montgomery glands?

[lilith-gypsy.livejournal.com]

i looked under the nipple discharge tags and didn't find anything about this so i thought i'd ask since i don't know why its happening.

my glands on my areola have been continually acting 'white-head-ish' and excreting thick white stuff. i googled it and it seems to be something normal that happens during pregnancy, but i am not pregnant. i'm not on hbc of any kind and haven't been on it in a year, i get my periods regularly on a 30 day cycle they normally last four to five days and i haven't been irregular at all. this has been happening for i don't know how long. although lately it seems to be more, and more often that they want to 'pop' anyone have any idea whats going on? is this completely normal and i'm just not aware other women have it happen?

Vaginal Discharge

[omgahitskasey.livejournal.com]

I'm fed up with my vagina.

I'm prone to YI and wear only cotton underwear, take acidophilus daily, and a multivitamin daily.

( Any advice is appreciated... )

periods and sex

[knittinggoddess.livejournal.com]

What's the etiquette for informing your sex partner that you're on your period? Does your heads-up differ for the gender of your partner or the method of protection?

I gave the Instead cup a shot last night (usually I use the Divacup, but it gets in the way of penetrative sex), and told him "I'm on my period, but that should keep everything out of the way." It worked well enough. In the past, I just haven't said anything because nothing bigger than a finger was going up there and the cup means there's lubrication without blood.

delayed period tricks

[colour-my-w0rld.livejournal.com]

Are there any tricks to delay your period for a few days?

Pain During Sex

[notyours-mine.livejournal.com]

I just discovered this community and think it's super great. I tried finding an answer to my problem in old posts, but none seemed to fit my problem perfectly. Basically, having sex usually really hurts for me. The guy I'm with is the only one I've had sex with and we have been for about a year and a half, but because we live in different towns and I'm a student, we only see each other/have sex on the weekends, which could be part of the issue. I saw my gyno about it a few months ago, and she said that everything looked normal and told me that sex can hurt for people for years (and I did used to have major issues with tampons pre sex), but it really doesn't seem normal to me. And I would really like to fix this because I now kind of hate sex (though everything before intercourse is great) and it leads me to think that my boyfriend isn't the right one for me sexually, which is also unfortunate. What I would like to know from you is what are all the factors that could cause pain during sex? There is natural lubrication, but I've been feeling like it isn't enough, so we have been using regular KY. There are normally condoms involved, but sex hurts without them too. Normally, I start out ok, but then it starts to feel like sandpaper is being rubbed on my cervix. Sometimes certain positions feel better, but not always, and I'm kind of sick of sex always being the same in an effort for me to be able to handle it. What are your thoughts?

New Community.

[papermoonriver.livejournal.com]

If this is not allowed, please let me know and I will happily take the post down.

I wanted to let you all know about the community I have just created -- reclaiming_sex .  The focus is on people who come from a sexually detrimental religious set of beliefs who are reclaiming a healthy idea of sex. All are welcome, regardless of current or past religious beliefs. If you have been hurt by sexual repression, abuse, the exgay movement, or hate from within a religious idea, or simply want to cultivate or help others cultivate a healthier incorporation of sex into one's life, please join and share your journey with others.

On a personal note, I am a former evangelical christian, though currently highly spiritual person, who once believed that lustful thoughts, masturbation, pornography, homosexuality, etc. were all sinful especially outside of marriage. As someone who was strongly devoted to her faith throughout the teenaged and sexually developmental years, I am still feeling the repurcussions of sexual repression even now, three and a half years into my marriage. My intellectual ideas of sex have changed greatly, but my psychological and emotional responses can still hold on to old habits. I know that I can't be the only one who experiences this, so I am reaching out to the greater livejournal community to hopefully create a network of support for myself and for those like me.

I am aware that this can be a touchy issue.  Though tolerance and respect for others, regardless of their beliefs, is expected, you do not have to believe that sex outside of marriage is okay, or support homosexuality in order to join.  Maybe you are currently a strong Christian and waited until marriage to have sex, only to discover that years of sexual repression is still interfering with your marital life, even though sex is supposed to be okay now.  Whatever the case may be, if you believe you have something to contribute to the community or would appreciate the support of others, please join and spread the word.

Ouchies in my hoohah?

[madannevain17.livejournal.com]

So I've been having sex with my boyfriend for about a month, and things were fine at first--- a slight bit of irritation, but I shrugged it off as that "normal, irritated due to that-time-of-the-month" kind of thing. I wasn't a virgin, and had never really had problems like this with anyone else.
Then about two weeks ago, things got really painful. I went ahead and had sex a couple of times ignoring the pain, but then held off for probably a week. Now things hurt REALLY bad. I can't even get the tip in without squealing in pain. It's kind of a mix between burning and tearing. We're using plenty of lube, and have tried a few other brands too, eliminating that as a possible culprit. Any thoughts? I really just wanna have sex.

Very natural lube - not considered water based but not silicone or oil-based?

[tsemed-chemed.livejournal.com]

A while back, someone posted in the comments about this lube that is great for sensitive people, and I wanted it, but I failed to bookmark the page. Any thoughts on what it could be? The website had like nature scenes on it, and it was kind of expensive but seemed worth it.

Help?

Antibiotics + HBC + Bleeding for a long time, and the smell of blood.

[tokio.livejournal.com]

HBC Question: I started bleeding half-way through my last birth control pack. Now I'm done with the pack, and I'm currently on antibiotics, so I'm holding off on starting my new pack until I'm finished with the antibiotics. I will be taking two a day for 7 days. I know that once I begin my new birth control pack, I'll need to wait 7 more days to be fully protected again. My question is about timing of starting my new pack.

Once my course of antibiotics is over in seven days, should I go ahead and start my birth control? I'm thinking that this would be fine because it would give the antibiotics time to leave my system while I'm abstaining from sex.

Or after my course is over in seven days, should I wait an additional amount of time before beginning my birth control? I'm not quite sure. I don't even know if these antibiotics interfere with HBC, but I don't want to take my chances.

---

Blood Question:

Ever since I began taking HBC, the bleeding during my withdrawal week smells like steak. You know the way a steak smells when you first begin to cook it and the bloody juices pool around the top (which is an indication that it's time to flip it, if you like it rare)? That's exactly what it smells like. Am I correct in thinking that this smell can be attributed to the lack of uterine lining during my "periods"? I assume that the ratio of blood to uterine lining is much higher now that the HBC keeps me from building too much lining.

Is there anything I can do to help with the smell? It gets overwhelming. I've had issues with BV in the past, so I do not wash the inside of my vulva, but I really don't like how the bloody smell just seems to be in everything. I smell it when I'm simply sitting on the toilet, whereas my vulva normally does not emit a strong smell or taste.

Thanks, ladies and gents.

painful arousal from kissing

[bethany-109.livejournal.com]

Thanks for such great responses to my last post, by the way!
So this isn't such a big deal but it's irritating.
I only see my boyfriend every 2-4 weeks, and whenever we first start kissing, I get a painful, often burning/pinching sensation in what I think is the clitoral area. Is it because I haven't felt aroused for weeks and the arousal muscles cramp up from lack of use? This happens every time I see him (and has for 5 years). The pain goes away after a few minutes, but I wish it wouldn't happen. He always asks me what is wrong. Kissing shouldn't cause pain... We don't have sex, and I'm slightly worried that when we do it will hurt like this does. Could this be some sort of sexual frustration? Does this happen to anyone else?

Stress and the Vagina/ Bladder

[jackie-spies.livejournal.com]

Hi.

So, last spring semester I started  to notice that my vagina was getting itchier and itchier. I ended up going to the Student Health Clinic, got meds for a yeast infection, and off I went. I've never had one of those before and thought it was from stress and possibly the city water. I hadn't had sex since December, and I'm a cotton fan.  I went back home, and everything was fantastic.

This November, I noticed that it started burning a little bit when I peed and I was slightly itchy again. Also , I was starting to get that tingly feeling that you get with a UTI. Back to the STClinic, and they couldn't find anything wrong with me. They gave me cipro in case of a UTI, and I took some Monistat after the cipro. Well, it got to the point where I was peeing every two hours regularily and they gave me Detrol.

So, I got desperate and starting thinking that I had IC.  Now, I am only limited to the Student Health Clinic and so I started searching for stuff to take. I started taking Cystoprotek and some aloe vera supplement. By the time March rolled around, I started feeling normal and could masterbate without pain.

Then this week, as stress kept accumulating my vagina got itchier and itchier. On Thursday, I had a mighty freak out. Friday morning, my bladder symptoms were back: Tingling, frequency, uretha pain. I don't know what to do. I don't have money to go to an actual clinic, and my parents think I just don't wipe properly.

Has anybody ever had anything like this? What did you do? I'm thinking of getting some pain relievers for the UTI symptoms and trying some yogurt for the vag?

HPV and cervical cancer worries...

[firesorceress.livejournal.com]

Hey ladies, I'm feeling really really worried right now and am hoping I might get some encouraging words.  I have a copper IUD which I have had since August of 2007.  When I first got it, I spotted for a LONG time.  Like months.  But the doc said it was ok as long as I wasn't getting anemic or anything.  And I was fine, so eventually the spotting stopped and I started getting more or less regular periods.  A little spotting here or there, sure, but not too bad.  Another bit of history, I have HPV.  The wart causing kind (though I don't have any warts, I just had one on my cervix but it went away), which they said is not as likely to cause cervical cancer.  They did a biopsy, it was fine, blah blah blah.  And now, I've been bleeding vaginally for about 4 weeks.  So I'm starting to get worried, because that is a sign of uterine cancer, and I think it's probably been a year at least since my last pap.  In the morning, as soon as I can get ahold of a doctor, I'm going to schedule one to get things checked out.  But in the meantime, has anyone else with a copper IUD had spotting problems more than a year after they got the IUD?  Oh, and I haven't had kids yet.  So that could have something to do with it too.  But I don't know...  It just seems weird to have spotting problems after having my IUD this long!  I'm going to cross post this to hpv and iud_divas too.

New Partners & Pelvic Pain

[as-she-melts.livejournal.com]

I recently got out of a long-term relationship and am already worried about dealing with pelvic pain (vulvodynia and vaginismus) in a new relationship/some kind of sexual situation.  It's probably wayyy too early to be thinking about this but it's kind of stressing me out and I don't know what to do about it.

Anything penetrative is excruciating for me.  *Sometimes* fingers are okay, but not usually.  How or when should this be brought up?  What would you do in this situation?  Would it differ if it was something heading toward "relationship" territory, i.e. a few dates and a lot of talking first or a just for fun kind of thing? 

It seems like it would ruin whatever's going on to be like "OUCH by the way I have a chronic pain condition," but on the other hand, it seems like nothing would go on to begin with if I opened by saying "I can't have sex (but I'm sure we'll have fun regardless of society's placement of PIV intercourse at the 'goal line' for hookup behavior)."  

Umm... Any ideas?  Thanks, vagpag!

Sudden increase in libido

[colormeclear.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound a little bit weird, but since this is, after all, a community about vaginas I figured this would be the appropriate place to put it.

For the past week or so, my sex drive has been through the roof--seriously. I have no idea how to explain it. Could it be my cycle? I'm on depo, so I can't tell. Also, I've been on and off depo for years and this has never happened. I read that at the beginning of a new relationship your libido can increase dramatically, but I've been in this one for about a year. It's gotten to the point where I'm having trouble concentrating. I've always been a crabby person, but I've been absolutely unbearable this week.

I read that increased libido can be a sign of pregnancy, but I had sex on the 14th so wouldn't it be too soon to be showing signs...?

Thanks in advance.

Natural Birth After 3 C-Sections & Advice

[mandrakescreams.livejournal.com]

OK, so my friend who is 27, is pregnant and shes asked me to be her birthing partner. I'm not the most obvious person to pick, but I'm totally honoured that she wants me to be there. What advice can you guys give me on doing this thing the best I can?

Also this is her 4th pregnancy, and she really wants to give birth naturally after 3 c sections. She felt she was pressured into the last caesarian, as the doctor said she could try to give birth naturally, then scared her. Can anyone tell us their experiences of natural birth after a number of c-sections, and give us any relevant advice that could help her achieve what she wants.

fighting drowsiness from HBC

[pandoraparabola.livejournal.com]

Hello VP superstars. ;)

Since beginning Microgestin seven days ago, after being off HBC for almost two years and on Yaz before that, I've been feeling a range of unpleasant side effects, including wanting to eat everything in sight, wanting to throw up everything in my stomach, wanting to sleep all day, and not being able to sleep at night.

I have three packs of the Microgestin and I was thinking I'd give it a fair shot for three months and see if the side effects subside.

The drowsy, tired feelings are really getting to me, though, and I can't afford to be sleepy (final exams, job).
I'm very healthy otherwise, I eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, take vitamins, get around eight hours of sleep most nights, and exercise whenever my schedule allows.

I was wondering if you had any energy-boosting suggestions for me, cuz nothing else is working.

Thanks a lot, guys. I know HBC affects everyone differently but I'm glad there are lots of options so we can find our perfect pill fit- maybe I just need some trial and error.
One more detail- Yaz worked fine for me, but I no longer have insurance and wouldn't be able to afford it, whereas the Microgestin was nearly free from my Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading!

change birth control method?

[calyxia.livejournal.com]

Hi all. I love this community, and have read lots of it. My question is mainly in regards to if there is some other kind of HBC out there in the world that I'm not aware of I could try. My husband and I have come to the conclusion that my being on the nuvaring may be what has KILLED my sex drive. ( Read more... )

Ortho Evra question

[reveriesrequiem.livejournal.com]

I've been using Ortho Evra off and on for two years.

Last month my period came two days later than I was expecting it. This month it's a full week early, even though I'm still wearing my patch.

I'm supposed to spend a week off the patch starting Tuesday. After that week off, is it okay to assume that things have sort of "reset" themselves? Should I take a month off the patch and then try it again? (I'm not enthused about that idea; going off the patch results in a 2-day migraine and I work in a really noisy, poorly lit environment)

Can I even trust that it's working anymore? I'm incredibly paranoid about pregnancy, and I don't want to place all my trust in condoms.

I've already got an appointment to see my doctor in 2 weeks, so I can ask her all of this then. But in the meantime I'm concerned about the situation, and would love some feedback. Thanks!

HPV

[mooncheezbabies.livejournal.com]

My girlfriend got her first pap smear done a couple of weeks ago and it came back abnormal with "Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion", which her gynecologist said most likely means that she has HPV. She had a coloscopy done last week and is waiting for the results to confirm whether it is HPV or not.

Anyways, I'm the only one who has ever been sexually active with her and I'm scared that I'm the one that gave her HPV. My pap smears have always been normal, though. Also, we don't share our sex toys or anything like that, so the only way I could have transmitted it to her is orally. Is this possible?

One more thing: is cervical HPV only transmitted sexually? Is there any other way she could have gotten it besides having sex?

Thanks.