UTI

[tulips-rbetter.livejournal.com]

Alright so I have a Urinary Tract infection

cant stop the intense need to pee, tingly burny when i pee, tiny bit of blood in my pee

its after midnight, im in the middle of exam week, and i cant sleep kuz i feel like i'll just pee the bed

I'm reading online about home cures, and im going to my school health center tomorrow afternoon, but for those who have had this, what worked best for you?

pelvic exam model

[shellyday.livejournal.com]

hey everyone
i know this will be the place to get this info... does anyone know anything about being a pelvic exam model (i think that's what they are called)...  women who teach med students/ providers to be good at giving pelvic exams.  i live in philadelphia if anyone knows any local places, or even just general leads or ideas would also be great.
thanks so much! 

choosing and iud

[ohthe--horror.livejournal.com]

 I am looking for some advice.  I read through the memories and didn't find a situation quite like mine.

-I'm a 20 year old female and I'm getting married on June 6, 2009
-I have had one good and one bad experience with HBC - the first I tried was great (prescribed for acne), the second made me feel crazy (prescribed as a future BC method)
-I am a virgin!   And plan on remaining one until after I'm married.

I was given HBC a few months ago by PP so I could start being protected for once I'm married.  Also, with the help of a doctor, I used it to move my period a few weeks so I could avoid being on my period around my wedding for, well, obvious reasons, plus I'm going on a cruise for my honeymoon.  I stopped taking the HBC because it made me crazy!! and ultimately was not a reasonable BC method.

I am going to PP on Thursday hoping to get an IUD inserted.  I suspect I will be considered a good candidate because I am in a long-term monogamous relationship, have no STDs or history of STIs, have no allergies to IUD components, etc.  I was initially interested in ParaGuard not because of the length of it's use, but because of it's lack of hormones.  After some research, I am concerned about my periods getting heavier and longer, as my wedding is six weeks away, and I have perfectly timed my period to come the week before my wedding.  

My concern with Mirena is that my family has an extensive history of breast cancer, and I know hormones can aggravate that.  I don't mind having my period - it is naturally only about four days, plus I know it is a positive thing (yay!  female bodies are awesome!!) - but it will erase my fear of a horrible period around the time of my wedding.

Which do you suggest?

Period issues ):

[hastoknow.livejournal.com]

Background:

• I'm 19, female, a junior in university.


• I've had a history of irregular periods (first time I didn't have any periods junior year of HS during AP exams for 3 months, 2nd time I didn't have a period for 6 months, from when I was taking AP exams in senior year of HS until fall quarter freshman year).


• Past irregular periods were most likely stress induced, and fixed with a 10-day hormone pill.


• I've only been sexually active for a few months, since late January. I am in a monogamous relationship. We always use a condom.


• My period was supposed to come on Sunday--ever since I became sexually active I've been dutifully logging it every month, and I have a 32 day cycle that last began March 18th.


• My period has not been noticably irregular since freshman year (over 2 years now)

Here's the problem:

• Last week for about 3 days I experienced some spotting. I thought it was my period coming early, but it was just 3 days of very light spotting, where I only had to wear a liner, and I dismissed it.


• This Sunday, my period never came!! This is the FIRST TIME since I started having sex that it's been late, so I'm freaking out.

Do I have anything to worry about?? Is this just me being paranoid? ): Thanks so much in advance!!!


UPDATE:
So I went to the student health center and got a pregnancy test and, wouldn't you know, totally botched it up. I had to pee before going in to see the nurse so I figured I'd wait and just do it after I bought the test from the health center. Instead, it took 30 minutes to even buy the test, and by that time I was fit to burst, and I MUST have messed something up in my rush, because the "control line" on the test didn't show up (the test WAS negative though.)

Luckily there were 2 in the box so I'm trying again tomorrow morning. I just wanted to let you all know and thank you SO much for your help (:

Do I need EC?

[chasethesublime.livejournal.com]

Hi VPers,

I've been a member for a long time (with my regular journal) but I've jumped on an old one for the sake of asking this question.

Something wonderful happened on Sunday night. After being together for nearly five years, my boyfriend decided he was ready for us to be together. All of the lovey stuff aside, we were unprotected, and he came inside of me. I have an appointment for next month to get some type of HBC, and we are going to use condoms until then. But we had unprotected sex four times (Sunday and Monday). *Sunday at midnight*

I just finished my period on Thursday night. Technically, if we use the idea of a perfect cycle, I would have no egg existing currently, as I am between menstruation and a new ovulation, right? But, things are never really perfect or typical, so, do I need EC?

(And if so, can I get it otc in Canada?)

 

*Edit: So, I'm going to go in about an hour when the store opens. It's been around 27 hours since the initial, so I'm still in a good range for it to work right?*

Thank you so much for any advice you can lend!

HSV, pretty sure

[pacificseyes.livejournal.com]

So I think I have genital herpes.
( questions under the cut )

If anyone has any advice or experience with HSV please share

Thank you :)

A kinder, gentler lube than the kind, gentle ones?

[airenwoodmoon.livejournal.com]

Hi! If this has been asked before I'm sorry. I couldn't find anything in tags and ljseek still hates me.

I'm currently using a glycerin free, paraben free lube (Wet Naturals) and I haven't had any problems with it until now. It's likely that it's my body's fault, my labia will split if I look at 'em wrong, so I could have micro tears or abrasions that I can't see.

But I'm just curious; if I have developed a sensitivity to the glycerin/paraben free lubes, what are my options?

Thanks!

Body types and physical maturity

[tisha313.livejournal.com]

Okay, I am 24 and always had a mature body since I was a teenager. I am very curvy, have a lot of hips and behind and for some reason ppl always assumed I was older than what I was since I was around 17/18. It's largely due to my body type and it's been something that I've been insecure about. I know a lot of girls say they want hips and breast and all that but it's not fun when you're young and people mistake you for being a bit older

Last year my friend and I were buying a pizza, and this guy came in and sat down behind us, when I turned a bit to look out the window from the side, he asked me if my friend was MY daughter. (we are the same age, I'm a few months older) This guy had only seem me from behind, maybe because my body is a bit more developed than my friend's I dunno. She is very thin, kinda straight up and down, she's still shaped like a teenager. But if you look at my face, I have a babyface but people don't seem to pay that much mind. It was very embarassing for me

I thought about losing a lot of weight to try to look a bit more like a teenager, get rid of the hips and everything. I do envy adults who still are shaped like teenagers, they are the ones who are always boasting about how ppl mistake them for looking 16. Apart of me still wishes I were a teen and looked like one

ovulation on the pill?!

[onceuponatime21.livejournal.com]

so i am on the 2nd week on my pills (sunday start)... and i am experiencing some ovulation discharge and have this funny feeling that i am ovulating. i usually have sex once a day (he pulls out).. but i'd rather be safe and hold off for a few days if that is the case.

i am on yasmin and have been for 3 yrs and take the pill at the same exact time every day (if i'm off it's by a min or two).

My cycle

[villagetheatre.livejournal.com]

I'm not supposed to get my period until next Monday (I'm on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo), though I think I might be starting it now - or at least spotting. Could this be from the extra dose of whatever hormones my body "evaporated" from my threesome last week? I don't know if that's possible but I've heard you body does change when you have sex. Thanks!

I solved my problems with orgasms/ unsure about gynecologist

[catartica.livejournal.com]

Hello gals,
I'm sure you don't remember me, because I haven't been writing here for several months, due to my superbusy life.
I wrote here because I couldn't get an orgasm without keeping my legs straight and hard to contract my muscles and that made it hard to reach one with a partner.
I don't exactly know how, but I started having "relaxed" orgasms all of a sudden. I was masturbating with both a dildo and hand clitoral stimulation and I unexpectedly made it. I just masturbated a lot with this method for some months and lowered day by day the leg contraction... it worked! The trick is making some kegels when I feel i'm close.
I still have to reach an orgasm with a man, but that's because during this period I just had some "few nights stands" and a long distance relationship, so I couldn't teach and practice a lot with the same partner. I know that, when I'll finally have a regular sex life, it will be easier than in the past. The long distance relationship I had ended, but we're thinking about being back together and he's determined to make me climax.
I hope my experience will be helpful for someone, that's why I shared here.

Now I have a question: I should have taken my pap smear in January, but, as I wrote in the beginning of this entry, my life is a mess.
Unfortunately it's a mess even taking an appointment with my gynecologist and I coundn't go. I should also test for STI because there was a misunderstanding with a guy I dated, who removed his condom during anal sex without my permission and came inside of me ( it was dark and I was taking it from behind, so I noticed that when it was too late). He's a moron, indeed, but it was partly my fault, too.
Now I have to find a chance to go to the doctor, and that's hard enough, but my problem is that I don't know how to handle her judgements.
She's the kind of gynecologist who makes you feel irresponsible even when you're not. I mean, it made me feel irresponsible even when I had a long period of abstinence and when I showed her that I'm perfectly aware of the reasons why I prefer condoms over hormonal birth control. I'm sure she will make me feel very uncomfortable when I will tell her that I'm four months late for the pap smear and that I had unprotected sex with a moron... she will freak out!
I don't want to try another doctor at the moment, but on the other hand I'm really scared of asking her to test me for STI. Do you think I should lie to her about the anal sex accident and just tell her something like "I had more partners than usual and, although I had safe sex, I just want to check that everything is alright?"
I don't know, I chose the only female gynecologist in town just because I didn't want to feel uncomfortable with a male doctor, but the result is that I feel uncomfortable with her. It's a bad thing that I don't feel free to tell her about my sex life, that should be her job.
What would you do?

Thank you !

diaphragm & spermicide question

[ladyslipper135.livejournal.com]

I recently obtained a diaphragm since I was going a little nuts on HBC, but I am not really ready to have kids (I'm married and we want kids within the next few years, but preferably not this year...).  I have a couple of questions, though, which hopefully someone on here can answer since I don't know anyone who uses one and sometimes it's hard to get in touch with my doctor to ask a simple question or two.

When I got fitted, the first one my doctor tried for me felt totally comfortable, but to be sure she tried the next size up since you are supposed to use the largest one that feels comfortable.  I could feel a small amount of pressure on the second one - not terrible, but noticeable - so my doctor said the original one she tried would be better and I agreed.  The thing is, now it seems like there is extra room compared to how it felt when I was there, and I'm wondering if I should ask my doctor if I should get the next size up.  How would I know if it's too small?  It hasn't been dislodged or anything, and I have to bear down to be able to remove it.  I just want to make a good "seal" so to speak since the fitting is supposed to be key for a diaphragm's success.  I have good insurance and it only cost me $7 to get the first one, so I don't mind buying a second...and it's cheaper than my $20 copay to just try a different size.  Any experience with this?  I know arousal is supposed to lengthen the vaginal canal, but I don't always insert it when aroused (I prefer to do it in advance).

Also, I haven't had any reaction to the spermicide except that one time when I accidentally mishandled it while inserting and it flung out and landed in my bathtub...and I washed it and reapplied more spermicide.  Basically I think I had lots of spermicide then (from the initial insertion and then the second application...), and I got a yeast infection within a day.  I've read reviews of the spermicide (gynol ii) that say not to use too much, a little goes a long way, using too much can give you a yeast infection,etc.  So, I want to use as little as possible without compromising protection...the instructions that come with the spermicide say to use a teaspoon or an applicatorful.  I haven't measured it, but the applicatorful seems to be a lot more than a teaspoon...so which do I use?

Another YI question

[licoricesnocone.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so I feel that all I do these days is spam this comm with my endless YI/BV problems.  So I feel like I've tried just about everything, but I'm very very curious about boric acid.  Now, no local pharmacy around me seems to sell it, and my mom isn't too enthused about the idea of me playing jr. chemist with powder and empty capsules.  

I've been thinking about trying these Yeast Arrest suppositories, www.rockwellnutrition.com/Yeast-Arrest-Boric-Acid-by-Vitanica-Non-Returnable-_p_845.html
But I'd really like to hear about personal experiences with these.  I noticed they had other anti yeast ingredients, which is good, but I'd also like to know how they compare to just plain boric acid. 

Thankies in advance

Mutual masturbation & pre-ejaculate

[niicoly.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone,

I have a question I hope you can help me with. Last night (Monday), myself and a guy performed mutual masturbation on each other. Both of us got pre-cum on our fingers. Both of us had our fingers inside my vagina within a few minutes. There was no actual ejaculation, and no penile penetration at all.

I asked him, and he said his last ejaculation was on Sunday morning. I figured that's long enough for any sperm to wash off his penis head, eliminating any sperm in his pre-cum, but I'm still nervous because I'm ovulating this week.

I went to the pharmacy this morning and got Plan B (less than 12 hours after this happened), and now I'm just waiting to take the second pill tonight.

Do I still have reason to be as worried as I am? Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Thanks so much.

hair growth+IUD question

[llama4u448.livejournal.com]

Do birth control pills affect the amoutn of body hair or rate of hair growth? Ever since I've been on the mini pill my hair has been growing really fast, that includes my body hair. The hair on my head has grown about an inch or so a month. I don't know if I'm unusually hairy for a girl, or if I just notice it more because my hair is black. I have peach fuzz all over my body and its dark but you have to be like 2 inches away to even notice it. The only places where it bothers me is my lower back, its peach fuzz but a little heavier and my happy trail or whatever you call it. I'm wondering if this will go away if I switch a paragard IUD. I don't really mind the hair, its just annoying to go from shaving 2x a week to every other day.

Another quick question, has anyone gotten and IUD while not on your period? I don't really get regular periods on my pill but I am almost certain that I'm getting a paragard soon and was wondering how it was to get it inserted while not bleeding.

Advice

[hope1517.livejournal.com]

So i took the Morning After Pill a little less than 2 weeks ago and I was due for my period today....no period! Has anyone had experience taking it and it being delayed...if so, how long? I just want my period and regular cycle back! I'm so so nervous :(

How long for a cold sore to heal?

[onooyes.livejournal.com]

Evenin' everybody...

My friend told me he had a cold sore last Wednesday, so we haven't kissed for about a week. He went in for a kiss tonight, but I'm still concerned about transmission, and he said it was healing and has some sort of scab on it. I looked up the stages of a cold sore online, but I wasn't sure about when they're really healed and no longer infectious. Was I right to wait, or is he no longer contagious (although, I know HSV is still something of a risk even when there's no sign of an outbreak)?

bleeding/iud

[ramblinshoes-xx.livejournal.com]

So I posted here last week about bleeding not too long after I had just had my period. I know with having a copper IUD in, I may have spotting or have somewhat of a second period show up in the middle of my cycle.
I'm starting to get worried though, because I've been bleeding heavily for a week and a half (longer than my regular period) and just a few days ago, I noticed I could feel the strings sticking out of my vaginal opening. Could this mean the IUD is falling out? I never got my strings trimmed because they didn't bother me before and I have no cramping what-so-ever.

I made an appointment with my family doctor for Thursday morning, but I'm really concerned about why this bleeding hasn't stopped.

Anyone else had something similar happen to them?

Male partner's thoughts on cunnilingus

[weightofourlove.livejournal.com]

So, I've asked my partner to go down on me, and at first he refused, but then he seemed to become a bit more amenable to the idea and has gone down on me several times within the last couple months. He hadn't gone down there in awhile, and so I asked him if he would and he said he didn't want to do it because he wanted it to "stay special." I let it go at the time, but later emailed him about it. ( Here we go )

What resources can I give him to (gently) educate him? I am his first sexual partner. We are both 20. We both enjoy when I go down on him, and 90% of the time, I do so without him asking me to. He's only gone down on me like 3 or 4 times at the most, so I have hope that maybe he's just not used to it yet and if we do it more, it'll seem less weird/gross to him. This isn't a deal breaker, but at the same time, I can't help being upset at how unfair this is.

Side note: I wish high school sex ed would have educated us about vaginal fluids and how healthy, normal, and awesome they are. Abstinence-only & sex-negative health education is ruining my life! Gah!!!