male birth control: annoyed, intrigued

[fourwordsapart.livejournal.com]

So I somehow clicked a link about male birth control option that are in the pipeline and have been reading about them for a half hour or so. It sounds like they're actually getting pretty close to getting something on the market. I have a few thoughts I want to bounce around with you vag-lovers though! (I suppose this is only particularly relevant to fertile female-bodied folks who have sex with male bodies, sorry to be exclusive.)

Under the cut is an article about a drug that sounds pretty promising. They're taking this drug, binding it to a modified form of Follicle Stimulating Hormone to increase the bioavailability at specific receptor sites, to temporarily eliminate men's virility. It keeps sperm from maturing all the way--and that's about it. Binded to the hormone, they don't need a very high dose, which eliminates side effects. All it does is make the sperm unviable. Sounds good, huh? Especially compared to female hormonal birth control, which, as many of us know, causes a lot of side effects.

But my question is, will men take to it? I read another article that said male contraceptive methods are pointless because (a) it's impossible to expect men to be responsible enough to take a medication regularly, and (b) there's no way men will ever want to take a pill that reduces their virility.

That really irked me. I mean, I don't want to be the feminist who cried sexist, but isn't it pretty short-sighted to say that we can't hold men to do these things when women are expected to do them everyday--with the added burden of terrible side effects? I don't know many women who actually like altering their bodies' natural processes and rendering themselves infertile, but many of us do it.

There are a few things from the article that seem to express a similar underlying bigoted outlook. (I bolded them in the article.) The doctor/researcher interviewed in the article said several things that hint that there's a double standard when it comes to birth control: the medical community and the world at large don't seem to care that hormonal b.c. is inconvenient and unpleasant for women, but they wouldn't dare try to use the same treatments on men if they altered the role of hormones in their body. As if meddling with women's hormonal balance doesn't cause "problematic side effects"!

I thought it was very odd that the article says that injection is unacceptable when many women take Depo Provera injections every three months! (Then again it might be different since this drug has been tested with intravenous injections rather than subdermal or muscular injections.)

So what do you think? Should we hold the same expectations for men that many people do for women--to take an active role in preventing pregnancy and bearing some of the (maybe event unpleasant!) burden of that responsibility? Are men capable of this? Are you excited at the prospect of male contraceptives? Do you think the attitudes I described are sexist or fair? Is the lack of faith in men's ability to deal with birth control realistic?

Personally I am sort of hopeful because maybe if a really good male contraceptive option (that causes few side effects) becomes available, it will eliminate problems for heterosexually active males and females. Which would be great!

( male birth control article HERE )

Chlamydia? UTI? YI?

[lacephotograph.livejournal.com]

So my boyfriend is sick. He was at the hospital yesterday because he's pulled some scar tissue from a previous operation. When he rang me last night, he said that he was telling them all the things that have been going on with him lately, and they said he could have chlamydia, or a UTI. If it was chlamydia, he could have had it for over a year. Basically, I'm the only person he's ever had sex with, except for a threesome two years ago (in which we used condoms) and a threesome last week (in which we also used condoms). Just to let me know, how likely is it to get chlamydia even if you do use a condom? I've also been involved with two other girls during our relationship, so would it be possible to get it from them? I'm not worrying about the threesome that we had last week, because I know this girl very well, she's very reliable and educated when it comes to sex and would absolutely know if she had anything like that. I would hope that all of these girls would know if they had anything like that, or if they were tested afterward and found that they did have it, that they would have the decency to let us know.

He said it could also be a UTI, which makes more sense to me. For a little while now my boyfriend has been complaining of slight pain during urination, which I know is the main symptom for a UTI. I've had a UTI, probably around a year ago, so I told him that that was probably it when he started complaining. It was never significant enough for him to go and see a doctor, but could that be it? Which is more likely?

I'm also treating for a YI at the moment. Could it be possible that my boyfriend just has what I have? I realised I had this last Wednesday, but we did have sex the night before, so it seems very likely that he does just have what I have. If so, does a YI present symptoms in males? How would you treat it? Could it be possible that I don't have a YI, and could have chlamydia? Do they have the same symptoms. I've had a YI before, so I recognised the burning and itching and went straight out and bought cream which is working. That's what makes me think that it's more likely that I have a YI and that he probably has one as well. 

They've sent away a test for him for chlamydia, and he also did a urine sample for a UTI, which he should get back in a couple of days. If they think he's had chlamydia for over a year, than I'm a bit freaked out, because I went and had a pap smear done around two months ago, and tested negative for chlamydia. Is that possible? To test negative but still be positive? I don't think so, and that's what reassured me that he probably just has a UTI or YI, but there's still a little voice in the back of my head that's keeping me worried. 

I don't really know much about chlamydia, and I realise this post is more about my boyfriend than me, but I just thought I'd ask for opinions, because the kids here at VP are so knowledgable. Thanks in advance.

HPV

[rockhardkim.livejournal.com]

I have been casually dating a rather splendid fellow for about a month now.  Things have only recently gotten to the point where we are becoming more physical.  Late one night he stops me and tells me if things are to go any further physically I'll need to have a shot...

Apparently he has HPV.  It is a dormant case, but a case nonetheless.  I like him a lot and I don't want to call things off just yet, especially when I think things could go on for quite a bit longer.  I have tried looking around on the internet, but I share a family computer and am nervous about getting caught from my mother about such a situation because it is not one I'm ready to discuss with her, or really find to be any of her business.

What I want to know is what shot I have to take...HE tells me Gardasil only takes 6 months, when all that I've read says 9 months.  I don't have any known allergies (with the exception of kiwis ^.^)...but will this effect my ability to have children?? And if I do stay in a relationship with him will I have to have regular treatments?  I'm not even sure if this shot is full-proof, and if things DO end up going sour, will I risk giving HPV to someone else?  Are there any other possible side effects??

If I didn't think things would last, I would have made my exit already, but I genuinely like the guy, and am willing to wait out the time, whatever it may be.

Does anyone know the costs?  I asked my mother to set me up an appointment with a gynecologist, but I want to be sure that I can handle the effects if this is what I really want to get myself into...

Appreciatively,
Rockhard Kim

uncontrollable crying =Hormone related??

[place-to-hide.livejournal.com]

I was actually angry first...

and then a little after that I started crying and then tried control it.But for whatever reason I couldn't even do that! I was actually trying get a hold of my doctor(Not the OB/GYN doctor) about the rectum bleeding problem. And the nurse was asking why I needed to talk to her. And my voice got shakey and I just tried not to cry.

Then I was calling my dad to apologize to him and he wasn't in his office so I was leaving him message to apologize to him and I started crying! and I even said I don't even know why I'm crying. I don't have a reason to.  And then I cried more once I got off the phone.And I just couldn't stop crying for the life of me. Now I know It felt like I was going get my period yesterday but I haven't yet.So I don't know maybe it's related to my period suppose to be coming or not.

I think I've actually managed to calm myself done finally.

Yeast infection or just sexual irritation?

[betterbebalboa.livejournal.com]

Hi wonderful vagpag members,

I read through the vulvapedia entry, but I have a more specific question I don't believe is answered there.

This past weekend my boyfriend and I had sex six times, some of it fairly rough, and I was pretty sore by the end. Since then, my vagina and vulva have been irritated (which I expected). However, this morning I woke up to find suspiciously clumpy white discharge, and my vulva--especially the area immediately around my vagina--is itchy, dry, rough, and sore. However, neither the discharge nor the itchiness/discomfort is severe enough to lead me to believe with 100% certainty that this is a yeast infection; if it is a yeast infection, it's a pretty mild one. Neither my discharge nor my vagina smells like yeast or bread, although it does smell a little different than usual.

I've had yeast infections before as a child that my mom treated with a diluted apple cider vinegar bath, but I haven't had one as an adult. I know it's recommended that I visit a health care professional to make sure a yeast infection is what I have before I try to treat it, but I can't afford to do that right now, either in terms of money or time (exam week!).

I went ahead and picked up a 7-day yeast infection treatment from my student health care center, because I could get it there for super cheap. MY QUESTION IS: if what I have is actually not a yeast infection, but just general irritation from having a lot of sex, will using this OTC treatment mess up my vagina or harm me in any way? Thanks so much for any replies.

PS It's unlikely that this is an STI, because I was fully tested recently and everything came back negative, and my boyfriend was a virgin (even to oral or handjobs) before we started dating.

PPS My period doesn't come for another two weeks; otherwise I would wait for that to see if it cleared up on its own. Similarly, I can't make it to the grocery store to try apple cider vinegar/yogurt/garlic treatments until at least Thursday or Friday.

Spermicidal Lube

[enishmarati.livejournal.com]

Hi there!
My boyfriend and I would like to try unprotected sex for the first time this weekend (We've been together for 7 months) and we're looking for a good spermicidal lubricant. I was wondering if you guys have any opinions on this you could give me. What are your favorite spermicidal lubes? I'm pretty sensitive, so I want to stay away from anything containing nonoxynol-9. Any suggestions? I'd like to try it out beforehand to see if I have a reaction to it.
Thanks.

irregular periods.

[twirlability.livejournal.com]

Hello ladies. :) I've been watching this community for a while, and it never fails to be enlightening -- now I finally have a question of my own. :\

I'm currently having some... period issues. First off, I'm sixteen (if that makes any difference) and I've always been fairly regular. I'm not like some women who can set a clock by the beginning and end of their period, but it usually came about the same time every month. Lately, though, I've been having a hell of a time with spotting and irregularity.

The situation is like this: for the last few months I've started spotting about two weeks before my period up until it starts. I don't have any PMS symptoms or anything, but it's substantial enough that I have to wear a pad. Then I have my period (it usually lasts about five or six days) and then I get about a week and a half TOPS where I'm not bleeding. Seriously. My period just ended about nine days ago and I'm already bleeding again.

I know as problems go this isn't a very dire sounding one, but it's very frustrating (who wants to wear a pad for weeks and weeks?) and I'm a little concerned, now. I thought at first that I was just having a weird month but that's clearly not the case. My mom has basically brushed me off, telling me that spotting is perfectly normal. Well, okay, I understand that, but I don't think that bleeding for three weeks out of the month is normal.

Any insights? Am I overreacting or should I try and get in to see a Gynecologist?

razor burn blisters?

[exoticsnowcone.livejournal.com]

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Okay I'm freaking out and I need advice.
I shaved my bikini area 2 dyas ago with a crappy razor. I know I shouldnt do that but I don't know what I was thinking.
I didn't use much soap to shave with either. And I had sex that sex night. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

I woke up the next day and I had 2blisters on the right side of my vagina. Where my leg bends.
Then I had many tiny ones that were filled with water.
I've never had razor burn that bad before. I'm not even sure if it definetly is.
I'm not sure if I should go see a doctor or not. Its hurts to walk to.
I don't know what to do!

Please help meeeeeeeee
<33333 -lizzy

Ok, just...the smell!

[trashcan-dreams.livejournal.com]

Okay, so it's not like my vagina reeks or anything. It smells like any "normal" vagina would and gives off an odor every now and then... BUT I can never seem to get to intimate enough with a partner (or myself for that matter)because I'm always self-conscious about my odor. "Do I smell good enough?" "Are they gonna be grossed out?" "I wonder how my PH balance is...more acidic? More base? I hope it's base. Then it'll smell less." All this stuff and more is running through my head whenever someone tries to give me pleasure and so I'm distracted by all this leading to, well, not getting off. WHAT DO I DO? Is it true that some women's cum can taste sweet/vaginas smell good? Does it have anything to do with what you eat? How your PH balance is because of what you eat? If you eat more pineapple (fruits/veggies) will your cum taste sweeter and you'll smell less? Can something you ate that day alter the smell of your discharge/cum, like curry or meat etc? What you wear or how tightly you wear things?

If it's true that vaginas can taste/smell sweet, or just really good, I want to be that girl! I want to be THAT vagina! Haha. Help me out here please. It's something that I've been self-conscious about for many many years now and I'm sick of not fully enjoying someone's company, and not letting people give me pleasure solely because I'm self conscious about my smell...

Basically, I guess what I'm trying to find out is better vagina maintainence. I'm sure showering/washing and all that has a lot to do with it, but what else? What is it that some of you do? What are some things that you know of to get that ultimate, sweet, glowing, healthy vagina that I've always dreamed of (Haha, I sound like I'm talking about a soulmate!)!

I'm glad I found you vaginapagina. Please help me. :) Thanks so much for reading my rant, P.S.

Questions from a first-timer

[farasha.livejournal.com]

Heyla, I'm posting here for the first time although I've been tossing the idea of posting back and forth for a while. So I have, really, two questions.

The first is about sex. I've been with my boyfriend for about nine months now (really, that long? Wow) and we have sex about as much as we can - which is to say, twice a month or so. I just turned eighteen, so before that I was underage and having to sneak around (my boyfriend was nineteen at the time, and I really didn't want to get him into trouble). The problem is, I haven't been able to orgasm since the first time I had sex with him almost three years ago. He hasn't been my only partner since then, but I haven't been able to orgasm at all with anyone, including my right hand. I don't want to offend my boyfriend so I've been faking it - rather well, if I might say so myself - but it's getting really tiring. I don't want to talk to him about it, because I think he might be offended if I tell him I haven't been able to come since the first time we had sex, and that I've been lying about it. Does anyone have any advice?

My second question is about my period. I started getting my period four years ago, at 14, which I'm given to understand is neither early nor late. At first it wasn't all that bad, but from about 16 on I started to get some massive cramp action around that time of month. I tried over-the-counter medications, which don't really work (for the record, I've tried medications with the active ingredients of aspirin, naproxen, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and anaproxen), and I can't take HBC because of a genetic marker that shows as a predisposition toward blood clots.

Since I can't use a medical solution, I've taken the following steps to make my period less painful. I am among the 10% of women that experience cramps so severe they can't function normally - I've had to stay home from school, call in to work, or just skip a class and lay curled up in my car before.

- Three times a day when I'm on my period I go through certain yoga stretches meant to stretch the lower back muscles and the spine, and tilt the uterus in a downward direction temporarily, namely Downward Dog and its related positions. This is my alternative to the suggested exercise, because several years of karate have taken its toll on my knee and ankle joints, and high-impact exercises such as jogging on the treadmill are out of the question.

- I take either two aspirin or two naproxen, depending on what I have on hand at the time, morning and night. I know that I said OTC doesn't do much for me - and it doesn't - but it does something, at least.

- I drink a cupful of Kava tea - a Fijian tea made from the root of the pepper plant, and a natural muscle relaxant - whenever I find the time, usually three times a day. It tastes foul and numbs the tongue, but it helps a little. A lot of people suggested chamomile, which barely made a dent. Kava is harder to find in its pure form, but it works better. My mom has also found some kind of Chinese herbal tea that I will try when I get home from college.

- I have severely limited my caffeine intake. I used to have a cup of coffee every morning, but due to money concerns (my meal plan only has so much on it!) I've stopped doing that. I drink Chai tea instead, which doesn't have as much caffeine as coffee, and gives me a kind of placebo effect :p

- I try to eat as healthy as possible - fruits and vegetables and white meats such as chicken and fish instead of red meats like pork and beef. I've cut down my fat and salt intake.

Usually this makes the pain recede to a more manageable level. It's not gone by any means, but I can function in society, concentrate in class, etc. This time... this time I'm not only half a week early on my period, but even after I did all those things just like normal, it's like I didn't do anything at all.

Plus, besides the cramps, my uterus swells. I can tell this because it's putting pressure on my bladder and - not that any of you wanted to know this - is making it hard for me to go to the bathroom. This adds more discomfort on top of the pain. Any other woman would have been prescribed birth control to manage this. I can't take it. I'm making an appointment with my ob/gyn to make sure this isn't something abnormal.

So. If anyone can give this teal deer-wrangling newcomer some tips, I would be insanely grateful :)

DivaCup refund policy

[loonylupinlover.livejournal.com]

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post about the Diva; I'll probably keep trying it for a couple cycles (at least on days when I'm at home most of the time so as to avoid the public hands-down-my-pants scenario). Last night when I went to sleep it seemed to be poking me still, but when I woke up it seemed to fit great! But I had class/work to go to and didn't want to worry about it during my test, so I took it out. We'll see how it goes tonight.

The main reason of my post: I e-mailed the DivaCup folks at the website and got the response that they are no longer doing returns! I'll post most of the e-mail here, since I figure that anyone thinking about a Diva should know about that.

Dear Gina:

Although some sites may state that we have a return policy, we have discontinued refunds. Instead, we offer continued assistance on how to use the cup should one need more information. We find that very few women want to return The DivaCup® after mastering its use.

Also, the nature of the product precludes returns because of health considerations.

We suggest that you inquire about the refund policy at the store or e-catalog from which you purchased.

...

Please read the instructions carefully, and you should be able to master it.

Warm Regards,

The DivaCup® Team

The e-mail then continued with several tips about using the DivaCup, all of which I'd heard before. Believe me, I read the instructions :-P Oh well, I guess... but it's good to know one way or the other.

Natural wet spot or condom leaked out? =[

[trixx-r4-kidz.livejournal.com]

I'm very close to freaking out but I'm trying to hold my composure until the next 2 weeks are up. I had sex with the ex on Saturday and when he finished the condom looked *drained* at the tip, instead of full. I can't describe it, but I felt something kinda seep out of my vag and when I moved from my spot on the bed, I passed over a huge wet spot. I didn't think much of it because many couples get those after sex and it was in the shape of a line (probably from my butt crack lol)...but then there was another spot further down the bed in a random circle shape!

The boy says the condom felt a lot dryer than normal and when we touched the spots, they were sticky and the texture was like water. I smelled it and it smelled of my vagina, but it was sticky. Maybe it's just me, but my natural lube isn't usually sticky like that.

Has anyone experienced this (wet spots) during sex? Should I have cause to worry yet? I think I waited too long for Morning after or Plan B...so I'm just going wait for my period to come in 2 weeks, hopefully! Any advice? Words of comfort?

PMS-EMOTIONAL-boyfriend doesn't believe it

[earthstone.livejournal.com]

i get extremely emotional right around the time of my period. i have mood swings, get sad, angry, and cry alot. this is not something i can control or change when it happens.
my boyfriend seems to think otherwise. he says there is no such thing as PMS and i should just deal with it. he says it is just a way women can be angry at other people and justify it. i know there are cases that women can be deceitful, and use this as an excuse, just as men can be deceitful, but i am not talking about these few instances.
over all, do you get PMS? how does your significant other handle/ feel about it?

(i am trying to bring it up with him without being too emotional and defensive.)

Loestrin

[randoseru.livejournal.com]

So I went for my yearly pap (go me!) and was prescribed Loestrin. I have some concerns about it, given my negative bouts with BC prior. When I was without means of medical insurance, I sought female care through PP, and had been given OTC-Lo. Nutshell; it made me INSANE. Mentally, that is.

I made it very clear with my gyno that I most def need something low hormone, but not something too low- to where I wouldn't be protected against pregnancy. She didn't go into full detail of this particular BC, and that's why I'm here. I need specifics- such as:

Is it actually low hormone, and if, will I be protected against pregnancy?

Is it something meant for treating pre-PMS symptoms? (I forget the exact medical term.)

Is it relatively new to the market?

And this may come off as vain, but will it help with facial break-outs?

I'd be grateful if you'd all be so kind to share your past/present experiences taking this. Understandably so, not all people are the same, and it could affect me differently than some. But for curiosity's sake...


Thank you

On the pill - extremely light period

[villagetheatre.livejournal.com]

Hi -

So, I got my period today and I could've probably have gotten by with a panty liner my flow was so light. I'm on Ortho Tri Cyclen for about 3 months now, has this ever happened to anyone else? It felt like the first day of my period today because I felt bloated and crampy - Anywho..

OH, and when do you count your cycle from? Do you start with the first day of your period and end with the day right before you get your next period? Thanks!

stopping birth control

[2partswater.livejournal.com]

I started taking birth control 4 months ago. I've tried twice before with different brands for longer periods of time. The more research I do and the different side effects I have to deal with, I realized that this is just NOT for me. I'm going a more natural route now to help correct the estrogen-dominance I've endured with these pills and yesterday was the last time I will ever take a birth control pill.

What should I expect now that I have stopped taking these pills? I've been warned to expect "craziness" but haven't heard any experiences or scientific explanations.