Interim spotting?

[sugarcane-moon.livejournal.com]

I'm on my third and final week of my bc pill pack. I missed two or three pills along the way but have otherwise been pretty good about it. The other day, however, I began to have some very, very slight staining and spotting, really only noticeable as some brownish or pinkish mucous. This has never happened to me before on bc, and I've been on the same one since I was about 14 to treat PCOS.

Am I just starting a little early, or is this a sign of a problem?

Edit: I also have very mild cramping.

non-hormonal contraceptives

[therumtumtugger.livejournal.com]

I have been on "the pill" for about a year now. One of the first things I noticed was immediate weight gain. When I mentioned this to the nurses at Family Planning (where I get my contraceptives), they looked shocked and told me that it wasn't possible to gain weight from being on the birth control pill. So I, being the trusting young girl I am, continued to cut back on the foods I enjoy most, exercise, et cetera - and still retained the 20/25 pounds I gained.

Second of all, I am... how shall we say this?... a complete, erm, bitch during my cycle. Before the pill, I had an irregular cycle and only menstruated 3/4 times a year. Birth control made my cycle regular, but I seem to get really unstable during my period. I get depressed, angry, irritable; my poor boyfriend doesn't know what to do. He told me to go off the pill, and we'd just use condoms. I don't want to do that, because we didn't use condoms regularly before I went on birth control. (I figure it's better to be unhappy than having to deal with an unplanned pregnancy at this point during my life.)

I've been researching non-hormonal contraceptives, and a couple of my friends suggested the IUD. The IUD sounded perfect - no hormones, leave it in for a year, nothing to insert immediately before sex, I don't have to remember to take a pill, et cetera! When I called Family Planning, they firmly told me that there was no way they would insert an IUD in a woman who hadn't had a full term pregnancy. They suggested the diaphragm.

I don't know about the diaphragm. It's technically a barrier method, right? But all the spermicide, having to insert it right before sex... gosh, it just sounds like a lot of trouble.

I'd still prefer the IUD, but if my gyno refuses, what are my options? I don't want another hormonal birth control, and condoms frankly aren't a good option.

Any advice?

Heavy period question

[taterbug160.livejournal.com]

Hey everyone, I am 21 years old, and I've been on birth control since I was 15. (VERY irregular periods) However, I've never had a very heavy period EVER, and this time, it's amazingly heavy. As in, filled up a tampon in less than an hour. Typically, I can wear one for over 4 hours and it still not be full.

Anyways.. I'm on Ortho evra.. about 2 years now.

My question is, should this worry me?

funny smell

[dig0utmyblueyes.livejournal.com]

okay, so I have a slight problem.
for the past week, I've tried a co-worker's little homemade diet thing by drinking an 8oz cup of garlic juice a day (yes, it's even more disgusting than it sounds).
it's doing exactly what she said it would, decreasing my appetite, and shedding pounds (apparently garlic helps break down fat).
I've been dealing with garlic breath, which isn't so bad, as I have gum or a mint in my mouth constantly.
I did find a little side effect today which isn't so great.
Some unpleasent clear discharge that doesn't smell anything like garlic, but isn't anywhere near roses either. It also doesn't have a fishy smell.
I can't really discribe it, but seeing as my boyfriend is just getting back from his trip from NJ tonight, I wanted to surprise him by having some incredible sex, but now with this icky smell "down yonder", I'm getting quite discouraged.
I've taken 1 shower, and 3 baths today just to rid the smell, as I could smell it through my clothes, and I've changed underwear multiple times.
I know the logical thing to do is find another way to do my pound shedding, but it's working so well, and I'm in quite a bind seeing as he's coming home in just a few hours.

I suppose my question is, is there anyway to mask the smell (without douching, preferably)?

can't really tell...

[murgatroyd.livejournal.com]

How do you tell the difference between BV and a Yeast infection?
I had yeast about two years ago, but I'm not sure if I have it again...!
I'm experiencing slight itching and PAINful sex, but no discharge or anything.
Also, if someone could give me some tips on natural remedies?
I was thinking tea tree oil on a tampon and I know I've heard of garlic, but I don't eat it so there isn't
really any in my house...
Thanks a bunch.

[Anonymous Post] Longer cycle after miscarriage?

[viellen]

My Dearest Vulva-Loving Superstars,
As you know, from time to time the VP Team posts anonymously on members' behalf. This is one of those times. I'm sure the OP will appreciate any insight and/or feedback you can offer!

--The VP Team
contact_vp
-----------------------------------------------------------

I recently had a miscarriage and my period came back, but now my cycle
seems to be about 45 days long now. I only have my period once every
45-46 days. My doctor says it's normal but isn't suggesting how to
get my period back to 28 days or so. I'm wondering if anyone else has
had this experience after a miscarriage or abortion. Did it eventually
regulate? Should I press my doctor for some sort of help with
regulating it or will it just get there on its own?

Thanks

Anatomy question

[disarmingly.livejournal.com]

Upon holding a mirror up with a light and doing a self vulva exam, I have become very alarmed. When I spread the skin apart really wide near my vaginal opening, I see these little finger-like, or tentacle-like protrusions growing near my eurethral opening and around the vaginal opening as well.. They are a millimeter or two in lenth and look like little feelers. Is this normal? Does anyone know where I could find photos of this on the internet?

I also have some pink fleshy bumps right below the vagina. THey don't seem to have the characteristics of warts as far as texture but.. I am really thinking they are new.

Any ideas? :(

no more sex.

[adira.livejournal.com]

Hi, this isn't the typical thing to post here, but I really wanted to get it out and I couldn't find any active appropriate communities.
( going without sex )

Waxing.

[samisapirate.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about waxing my pubes for a long time. I've shaved for about 2 years now, and it's just starting to get annoying. I don't, however, wish to let it grow. See, I'm quite the fuzzy gal and I like to keep certain things clean and smooth because it makes me feel better about the rest of myself (i.e. I wax all of the hairy spots on my face like my impressive 'stache and beard, but I've never touched the hair on my arms, or I shave my pubes religiously but don't do anything to my dark, long stomach hair.)
Anyway, I recently purchased a product called Naughty Nad's, made specifically for your "naughty areas," and I was wondering if anyone had tried it before and has a thumbs up/thumbs down reaction for me.
I'm sorry this was long winded, I didn't intend it to be.

Precancerous Cells

[kyleann.livejournal.com]

I had a pap smear done last November. My results came back abnormal so I got a colposcapy done. I was told that my results were find and I had nothing to worry about but I needed to get another pap smear done soon so that they could see that everything was normal. I had the pap smear done today and before the woman started the procedure, she was talking about my precancerous cells. I was not told that I had this and I wasn't really paying attention when she told me (I know, bad me) so I didn't ask questions. It just hit me while I was driving home what she said. So what does that mean? She was saying that in most cases it goes away but sometimes they have to do procedures to get rid of them. Should I be worried? My main fear is that this will effect whether or not I'm going to be able to have children so now I'm freaked out. I really don't know what any of this means and I asked my mom and she doesn't know either. So my only other option at the moment was to go to you guys. I would appreciate any information that anyone can give me. Even some reassurances. I'm just afraid to get my results back from this pap smear...I just don't want my vagina to be in any harm :(

Le Gas

[lisbonlovesjacq.livejournal.com]

Sexiest question ever:

I get intense gas around my period. I'm talking heavy-duty would clear out the average men's locker room. It's baaaad and it's virtually constant.

Any ideas to help lessen it? I eat a very healthy, fiber-rich diet to begin with, so I don't think changing that would do much :/