menopausal mother

[elanor-g.livejournal.com]

I need some help., but first the back story would be helpful.

My mum had a hysterectomy in 2001 and was thrown into menopause.  She went on HRT and was taken off when her levels evened out.  She went through the physical symptoms, hot flushes etc, but I think now the emotional is catching up with her.

The thing is its like living with a sleeping dragon, everyone is creeping around on egg shells trying not to get her started.  Its getting really bad, I don't know if I should fight back or keep quiet, help or stay away?!  Its really hard, I've asked before about this on anouther forum and got very few answers.  Please we are all at our wits end with this.

TIA 

Edit: Thanks for all the replys.  My mum was mid 40's when she had the operation.  The years after she was taken off HRT was hard, gramps died and nan had a heart attack.  Thankfully at the moment its reached a calm stage, but I do try to keep my pmt incheck around her and I know its not her fault in all this.

Poll: Tasting Yourself

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

First, thanks to everyone who saw me through my multiple fails at poll posting. This is round three. For better or for worse, it's the last.

So a few months ago, one of my coworkers/acquaintances was TTC, so I lent her my copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility. (By the way, after 6 weeks with the book, we learned that her second child is due in July.) ;) At the time, I mentioned to her that I used FAM as a form of contraception and to get to know my cycle better.

Which is all fine and good and uneventful until a discussion we had a few days ago. She saw the book -- still in my school book bag -- and asked, "You know, when I was reading, it said something about... tasting yourself. Did you actually do that?"

Now, I should point out that I'm not at all concerned by the propriety of her comment. I talk about this sort of thing with relative frequency among coworkers; I'm developing a bit of a reputation as the "vagina lady." And there wasn't any kind of judgment in her comment, more like surprise.

But what I did think about was my own reaction. I'm very used to a vagina world where it's totally okay to taste one's own vaginal/cervical fluid, even if it's not something everyone does as part of her regular afternoon entertainment. It was always a very reliable indicator of whether my cervical fluid was fertile or infertile, and it was a good way to tell if something was "off" in terms of dehydration or possible yeasties. That, and I've certainly put my tongue in contact with other women's vaginal fluids; why shouldn't I do the same for my own?

The idea that it's something unconscionable, alien, or strange is, well, strange to me.

So I have to ask -- and please answer regardless of what that answer is; I'd like to get a full range of opinions -- how do you react to the idea of tasting one's own vagina juices?

[Poll #1134529]

If you'd like to add anything in the comments -- or yell at me for making you check way too many tickie boxes -- feel free to do so! :)

Mysterious Period!

[bluesuitcase.livejournal.com]

So...I'm confused!
I've been on FemconFe since April of 2007, and since then I have never, ever missed a pill or failed to take it at the same time each day. I am sexually active with a monogamous partner, and we always use condoms.
Once, I skipped the placebo week, since it coincided with vacation. I had no problems.
I did it again on January 25, because I was visiting my boyfriend for his birthday. [We're college freshmen in a LDR], and I didn't have any issues. Again, I just started my new pack of pills.
Two days ago, though, I started spotting a brownish color. Since then it has gotten heavier and has been turning redder, and now it just resembles a period.
Has this ever happened to you? I'm not sure what to do... make an appointment with the gynecologist on campus? Stop taking the pills and start my placebo week?

On a side note...I've always wondered how one on the pill knows whether she's pregnant. The period is a "fake one," no? It's a period without ovulation? So, if one were pregnant, would she still get these fake periods?

Thank you so much for the help!

Colposcopy

[rexallia.livejournal.com]

I had a colposcopy two days ago, after numerous scheduling problems! (I even had to wait 2.5 hours, because the doc was called into surgery). I live on an island, so my boyfriend and I had to take the ferry over to the mainland, so that was an issue too!

The whole thing went very smoothly -- no pain at all! A slight pinch when he injected me with the anesthesia, but that's it. I had slight cramping after the procedure for about an hour. It definately wasn't as painful as I thought it would be.

How long do you typically have to wait until you can start having sex again? I want my cervix to heal well and quickly!

Thanks :)

itchy vulva due to shaving

[pyraterose.livejournal.com]

How can I make the itching stop? I have orientation for a new job today and I'm leaving in half an hour...any ideas for how I can make it stop?

Tubes Tied...

[knblondie.livejournal.com]

I am currently 30 weeks 5 days prego with boy #2. I am married. I am 24. At my last OB appt my docotor joking asked if we were going to keep trying to have a girl. I informed him that we were done at 2 kids as that is an ideal number for me and my husband. I am having a plan c-section this time around due to tons of issues during the first labor. (PLEASE DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS, I HAVE WEIGHED THEM ALL OUT). My doctor asked if I wanted my tubes tied while he was delivering my son. I really didn't have an answer. I had never though it. I mean after all I am only 24. Now that I have thought about it I would like to hear other stories of women who have it done. I know it would be nice to have a "permanent" form of BC. But I also feel like I would be losing my woman-hood. I am just not sure I am ready for that big step.

I would just love to hear everyone's opinion. I was also totally shocked that the dcotor suggested it since I am, well at least I feel, so young.

Thanks in advance,
Katie

I'm experiencing breakthrough bleeding..

[missedstoplight.livejournal.com]

I looked in the memories but I couldn't find anything that was exactly like my case, so I figured I'd post some questions just to get some reassurance.

I had to stop taking my pill (OTC-lo) for two months because I couldn't get an appointment with a doctor here at school to get my pap and another yearly script. At Christmas, I came home, did all of that jazz, and got another 12 months. So, I started basically when I first got them? I know the pack says after period start, but I read somewhere you could start whenever you wanted, so that's what I did, because I wanted to be protected within seven days when I would see my boyfriend at school again. (Looking back this may have been silly..)

My first cycle went okay, without a hitch, now, I'm on the 2nd week of active pills, expecting my period to start around the 18th, but I'm experiencing spotting now. Well, at first it was spotting, and now it seems like it's a period, with cramps included.

Now, my questions are: is this a period, or heavy spotting because my body isn't used of the pill? This is about the time I'd have my period naturally.

Secondly, should I keep taking the pills, or should I give myself a placebo week? Should I just start a new pack now? My birthday's on the 11th, so I'd like to not have a period, but.. I'll do what I have to.

Thanks!

Can you possibly lighten/shorten your period?

[bakingfiend.livejournal.com]

Hey guys!

I have to admit this post is almost out of desperation because I am very sick at the moment, just got my period, and have a party to go to tomorrow night. I got it out of the blue, because it never comes on time... maybe once or twice a year. This makes it hard for me to predict how long/heavy it is but usually, when I do actually get it, its horrid. I'll probably spend most of my time in the bathroom rather than at the party. Even when I take ibprofen I still feel like my uterus is being ripped out *sigh*. I was just wondering, even though I know it's kind of a silly question, is it possible to lighten or shorten my period without hbc? Thank you guys so much.

Exercise after EC

[funwithrage.livejournal.com]

Hi!

So, I fucked up last night--took NuvaRing out for sex, left it on the nightstand all day, forgot about it until I'd gone to BF's house and had sex *again*. Lame, yes--and one of the reasons I'll be looking into the whole IUD thing--but not the end of the world. I just called my ObGyn and got a prescription for EC, which I'll pick up this afternoon.

Tonight's the night I generally do martial arts, though, so I was wondering--is it a bad idea to exercise right after taking EC? And, if it brings my period on early, about how early will that be? We wear white uniforms, so...

Thanks!

LGSIL with HPV

[pushpoplove.livejournal.com]

I had my first pap smear done in July of last year. Come to find out I have abnormal cells. Before I even had the colposcopy they said it was HPV. I was pretty sure HAVING the colposcopy would determine if it was actually HPV maybe I'm wrong. Low and behold, they were correct. I just recently went back for my 6 month follow-up pap smear in January. The hospital called not too long ago and said that I still have HPV and need to schedule another colposcopy. I spoke with a secretary who couldn't tell me much. Today I get a letter in the mail saying I have LGSIL(Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) with HPV. I'm confused as to if this is the still the same thing or if it's becoming worse?


Thanks.

Sexual desire problem

[deep-water-eyes.livejournal.com]

I'm having a bit of a sexual desire problem, and I was hoping someone might be able to offer some advice.

Some background: I've been with my boyfriend around 4 years, I still love him very much.  At first the sex was very good, but over time it aggravated a pre-existing problem I had with UTIs.  It was like, everytime we had sex, I got a UTI.  After a while, I developed scar tissue, and I was diagnosed generally with interstitial cystitis.  The scar tissue made it difficult to urinate, so about a year and a half ago, I had a urethral dilation done to make it easier to urinate.  This has since cleared up the urination problems.  However, because of these medical problems, and all the complications surrounding sex, I developed vaginismus, according to my gynocologist.  Through some techniques, I managed to find a way to be able to physically tolerate penetration (fingers, tampons, etc.) 

I've been in for a bit of counselling, but after all this stuff, desire for sex just doesn't happen, period.  It's the last way I want to show my boyfriend I love him.  Even if it doesn't physically hurt, it can still potentially cause a UTI, and I can really only do it for about 10 minutes before my vagina starts to feel like sandpaper (even with good lube like Eros).  I've never had a vaginal orgasm either- when my Gspot is stimulated, I start to feel like I have to pee.  Before any of the medical problems came up, we were very sexual, and I often initiated sex.  Even if I was going to feel like I had to pee, it still felt nice to be close to him.  We've tried to put the emphasis on foreplay, which is good, but the inevitable fact is that he is always going to want sex, because we were able to have it normally before.  I would like to get back to being the sexual person I once was.  Any ideas?

Please don't tell me it's hopeless, or that I'm being super negative.  I sound really negative because I really don't know what I can do.

Pads for Africa?

[oddchild.livejournal.com]

Hey, I was just wondered what everyone in the community thought of this ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw5Sth65_zs

I think that this program is really culturally insensitive of the fact that women in rural Africa have timeless, culturally specific, nonconsumer ways of managing their periods. In this way, the campaign makes African women seem really helpless and ignorant. Perhaps African girls missing school is due to the fact that older girls may need to perform a lot of household tasks, care for younger siblings, work, or even begin to start a family of their own. Perhaps resting during mensruation is common among women of certain South African cultures? There seems to be a lot of Western cultural imperialism behind this idea. I really question the necessity of this program and the actual benefit to African girls. It seems to be largely a sales gimmick to hook African girls on using pads and appeal to North American women to buy pads. It also seems extremely exploitive for the fact that it's using "Helping Poor Children in Africa" as a way to sell pads to North American women.

What do you think?

Question?

[mina5643.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how often this has been asked recently, but has anyone had kinda continuous breast growth, or tenderness?

I've grown a cup size which I don't mind, but I'm curious as to what's, well, going on. Does it stop? Does the tenderness eventually stop? Will I grow another cup size? (I hope not)

vulva tattoo.i wear my vulva on my sleeve.

[jamievulva.livejournal.com]

Hello VPers!
i am goint to be getting a tattoo of a vulva this coming weekend, but i am having a hard time finding the right picture to base the sketch off of.i don't want just an average textbook picture. i want a crazy over excentuated vulva.long flowing labia and all. i just want it to kind of pop out at you. all i am finding is textbook type stuff.
: (
anyone know of anything, or have anything to share?
paintings, sketches. whatever.pleeeease!!


thanks in advance!
EEE> jamie

Spotting, sudden irregularity, general weirdness

[sparksdelcielo.livejournal.com]

Way back in October, I had unprotected sex and took plan B. Everything went fine, I had my October and November periods, no big deal right? Well, when December rolled around my period was a week or so late. When it came, it was only spotting and only for about 24 hours. The same thing happened in January, and again yesterday. I have not bled normally since around Thanksgiving. What in the world is wrong with me? Until the last few weeks I haven't been particularly stressed, eating habits are fairly normal and healthy, and I haven't changed my physical activity.

I plan on making an appointment with my gynecologist tomorrow, but I would just like some input so I can ask educated questions. Thanks. :-)

Missing period after BC

[pateo.livejournal.com]

Hey ladies. I'm almost 20 and was on the pill since I was 15-16. I recently stopped taking it (almost two months ago) and haven't had my period since. I stopped taking them a few years ago and this happened for a long time and I got scared and started taking them again so I could menstruate. I've read that it's normal, but it's freaking me out and I'm having phantom cramps. I don't want it to just surprise me, either.

Any advice for convincing my period to happen? Herbs, etc?

The pull-out not really method and fertility/PCOS question

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

Before anyone lectures me on this, I know that pulling out before the boy orgasms isn't an effective form of birth control, if it could be considered one at all, and is a stupid thing to do. Even though I know that, since I've started having sex when I was 15 I've been having unsafe (pull out method) sex. I'm turning 20 in a couple months. Since I've lost my virginity there has been literally only three months during which I wasn't having sex due to break-up downtimes. Otherwise it's been around everyday/every other day, and half the time being unsafe. I've never been pregnant before and (this is why I might get lectured) I don't want to be.
What I'm meaning to get at is, I'm wondering if maybe I have PCOS? There's other reasons why I think I might have it besides not having gotten pregnant from my stupidity yet.

My mind is made up that I don't ever want to birth a child. Maybe adopt one when I'm 30 or so but I'm very repulsed at the idea of becoming pregnant myself. Still, as much as I don't want kids, I find it slightly odd I haven't become unintentionally pregnant yet. (Please, please don't yell at me. I know I shouldn't be having unsafe sex if I don't want to suffer the consequences) Aside from that stuff, I also have darker/hairier than usual body hair problems- On my bum, legs, upper lip, tummy, all those embarrassing places. I had a blood test once when I was pretty sick and I found out that I have high levels of testosterone, so maybe that's it? Before I tried out birth control (which my body reacts horribly to) I often went two months at a time with no period, and it was overall very irregular. After the birth control experimentation I've been having my period semi-regularly but still skipping months every so often. I think that could be attributed to stress though. I'm also slightly overweight. I've never been able to do anything about it short of starving myself which I did do for awhile. One summer I rode my bike twenty miles everyday and ate only 800 calories. I'm 5'2 and started off at 145 pounds and made it down to 135. I have a really hard time losing weight and I'm pretty active, my bike is my only mode of transportation.

I can't afford a gynecologist unless I go begging my parents to pay for it which I don't want to have to do. I went to Planned Parenthood long ago but it was a bad experience and I'd rather not go back. Does anyone in the community have PCOS and could be maybe set me straight with information/their experience? I would be really grateful.

VCF

[shiningstar55.livejournal.com]

Is a condom + VCF a pretty good birth control method?
Also, will using the VCF ruin the whole "fingering experience" for me, or does it even change it?
Thanks:)