Birth control?

[uglybracelets.livejournal.com]

Two part thing here. So I finally got into a semi serious relationship with a boy, where sex and protection are a big topic. Obviously. But Im stuck at a point where I want to get on birth control, I just don't know how comfortable I feel about doing it (introducing more chemicals to my body). I have a prescription, that I sort of was hesitant to fill, I mean, considering I wasn't in a relationship, and was basically NEVER having sex. But I am almost 22, and if Im with someone I can trust not to screw around behind my back, then.. what the hell am I waiting for? If I fill it, could I technically start ASAP, even though my period is like...3 weeks away (5 week cycle here). I mean, I could technically just skip the first period and just jump a month? I am completely clueless with this stuff, considering I have NO experience with it. EVER.

Also, I guess this is more a 3 parter.... I was having sex recently, with said boy, and I do believe the condom was lost in action. I didn't realize until he had to pull out, but once I did I went on a "search and rescue" mission with my hand, to try and see if it was.. lodged somewhere. I didn't feel anything, but I also didn't see the condom anywhere either. I didn't approach the subject with him because I was really nervous about it, but I'm sorta worried that if it did get "lodged" then what happens... Will it sliver its happy way out, could this cause me damage if it got stuck... Im completely freaked out because a condom has never just "disappeared" on me.

Also last part, not so gross. and not so sexual. I take Metformin for my PCOS. Im up to 1500mg a day. And the other day I made a dummmmmmmb mistake. I took my medicine saturday night, probably around 10ish. Not with much food, because I hardly eat when Im on my medicine. No big deal, But then sunday night, around 7ish, I went to a friends place and had a cosmo. I don't know if these drinks are supposed to be that strong, and I thought I usually held my liquor better than that but this hit me like a ton of bricks. Heavy bricks. Is this an affect because the liver is being over run by toxins, and Im so effed because of this? I try to like not take my meds for like 3 days before if I know I am going to be drinking, just because I am really anxious about the whole body thing. This was a freak mistake and I totally wasn't thinking, and maybe some PCOS girls out there could tell me what their experience has been?

first time tampon try-er, insertion troubles?

[beaucoupdequoi.livejournal.com]

i know i was supposed to look through posts to see if this had been asked before, and i did. the only thing is: it hadn't been asked in my specific context.

so, i've noticed, over time, that it really is just a lot more convenient if i use tampons while i'm at school (college student). (i have been sticking to pads forever) i've tried inserting it several times, but every time i do try to, it falls into the toilet. i went out and bought a box of regular tampons this morning and attempted to stick one in. i angled it, so that it angled towards my lower back, but the applicator never really found what it was supposed to go into, so the cotton part of the tampon just fell into the toilet. now, there is no way that i can just sit there and try until i get it in (since it is a co-ed bathroom -- it would be kind of weird), sooo i'm asking for advice so it'd make it easier for me tomorrow morning or whenever? i really just want to be able to use them for convenience more than anything.

thanks in advance!! :D

question about red blisters on lips and hood

[momof3armywife.livejournal.com]

ok im kinda new to posting for this kinda stuff never had a problem like this ever. i got a spider bite on my left lip about a week and a half ago it was red and sore for awhile then stopped. now my whole vaginal area is scattered with little sore like things that leak if i itch them. i dont think its from the spider bite, but its spread to my clit and inside the left lip my clit and left lip are flaky from dry skin its also very swollen my left lip and clit are . ive been with the same man for almost 2 yrs neither of us have cheated we just had a little girl almost 3 months ago. he also just got home from iraq in sept. what could this be? ive been tested for STDs and they are all neg, i have a feeling i have a UTI ive been useing the bathroom ALOT lately. an since the stuff has come up on my area we havent been having sex. just to be safe so he doesnt get it if its contagious also i have 3 hard bumps at the top of my pubic bone 2 on the left which are very painful to touch and one on the right no pain when touched any ideas and help would be great thanks. Question

lube and YI's

[gauvie.livejournal.com]

My bf and I had sex 3 times on Saturday. He bought these stupid condoms with little prickly bumps on them and we used one the first time. Afterwards I was all sore and probably scratched up. I know they are supposed to help with sensation, but not with me! We did it 2 more times, regular condom, and I added some KY warming lube. Now, I have what feels like a yeast infection. Could I have gotten it from the lube?

I'm distraught.

[roofiesandjuice.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend wants to start using condoms again. I'm on HBC, but he just doesn't seem to think that's enough.
Condoms, in the past, make my vagina angry. It's actually pretty terrible. I know for a fact that I'm not allergic to latex.
Pretty much, I just don't even want to have sex now if we're going to use condoms. It's that bad.
What do I do?
I can't find it inside myself to feel anything but anger. It seems to me that he either doesn't trust me to take my pill, or he doesn't trust the pill itself. He says the idea of me getting pregnant is "too terrifying".
Is there anything I can do?
All of this is making me feel very small and powerless. It's my body, too, shouldn't I have a say?

Hysterectomy vs Ablation

[asyrol.livejournal.com]

First of all, thank you for all of the great information I received with my last question (steralization method that will assist with the treatment of endo as well). I've narrowed it down to two options: Hysterectomy or the Tubal Ligation/Endometrial Ablation combo. My questions this time have a little more to deal with all of the options surrounding hysterectomy. I didn't really see any links about this, so here it goes! (Please don't answer any part of my questions that you're not comfortable with).


1) Can anyone tell me their hysterectomy stories and what exactly they had done? Why?
2) Has anyone had the tubal/ablation combo? Why? How did it go?
3) If I decide to go for the hysterectomy, with Oopherectomy, how awful is the immediate menopause afterwards? Is it mitigated if you only remove one ovary? If you have endometriosis, did you take both ovaries out? leave them both in? remove only one?
4) If you had the tubal/ablation for endometriosis, did it "cure" it?
5) Does anyone know of an active and knowledgable endometriosis community I could post this all in as well?

THANKS!!!!

AZO and Lactose

[rachelish.livejournal.com]

I'm lactose intolerant and recently got a UTI. I called the doctor at my school infirmary and she said to try taking AZO Standard until I could get to a doctor. Yesterday I took two doses (one in the morning and one around midday) and my stomach started to hurt pretty badly. I was crampy and bloated and constipated, which is what I sometimes feel when I eat too much dairy. I kept thinking, "I haven't had anything with dairy for the at least twelve hours. What's going on?"

But sometime in the afternoon I picked up the AZO box to read the instructions again, and I noticed the ingredient list. The first thing listed is lactose. Suddenly all of the stomach pain made sense.

I ended up going to an immediate care clinic last night, and the doctor there was surprised to hear that AZO had lactose, as was the pharmacist at the drugstore. I had the pharmacist check the ingredients for the prescription (I think it's Macrobid? something like that) and it contains lactose too, but it's way down on the list. He told me it would be ok to take a Lactaid pill (which helps my stomach digest the lactose) when I take my medicine.

So just as a heads up to anyone who happens to be lactose intolerant, be careful when taking UTI medications. AZO just made my day that much worse because not only did I have to deal with frequent, painful urination, I also had to deal with various stomach issues.

And just out of curiousity, does anyone know how lactose would help a UTI? Like I said, the doctor and pharmacist seemed surprised, and it was one of the last things I expected to see in the list of ingredients.

Seriously Period...WTF?

[petal-abstract.livejournal.com]

Ok I've been on OT:Lo for about...3 months.  For the first month I wasn't really consistent when taking my pill.  But for the last month or so I've been taking it really consistently.  I take it 8:30 am every mornig...well this weekend I sort of screwed up and took it 3 pm on Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday.  If I am late I take it within 3 hours of 8:30 am.

My period normlaly comes the last days to first few days of each month.  For October/November I went from one pill pack to another so I could skip my period. That didn't happen.  I had already started with the shedding of old, brown, goop.  Then a little break through bleeding, then a full fledged period.  I kept taking my HBC though.

Now I am in the same psostion.  For the last week its been goopy, old borwn discharge.  Now more blood, associated with periods is starting.  I just started taking the set of the dark blue pills.

What should I do?

Thank you!!!

Quercetin during Pregnancy?

[burntbuffalo.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'm hoping that some midwifes or people that have some herbal knowledge and can help me with this.

My sister is having a baby (yey!) and is an allergy sufferer. She used to take Oil of Oregano, but can't because there are risks that it could induce labor. She's about 6 months along, and wants to try Quercetin for some allergy relief. Does anyone know if there are any risks of taking that during pregancy? I googled it and it's a bit inconclusive. Some say to avoid, some say it's ok. Any help or suggestions of anything else that could help would be great.

Thanks folks!

ovarian cyst?

[evester22.livejournal.com]

Hello vp-ers
So I think I have a ovarian cyst. My left ovary has been hurting on and off for 5 months. I’m on HBC so its not ovulation pain. It’s a sharp stabbing pain. Does that sound like a cyst?
Thanks
Eva

Itchy swollen

[frankenweenie74.livejournal.com]

Help!

I'm having severe itching and one of my labia is enlarged and swollen!

Veryy all of a sudden.. hasn't been bothering me lately at all.

What is going on
and what should I do!?!

(no subject)

[giggles37.livejournal.com]

I am taking things very slow with my boyfriend. So anyway, as of right now all we are doing in kissing and upper body fondling. I was wondering if there are any problems with too much stimulation there.

Oh, and also, today it was kinda starting to hurt when he was touching me, and when I came home I realized that right around my nipple it was kinda sore and a little cut. I think this is just from being a little rough, but I was wondering if there is anything I can do to make it heal faster.

And lastly, although I am not bored, I fear that he will soon get bored in me taking things to slow (not that he would ever push me into anything). Does anyone have any fun tips/ideas of things I can do without going "below the belt." Thanks!

nipples, white spots..normal?

[prefaced.livejournal.com]

Hello
I first noticed this a few months ago, but I dont remember my nipples looking like this a year or more ago.

There are tiny white-ish/pink dots closely clustered at the tips of my nipples, and a few on my areola. the cluster of white on the tips of my nipples arent really raised, but more a part of the skin on my nipples itself. the few on my areolas are a little raised.

Is this normal? Do you know what it is?
I know that nipples change over time (I'm 24) and that they wont look the same as they did when I was 18...and maybe theyve always been like this but i am only noticing now.. I'm just curious as to what's up.

Thanks!

Location of the cervix

[moonstrucky.livejournal.com]

I was just feeling around for my cervix (because I had an IUD inserted yesterday and know I should familiarize myself with its location and the location/feeling of my IUD strings) and I came across something that I think might be my cervix, but I'm honestly not sure.
It was about a finger length in, and felt firmer than the rest of my vagina.  But I always thought that the vagina was a canal that sort of ended with the cervix, and although I couldn't reach any further, it felt as though there were still more of the vaginal canal to go.  I did feel the strings (and didn't feel anything else -- I'm just paranoid about expulsion) but couldn't really tell where the strings were going in.
Help?

ETA: Thanks everyone for the quick replies. It did indeed feel round, like a knob, and the picture really helped. I guess it is indeed my cervix. How strange! Now I just need to buy a speculum so I can really see how things are working in there...

HBC and ovulation

[8daze-a-week.livejournal.com]

I’m sorry if this is a dumb question, I’ve just recently realized that my understanding of HBC and what it does was a bit off, and am trying to understand the process. If you aren’t on HBC, then you can track your ovulation and figure out which times of the month you are fertile and which times you would be less likely to get pregnant. However, since HBC stops you from ovulating, does that also mean that if you are on ‘the Pill’ (and take it without missing pills) that there is no specific time of month when you are more fertile or less fertile?

For example, you are supposedly the most fertile 14 days after the start of your period. Does that still hold true at all if you are on HBC or is there an ‘equal playing field’, so to speak, for the entire month?

I appreciate anyone’s knowledge on the subject! Thanks guys.

Many beginner quesions

[faeriesandmusic.livejournal.com]

Well, not too many.

I am 17 1/2 and my boyfriend is 18. We've been together for about 8 months and we're both virgins, but we've been thinking about having sex, and I'm ready, I'm just apprehensive about several things. Well, one thing specifically: the parents. I come from a very sheltered/religious environment and my parents would probably kick me out of their house if they found out I was having sex - which is a real shame, because if we do have sex we're going to be responsible about it, I'd be on birth control, and he's not pressuring me at all, he wants me to be ready.

So I have a few questions about the whole starting birth control topic, and the privacy/hiding it from the parents. I hate that I have to hide it, but until I'm out of the house in college my parents really aren't going to treat me like an adult.

First of all, I don't know much about how one goes about getting birth control. We have a health department in town that gives it out, but what kind of doctors appointment would I expect before this? And how much do they typically cost? Because I can't use my parents health insurance, because they would find out, so I'd (we'd) be paying out of our pockets. I've researched the methods of birth control, and I think that the shot would be most ideal, especially because I wouldn't have to hide pills in my room where someone could find them. Any advice is welcome on this matter.

Secondly, I'm afraid that if for some reason my mom wants me to start going to the gyno. then she would find out that I was on birth control. Would this show up on some sort of medical forms, or would I be able to keep it a secret from her? I hate to be asking all these vague questions, and I will most likely not have to go to the gyno any time soon, as I'll be going to college next year. However, last doctor's appointment (I had the flu) the doctor mentioned something that frightened me. He suggested that I might have polycystic ovary disease. He got this idea from the dark hairs on my arms, so it could be a mistake, especially since I've never missed a period in 8 years of having it, and I think PCOD results in missing periods; two periods ago, however, I did have extreme, unbelievable PAIN, but not the period after that. Does anyone else know or have this problem? And how would it affect my being on birth control?

I'm sorry to be asking so many questions. But I'm very confused, and very needy of answers. No rush... You all seem very supportive, and I love this community. Thanks in advance, I'd be willing to receive any advice.

Thanks so much.

Menstrual Cramps - What is "normal"?

[kelism.livejournal.com]

I'm getting together a list of stuff to talk to my doctor about and I realized I have no idea what is considered "normal" when it comes to menstrual cramps.

I'm going to start with ...yes, I know not everyone experiences the same thing and "normal" can vary from person to person. I know that some people get cramps, and some don't. Some get bad cramps, some not so bad - but what is considered "bad" cramps? Are cramps even "normal"?

I've mentioned to my doctor in the past that I get cramps, but at what point do you consider it "bad" cramps or something that could/should be dealt with?

Hair issues

[nefariouskitten.livejournal.com]

My hair [on my head and elsewhere] gets really staticy during the winter, so basically whenever I walk, I get a nasty static shock to my pubic area. It's very painful and annoying.
Anyways, anyone know a way to stop the static? [aside from shaving/waxing/general hair removal]