labia itching, hymen

[luvherbones.livejournal.com]

The crease/space/fold between my inner and outer labia on my left side is itchy and red.  It comes and goes, usually lasting for a few days and eventually disappearing for up to weeks at a time.  I remember this happening to me for years now (I'm 21), but I can't come up with any trigger or reason for it.  My best guesses would be sensitive skin/eczema or something related to yeast, but I don't really know...  Any guesses or suggestions on how to soothe it?

Also, while I was down there with a hand mirror, I checked out my hymen.  It's definitely torn in a couple places, though I've never had penetrative sex, but there's still a lot of it left.  Is it likely to still hurt when I do start having sex?

Missed Birth Control

[creepygreeneyes.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I'm a longtime lurker but this is my first post.  I checked the memories, but my apologies if something along these lines has been asked before.  I'm on a five week cycle on NuvaRing, so I usually leave the ring in for four weeks, then take it out for a week to get my period.  I usually cycle every other month to skip a period.  I was less vigilant than usual this month and forgot to remove my ring last Thursday, which would have been the four week point.  I removed it on Tuesday when I remembered, but now I'm not sure when it would be best (and most effective) to reinsert a new ring.  Should I wait a week from when I actually removed it (until next Tuesday) or should I put in a new on on Thursday, a week from the day I should have removed the old one?  I'm fairly educated about my birth control, but I'm a little fuzzy on this one, so I was hoping you ladies could help me out.

Sincerely,

Forgetful

The Pill - Starting Late?

[smokeswirls.livejournal.com]

I'm a Sunday starter on Ortho Tri Cyclen.

I started my period last Wednesday, so I should have started taking a new cycle of pills this past Sunday. But due to some schedule conflicts and relocating to a different city, I was unable to get a prescription refill. I plan on calling my doctor to have them submit a refill request first thing tomorrow morning.

Since it is Thursday, and I should have started taking a new cycle of pills this past Sunday, is it too late for me to start taking the cycle of pills when I get them tomorrow? In order for me to "catch up," I would have to, in essence, take 5 pills in one day. Would this be detrimental to my health??

Valentines Day

[scorpiosgal.livejournal.com]

Yes yes I know its 16 days until then but I want to plan something INSANLY special for my boyfriend whos comming over... Any ideas?
I'd really love the help thank you!

Female Ejaculation?

[sickofyourbs.livejournal.com]

So by some fantastic miracle, I have figured out how to "squirt" just about every time I orgasm. It's fantastic, and the husband loves it. It's not a whole lot (nothing like in the pornos), but he still thinks it's hot, and I'm pretty fond of it myself.
My question is this: Usually the 2nd or 3rd orgasm, it starts to smell a little bit like urine. I know with men, it is physically impossible to urinate and ejaculate at the same time. Is there any fun mechanical rule like this for women? I've also read studies that say female ejaculate likely comes from some sort of secretion of the bladder that is not urine. Maybe after a couple orgasms, I'm out of that fluid, and I'm getting a little urine instead?
I guess my question is, urine or female ejaculate? I'd really rather not pee all over my husband after the 2nd or 3rd orgasm, ya know?
Any info would be much appreciated!

Trying to Conceive and STDs

[argenterie4.livejournal.com]

(I'm actually NOT Trying To Conceive (TTC) and I also don't have any STDs, but I've been curious/wondering about this for years and just thought I'd ask VP!)

So, what happens when two people want to have children, but one of them has a non-curable STD (Herpes, HPV, etc.) and the other one does NOT have it? How does TTC work in this circumstance? Or how did it work for you, if you have had this experience? I just am curious because generally people trying not to spread the STI would use condoms, but of course that would not allow pregnancy. :)

I always assumed people just went "ah, well!" and shrugged, and had unprotected sex, hoping for conception without transfer of the STI? Is that even close to correct?

Thanks VP!

if not pregnant then...what?

[sasuga-danika.livejournal.com]

*sigh* another pregnancy scare post. Please bear with me.

I'll start by saying that I'm on the pill, but historically have not been the best at keeping up with it (I'll be off by a few hours, or I will have to take two in one day to catch up. I've never just skipped a pill completely). During my last period, I had the norovirus at the same time, which drained my energy even further. On top of this, I became a vegetarian 4 months ago and have had a little difficulty keeping up with my iron/protein every day. I say all this up front, because all of these things could be reasons why I'm dealing with my current situation.

I usually get my period during the last week of the pill (the hormone. i don't use placebo). I'm 5 days into my "off week" and I still have not gotten my period. I've taken 4 OTC pregnancy tests, and I went to Planned Parenthood to take one the first day of my missed period, and all of the tests have said I'm not pregnant. I've had cramping for the past 2 weeks. At night, the cramping gets so bad that I think I'll wake up and have my period, but I don't. I've had muscle aches for the past few days, and breast tenderness as well. I can't tell whether I've felt nauseous from being so worried, or if it's actually connected to whatever is going on.

If the pregnancy tests are right, and I'm not pregnant, then what could be going on with me? Would you all recommend I take another pregnancy test?

Thank you for your help!

Nuvaring vs IUD

[who-care1.livejournal.com]

I am trying to decide between the nuvaring and the iud (prossibly merina).

I was just wondering why people have choosen an IUD over the nuvaring, please tell me why you chose to get an IUD.

Also I have never been on birth control long term, so should I try the nuvaring before I opt for the IUD, or should I just get the IUD if that is what I choose. I have never been pregnant.

Thanks

risk of clots with HBC?

[andyrea.livejournal.com]

What hormone in birth control is responsible for the increased risk of blood clots with HBC? Is it the estrogen, progestin, or a mix of both? What is the reasoning behind this? thanks!

bad luck cup

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Some of you may remember that after using a divacup for a really long time (5+ years) I decided to switch to a ladycup. I love the ladycup^1000. But I promptly flushed it down the toilet.

Ordered a new one over the holidays, and started using it for the first time a few days ago. Today in the shower, I pulled it out, and it had a RIP in it!!!!! I'm so frusterated!

Needless to say, I'm going to contact the company and have it replaced. I still think the ladycup is a great product, and would recommend it to anyone (assuming customer service treats me well).

Has anyone else had this happen? Any idea how good the ladycup customer service is??

UPDATE: Ladycup is pretty much the awesomest company ever, because their product is the bomb, and their customer service rep wrote me back a mere 20 minutes after I emailed them. They're sending a new greencup tomorrow! :D

throat infection and blow jobs?

[embress.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if anyone can answer a question for me. Can you get a throat infection from giving a guy a blow job?

I came down with a wicked case of tonsilitis the day after I was with a guy where I went down on him sans-condom. And it occured to me that last time I got diagnosed with tonsilitis was the day/few days after I did a similar thing - so I couldn't help but think these two things may be related?

I was a little too embarrassed to ask my doc (as it wasn't my normal doctor) but I was wondering if anyone on here had any answers about it and maybe could explain it to me if they are related?

Thanks everyone.

Regulating Periods without HBC

[addurn.livejournal.com]

I'm asking this question on behalf of my friend, who is just returning from the hospital after a pulmonary embolism, likely the result of a combination of her hormonal birth control and a recent long plane trip between Asia and the US.

She is 22, not sexually active, an has been on HBC for seven years to regulate her period. As the doctors have advised her to stop taking the HBC, she wants to know what her options are for regulation of her cycle. Currently, the doctors have told her there isn't any other form of HBC she can take to regulate her period that does not carry the risk of clots.

What should she pursue now? My thoughts would be a few months of tracking her cycles (since she is older now) to see if they are any more regular than they were when she was 15, and then to take it from there. Aside from these first steps, what should she look at? Thanks so much for any help!

Skin tags? Endocrinologists?

[althea_valara]

Hello Superstars!

Over the last year, I've had an eruption of skin tags. No, seriously--I had NONE, and now I have about thirty or so on various parts of my body. Now, I know skin tags themselves are benign and that they're usually caused by rubbing (and thus common in the obese, which I happen to be), but I have also sometimes read that they can be a sign of PCOS or diabetes. So my question: has anybody else gone to see a healthcare provider just because of an eruption of skin tags, and was told that it was related to PCOS or diabetes?

For my next question: I have a bunch of other things going on that I will likely see my gynecologist about. My cycles are getting longer. I'm up to 35-40 day cycles, which is still in the realm of normal, but unusual for me. My periods have also been longer and heavier. This last one was about twenty days. Ugh. I've also gained 30-40 pounds in the last year, and I feel like it came on too fast to be just plain old weight gain. Plus there's that skin tag eruption.

Before Beth gets on her hobby horse: yes, I plan on getting a full thyroid panel done. :p My question is this: I see a lot of people recommending one seeing an endocrinologist rather than a PCP or a gyne. I'm on a PPO insurance, so I don't need to get pre-authorization to see a specialist, but would I need a referral or diagnosis from a PCP or gyne first, or can I just go ahead and make an appointment with an endo? Diabetes runs in my family, so that's a possibility, and I strongly suspect I'm hypothyroid--older sister has thyroid disease, and I've been tested as "borderline" hypo before and even did a short stint on Synthroid. I also am on medication for depression/anxiety. I feel like there might be too much going on with my body for a PCP or gyne to handle (and my PCP won't touch reproductive issues, anyway) so I'm thinking I'd be better off seeing an endo. Thoughts? Advice? Cookies?

Not sure if i should worry or not.

[posteranon.livejournal.com]

So, like on the fold, I forget what they are called, but close to my lips and to the opening of my vagina -- I have a few little raised bumps. They don't itch or burn or hurt when I touch it.

I only noticed them this morning. I am not worried but again, not sure what it could be.

I haven't had any new sexual partners. I know my boyfriend is not seeing anyone else. So, any ideas on what it could be?

(no subject)

[detunedrrradios.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone! I'm new, and I'm hoping maybe someone has an answer for me.

I was on the NuvaRing for a few years and I recently started having some problems with it, mainly spotting. I also have a small ovarian cyst that causes me serious pain during my period. So my gyno switched me to continuous Ortho Cyclen (not the tri-cyclen, or lo) but I am taking the generic sprintec. I am half way through my 6th week. It has been pretty good, aside from super tender breasts. I only spotted for a day or two, which is awesome considering whenever I tried to skip with the nuvaring i spotted for weeks at a time! Woo!

Except for one thing. Ever since I started taking it, I have had some weird low blood sugar thing going on, or at least that's what it seems like. Every three or four hours or so I start to feel like I need to eat NOW or I'm going to pass out, and I get really shakey, but I'm not actually hungry... and when I eat something it goes away. I can eat dinner at 10pm and wake up the next day at 6am feeling like I haven't eaten in weeks. This has NEVER happened to me before and nothing has changed in my diet/routine except for the birth control. I don't go long periods without eating during the day either. I am wondering if there is any possible correlation, or if something else could be going wrong and it is just purely coincidence.

Thanks!!

(no subject)

[brokensmyl.livejournal.com]

Okay ladies, I'm wondering. My fiance and I were "intimate" last night, and afterwards he said I tasted really good. Like raspberries. I told him eating certain foods changes how you taste, so I'm wondering what kind of foods give you a certain taste? Or is it different for everyone? I know I haven't eaten any raspberries lately, though.

TIA

newb! and searching advice..

[marileighth.livejournal.com]

 heyy guys, i just joined, but i also need some advice.
I'm 18 and I lost my virginity to my boyfriend about a month ago to my boyfriend, we were both virgins and it was really special..
butttt now I want to give him as much pleasure as possible, but since we're both new at this, I dont know the tricks and trades of the matter.. we've done it since then but i want to surprise him next time with something random, errotic and fun :):)

any ideas??

sunday start!

[faeriesandmusic.livejournal.com]

hi all. a simple question:

i was always told to start BC pills on the Sunday AFTER my last period. let's say i'm about to get back on the pill and i just started my period today (thursday). should i just start the pill in a few days on sunday, or wait till the next sunday to start? because if i wait till then, wouldn't there be a chance i had already ovulated and then wouldn't the whole month be ineffective?

does that make sense? ovulation is just so confusing to me.