2008-05-22

yay, new-comer!

Hello, all. I've been an off and on, long-time lurker.

I have a question that I was hoping you all could help me with:

I'm going to a music festival this weekend and I'm really excited about camping out and hanging out with everyone. But I'm kind of expecting my period tomorrow or Saturday. Do y'all have any safe recommendations about how I could skip it? For the first month in a long time, I am not on birth control, so I can't go with my tried-and-true method of just starting the next pack.

Is there something that I can take or do to make my body hold off for about 3 days?

biological clock

I'm 23, and I don't want children, for a million reasons. I don't even really like kids! But lately when I ovulate I start thinking I want a baby. It's more of a body urge than anything else, but as time goes on it's there more and more. I have a lot of dreams that I get pregnant and feel conflicted about having an abortion (although if this actually happened to me I would definitely abort). I think about babies more... it's hard to describe but I just feel "different" although I still feel that I don't actually want kids.

I was telling my friend about this and she said she thinks that 23 is too young for your biological clock to start ticking, but it could be because my boyfriend and I have been together 4 years.

I was wondering if anyone else had to deal with this, and if it actually is normal or common for this to happen when you've been in a relationship for a while.

birth control

I am going to start having sex with my boyfriend. I am 20 years old and a virgin. I have scheduled an appointment so I can go see a doctor and get on some form of birth control before we start doing it. I do have some concerns.

Birth control does scare me. I know this is shallow, but I have had problems with my weight in the past (eating disordered) and I really don't want to gain weight from the pill. However, I do think being on the pill would help with my pms mood swings? I have also heard that the pill will help clear up skin (I do not break out bad, but it could be better)? Does anyone have any suggestions of brands of pills or stories for me? Any alternatives that I should think about?

Another issue--my mother is very conservative and would be very against me going on a birth control that's strictly birth control (IUD, diaphragm, etc), my idea is at least if I am on the pill, I can argue it is helping my mood swings and acne.

Is there anything I need to tell my gynocologist on my first visit? Thanks!

BCP and period

This is my second cycle of being on Desogen. Last cycle I had my period right on time, no problems. This time however, Im due to start my new pack in 2 days and no period at all. There is no possibility of my being pregnant, and I realize its normal to occasionally skip a period. For me though, I just need to have my period every month. Part of the reason Im on the pill is to have regular, normal periods.

I left PP with 3 packs after my last exam, so I have my next pack ready and waiting. However, after this pack I will need to go pick up more. I dont know if I should give this brand a few more months trial or just switch when I go in for my 4th pack. It seems silly to switch after one missed period. But on the other hand, I cant wait to see what happens after my next pack, because then I wont have a new pack to start after my inactive week.

This seems to be a common problem for me. I was on NuvaRing for maybe 8-10 months and my periods were getting later and later until finally they stopped all together. When I told the practictioner about this, she seemed kind of puzzled about it. Does anyone else have this issue, or is everyone else just glad to not have a period???

If it matters, Im overweight and have very irregular periods off the pill. Possible PCOS. So I dont know how much that effects the pills or not, No Dr ive ever seen seems concerned about my weight and the pills effectiveness.

mirena vs implanon

A little bit of background info-
I am 21 years old, in a monogamous relationship and I have never been pregnant. I take Lamictal (lamotrigine) everyday. I was on Depo for two years (about two years ago) and had no problems, and did not use condoms. Recently I was taking OTC-lo and noticed a decrease in lamictals effectiveness and we decided to use condoms along with the pill but eventually I decided to stop taking it, after about 5 months, because I had no sex drive..

Anyways, I am going to Planned Parenthood in a couple weeks and I have been reading up on some different birth control methods, particularly mirena and implanon. So I have a few questions that some experienced females can hopefully help me out with!
On the Mirena website it says "IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT MIRENA^®: Candidates for Mirena^® have had a child" Is this because of uterus size or something else? Do you guys think with enough knowledge and discussion with the doctor it could perhaps be a possible option for me? I did find this however in a list of medicines that interact with mirena - "Lamotrigine because its effectiveness is decreased, and when levonorgestrel is stopped, toxic effects, such as nausea, dizziness, and vision problems, may occur." It's kind of scary so I'm not so sure.. I did talk to my neurologist about the pill and he said it really shouldn't interfere and that we should just watch the levels in my blood.
The other option is the Implanon. I was reading about it's interaction with lamictal but I didn't really understand it.. here's the link, it's the same info for mirena and lamictal, if anyone would care to read it and perhaps tell me what the heck it means.. http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/implanon_d04772_lamictal_d03809.html
Both of these methods kind of scare me because unlike a pill I can't just stop taking it when I don't like it. So, do any of you gals have any advice or experiences to share with me? Thanks so much!

Current Mood: sick

Ortho Tri-Cyclene side effects

I am in hormone hell right now. I switched from Ortho Tri-Cyclene Lo to full strength version a few weeks ago and I have been getting all sorts of nasty side effects. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, moodiness, bloating, you name it. I get my BC through the school clinic which is only open for a few hours a week. My question is, should I continue taking the pills until I am able to get an appointment at the clinic? Protection isn't an issue for me right now. Would the side effects go away as soon as I stop taking them or would I keep having them from the residual presence of the hormones?

When to start new HBC?

I'm switching birth control brands this month -- Yaz to Loestrin FE 1/20 -- and I know how it's typically supposed to go. Sunday start or on the first day of your period. I was planning to do the latter since I don't really care what day I start.

Well, I've got one day of placebos left, and there's no sign of my "period." I'm not even sure if it'll be coming any time soon -- I did almost have a meltdown last night, but in terms of cramps or anything else, nothing. I'm also kind of concerned since, because I stack my packs, I haven't had a period since January; I'd think my body would need to do a bit of withdrawal bleeding.

Should I hold out until Sunday and see what happens? Would I still be protected even if my four placebos are gone? And is it OK if I don't have any sort of "period" for so long, since I plan to stack the new birth control, too?

i wasnt sure which category this is under.

I was arguing with a friend about fertilization. We are wondering about how long AFTER the sperm goes into your body will it take to fertilize the egg and how long until that egg is implanted? I figured who is better to ask then vagina pagina posters.

Approved for IUD! Now I have questions!

OMG YOU GUISE! I got approved for an IUD today! It'll be *FREE* since I'm with Tricare.

I got the impression that my gyno was trying to talk me out of it due to the pain. I'm sure she was just warning me. And I honestly think she was surprised at how informed I was about it. She tried to talk me into the Nuvaring, but I'm not that dextrous. And it would probably wind up on my husband's penis like a freakin' horseshoe.

Anyway, I *am* concerned about the pain because while she was doing the exam, she was talking to the student about my "baby cervix". Apparently, I have a particularly miniscule cervix. When she said it, I was like "Please don't make me laugh!" because I'd have shot the speculum across the room. So yeah, apparently it's going to hurt like hell for me. We discussed taking ibuprofen in preparation, and I've already told my husband to come with me so I can break a few bones in his hand. :D

Any tips? Experiences? I'd love to hear them! :)

x-posted to

iud_divas

bartholin cyst

Based on the description, small pea sized bump around the opening of the vagina, I'm pretty sure that I have a bartholin cyst. Do they usually go away on their own? I've been using a warm compress the last couple days without any change. It's not painful but maybe a little sensitive. What are the chances of it getting worse? I'd prefer not to go the doctor if I can help it.

discharge questions after first sexual experience

Is it normal to have more discharge a few days after having sex? It seems as though ever since my partner and I fooled around Monday I've been experiencing more discharge than I usually would during this time between periods...any ideas/thoughts? Today I just applied my second out of 3 patches of Ortho Evra, which I've successfully been using/applying for a few years. It just doesn't seem as though last month during this time of no period I had as much moisture/discharge down there, but maybe I did and I'm just over reacting or something...? Also, any idea how long after having sex one would still be discharging semen?

Thanks as always! :)

Current Mood: awake
Current Location: Living room on the couch enjoying the snow in MAY!!!!
Current Music: Ghostbusters

Funky Pimple!

Hello Everyone

I noticed the other day that I had a little bump on my outer labia, actually in the middle of my left labia to be exact. It started out small then over the last couple of days it got bigger but never came to a head. Today I had my boyfriend look at it again because I cant see it really well and he said that its starting to come to a head but a very little one. It really is sore now and all I want to do is pop the damn thing, but I know that if I do it prematuraly it will wind up turning into a bad boil, and that is the last thing I need on my labia. So tonight I went to the bathroom and it feels as though it has gone down and its not so sore anymore, so I dont know if it poped or what, there is no evidence of puss or any thing of that sort on my panties, and I cant really get down that far and see and I dont have a hand mirror ironic huh. Im not too worried about it or anything I know that I am STI free and I have been with my partner for over 2 years now and he has been faithful. So its not and STD, its just a pimple but I am curious as to why we get pimples on our labia? I dont normally get them down there unless I get a blocked hair or something. I am now starting to shave my outer lips clean so there is no hair down there at all, could this be why I am getting pimples? Its just confussing to me when something happens to me especially my vagina that has not happened much. Also does anyone have any advice on what I should do to treat it better or make it so I dont get them so frequently? What do you do when you get a pimple down there? Sorry for the long ramblings Im just curious as to what to do? Thanks all in advance!

Current Location: my sick bed
Current Music: chick habit - april march

mouth-to-vulva bronchitis transmission?

i've been sick with a bad cold since last tuesday, and today i was diagnosed with bronchitis. i'm on antibiotics now. my girlfriend and i had a big fight last weekend, but have reconciled, and have a date tomorrow night. i shared a bed (and more than a few kisses) with her for several nights when i first got sick, and she hasn't come down with any symptoms and has a generally very strong immune system. i'd really like to make it special, and we dispensed with dams after we both tested negative for STIs soon after we got together. can i somehow pass bronchitis her if i perform oral sex on her tomorrow night? not worried about kissing, as i'm sure she'd have gotten it by now if she was going to get it all, but not sure about mouth-to-vulva contact.

thanks!

Long peroids/ birth control

Newbie. Great I have to post with this, huh?
( Cut. Long story :) )
*I am going to an on call doctor tomorrow first thing. But I'd like some reassurance if this has happend to you, or I'd like to know what to expect. Thank you!! :)