skin flaking off down there.

[https://users.livejournal.com/-fiftyseven/]

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Late/missed period causes?

[elle-heart.livejournal.com]

Hi there Ladies

some background:
I'm 19, sexually active, and was on HBC (cryselle) for two months on (November, December) and now I've been off for two months (January, February) because I thought I would not need it.
Now I have a boyfriend. And rather than start a pack in the middle of a cycle, we decided to use condoms and once, pulling out, as birth control.

My last period was around MLK day, so January 21st... and I have not had one since.
I had PMS, then no period came. I was expecting my period Feb 25th, since my cycles are naturally long, and seemed to be longer since I got off the pill, but it hasn't come. I took a home pregnancy test on March 3rd (a week after missed period?) and it came out negative. I had no signs besides the missed period.

But still no period. And still no signs of pregnancy.
I haven't ever missed a period before, but I read up on some factors that may have contributed to a late period, such as weight gain, poor diet, the like. I fall under those categories. I also have been much less physically active this past month.
Could there be other reasons for a late period? Am I perhaps missing this one? (If I were regular, I would be expecting my next one in two weeks or so. ) Could it be my sporadic HBC? Could the home pregnancy test be wrong?
Any input would be wonderful. :)

Thanks!

STI testing and my PP

[x-hypatia-x.livejournal.com]

So, I go to Planned Parenthood to get tested, and I always have them run the tests when I get a pap smear. I figure I'm there anyway, might as well get checked, right? But the problem I'm running into is that my Planned Parenthood (and the others in this area) simply will not test for HPV or HSV-1 or HSV-2. They won't test for HPV because "so many people have it," and they won't test for HSV because "if you've ever had chicken pox, you'll test positive."

My questions:

1.) Is it true that I would test positive simply because I've had chicken pox? Are the tests that non-specific? And even if I did, wouldn't that be for HSV-1, or am I horribly wrong?

2.) What the hell? Why would they refuse testing that I'm paying for out-of-pocket? Is it really that strange that I'd like to know if I have a virus, even though I've never had symptoms? Is this common at all? I'm very uncomfortable with the idea of going to my family doctor and asking him to order the test, as I'm currently in the process of looking for a new doctor due to current doctor's intense religiosity (poly, bisexual, do not want to explain why as a married woman I'd like to be tested). I checked with the county health department, which does STI testing, and they also do not/will not test for HPV or HSV-1 and 2. Should I just start calling places?

3.) Am I overly concerned about this? I want to be up to date about my health status so that I can accurately inform others. I realize that most of the time, "testing" only includes gonorrhea and chlamydia, so even when someone says "I've been tested," that's usually not "I'm entirely clear of STIs and I know this for a fact." But I would like to be able to be completely informed so that I can then accurately inform others. Is this unreasonable? Should I stop worrying about it? Or should I start claiming I've had symptoms so they'll do the freaking testing?

getting tested.

[dandeliiion.livejournal.com]

i lost my virginity to my ex-boyfriend, he also lost his virginity to me. we always used condoms.

i recently just had sex again for the first time and it was unprotected. the guy had been with a lot of girls before me. he said he had been tested before and didn't have anything, but since he has been tested he had also been with a couple more girls (who had been with a lot of guys). he used a condom with them, though.

should i get tested? i've been crying, i'm so paranoid of having something now. what are the odds of me getting something? is there anything i could have gotten that would not be detectable from a test that i could still then give to someone else?

can i get tested at planned parenthood? do i have to make an appointment? how much does it cost?

thank you for any information.

Disclosing HPV status

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering what everyone things about whether or not those of us who have had HPV are morally obliged to inform past or future partners.

I tend to be of the opinion that it's really not necessarily. Given that SO MANY people have HPV, anyone who is having sex should, IMO, assume that their partner has it. So I don't really feel like its necessary to have a discussion about it (except that maybe its useful for weeding out those who wouldn't like you anyway.)

But sometimes I feel guilty for having that opinion. I wonder if I'm letting the awkwardness of that conversation influence my opinion on whether or not it is necessary.

What do you all think?

(Just a note: for me, this is a largely academic question in that I am in a monogamous relationship, and about to get married! And I've only ever had one partner. So while I do have HPV, I don't really see myself being in the position of having to decide whether to disclose that at any point in the near future. I'm trying to decide what I think about it though, and am wondering what all you intelligent people think!)

**Edit: What about for casual sex? Because as I'm reading all the replies, I'm thinking that I WOULD tell if I was in a relationship, because it would be part of the "Sexual History Talk." (I kind of forgot about that. Its been awhile since I started a relationship, heh.) But I still kind of feel like if I was having casual sex with a condom, I wouldn't tell. Whereas if I currently had an infection or if I had HIV, I would absolutely tell before casual sex (or more likely, wouldn't be having casual sex.)

**Edit #2: Thanks everybody. You're convincing me that my position on this is somewhat pigheaded (and honestly, based in the hypothetical fear that having to disclose would ruin whatever good thing was about to go down, which is really embarrassing to admit especially because its not a likely scenario for me to encounter, and yet I've STILL been trying to convince myself that non-disclosure was ok).

P.S. what if you HAD had HPV, but was now testing negative in HPV tests. Would you still tell?

[Anonymous Post]: Sperm Count and Pregnancy

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Hi!

As you know, from time to time the VP Team will post on behalf of people who either don't have LJ posts or who wish to remain anonymous. (Check out this section of our FAQ for more info.) This is one of those times.

Thanks in advance for offering helpful advice and information!

Tori
For the VP Team
contact_vp

________________________________

I'm not in fear of getting pregnant, I just want to know if there's a HIGH chance of
me getting pregnant by the events that took place, sperm count,...

By unprotected I mean sex without a condom.

I had vaginal sex with a male unprotected. The first time he ejaculated and pulled
out. He might've did the same twice that session. 8 hours later we had sex again
unprotected. He ejaculated again 2 times. He pulled out first, wiped his penis off
and reentered and then pulled out when he was about to orgasm again. The last time
wasn't long.

I'm not sure if I was fertile at the time or not. Does it seem like he wouldn't have
enough sperm left to get me pregnant? I know a lot of guys are considered infertile
if they have a low sperm count.

Does anyone here know the smallest amount of sperm that could be in a drop of semen?
Just wondering.

ps. I know that sperm could possibly be in precum but my boyfriend has had fertility
testing done and there's no sperm in his.

Thanks for your time.

UTI

[xkiller-cupcake.livejournal.com]

i woke up this morning and peed. and everything was fine. i peed a second time and it was somewhat pink. i peed a third time and it was straight blood, and continued like that, including gross blood clot looking things.
called the doctor who told me to go to the emergency room, where they told me it was a bad UTI, gave me some meds and sent me on my way.

my question is:
what would have caused something so severe. im really clean and the last time i had sex was a week ago.
and i've had UTI's in the past, but this was just over the top, like seriously it was just straight blood. has that ever happened to anyone before?

Transferring UTI

[staceyizniftydu.livejournal.com]

I am sure its extremely unhealthy for a woman to have sex with a UTI, but it is possible to transfer it to her man? Like some kind of the infection that he would get too?

Vaginal tearing and transmasculine bodies?

[bikerioting.livejournal.com]

Hallo, lovely Vagina Pagina-ers!

I have a vaginal issue. Just about every time my boyfriend and I have sex, I bleed.

I am a lube fiend, and we are responsible for the disposal of about 1/3 of the world's production of water-based lubes. He trims his nails. I have been on Testosterone (to transition to male) for more than 2 years, which has probably changed things down south, but I'm not about to give up on vaginal sex. Also, I have had a hysterectomy, so I have no uterus, cervix, or ovaries.

I should add that I believe this is a vaginal tearing issue, but I am in absolutely no pain during or after sex. It always catches me completely off guard; one minute I'm having a grand ol' time, the next minute there is blood on his hand/dick/sheets/whatever.

What are your suggestions?

Vaginal Tears?

[burning-moon117.livejournal.com]

OMG. So a few days ago I found a tear in the skin of my labia. Tonight I came home from work and went to go pee and there's 3 more, like near and above my clitoris. 

I think it might be because I've had a lot of discharge lately (wacky hormones due to PCOS) so I've been cleaning that area many times a day with baby wipes. I haven't had sex in months, and I don't know what else it could be. 

What should I do? I did put neosporin on them.

I have forgotten *how* to have a period!

[annyka.livejournal.com]

I first got my menarche (first period) when I was 15. It took me a few cycles and 'accidents' to get used to it all, but I'm pretty regular and once I got the hang of it, I rarely got my clothes messed (especially after day 1).
I started using Tampons when I was about 16 and the messes became even more few and far between. Then I found the diva cup (when I was about 25) and the messes were so far in between I can't remember the last time I had to clean AF off my clothes. I even had a baby, and managed to keep my clothes clean from the Lochia all except on the first day, with the teeniest spillage.

Yet, I get my first period after giving birth to Raistlin, and I have to learn the whole god damn experience again!!! No one warned me about that. I have had to change my underwear (and wash them) twice already and even a pair of pants!!!
I've tried using the Divacup, but now that I am 30 AND given birth, it no longer fits and keeps sliding down, to the point that I feel like I have an egg hanging out my twat. I have to keep pushing it back in and so I thought "I have maternity pads left over, they did a good job for the Lochia and this can't be as heavy, I'll use them"... Yeah, right.. It's while wearing those stupid things, that I've had the leakage over my undies... it's like maternity pads know the difference between the types of blood and lets this stuff run over the edge.. There sure as hell wasn't as much period now as when I had the Lochia!

And all this aside - I don't remember EVER feeling this bloated, this pissed off, this hungry for red meat, this crampy... I am sure I did, but I don't remember.. the last year and 3 months have taken over that part of my memory. All I want is chocolate, meat and a man's head to rip off!

Anyway.. I am roaming the house like a t-rex looking for it's next pray, making messes all over my clothes and then grumbling as I try and clean them before the stain sets in.. quickly running out of underwear and wanting to hide in the corner and cry at the same time as eating whatever red meat can make it to my mouth.

Luckily I have a very understanding man (DH) who knows to stay out of my way, make me a big steak and help look after the little one for me while I sob and cry and whinge and whatever else my body demands of me.


Grrrr - stupid Periods.

Chlamydia

[ava-mae.livejournal.com]

I was recently diagnosed with chlamydia, and had the single-dose treatment of antibiotics two days ago, as did my partner.

Firstly, since the doctor advised me to avoid sex for a week, can anyone tell me if it is safe to masturbate, or if all sexual activity should be left well alone?

Secondly, has anyone here had the same experience and noticed that after receiving treatment they had increased vaginal discharge? I originally presented with mild thrush-like symptoms, but now this seems to have gone into overdrive. Is this normal, or could it be a reaction to the dosage, since I already suffered an adverse reaction to the antibiotics?

Thirdly, how can I tell if I'm clear of the infection? I know the obvious answer is to get another swab test done in a week, but a year ago I had a swab test done which came back negative. Since I have been with the same partner monogamously for around 18 months (and we think we have pinpointed the only possible source of infection to around two years ago), the doctor announced that the original test was clearly a 'false negative'. This makes me wary of relying entirely on the swabs, but I'm concerned that the antibiotics may not have worked as effectively as possible, particularly since the pills caused violent diarrhoea three hours after I took them.

Thanks!

Comparitive Questions - IUDs

[sarahcb1208]

I'm seeing my gyn in May (earliest date possible, which SUCKS), to get on a more permanent type of birth control.

I'm looking at Mirena, but the chance of anemia with increased bleeding doesn't sound good for me (I'm prone to anemia as it is). Plus, with it being a progestin-type hormone, I doubt it would be very good for me, since I had a really bad reaction to the Depo shot after the birth of my daughter (and with other pills that are mostly progestin-type)

I looked at the Paraguard, but I'm not sure on the copper allergy. I'm loving the idea of no hormones though. I've been off BC (ran out, can't get more without a pap, and no appointments til May) for only 2 1/2 weeks, and I'm already loving being without those extra hormones (I was an emotional bitchy mess, and now I'm doing A LOT better, and actually like being around my family).

I've been on Trinessa, Alesse, and Ortho Cyclen. With all of them I lost my drive. With the Trinessa, I was just losing my mind (the doc I had at the time was an ass, and didn't listen to my request for OTC LO and wrote it for OTC, hence getting Trinessa *gah*). Alesse, I was a bit more relaxed, but got major migraines when I stopped taking. OC, I just hated, absolutely hated, and the migraines were even worse with it. I liked being able to skip with the Alesse and OC, though. Made planning for certain events a lot easier, but if I can't plan, that's fine with me. I'll deal with spotting if it means no hormones, XD

I'm planning on a more permanent solution, but my husband is wanting us to wait on that, just in case we change our minds on not wanting more (we've got 2 right now).

Any personal experiences would be great.

Also, yes, I checked the tags. I'm looking more for places to do the research. Google searches are pulling up a lot of good stuff, and so far, no conflicting information.

Free sex toy with shipping?

[shaunanigans.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the the website that has a free sex toy/vibrator and all you pay is shipping and handling... Does anyone know or am I remembering something old and doesn't exist anymore??