Linea Nigra -- Does This Mean I'm Pregnant?

[1337chix0r.livejournal.com]

Well, lately I've been having symptoms of pregnancy (I'm still waiting for my period which is due later this week). I made a post earlier but this is different.

My symptoms:
-Bloating (will not go down)
-Nausea that comes and goes w/o warning
-Tiredness, I just feel generally weak and more tired that usual.

(I was on Ortho Evra from June to September and stopped suddenly. I became sexually active on my last patch and contiuned to have sex unprotected)


MAIN QUESTION:

But my mom and my boyfriend noticed this line under my belly button, its called a "linea nigra" which gets dark much later in pregnancy. It looks like one, but its very, very faint -- you have to look at it for a second to see it. It runs from the bottom of my bellybutton down yonder. Could I be developing one now, or do they develop when you concieve and get darker over time?

I'm very confused on this.

Implanon users - experiences?

[evilpinkbear.livejournal.com]

(YES, I checked the archives)


Implanon users - what have your experiences been like? Do doctors prefer to give it to you if you have used bc before? (I'm thinking the way they prefer giving the IUD to older women/women with children) Compared to other birth control you have used (if any), do you like the implant more or less - why?

Is it available in Canada? If so, how much does it cost? Was it easy or hard to find someone to implant it?

BC reaction or infection?

[zephyrs.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if the symptoms I'm experiencing are from an infection or a reaction to birth control since they started a week after I changed methods, so sorry if this should be in another community.

( Symptoms since it's kinda long )

HIV Questions.

[crw008.livejournal.com]

I realize that HIV is something that everyone should be tested for, but i'm actually studying abroad right now and it would be EXTREMELY expensive for me to get tested over here. Unfortunately, i'm a bit of a hypocondriac and have made myself INCREDIBLY paranoid. I'd like to explain my current situation...

I've never been tested for HIV. I always considered myself to be a careful person, however, looking back on it...I can think of many drunken nights where I, unfortunately, wasn't so careful. :(

My most recent sexual partner was tested for HIV a couple months after we broke up and it came back negative. Now, should I NOT spend the money that I REALLY can't afford on being tested since his came back negative? I know there are rare occasions of false negatives and such, but should I just safely assume that I don't have it as well? We had unprotected sex at least 15 times, and he gave me oral sex at least 5 times. If I had HIV, I can safely assume I would have for sure given it to him, right?

Which HBC has lowest hormones / causes least emotional disturbance?

[numbersnletters.livejournal.com]

After the horrorshow that was my six-hour stint with the Nuvaring (read all about it at badbirthcontrol), I am skittish around all forms of HBC. However, condoms being what they are, I remain curious about HBC. I have a few questions for you gals.

1) Which form of (non-implantable, non-injectable) HBC has the lowest levels of (estrogen and) progesterone?

2) When it comes to the effect on mood, what are the differences between combined estrogen-progesterone HBC and progesterone-only HBC? Is one less likely to cause problems?

3) Are certain forms of HBC notorious for causing emotional distress?

4) Are certain forms of HBC known for being less likely to cause these problems?

Thanks so much, lovely women!

Weird Rash and Swollen Glands

[blimeyzawn1.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I'm having some really bizarre symptoms, and I can't get to my gyno till Friday, so I thought I'd see if any of you have any idea what this is. About a week ago I got this REALLY painful rash on my thigh right where it connects to my crotch. I figured it was just razor burn or heat rash or something and ignored it. But yesterday I woke up and the same rash is ALL over the top of my vulva and now on the other side of my leg. And the lymph nodes around my crotch are really, painfully swollen.

I'm certain that it's not poison ivy, and I haven't been bitten by anything recently that I know of. I also just got std-tested, so I'm fairly certain that's not it as well, though I know that's always a possibility. Also, I'm having some bladder issues. I don't know if they're related or not, but thought I'd post about them just incase they might be. It doesn't really feel like I have a bladder infection (I've had PLENTY before, so I know what they feel like), but when I need to pee, it's hard to do. Like, when I squeeze my bladder muscles I then have to unsqueeze them and sort of wait a few seconds for the pee to come out. Graphic and weird, I know, but I'm desperate here. I've convinced myself that I'm going to drop dead of some horrible disease before my doctor's appointment so I need whatever info you guys have. Anyone ever have anything like this happen?

Bug bite!!!! HELP!

[hildybrant.livejournal.com]

Okay... this is going to sound pretty effin' ridiculous.

We've had flea issues at my place for several months now. However, they've been more or less completely cleared up since June or July. As I hadn't seen any in my room for even longer than that, I gave myself the all-clear last night to start sleeping naked again.

I woke up this morning with a bug bite on the inside of my labia majora. Of course.

What the bloody swear word can I put on it to make it stop itching?!? All the cortizone creams and anti-itch anythings I can find say not to put them there.

This is driving me BERZERK. I can't just scratch my vag in public, obviously, and I have no doubt I shouldn't scratch myself too much there at all, especially since I certainly don't care to rush off to the bathroom to wash my hands thoroughly before and after I go in for a good scratch.

But it ITCHES.

Seriously. I have a bug bite in my VAGINA. HELP ME.

some sexual orientation question...

[alovelytale.livejournal.com]

Last night I had an in depth chat with an online friend of mine, whom I am probably meeting next summer. Sex being the main activity during her stay here. I asked her about it, since she knows I am bi but she's never said anything about her own orientation yet she's so willingly agreeing to gay sex.

She said she was straight, but upon further questioning she's actually quite conufsed and I can see why. I also have some broader questions about sexual orientation.

( The questions! )

Thanks everyone :)

Queefing on Command?

[ms-douchebag.livejournal.com]

I have a few questions about the notorious "queef."

I knew a girl a few years ago who claimed to be able to queef on command. Is it possible to train yourself to queef, without penetration or other outside sources? I don't know if I really believe her...I've never met or heard of anyone else who claims this ability...although that could just be to the (unfortunate) taboo nature of the vagina/vulva and its wonders. Can any of you make yourselves queef? I'd imagine it would involve some well-developed pelvic floor muscles, and I have been working on mine. I'm curious about it, because I've never experienced queefing, either with self stimulation or sexual intercourse. I think it sounds funny, and I know my boyfriend would be amused. We like those kinds of things. If any of you have tips for inducing queefs, please let me know. I'd be really excited if I could do it!

Contraceptive film

[pinkdramon.livejournal.com]

What? What's contraceptive film? I never heard of that before. Well, I did, but, I didn't know what it does. I always thought it was like a dental dam or female condom!

I found out about contraceptive film in school today. I even got to touch one. Professor was passing all these contraceptive devices out in class as examples.

Appearantly it's a clear glycern & spermicide film, that you fold into a smaller square than it already is, and stick it up your vagina. Then if you're having PIV sex, wait about 10+ minutes, and the male puts the condom on as usual & this boosts your protection rate up pretty high. The professor SAID "99% effective," when combined like that, but I don't know if she's just estimating or just letting us know it's better than condoms alone.

The film dissolves while it's still in your vagina so there shouldn't be anything to fish out later.

It reminds me of those Listerene CoolBreath Strips.

And appearantly you can get one over-the-counter at most pharmacies. Without prescription. But you really do have to get it 'over the counter' since you have to ask for it specifically.

What? Wouldn't a film made up of glycern & spermicide cause all kinds of irritation? At least, in some women?

Does anybody use this?

Itchy Swollen Vagina

[buickbaby64.livejournal.com]

Sorry if this starts off as TMI, but I dont post often,and dont know how to do a cut (help please!!) Hey VP, I am a first time poster, and a long time viewer of this community. Being in the medical field in an OBGYN office, you'd think I could figure things out on my own. Heh, im still learning that I dont always have all the answers. So here goes.
Yesterday while at my BF's house, I began feeling itchy on/around my labia (outer). Throughout the day, it became progressively worse. This morning, as I got out of bed, I realized that my entire vagina, clitoris, hood, and labia are all red and very swollen. Not to mention the extreme itch I have been experiencing. As I said before, I work in a drs office, and I took a look under the microscope to make sure there was no yeast. No BV. No spores, hyphae, nothing. It was also confirmed by my NP. (I didnt have her visually check me though, busy schedules!)I'll give a little history.

LMP-3 weeks ago.
BV- Began after my period ended, and lasted a week. I treated with Clindamycin insertable cream. All clear one week later. ( I do not suggest Tampax scented tampons)
Everything was fine for a week.
I had sex this most recent Saturday. No condom. No extra lube.
(ive been on Ovcon .1/.35 for 6 months)
Itching began on Sunday, and swelling/itching began this morning.
As I sit here now, I feel alot of tingling in my vaginal area, almost as if inside.
I also did a urine dip while I was at work to rule out a UTI, since I have been feeling a bit of urgency to go. But the urine dip was clear, no blood, just some white blood cells which im attributing to the thick, goopy, slimy discharge im having. It has no odor. White to clear.

Any ideas of wht this could be? Of course I googled "itchy,swollen vagina" and the first site that popped up said genital herpes. Oy. Anyone else experienced this? Ill take at home suggestions as well for comfort!
Thanks for your hepl in advance. I would appreciate any extra input.

Discharge after Fingering

[nerdpony.livejournal.com]

Okay, so on Saturday night, my boyfriend came over. We were making out and he ended up fingering me. It got a bit rougher than I usually am when masturbating, so my outer labia are sore (if not a bit bruised; I can't tell, since I don't shave). Anyways, since then, I've been discharging. A lot. It's clear, somewhat sticky, and doesn't taste much different than stuff I've had before, so I don't think it's a problem... I just wanted to check with y'all and make sure it is. It's also not itchy.

Connected to that, I have sore, tender nipples (also from Saturday's escapades). They're sticking out more than usual, and it appears that there may be some slight... um... almost!bruising around the areoli. (Is that the correct plural form?) By that, I mean, like, those little purple-y dots you get either before something bruises or when something's been hurt, but not hard enough to make it actually bruise. I'm not too worried about these either, and have checked all clothing I've worn on the upper half of my body since then for discharge, blood, etc. There hasn't been any, so I don't think that's a problem, either. Although if anyone knows how I can stop them from being so sticky-outy (I was wearing a tight-ish t-shirt today; that was slightly embarrassing), I wouldn't mind hearing that.

Thanks!

(Edit: forgot a word...)