period cramps

[http://users.livejournal.com/_beep_beep/]

so, i'm really tired and haven't checked the memories well. but, basically i always get really bad period cramps.
is there anything besides medicine to help relieve this?
like, certain foods, or more exercise or... something?

what does everyone else do?

Extra-long period

[http://users.livejournal.com/hallo_seele_/]

Hello, ladies & the occasional gent.

Okay, I'll start off with some background information. I've been on Ortho-cyclen BCP for the past year or so. My periods are always/have always been 4-5 days long, even before I started birth control. They've been very regular since I first started having them.

Until now. This month, I was a couple days late-it usually comes on the 3rd day of my placebo pills. This time, it came on the 5th, which was Saturday, the 20th. Not last Saturday, but the one before that.

Here's the odd part: It hasn't stopped yet. My normal, lovely, 4-5 day period has turned into a 10-days-and-still-going marathon.

Needless to say, I'm a little freaked out. I'd talk about it with my mom or aunt, but it's midnight. I can't believe I've waited this long to ask someone, but I've been hoping it'd just go away, and when I told my boyfriend about it about an hour ago, (we live together), he had no ideas (didn't expect him to :p). So.. can anyone give me any ideas?

Help, please? :(

Anyone, please?

lol

asking for oral?

[groupieforhire.livejournal.com]

So last week I started having sex with a friend of mine. We've known each other since September, and he's moving across the country in a few months and neither of us really has time for a relationship, so we're just having sex. This is definitely my first time to be involved in something like this (regular sex outside a relationship).

Anyway, like many women, I can't have orgasms during penetrative sex. Also, I really don't like fingering very much- I have a very sensitive clit, and unless the pressure's very light (which feels good), it just hurts. The problem is that, since my clit's so sensitive and just because, it takes me a while (~20 minutes) to get off from oral. Without that, sex is kind of painful because of lack of lubrication. My current has gone down on me three times, when we've had sex... hmm... probably about 10 times? His technique is kind of rough, so it usually tkaes a while. The opening to my vagina's pretty torn up and unhappy (hurts like hell to pee) and my clit's sore, but I'd feel bad asking him to go down on me every time (and then give him instructions) like my ex did because I know that he doesn't enjoy it that much, it takes such a long time, etc.

I've ordered some Liquid Silk, which should be here in a few days, but I was wondering if anyone has any other suggestions. He tends to kiss me for a while, paw at my vagina for a few minutes, and grab for a condom. Is it rude to ask for oral sex and/or give him more instruction (I keep saying, "Lighter!," but that doesn't seem to get me too far, especially with the fingering), especially if we're not in a relationship? (I've gone down on him about three times, too, but I'd have no problem doing it more often; it just seems like most guys don't like to be gone down on except RIGHT before sex for a few minutes.)

Sorry this was long. Thanks in advance!

Frozen nuva rings?

[juxtap0ser.livejournal.com]

I have a 10 month supply of nuvaring that im keeping the fridge to preserve (as directed by the pharmacy). I just went to get something to eat and found that every item in our fridge is completely frozen. Someone set the temperature to MAXCOOL so the yogurt, water, peanutbutter, and bread are all rock solid. Besides that the only other thing in the fridge is by bag of nuva rings. Will this affect them negatively? I've already gone ahead and turned down the temp so everything will defrost, but im hoping this flash-freezing wont detract from the rings effectiveness. They're probably still ok, yes?

Well, this is sort of VP-related...

[janerunner83.livejournal.com]

For the record, I'm 24, have a full-time job, am college educated (since December 2005!), and live with a wonderful boyfriend. We've been together since May 2006.

How do I say this...alright, well I see a baby and my heart melts. The greatest feeling is holding a baby and seeing him/her laugh (the moment always goes away so soon because another person will snatch the kid up to cuddle him/her). When friends of mine get pregnant, I love having the excuse to look around in the baby clothes section of the store, and picking out something I'd buy myself. So I guess the thing is, I can't wait to have a baby. I'm not even engaged, however, and I'm old fashioned in the sense that I'd like to be married and have a house and all (ugh, we're renters right now). Does anyone else get nervous that they might wait too long to get pregnant? I know I'm only 24, but I def. want to have kids before I'm 30, and it seriously feels like I was just 20. If I don't get married until I'm 26 or 27...
It is natural, right? To be feeling all these urges and desires to have children? I just don't want to miss my chance. How long do we really have?

messed up Nuva Ring schedule

[taen-artcat.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping I didn't screw myself over...
I didn't check my calendar before taking out my nuva ring and it turns out it was a week early. Will I just get my period like normal when I take out my ring or is this the same as "skipping a pill", meaning I'm now unprotected?

STI testing

[essos.livejournal.com]

Hello ladies.

I'm going to make an appointment to get tested for STIs. I don't have any symptoms, so what is it possible for me to get tested for? When I call to make the appointment or when I go in for it, will I need to give the doctor a whole list of things to test for as opposed just saying 'Everything!'?

Also, I'm getting tested now and planning to again in 6 months. I had unprotected PIV sex with a new partner in the past two months and I read that it can take 6 months for some STIs to show up as positive. Is that true? (EDIT: Just to clarify because I tend to not make sense. Is it true that I may have contracted something from the very recent unprotected PIV sex but a test wouldn't show it until June?)

Thanks!

yawning orgasms

[nosecretlies.livejournal.com]

anti depresent drug that has been known to cause orgasms in yawning patients?!

check out this link for more info:

http://www.snopes.com/risque/aphrodisiacs/yawn.asp

PREGNANCY TEST UPDATE

[xfoundinabottle.livejournal.com]

I posted a couple weeks ago about home pregnancy tests, thanks to everyone who provided input...

I finally made it to the doctor's last thursday (my doctor disappeared on a medical leave last minute).. and....

We're having a kidlet! wooohooo!

Does anyone know any good pregnancy communities?

Different kinds of acidophilus capsules?

[lory-beth.livejournal.com]

I checked the archives and couldn't find anything about this specific question, but I realize that everyone's sick of hearing about yeast infections so I apologize in advance if this was addressed before and I just haven't found it.

I'm trying to get rid of one nasty yeast infection and bought some acidophilus capsules. They were just sold as dietary supplements, but I'm assuming I can use them as suppositories anyway. My question is, I bought the ones that were plain acidophilus, but there were some that included other cultures--like bulgaricus. Should I use those instead, or should I stick with the plain old acidophilus?

thanks ladies.

paragard vs. mirena?

[corduroyskirt.livejournal.com]

So I think I want an IUD. I've been on various kinds of hormonal birth control pills throughout my life, from Ortho Tri Cyclen to OTC Lo to Yaz, and I found that I like myself and the world around me much better when I am not on synethic hormones. I recently started Yaz because my period was getting to be incredibly irregular after being pill-free for about 8 months, but I think it made me crazy. I became incredibly sad/mad/depressed, and I think it made me ADHD (is that possible? I can't concentrate while on it). I stopped taking Yaz mid-pack yesterday, which is probably a bad idea in terms of breakthrough bleeding, etc., but I did NOT want to continue living the way I had been for the past few weeks.

Anyway, I called my gyno and asked for a Mirena. I figured it was a good choice because I went on the Pill initially to ease cramps and increase regularity, and then it became a birth control thing, and I have read that the Mirena eases bleeding and cramps, or phases out your period altogether. And although there are hormones, they are localized and a lot less than what is in the pill (and maybe I can handle that).

My gyno's nurse told me that I didn't fit the profile. She told me to wait a few years until I was married and settled down, to which I replied, Yeah, right, lots of young NP women like me are getting IUDs and I want one!
She tried to pawn off different pills on me. I flat-out refused. No more pills!
I basically had to straight-out tell her that I wasn't a whore and was not sleeping around. She expressed her concern about my partner's partners, and I had to explain to her that I've been in a monogamous relationship with the same guy for a year and I didn't see that changing any time soon.

She got back to me and said that my gyno would insert an IUD, but was going to recommend the Paragard instead of the Mirena. I am conflicted about this. Usually I would value my gyno's opinion, but his office was still under the slightly misogynistic notion that only older, married women who have had a baby should get IUDs. I like the idea of being hormone-free, and I've noticed that my cramps while off the pill now are much better than the cramps I had when I was a teen (before I started taking OTC). Still, I know this is a 5-plus-year commitment and I would like to make the right choice.

Help?

(x-posted to iud_divas)

skin tags in uncomfortable places

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

I have a few skin tags in my armpits. They're annoying and get in the way of shaving, but other than looking icky, they're really not a problem.

Recently, I've developed a skin tag on my anus. Right on the tight ring of puckered skin. I found it in the shower, confirmed with a partner that yes indeed it's a skin tag.

This is Not Happy. It doesn't hurt or anything, but I'm worried that this would cause issues with anal sex, which I am fond of on occasion. And also, just, yuck, I do not want a skin tag on my anus.

How can I get rid of it? I've heard of people tying threads around skin tags and letting them fall off, just taking scissors to them (aieee! i am a pain wimp, nooo) or similar things, but somehow I don't think this is a good idea in an area that could so easily get infected. Is there something a doctor can do? Any other ideas? Or am I, shall we say, shit out of luck?

sebaceous cyst attaaaaack!

[imnotyourstarx.livejournal.com]

ok. short and sweet.

ive got a sebaceous cyst on my outer labia, almost at the opening of my butt.

and it really really really hurts! its red and inflamed and i dont know what to do. i have an appointment to get it looked at (and hopefully lanced or something) on thursday, but until then, im in absolute agony.

is there anything i can do until then? i mean, i can barely wipe myself after i use the bathroom, its so swollen and painful. i dabbed some tea tree & lavender oil on it the first day it started to bother me to help keep it clean and un-swollen, BUT that obviously didnt help in the swelling department.

also, due to the fact that i have my period and use cloth pads, applying a damp warm compress isnt really ideal. also, its sort of an awkward angle.

*sad face*

thanks.
love,
marissa and her swollen vulva.

Pain behind pubic bone

[firefly---stare.livejournal.com]

Hey ladies,

Over the past 2 days or so I've noticed a dull pain in the area between my hipbones and my pubic bone, and am completely unsure as to what it could be attributed to. It's localized to that spot, and bothers me significantly less when I'm seated. Standing, and Cardio exercising seem to intensify the pain (although it is still not unbearable). I haven't engaged in any sexual activity since November, and am due to start my period sometime this upcoming week, so I assume it COULD be due to pms cramps, but I've never experienced them before.

I know none of you are doctors, so I'm not looking for a diagnosis, just if any of you had ideas as to what could be the cause, or if anything like this has happened to any of you before. I'd rather not make a trip to my university health services if at all possible, and I'm just being overly concerned about this pain.

Thanks in advance!

kegel exercisers

[creads.livejournal.com]

Hiya ladies,

Have any of you ever used Ben-Wa balls, Duo-tone balls, weighted balls or any other kegel exercisers? I've heard that they are supposed to strengthen your PC muscles and mildly arouse the wearer. They seem gimmicky though, like breast enlarging creams and penis pumps. However, I like the idea of inserting some spherical instruments that will make my vaginal canal a kegel powerhouse and induce a constant state of mild arousal.

What d'ya think?

Flu pushing back period?

[utatu.livejournal.com]

Hey!

Strange question--could an illness push back my period five days? I'm not at all sexually active, no abnormal stress, haven't ran in a month, but I got the flu three days ago (possibly before that) and was too sick to move yesterday. I got cramps three days ago but they disappeared and nothing since then. Odd O.o Would be nice if my body thought, 'Hey, maybe she needs a bit of a break so she can recover from this debilitating virus...'