2008-03-25

(no subject)

I know that if left untreated, BV can cause infertility and PID. But, how long do people generally have BV before they start experiencing this? Also, how do you know if you are having these problems?

Links, info, anything.

Thanks.

Possibly dumb ? about spotting & tracking your cycle

I've had a copper IUD for about 10 months now and when I get my period, I spot for a day or two and then the heavy flow begins. I've been tracking my monthly cycles for a while now and have always marked the first day of spotting as day 1 of my period and thus, day 1 of my cycle. But I just read somewhere that you're only supposed to begin counting from the first full day of bleeding. Is this correct?

Norethisterone 5mg

I was prescribed Norethisterone 5mg (1 tab twice daily) for 7 days, due to my late period. 3 days after finishing the medication, my period came.

For the first day, it flows normally.
But for the second, it flows lighter (usually, I have a heavier flow on the second day)
Third day, it is completely gone! Only staining my pad a little.

What's wrong with me?

My period usually lasts for 5 to 7 days, with heavy flow on the 2nd/3rd days.
I missed a month (Feb) of period and it flow so lightly this month (Mar). Will it affect my next period?

I'm 20 this year so is it hormonal changes? And, I'm definitely not pregnant.

Thank you, ladies :)

Another Question

Ok so I asked the question about birth control. And you all said seven days, well what is the chance that you would get pregnet, I mean I am taking my BC pills everyday and yesterday made the 9th pill that I have taken and I went off the antibiotics on sunday and had sex on monday eve? I am married so if anything happens its fine, only thing is we don't have insurence at the time. Thanks

Birth Control Options and Endometriosis Treatments

At my last doctor visit, I told her for probably the tenth time that the Yasmin I've been taking for about two years (in continuous 3 month doses) is no longer controlling my endo. She offered to put me on Seasonique or Lybrel, but I wanted to check both of these out before I started taking them. In addition to the usual negative side effects that can come with a new bc, I'm bipolar, and have taken some that have caused drastic and dangerous shifts in my moods. What have your experiences been with these two?

Also, I'm really starting to feel that my doctor is not treating my endo as aggressively as she should be. I was diagnosed with it at 14, and have been bedridden with it for three months at a time on several occasions. I know that surgery is an option, but because of my age (18) she refuses to do it. All she's done is given me birth control and large amounts of presciption painkillers. She did offer to put me on hormones, but I was not comfortable with that for several reasons. Do I have any other avenues?

Current Mood: contemplative

Picture Post

Hello, all.

I'm doing an art project through Flickr in which I take a self portrait every day for an entire year.

Recently, my self portrait coincided with my gynecological appointment. I found the entire experience to be very emotionally moving, and I learned a lot about myself as a woman.

I thought that some ladies here might appreciate the picture itself and the write-up I posted in my own livejournal:

Click here for the picture and my thoughts. The shot has no nudity whatsoever but may not be worksafe because it's on the gyno table, stirrups and all.

I hope that other people get as much out of this as I did!

nuva ring removal

hallo all!

quick question about nuva rings...had sex yesterday. guy came inside me. i've heard that sperm can live for up to 7 days and yet, i wanted to take out the ring today to begin my period. will there be any risk of pregnancy? thanks!!

Light period after stopping HBC

When I was young my periods were extremely heavy and painful (to the point where I could black-out). I started taking birth control pills about five years ago, and my periods became more manageable, though still regular in flow and cramps.

I stopped taking HBC in mid December 2007, and since then I have been having very light periods with no cramps. I realize that everyone is different, but I am just wondering if anyone had similar experiences after they stopped taking HBC. (And I'm not complaining at all!! Just curious)

As a side note, I have lost about ten pounds in the last month, but I was experiencing the light periods long before that, so I don't think that could be related.

Male Birth Control

News Video from CNN.com on male birth control.

Some key facts:

Small doses of testosterone and progestin that will decrease sperm levels
98% effective
Must be taken everyday for about 3 months before it becomes effective (or 1 injection/month for 3 months)
50% of men say they would take it

Possible side effects:

Weight gain (4-10lbs), but in lean muscle mass
Possible lowering of HDL (good cholesterol)

Will be available early next year!

Started new birth control..

So, I posted last month about my period coming 5 days early and assumed it was because I switched from Ortho Low to Tri-Sprintec... so, would my period still not be able to be tracked on my calendar since it's only my second month? I think today would be the day it should come, but it hasn't so I'm just checking! Thanks!

Not bacteria or fungus...

So after months of vagina woes, I finally went to the health clinic at school and got it checked out. All this time i had been thinking it was BV or Yeasties. But she took a swab and came back after a while and said NOPE.
The past couple months have been filled with:
1 yeasties
1 UTI
Lots of Discharge (Ranging from my normal to copious amounts of icky)
Frequent Itching (on and off though)
Painful sex (during and after)
A very small amount of blood after sex (sometimes)
Tears from sex, which may have been cause of mysterious flesh colored bumpies that came and went away in a week
Did I mention discharge?! (ugh lol)

All of these have put a slight damper on the love life. I even made my boy change from using Irish Spring to Dove. Just in case I was allergic to that..I even tried the Boric Acid stuff (filled like 50 capsules while watching American Gangster tehe). But that only lasted two nights cuz it was making me more itchy.

I'm also on NuvaRing, which i thought could be a factor, but the NP said that the Ring actually helps ward off icky bacteria and such.

SO ANYWAYS, she's testing for gonnorhea/chlamydia. Just in case. Although we both don't think that's the case.

I should start my period on Monday or Tuesday, and that usually helps for a couple days, but these symptoms and or other symptoms always seem to come back.

Any idears? THX!

Edit: Also, for the past couple days/nights, everytime I lay down, i have a sharp yet dull (?) pain on my left side of my ovary area. It's not painful, just kind of annoying. The NP said this could just be cuz I'm going to start period soon? But I've never felt this before. And it's only when I lay down. hmmm

prices at planned parenthood

I am planning on making an appointment for STD testing at Planned Parenthood in the next week or so. I know that they charge on a sliding scale, but roughly how much do you think I would be expected to pay? Or if anyone was in a similar financial situation, how much did you pay?

I am a college student, I do have insurance but it's under my parents' and I don't want them knowing that I'm getting tested, so I won't be using it. I also live in Massachusetts and I want every STD test possible.

Thanks for your help! I'd call PP and ask but I hate making phone calls and you guys are always so knowledgeable.

postponing period

Hey All!
So I'm a senior in college and come May 14th is our big fancy senior year ball and the 17th is Graduation. The whole week is full of fun, fun, fun!
Unfortunately, it appears that my period will show up right dab in the middle of it all. Something I'd like to avoid.

I was on hbc, but stopped in October (I wasnt having sex and I saw there to be no need/I'm cheap lol). Would it be an awful idea, to start back up, just for like a month, to push my period back like a week?

I looked around, but didn't quite find anything exactly pertaining to this. If someone could show me the way, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thanks!

[Anonymous Post]: HIV and Supporting Facts of Negative Test Results

Hi! As you probably know, from time to time the VP Team makes posts on behalf of people who wish to remain anonymous or who do not have LJ accounts. This is one such post. Thanks in advance for your helpful comments!

P.S. For more info on anonymous posts, see this link.

Tori
For the VP Team
contact_vp

________________________

Allow me to preface with an apology. I have flooded this place quite frequently
within the past couple of months in regard to my fear of being HIV positive. After
torturing myself to a point of becoming both mentally and physically ill because of
my fear, I've had three tests done (third being at 7 months), and all were negative.
However, DESPITE professional opinion (or FACT, rather), I still find that I am not
satisfied. In other words; I continue to find myself, in an illogical state of
mind, dwelling on whether or not I could be positive for HIV.
These fears have been exhausted now to where I have sought therapy and been
diagnosed a hypochondriac. At this point in time, my therapist sees it fit I
compile an "Evidence Record". Basically, it works like this: I write down PHYSICAL
evidence (e.g., me thinking recent facial breakouts are a result of becoming
infected with HIV) and evidence not supporting this (e.g., facial breakouts could be
the result of hormonal changes, etc., etc.).
I have a few questions so I may add fact and fiction to this record...
-What is the percentage, of those who have unprotected sex, becoming infected with HIV?
-What is the percentage of IDUs becoming infected from using an unsterilized needle?
-Within how many days/months after exposure to the virus will one test positive?
(Understood textbook reads 3-6 months to be certain- but can one test positive
sooner, and how common/uncommon is this?)
-Say I develop flu-like symptoms, and these symptoms are due to being exposed- if I
test a month after experiencing these symptoms, is it likely to say the test results
are accurate?
Again, as I've mentioned time-and-time again, I appreciate everyone's support.
Thank you.

Still bleeding on Alesse -- what should I try next?

So I'm on my 4th month of Alesse, and I've been bleeding for the past 6 weeks. One of those weeks was my withdrawal bleed week, but the rest of the time I've been constantly spotting or have had a light period. I've been at least spotting for the entire time that I've been on Alesse, which i understand is common for the first three months. I started taking the pill so I would bleed less, so this is beyond irritating. Also, my skin is normally completely clear but I've found that it's been getting oilier, which I assume has something to do with Alesse's androgenic effects.

I suspect that this means that it's time for my doctor and I to look into putting me on a pill with 30mcg of estrogen, but I have some concerns: I don't want the increased estrogen to cause me to gain weight (I'm 5'6" and 140 lbs and would be fucking livid if I were to gain anymore weight -- I'm trying to lose weight as it is), or to worsen my depression which I'm currently on Zoloft for. Given the emotional issues, I guess that a tri-phasic is out of the question (OTC made me super nauseous when I was on it a few years ago), so what monophasic should I be looking at to stave off bloating and weight gain? Yasmin? Can I stay on a low-dose pill?

Vaginal discharge

It has been almost two weeks since I have stopped taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo.

Today, I used the bathroom, and I had some really thick discharge, somewhat pinkish, that has the consistency of rubber cement. At least it looked like it and was VERY thick and stretchy.

I'm not sexually active. What does this discharge mean?