday, I noticed that my vaginal discharge had an odor that reminds me vaguely of vinegar. I've never had this before, and don't think it's harmful... but I want to make sure.

Birth control question..

[snarkitty.livejournal.com]

Hi!

I have a question about birth control, in particular, about yasmin28.

Is it better to take your pill early, or late?

I am set to take my pills at 10am, which is a really swell time because it's about the time I'm functioning properly and it's during my morning routine. Only problem, is that on my weekends, that routine is broken when I have to be awake and ready at 8am for renfaire, usually causing me to forget my pill until 2 in the afternoon (lunch break) or so. This happened both days this weekend, bleh! I was wondering if it was okay to take it upon waking during the weekends (8ish) until renfaire (May) is over? Or is this a terrible terrible idea? I looked through the packet and it said I wasn't introuble unless I was a day late, but it said nothing about taking it early..


And, I feel really stupid for asking this, but... If birth control works by tricking your body into thinking you're pregnant, does that mean a pregnancy test will show up positive? Not that one has, but I am curious..

Inverted Nipples.

[samisapirate.livejournal.com]

Hi I'm Sam. I have inverted nipples. I don't know whether I like them or hate them. I think that they're neat because it's my "special" trait, but I hate that I can't just look "normal."
Anyway, just for curiousity's sake I was wondering if anyone else here has innies or knows anyone who has innies.
x-posted lots of places.

VP Icon Contest: Ending Soon!

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

My Dearest Vulva-Loving Superstars,

Just a reminder that our VP member icon contest ends on Wednesday, May 3. Check out this link for all the details and get your icons turned in!:

http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/7736964.html

--The VP Team
contact_vp

Harmless (Dead) strain of HPV?

[darkmoonbeams.livejournal.com]

This is utterly random, but I've been searching around on the internet for something to help me figure this out to no avail. My boyfriend's ex-girlfriend (and this is what he is telling me, though I've never heard of anything like it) had a "dead strain of hpv". He is calling it dead because he is comparing it to chicken pox, or getting injected with a vaccine (dead strain or weak strain of something so you will be immune to it). She got it from another guy. He said that it is just a harmless strain of it, though it will make you have an irregular pap smear simply because it is there. Is it possible to have an irregular pap smear and have it mean nothing serious is wrong? (in this specific hpv case). I know I'm starting to get on his nerves with the worrying over it, and questioning but I can not find anything that even comes close to what he is describing. I know hpv can be transmitted even with condoms (which means if he managed to contract it from her I have more then likely got it from him), and I guess I was curious if anyone had ever heard of anything like this, or would have any idea as to what he is talking about. Anyone who knows anything about this that could help me would be my personal hero, :). Any help is appreciated!

EDIT - I just thought I should add I'm not actually talking about the HPV vaccine, :P.

Just went off bc, what are my chances of pregnancy?

[so-glamorous.livejournal.com]

I looked in the memories and didn't really find anything that answered my question, so here goes. I had been using NuvaRing for about three months or so with no problems. I removed it on April 16 for my ring-free week, and had my period as normal. Then, my boyfriend and I broke up unexpectedly, so I decided against putting a new ring in, since I wouldn't be having sex. This worked fine until I met someone new. I figured I'd go back on bc in a month or so, no big deal, but one thing led to another yesterday and we ended up having unprotected sex. He pulled out, but this was his first time having sex in veeeery long time, so there was a lot of pre-cum, which I know may or may not have the potential to cause pregnancy. I'm just wondering if I still have enough of the bc hormones in my body to lower my chances of pregnancy, or if I need to consider ecp. I'm not concered about STD's/STI's as we're monogamous and STD-free, but right now would not be the best time for a baby, especially since we're still so early in our relationship. Thanks so much.