Relying on BCP

[klmcdan.livejournal.com]

I have been recommended to this forum after talking with some people in another forum, they told me to check in here because I had read about some abortion stories which I feel like I will be one who ends up telling one one of those days because every month now it seems like I'm hearing story after story of "I took my BCP perfectly but still got pregnant" and I used to use my BCP (Levora) as my only birth control form until I kept hearing all of these stories and started using a backup of spermicide, although once I used the spermicide longer than 1 hour so I guess that time did not count, but I consider myself a perfect BCP user, taking it at 5pm everyday, never missed a pill, 20 minutes late once perhaps but my doc told me wtihin 2 hours was still considered just fine but all these stories have me so rattled and concerned.  I don't know how to calm my nerves anymore.

Where do yeast infection treatment creams...end up?

[aidenfire]

I feel a little silly asking this but, with the yeast infection treatments, where there is a cream that you squirt inside, how does that work exactly? Does the cream somehow get absorbed into your vagina? I know some of it can leak out, but is it supposed to? Does it all leak out throughout the day? I've looked through the tags and stuff and haven't seen an answer.

thank you. :)

Dark vaginal discharge

[chiyo-no-saru.livejournal.com]

So, I've got a discharge question. (Sorry for any weird formatting, this is
written via email, so it might look odd!)

Yesterday, and today in particular, I've been having dark brown discharge.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't think twice about it, since my period is due on
Friday and spotting is far from unheard of--but it's not spotting.
There's no weird texture or smell, and it's a normal amount of discharge,
it's just... when I wipe (front-to-back, it's not fecal matter or anything),
there's normal discharge, with a bunch of streaks and teeny-tiny dark brown
clots, so it's not like any sort of discharge or spotting I've had before.

It's not very reddish, and doesn't have that tell-tale spotting texture and
smell, so I'm at a loss. There's no itching or discomfort or anything, other
than the occasional vague cramp, which is a combination of the fact that my
period is due in a few days and the fact that I got a Mirena IUD inserted
three weeks ago.

My suspicion is just that it's different and new to me because this is my
first period on the IUD, which is obviously changing how my discharge and
cycles work, but I just wanted to be sure and find out if this is one of
those "OMG GET THEE TO THE GYNO" situations (which I don't think it is).

Thanks in advance!

Quick Question about HBC

[a-tea-leaf.livejournal.com]

Hi Folks,

First time poster here.... I have a question about HBC. I have just started trisprintec again, after a 3 mo absence. Unfortunately, I realized that over the weekend I left my pack on the dresser near the window sill in the heat of the blaring sun!

I've noticed on the back of the of the package it states to keep them in a controlled temperature room, no greater than 77 F. Have I damaged these pills beyond use? Does the heat render them ineffective? 

Now in regards to future storage... I live in a town that gets pretty-freakin-hot in the summer time. I live in a part of town that has a lot of older buildings and rarely central a/c. So surely, the ambient temp in the room exceeds 77 F, while I'm not there.... would it be too much to keep them in the fridge? Should I consider the pills that I'm taking now (which were not in the sun, but were in a drawer, during the heat of summer) ineffective as well?

yikes. I don't want to risk this!

Thanks in advance for all input.

 

thoughts on ben-wa balls?

[sooz.livejournal.com]

so i was thinking of getting some ben-wa balls or something of the sort to be able to work on my kegels and just all around make my work day go faster. the gold original ones seem like the easiest call, but there are like 20 different kinds and i was wondering if anyone had any experience with them or the sorts. there are ones that are attached by a string, which seem like they would be convenient for removal, but would restrict movement of them while in use.

any advice would be appreciated :)

maybe you guys can help me figure this out

[toldmelies.livejournal.com]

Alright, I've questioned my sexuality a lot lately and quite frankly, I'm one of those people who like labels and like being able to know. I love looking at breasts, I think they're beautiful and honestly, the female body is so much more appealing than a man's. I get turned on by seeing women naked. I can imagine myself fooling around with a girl and enjoying it to the fullest, but I cannot see myself actually falling in love with a women. I love men, I think they're gorgeous, their physique, not really, but i like to be with a man, kiss a man, hug a man, be physically and emotionally attached to a man. So, what does this make me? Any input is great. Thank you guys!

Personal pregnancy Questions

[blacknwhite143.livejournal.com]

Ok, so basically I understand that every woman and their ovulation varies, but I do not know when mine does. I start my period every 18-20th of the month. About 4 days ago, my boyfriend and I had unprotected sex (stupidly) and now I fear I may be pregnant. Are you more likely to become pregnant right before you are due to start your period? When should I take a pregnancy test that will be most accurate even though I was already supposed to start?

I'm so lost and nervous!!!

Contraceptive pill and a late period

[nosexplease1.livejournal.com]

I've been taking the pill for about three or four years now. Normally my period arrives two or three days into my pill-free week, but today is day four and it hasn't arrived properly yet. I've got everything else (cramps, mood swings, spots and that other fun stuff) and I'm getting occasional rusty-coloured discharge, but no period. I know a day or so late isn't generally anything to worry about, but my brain is annoying that way.

Other handy information:
- My period came twice last month (during the pill-free week and two weeks before). This was probably because of a hefty dose of antibiotics.
- I am sexually active; I last had sex about a week ago.
- Whilst my pill usage isn't perfect exactly, I always take mine at the same vague time of day (give or take an hour or so). My only late pill was last Friday (8 to 10 hours late) and I hadn't had sex for four days by this point.
- I haven't been sleeping and eating properly lately.
- I have not taken a pregnancy test, mainly because it's probably a bit early to tell by this point.

I know, intellectually, that I'm very unlikely to be pregnant, but I am very much a worry-beaver and so any reassurance or advice would be appreciated. Also, I'm going on holiday tomorrow and will not be pleased if it arrives when I hit the beach in my new white bikini.

[Anonymous Post]: Helping a Friend

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Hi, y'all!

As some of you may know, sometimes the VP Team posts anonymously on behalf of those who wish to remain anonymous. This is one of those times. We appreciate you being your helpful wonderful selves and offering up what advice you can.

Thanks!
Tori
For the VP Team
contact_vp
________________________________

A very close friend of mine - we'll call her Jane - is in an emotionally abusive relationship. It's not nearly as "bad" as some of the other ones I've been privy to, however I do not believe that this is a healthy environment for Jane at all, and neither do several of her other friends. We have addressed this with her in a calm, neutral, fair, non-judgmental manner and she replied with responses such as, "It may seem like abuse to you, but it's not to me." And other similar statements. Her boyfriend is in his thirties (10+ years older than her, which is not necessarily a bad thing), has always lived at home with his parents, and he has serious anger/alcoholic driving/gambling issues.

I am worried about Jane's mental health as well as possibly her physical health as I have heard and seen that abusive relationships can escalate. Jane has told me and several others that he often puts her down - especially about her weight. He also leans very heavily on her for all sorts of support within his life and does not reciprocate, at times refusing to even take her issues into consideration. For example, she has an eating disorder she is currently trying to overcome (she tends to binge repeatedly and then starve herself). She's trying to learn to eat healthier and in proper portions. He completely disregards this very important issue and has recently insisted that they go out to eat nearly everyday.

She refuses to see how harmful this relationship is for her, and I was hoping for some advice on how to help her realize the extent of damage that it has done to her as well as how to help her see that she deserves better than this.

Thanks so much!

Acidophilus/Folic Acid to treat BV?

[neonwalls.livejournal.com]

A little back story:I've been having a nasty case of recurring BV for the past 8 months now.
It's had such a damper on my life and I feel so insecure lately. I leave work early in fear that I smell and everyone doesn't want to be around me.
I just wish it would go away. I'm taking all of the preventative measures so that it shouldn't be here, but it just comes back each time.
Today I was told that my cervix is also inflamed because of the BV.

I'm sick of paying copays and for antibiotics when it only clears it up for a few days and then comes back!!
I've tried Flagyl twice, Clindesse, and now today I was prescribed Cleocin...

but I was doing some research and  I read that Cleocin can give you severe to fatal gastrointestinal problems so I'm a little weary of starting it tonight.

After reading a few websites, it seems like women have more luck with having using Acidophilus and Folic Acid and it seems to clear up for them. One website says to take 800mg of Folic Acid per day and 1 Acidophilus capsule 4 times a day (1 internal at night)....
I was wondering what you ladies thought of this and if you've had any experience with these two?

do you think this will be effective and have any of you ever tried it?

I'm at my wit's end right now and I just need this to clear up so I can start living my life the way I should be and not have to worry about this everyday.

Yaz

[l2stepprogram.livejournal.com]

Hi Ladies!
I have a quick question, I've gotten conflicting answers via google (not a reliable source, I know!) that the placebo pills in yaz have hormones. Well, I never take the placebo pills. I just throw out the pack when the active pills are gone and wait to start the new pack, I give my body a break from taking pills. Is this okay? Or am I putting myself at risk for pregnancy?

Thank you!

ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS

[not-yr-grrrl.livejournal.com]

Hi Everyone! First time poster!! Woot!! :)

So I have a skin condition called Acanthosis Nigricans, which causes a darkening on my armpits and in my "groin" area - I have it where my leg meets my vagina.

I was wondering if anyone else has this condition. It maks me EXTREMELY self conscious, and I was hoping I could get some input from how others deal with it a/k/a how your lovers feel/have felt about it, or how you make yourself feel less self-conscious.

i have been with one person before, and he never mentioned it to me (at least not the skin down below, he did notice my underarms but was cool with it) so maybe I'm just crazy, but I am nervous as to how other men might react.

Thanks all!

EDIT - as a side note, I do not have a severe case, it is pretty mild, but still slightly irritating!