Nov. 12th, 2006

[identity profile] https://users.livejournal.com/-sinlikescarlet/
I'm going to the gyn next week to get a prescription for birth control. I'm under the impression I'm going to be examined and stuff while I'm there. I've never been before and I really don't know what to expect...what are they going to do?

spotting?

Nov. 12th, 2006 01:26 am
[identity profile] princesskill.livejournal.com
so 2 weeks ago i started spotting for a few days and thought my period was coming. it never did and ths spotting stopped. now im spotting again and have been for a few days.

i havnt had a peirod since august. i have very irregular periods but have been tested for PCOS and dont have it. my dr. says that i just have irregualr periods. im not on birth control of any type but im not having sex either.

although my periods are always irregular ive NEVER had spotting before except a day or 2 before my period comes.

is this something i should get checked out or should i just see what happends? maybe my period will come full force in the next few days?
[identity profile] amhranai9.livejournal.com
Hello!

My sincerest apologies if this question is already answered - I googled the info and tried to find it in the FAQs but didn't find my exact situation.

Due to uncontrollable circumstances, I ended up separated from my birth control pill pack today, and as a result, took my pill about 7 hours late.

I am on OTC-Lo and have been for several months. I have not missed any other pills this month.

Most importantly, it was my last active pill. The instructions say if you miss a pill, take it when you remember, and take your next pill on time. But I don't have a pill (with hormones) to take on time tomorrow.

So I guess my question is - does this affect my protection? Tomorrow starts my placebo week, so when I start a new pack do I need to wait 7 days to be fully protected?

Thanks for your help!


(x-posted to [community profile] birthcontrol)
[identity profile] astraevirgo.livejournal.com
Hello, vagina owners and savvy others.

Currently, I am experiencing a crusty, dark yellow and/or brown discharge into my panty, accompanied by an itch. It doesn't smell like anything (at least when I last went to smell it) not even sweat.

The reason I'm concerned, is that about a year ago I developed an itch and an unsual discharge (one that stained), that I ignored for 4-5 cycles because it cleared up for a week or so every time I had my period. I finally got fed up with it one day and went to the gyno at my school, and found that I apparently had Cervicitis. Antibiotics cleared it up.

The discharge is different from when I had cervicitis, because it's not as liquid. The itch is actually originating more around my clitoris rather than my vagina like it did before.

I also know that the current discharge isn't any associated with ovulation. I know I'm not ovulating, because my period was due to start this past Friday. Also, I know what that discharge is, and it doesn't cause me to itch. Just wish that I could change my panties midday.

One further complication: I'm currently studying abroad in London, and will return home in three weeks. Is it safe to leave it until then? Or is no study abroad experience complete without a foray into the local health care system? In this case, the NHS?

Thank you in advance for your opinions and advice.
[identity profile] xhitxmexclown.livejournal.com
I just realized this morning that I've been behind on my pill, by a day. So I took one this morning, to make up for it.

Well, normally this would be okay, if I had unprotected sex last night, (yes he did come inside me). I took my pill last night too, and the night before that, but I'm unsure of the day which I missed. Should this be okay? I took one the day before that also, so I didn't miss pills inbetween nights of having sex, if this makes sense?

What are my chances, does anyone know how long it takes for the hormones to be effective in your body when you've missed a day??

I'm on Brenda 35D.

Also, does anyone find it stingy when someone comes inside you afterwards, when his fluids mix with yours?

Thanks for your help!
[identity profile] okydokypokey.livejournal.com
Alright so last thursday night my man and i decided to try to have a little bit of sex before we do it hardcore somewhere nice. So this is the first time I had a penis in me, and he got like a half an inch in and it hurt SO BAD! He told me I was very small and that I have to stretch myself out because I'm never gunna get anything in there. Well since then the skin below my hole feels torn and it bleeds when I insert anything in there. My question is will that stay torn and hurt everytime i have sex? What can I do to stretch myself out? I can get like a finger or a small vibrator up there...but it is really uncomfortable and doesn't feel that great...help!
[identity profile] turnyourankle.livejournal.com
I started using HBC for the first time (OTC-Lo) about three weeks ago, and for the past 4-5 days I've been feeling incredibly crampy. It's not as bad as the cramps I usually get, but those usually incapacitate me. These are very frequent, and none of the painkillers I've taken work. It also feels like the area around my cervix is hurting - something I've never felt when having menstrual cramps. Is this normal or could it be indicative of something else? I couldn't find any info online and the insert doesn't say anything about cramps.
[identity profile] blue-werd.livejournal.com
I was browsing around on the internet, and found this article on birth control, and the effect is has on a woman's sex drive.
I found the article to be helpful, so I thought I'd share!


When drug companies introduced an updated version of the Pill in the mid-1980s, they claimed the newcomer was less likely to cause side effects like bleeding. Little did they know that the so-called triphasic pill also boasts an unexpected advantage over its predecessor: it may enhance a woman's sex drive.

While investigating the erotic activities of Pill users, San Francisco State University psychologist Norma McCoy, Ph.D., also happened to ask which kind of birth control pills her collegiate subjects were taking. About three women in five still get the monophasic variety, which provides a constant level of synthetic hormones. But many women take the triphasic type, in which dosage changes every week or so to mirror the biochemical contours of a woman's menstrual cycle.

Though both kinds of pills are effective, McCoy found that women who take the triphasic tablets may have more fun in bed. They think and fantasize about sex more often than monophasic users and become more aroused during love-making. They may even enjoy better lubrication, McCoy reported in the Archives of Sexuality.

The reason? A woman's desires are flamed not just by her lover's assets but by her natural supply of sex hormones. Birth control pills suppress those chemical aphrodisiacs; but McCoy suspects that triphasics let more of a woman's hormonal endowment shine through. She doesn't yet know, however, if women on triphasic pills have a sexual edge over women not taking any oral contraceptive.

 

 

For anyone that wants the website, it is -  http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-1049.html

Enjoy!


[identity profile] lilybbloom.livejournal.com
to make a long story short, i'm on bc and my boyfriend an i use condoms, but i have this insane concern that i'm pregnant which is probably impossible BUT my stomach has been queasy for the past week, and my boobs kind of hurt. i skipped the period i was supposed to have the week before last so i've taken 4.5 weeks of active pills since my last actual period (i still have 1.5 weeks of active pills left). if the worry gets to be too much and i just want to induce my period so i can have some peace of mind, can i do this by simply stopping taking the pills, even though i'm not done the pack? if i do, can i expect to get my period in the normal time it takes to get it when i actually finish a pack? i want to know b/c if i do stop the pills and then don't get my period 3 days later, i will FREAk OUT.

thanks in advance!
[identity profile] ieaoiaaeouia.livejournal.com
I need some help, please!

I have a question for you. I´m a virgin and have just started masturbating. I rub my clit and my labia and I have introduced my middle finger (to my knuckle) into my vagina. When I do that there´s a clear fluid that sometimes is like water and sometimes is thicker and at times there´s a white fluid...is that what lubricates the vagina?

Well, last night I think I had an orgasm, but I´m not sure. I don´t know what an orgasm feels like...I was watching porn and started rubbing my parts and I felt as if somebody was tickling me and I tensed and had the urge to rub my legs together.

Also, since I´m new to this (masturbating), is it advisable that I get a dildo?

Thank you for your help.

Intro Post

Nov. 12th, 2006 07:25 pm
[identity profile] h0rsegurrrl.livejournal.com
Hi everyone,
My name is Melanie and I'm a lurker, first-time poster.  I'm 18, in college, and in an awesome monogamous relationship.  I've heard only good things about this community so I thought I'd come to you girls with a question.

First, some background:  I've never really gotten bad period cramps.  Don't get me wrong, I've gotten cramps, but not the crippling, I-can't-move kind of cramps.  More like take-some-Advil-and-lie-down-on-a-heating-pad-and-I'll-be-fine kind of cramps.  I started using NuvaRing in September of 2005 with no problems.  What little cramps I did get were completely eliminated when I started the Ring.

Fast-forward to October of 2006: I got a stomach flu that morphed into acid reflux and an inflamed stomach lining, I lost 15 pounds, and long story short, I was wondering in the NuvaRing perhaps was making the nausea and general belly pain worse.  My gyno said that she didn't think the two were related, but the only way to know for sure is if I stop using the NuvaRing for a little while to see if I feel better.  So, after my last period ended on October 28th, I didn't restart the NuvaRing.

Fast-forward again to last night, November 11th:  I got some HORRIBLE cramps, but I didn't know what it was.  My roommate is often crippled by period cramps, so I asked her what they feel like, and described what I was feeling, and she said yeah, they sounded like period cramps.  The pain was a dull ache in the area below my bellybutton, behind my bladder but in front of my bowels (I have IBS so I know bowel pain quite well).  The only cramps I remember having were the few that I had before the Ring, but they were nothing like the ones I had last night.  I sort of wanted to tear my uterus out of my body.  They weren't crippling, per se, but they were certainly uncomfortable and baffling.  I took some Advil, lied down on a heating pad, ate some soup and watched a movie to get my mind off of it, and after about an hour the cramps were pretty much gone.  I'm perfectly fine now.

I haven't started my period, and I have no idea when to expect my period since coming off birth control.  I don't know when to expect my period, but it'll be the average 28 days on November 25th, which is still a good two weeks off (if that made sense).

The only sexual contact I've had since my last period was during my period, my boyfriend was wearing a condom, he penetrated and then I immediately got off because it was too bloody (I know it's gross but hey, I don't get to see my boyfriend much so I take what I can get, haha)  so it's highly, highly unlikely that I'm pregnant.

I was thinking about getting an IUD, but man, if I could barely handle the cramps last night, I don't know how I'm going to handle cramps from an IUD.

Here's my question:  are bad cramps a normal occurence after coming off hormonal birth control?!  Have those bad cramps happened to anyone else after coming off HBC?  Were the cramps I had normal, and should I see someone about it?

Sorry this post is so long - I'm just a little shaken up by the whole thing.  Thanks ladies :-)
[identity profile] wickedsquirrel.livejournal.com
I've been on Ortho Tri-cyclen low for the past four years, and my periods have been like clockwork.

I started bleeding this morning. My period isn't due for another week. The bleeding was light, but it was also reddish-brown and thicker than it would normally be.

The only thing different about my lifestyle is I started taking Zoloft about two weeks ago (when I started this pack of birth control).

Is it possible for Zoloft to make my birth control pills less effective? What could possibly be going on?

I could be freaking out over nothing, but I've never had break-through bleeding before.
[identity profile] barnuminthebarn.livejournal.com
Hi, everyone! I'll do my best to make this short and sweet (..and straight to the point).

I started my birth control (Sprintec 28) at the end of January of this year.
I stopped taking my birth control at the end of October.
I had absolutely no complaints about my birth control ..until a couple months ago. I experienced (on three different occasions) heart-related problems. All of a sudden, my heart would begin to race and beat out of my chest for no apparent reason whatsoever. The first time it happened, I was trying to move my cat's tiered house/loft by myself, but it went away within a few seconds. The second time it happened, I was coming down the stairs and just happened to skip a step. The third time it happened, I was at work and bent over to pick something up off the floor. I remained awfully calm given the circumstances, but had my parents run me in to see my doctor when it didn't go away within the first ten minutes. By time I got in to see the doctor, my heart had stopped pounding.. but was still racing. I had an EKG later that day, and the results came back normal. I talked to my doctor about whether this could be a result of my birth control, and she said no. They decided that it would be best if I wore a heart monitor for three weeks, and take a class on relaxation due to it possibly be stress-related. Ha.
Needless to say, I wore the heart monitor for three weeks. I was told that if I felt funny, or had another episode to push the "record" button on the monitor, etc. Anyway, ..nothing happened the entire length I wore the darn thing. Two days before I had to turn the monitor in, I decided I would "ween" myself from the comfort it gave me by not wearing it. So, the day before I had to take it back, I crouched down to look at something and bam - my heart started to race. I quickly sat down, tried to calm myself, blah-blah-blah..
Keep in mind that, whenever these episodes would occur, I would get awfully warm and flushed feeling.. like my body's entire circulation changed. I sometimes still feel warm/flushed, but that's about it. I had been in for my yearly check-up/physical a little over a month prior to these happenings! Everything came back perfectly normal too.

This all began way back in September. Fastforward to now.. I'm feeling better, I'm off my birth control, and I haven't had a "true" episode happen since the day I was taken in to see my doctor.

Now, for the questions..
How is it that my doctor could tell me that my heart-related problems couldn't be birth control related? I find that awfully funny and hard to believe when it blatantly states birth control can cause blood clots, strokes, heart attacks ..ALL heart-related problems.

Has anyone else out there ever experienced something like this while being on birth control?

I could type more but I've already typed a book. Any comments/advice/opinions would be helpful to me. I appreciate it.

Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to even read my post.
[identity profile] soulsearcher139.livejournal.com
I just got my results back from my colposcopy and I have to go for a LEEP, I have mildly bad cells, the doctor says he has seen alot worse but wants to get rid of them just in case.

my question is definitely not in the memories, which suprised me considering how many pierced breasts and vulva's I see around here,,


the LEEP wand is electrical, does this mean I have to take all my piercings out. (I have 33 and some I cant take out without a proffesional piercer) has this come up with anyone in this community? Its sunday so I can't call my doctor and find out until tommorow. and even then I might just try to sign a release form and keep the ones in that are impossible to take out..

*edit* sorry i also didnt see anything in the memories. I will be getting my procedure done mid cycle, which means I will need to put my nuvaring back in afterwards, after my abortion they said it was ok to put it back in because of what its made of and it cant spread infection, does anyone know if its the same for after a LEEP? I would assume so but any personal experience would be appreciated.


thanks.
[identity profile] drowningmermaid.livejournal.com
question 1:

Why is it that I'm terribly concerned that I haven't had a period since August 21 (other than spotting each month since) but my doctor seems to not really care?
--I'm not pregnant as far as 4 piss tests say, including one at the doc's office.
Should I stop being concerned?

question 2:

Would there be any logical reason aside from pregnancy for the above to happen?
--or could it be pregnancy anyway and just not showing up? I do not have physical symptoms of pregnancy.

question 3:

When I DO get my period (or spotting) I always get intense pain like a UTI or YI the week before, despite keeping myself nice and clean as well as drinking a lot of water, wearing all cotton and loose fitting clothes and undies, etc... does this happen to anyone else and if so, how do you get over it?
--or what can I do to stop this?

question 4:

Is the implanon implant available in the US yet?
--my doctor is doing a really shitty job of finding an OB/GYN for me that accepts Medicaid and I really need to get on BC (and that's the one I want).


I think that's all for now.
Thanks for any help and/or info.
[identity profile] augirl786.livejournal.com
Hey everyone!
I was just diagnosed with genital warts (and therefore HPV) and after looking through numerous webpages, I still have a few questions. I would really appreciate the help of any of you that might be acquainted with the virus.

1)How easy is it to spread the warts to other areas on my own body? My outbreak is currently pretty small and located on the most dorsal part of my vulva. They are somewhat itchy and I am constantly tempted to scratch, but I'm afraid that this will cause the outbreak to spread. Is that the case? I've seen some pretty extensive outbreaks online and definitely want to avoid that!

2) I've seen conflicting information regarding a test in men; it seems that the only way to diagnose this disease in men is whether or not they have actual symptoms, and that if no symptoms are present there is no way to diagnose it. This makes me kind of irritated - how are we supposed to prevent its spread?! I obviously got it from a man, and the most likely partner had been tested for STDS. I just wish that a test existed to prevent the further spread from men who have no idea they are infected.

3)I've read about the colposcopy procedure, but mostly only from a clinical viewpoint. Can anyone give me a more personal account of what its like from the patient's perpsective? Am I more likely to expreience cramping if I alreay have severe menstrual cramping?

4) I'm only 20 and currently single. This diagnosis makes dating pretty unappealing to me right now, but when I do find a person that I really want to be with, how should I approach the topic of HPV? It seems like its very common but not that well known, so I expect that a guy might be kind of weirded out when I tell him. Any advice from people who have been there?

Sorry that this is kind of wordy, I just really want to get the best advice I can! Thanks in advance for your help.
[identity profile] jocelina.livejournal.com
Hello, Vulva-Loving Superstars!

Welcome to our third installment of "This Month in Women's Sexual Health News." (You can find previous installments here.) As always, our aim is to empower via education and dissemination of information. This installment is a double-issue, with news from the months of September and October, which means it's got double the empowerment and information! We hope you enjoy it, and we welcome your comments on these articles.

Cheers!
Jocey
For the VP Team
[livejournal.com profile] contact_vp

September

Pakistan Rape Law Reform
Last month, Pakistan's parliament began debating a bill that would place the crime of rape under the nation's civil criminal code, thereby removing it from the Hudood Ordinances, Pakistani Islamic law. ExpandRead more... )

In China, Delicately Testing the Taboo on Talking About Sex
According to this Washington Post article, more and more Chinese citizens are testing the cultural taboos against frank discussion of sexual matters. ExpandRead more... )

October

Gardasil to Be Made Available in Europe
In an important development for our European members, Merck has received European regulatory approval for its Gardasil vaccine, which protects against the strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer. ExpandRead more... )

Researchers Working on a Non-hormonal Male Contraceptive
According to this BBC News article, US and Italian researchers have discovered that a newly developed molecule called Adjudin can halt the development of sperm in rats. ExpandRead more... )

Global Study Dispels Sexual Behavior Myths
People are losing their virginities at younger ages these days. Married people almost never have sex. The number of sexual partners is the surest indicator of a person's risk for sexually transmitted diseases.

Umm... maybe not so much. According to a recent global study, first published in the British medical journal The Lancet and reported here in the Chicago Tribune, some commonly held ideas about sexual behavior may in fact be inaccurate. ExpandRead more... )

And check out these other articles that are up for discussion in the VP.com Forums:
New male contraceptive Pill with no side effects
EU parliament calls for increased breast cancer screening
Many STD patients reinfected within months


Special thanks to everyone who contributed suggestions/ideas for this double edition, and to [livejournal.com profile] frolicnaked for her exceptional summary-writing.

If you'd be interested in contributing to next month's post, please contact psycheknot (at) vaginapagina (dot) com.
[identity profile] loonylupinlover.livejournal.com
For the past month or two I've been having some difficulties with my libido. I'm just finishing my seventh month on the Ring, and after the first three months I've been doing 4 in, 1 out. My libido difficulties have been mostly confined to having difficulty masturbating -- I have little to no actual desire to do so, but I still try to out of habit. Unfortunately in the past few weeks I've actually fallen asleep in the middle of trying to masturbate, several times. I'm also much less wet than I used to be, which makes masturbation more difficult. I have to use lube a lot of the time now, when I never needed to before. Part of the lack of desire could be attributed to exhaustion, as I work nearly full-time now as a vet assistant, where I'm on my feet all day wrestling dogs. But part of it I'm sure must be the Ring.

However, when I get to see my boyfriend (which is generally every weekend, but sometimes every two or three weeks), I usually have no trouble getting horny. Sometimes I have difficulty getting wet enough, but sometimes I produce a perfectly good amount of lubrication when I'm with him. So, even though my sex life on my own is kinda crappy right now, my sex life with my partner has been generally pretty good.

But, twice now recently on our weekend visits, I just haven't wanted to have sex. We've tried to get me warmed up (both him and me) and my brain just doesn't get into it. As a result, my body doesn't either. When we've tried to have sex despite it, it's apparent that I'm not ready for intercourse -- today when we had sex there was this weird popping sensation with every thrust, which I think meant that the vaginal canal was still short and unaroused -- and it just feels like something I just want to get over with.

Having been a sex fiend at first in our relationship, this development scares the crap out of me. It's not me. And I only get to see my boyfriend once a week if I'm lucky, so whenever a visit is marred by bad sex I feel horrid, because I know that it's my body that's failing me. But I thought about it, and looked at the dates, and it turns out that both occasions when I just didn't want sex with my boyfriend, it was the weekend I'd removed my Ring. This has happened two months in a row when I've removed my Ring.

So, this next cycle I'm going to try going back to 3 in, 1 out, and see if that weekend of removal is better for me, libido-wise. I'm not sure about the masturbation-libido problem, though.

Has anyone else had similar ups and downs when the Ring is removed or inserted? Has anyone else had problems with libido only on their own, but not with a partner? Or is it just me? Just wondering.

(Crossposted to [livejournal.com profile] nuva_ring.)

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