why do my kidneys hate me?

[lovelark.livejournal.com]

I was complaining about a kidney infection about 2 weeks ago.
bad kidney infection, high fever, ...yeah, it was stupid. I've had these UTIs that have been PLAUGING ME for some reason since July.
I cannot figure it out.
I'm really healthy. I drink lots of water. I've been getting my share of vitamin C. Grapes. Dried cranberries. Since the kidney infection, I've been taking those cranberry pills. I don't drink diet soda, but I might have a can of diet iced tea every now and then. My diet is a pretty healthy one.

Now it's back. I was treated for the kidney infection- a full course of antibiotics, it went away, and as of last night, the UTI is back, WITH A VENGENCE. I got VERY little sleep last night. It was hell. I basically sat on the toilet for two hours, drinking water, hoping to dribble whatever possible in order to obtain some relief the urgency was so strong.
I've never gotten UTIs until this summer.
What could I be doing wrong?

I have an appointment on friday to see the doctor again, but I might go crazy and give myself a DIY cathater in the meantime. (totally not.... shoving tubes in my urethera does not sound like fun no matter how maddening this is...)
anyone have experience with this sort of persistence???

thanks. I'm a mess.

UTI/STI?

[lunexx00.livejournal.com]

A little background on me before the question/problem: 18-year-old female, first had sex with female at age 16.5, four more sexual partners since then - four females and one transman. Never been to the gyno, never used protection (as in dental dams or latex). Always checked for STIs with partners.

So, for the past two weeks I've had what feels like a savage UTI - it all started after I had sex with someone and didn't go to the bathroom afterwards. I have all the usual symptoms (not too give TMI here, but burning while peeing, cloudy pee, and discolored discharge) but the fact that it's lasted for two weeks sort of freaks me out. The only reason I can think of why it's been going on for so damn long is that I had sex with someone else, which may have "aggravated" it. Is it normal for (what I think is) a UTI to last so long? Could it be something more? Any advice/opinions would be great. Thanks!

First TIme

[ukboy22.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I am a rather inexperienced 22 year old who is feeling very nervous.

I was with a girl I met the other night, we were just playing around - kissing mainly.

She took her pants off and asked me to make love but i declined as had no protection. We continuedto kiss at this point she had removed her pants and I continued to wear my briefs.

I did not penetrate her at all and did not ejaculate. I have read (probably too much) in the last few days about being able to become pregnant without ejaculation or penetration - because of precum.

I am 100% sure I didnt ejaculate and in the past I have always precum just before full ejaculation - 5-10 secs. I am around 80% sure no precum at all was present but am worried that it may have been and somehow have got through my briefs and on to her when she sat on top of me. When I checked when i left the room my pants were completley dry but I am worried.

I asked the girl about it and she laughed saying i had nothing to worry about. I was going to buy her the emergency pill but she said i was talking non sense since 'nothing happened'. I am going on vacation and am worried sick by it all. I don't know how to bring it up with her again since i only met her that night and think she was 'suprised' that i didnt want to go further.

I am completley distressed by it al in the circumstances described I know it may be theoretically posible but how likley could it be? I am sure if the research is right it is likley hat had any precum been present it will not have been carrying any sperm as i had urinated at last 4-5 times since.

Help I am so worried - I know I am a lad and hope that wont put you off helping me.

Trouble getting condoms on

[arseaboutface.livejournal.com]

Alrighty, superstars. My boyfriend and I only started having sex (with each other, or anyone at all) a few weeks ago. I'm on the NuvaRing, so while we do have a box of condoms, we've only used them about three of the many times we've done the deed. I don't particularly care for them, as I usually feel a slight dry, burning sensation after, but I had to start NR a day late this month, so we're stuck with them 'till Sunday.

Last night we ran into some pretty crazy, terrifically frustrating problems with the actual putting on of the condom, which has never happened before. We followed the directions completely, but no matter what we did the damn things just wouldn't unroll! We went through three before we finally got one to work, but that was only after he'd softened up quite a bit. He hasn't mentioned having any problems with the condoms feeling too tight once they're on, but they were definitely too tight to roll over his fully erect penis. What gives? Should we be looking for a larger size, or just putting them on earlier?

Yeast, or BV?

[kara-chan.livejournal.com]

I'm having a bunch of trouble finding information on this, so sorry now if this has already been discussed.

Ok so. I had my pap not too long ago, and I was diagnosed with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), and I was given Metrogel. I started the treatment a three nights ago, and now I have symptoms of a yeast infection. (White cottagecheese-like clumps.)  So generally, I have two questions:

                                 - Did the Metrogel cause a pH imbalance, and cause a YI?
                                 - Could my doctor have given me a wrong diagnosis, and the treatment caused the YI to get worse?

Doctors offices are closed now, and I can't call my doctor for an appointment, so any advice would be amazing right now. Thanks a lot girls!!

smell...not good...

[oh-really-owl.livejournal.com]

Hello vadgepadgers,

I'm trying to figure out why my vagina smells, and if someone here can help me, that would be really really good.

Basically, sometimes it smells kind of chlorine-y and sometimes smells quite strongly of...buttered popcorn. Yeah. I mean I don't have the most precise smelling skills but that's the closest I can think of.

Nothing itches or burns, there's nothing chunky coming out.

Plus, I went to the doctor a while ago (when I had the same problem) to get tested for a UTI and any bacterial issues and she came up with nothing!

Any idea what might be going on? Thanks...

Really late period and no orgasms?

[alovelytale.livejournal.com]

Questions regarding my period and um... *whispers* masturbation

Okay first and foremost. My period was due on August 24th, and it still hasn't come yet. I'm a recently-sixteen year old virgin who has had a VERY regular period since it started, and I've never been on BC. I had originally thought stress had put it off, but that was only beacuse I was reaching for some explanation after five days. But now it's been fourteen, and still no period.

I've been PMSing like crazy. I had cramps a day or two before it was due, and then I've been fine and dandy (except for the PMS) until today, I've been crampy. I thought I just had to go to the bathroom, but my bowels have been pretty empty all day.

Should this be anything I should be worrying about/taking seriously? I've never had a period this late before. I have no idea if it's coming or not, at this rate it's just looking like a skipped period.

(I hope this cut works)
( Now for the fun stuff. )

So that's my unfortunate situation. Any advice or feedback or compassion or anything at all would be so much appreciated.

male YI question

[woodbecomesbone.livejournal.com]

this is actually a male organ related question, in reference to a common female problem

( Read more... )

Hymen or no hymen?

[audiohorror.livejournal.com]

This might just be a silly question but it's bugging me and I can't find anything really on this topic.


Okay, I'm still a virgin and such and I have had a gynocological exam (well I couldn't a pap smear because of vaginismus) but I was wondering.. since I did get that exam and all and my boyfriend has gotten most of a finger inside of me, my hymen would be .. well not there, right? 

I would check in a mirror or just give myself a quick poke or whatever buttttt I haven't showered in a day and my back is killing me.

But yeah, any feedback to clear up this silly little thing would be great, thanks all!!!!

August 2006: This Month in Women's Sexual Health News

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Hello Vulva-Loving Superstars,

Welcome to our second installment of "This Month in Women's Sexual Health News." (You can find a link to last month's post here.) As before, our goal is to empower VP members by educating them about the recent advances made in women's sexual health as well as the struggles they still face. We invite you to share your feedback about any of the stories in the comments to this post.

Vulva la revolución!
Tori
for the VP Team
contact_vp
____________________

Top Female Circumcision Practioners Abandon the Trade

In Sierra Leone, a small country located on the Atlantic coast of Northern Africa, ritual female circumcision is an accepted practice; in fact, in a recent election, the president’s wife sponsored the circumcision of 1,500 women in an attempt to solicit votes for her husband. The ritual involves the removal of an adolescent girl’s clitoris as part of a ceremony designed to make her a better candidate for marriage. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that thirty to forty percent of the country’s women are circumcised. ( Read more... )

Plan B Made OTC

In the US, Plan B will be available OTC nation-wide by the end of the year, to males and females eighteen and over; however, women seventeen and younger need a prescription to buy the pills. The long battle finally over, reactions to the news were mixed. Planned Parenthood said in a statement that they were troubled by the remaining restrictions on teens eighteen and under, but the decision is still considered a victory for many women's advocacy and medical groups. ( Read more... )

Doctors Need More Traning in Natural BC

When weighing their contraceptive options, many women pay close attention to the advice of their health care providers. However, according to experts at the Georgetown University Medical Center in this Yahoo! News article, many doctors do not receive adequate information about or training in fertility awareness-based methods because they don't typically learn about them in medical school or during their residencies. ( Read more... )

Who's Positive?

Finding out you are HIV positive can be a traumatizing, lonely moment in someone's life. But it doesn't have to be so lonely. After seeing the AIDS quilt had a huge impact on his view of AIDS, Tom Donohue, a young man with HIV, realized that he wanted to do something to make young people aware of HIV and its consequences. He has founded Who's Positive, which targets young people and aims to get the word out to them. ( Read more... )

Also, check out these other articles for discussion in the VP Forums:
New Nasal Spray Increases Sexual Performance
Do fit people have better sex?
Beach for Muslim Women Planned in Italy

Special thanks to free_me07, wingsoflace, and xdreamsofdramax for writing, as well as to all the fabulous VPers who contributed ideas!

If you're interested in contributing to next month's post, email frolicnaked (at) vaginapagina (dot) com. :)

Hpv

[iloveyaall.livejournal.com]

Ok,well my boyfriend has hpv, and well i would like to have sex with him at some point, and i know condoms dont protect against HPV, is there anything we can do? We are both ok with just not having sex for a long time and we are not going to anytime soon.

sore vagina

[08221988.livejournal.com]

sorry, ive had alot of questions lately, ive just recently*within the past 2 months* become sexually active, so just about everything is new to me.

ok, first off, the guy im with now, the only guy ive ever slept with, we've had sex quite a few times.

the past few times though..its really hurt during/after sex..is that normal? it hasnt really been rough sex or anything..and idk what it is.

ive heard that sex when your pregnant can do that to you? is that true?
because in that case, im even more worried im pregnant. godd i want the 11th to come cause thats when im s uppoosed to start! haha

also, thanks everyone who answered my post about finding a good lube, we ended up going to a sex store on the way out of the movies this evening and found one that works wonders, though i forget what its called!

Ovulation bleeding, or...?

[mei-no-ninja.livejournal.com]

Last Thursday, when I went to the bathroom in the afternoon, I noticed a tiny bit of pinkish blood on the toilet paper. I automatically assumed it was the beginning of my period, but then remembered that I'd had it only two weeks before. I have a fairly regular cycle, usually in the range of 34-38 days. Since it wasn't the right consistancy or colour for period blood, I passed it off and decided not to be concerned unless it kept up.

Sure enough, there was no more blood later that day and none the next. On Saturday, however, there was more bleeding... enough to warrant use of a pad. Again, it was pinkish and a different consistancy. Sunday I decided to see if I could find anything online that might be it. I came up with bleeding during ovulation. Okay, that sounds good. I can deal with that. But, according to MyMonthlyCycles (one of the handiest websites, by the way), if my luteal phase is the average 14 days, I don't ovulate until the 8th. But who knows, maybe my luteal phase is longer than 14 days, or my period's coming early this month.

The one thing that I'm concerned about is, doesn't ovulation bleeding usually only last about three days? I've had this abnormal bleeding for almost a week. I think (hope!) it's over now. Is it most likely it's just due to ovulation? Should I be much more concerned and go see a doctor?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Breasts, body hair, insecurities

[armenianpride.livejournal.com]

Okkkkkk so I have a few questions

1. Is it normal for one of my boobs to be slightly smaller than the other one? I never really noticed until a little while ago, and I'm just wondering it that's normal and nothing to worry about, or what?

2. this is just a girl question in general, not health-related, but what do you do about body hair on your, for example, arms/hands/knuckles? I've been "blessed" with a hair man as my dad, I groom when it comes to face, etc., but how about knuckles and stuff? How do you control that without making it seem like you're trying to get rid of hair everywhere?? haha thanks a lot ladies :)

3. I imagine being self-conscious in having sex....body image issues, etc., with a partner, and i was just wondering about you guys' take on this- how'd you get over it, how was it like in the beginning, etc...

thanks!!
xoxo alissa

New Birth Control

[pinkgatorgirl06.livejournal.com]

Well, the planned parenthood here decided to stop carrying Ortho Evra, which sucks, because I love it. I've also heard a lot of bad things about it in the news recently, so I guess it is time to start looking for something else. When I go see my gyno, what are some options I could discuss with her? I'm terrible with pills, and I DONT want to use the nuva ring, period. It's not really an option. I'm already to shallow, havd a tilted uterus, so sex already sucks for me. Are there any other patch brands? Is there a shot tha tWONT make me gain about a hundred pounds? Thanks for any info!

Fluctuating Libido over cycle

[betterbebalboa.livejournal.com]

This is just something I'm curious about and haven't seen addressed anywhere, I hope it's appropriate.

How many of you ladies find that your libido changes over different points in your cycle? For instance, is there one time in the month where you get really horny, and another time where you have no interest in sex? Personally, I'm always really worked up the first two or three days of my BC pack, and then for the entire third week before my period. It seems weird that the hormones would have that much of an effect, especially since I'm not ovulating.

Also, I know a lot of women find their libido goes down on hormonal birth control. Mine actually went up, I think. Anyone else have that happen? (I'm on the generic of Mircette) If yours went down, how did you deal with it? I have one friend whose libido disappeared and who was really happy about it.