antibiotics and HBC - the mechanism of interaction?

[calliope-music.livejournal.com]

just out of curiosity, how exactly do antibiotics interfere with the efficacy of HBC? i know that antibiotics can lessen the efficacy, but does anyone know the mechanism? they are two seemingly unrelated things!

as a side note, i was given some penicillin for an infection and when i went to the pharmacy today to pick it up the woman at the counter started her whole explanation and seemed surprised (and maybe even impressed) that i knew antibiotics and HBC could interact! knowledge FTW.

well, that's a lot of blood..

[naturalfiction.livejournal.com]

hey everyone, this is my first post here so i hope i'm not breaking any rules

( kinda gross masturbation question )

giant pimple, blister things

[boltedshut.livejournal.com]

hi all
i've always had these giant pimple, blister things on the inside of my thighs, and just where my leg meets my vag skin.
( cut for yuckiness )

Days until Protected on HBC

[manimalogy.livejournal.com]

Hey y'all. I've been really bad at taking my birth control recently especially considering I've been trying to stack. So inevitably after starting this most recent month's pills I started spotting. I hate spotting so I just decided to have a withdrawal to get it all out of the way. And here's where my question comes in. I'm driving up to Boston to visit my (let's just make it easier and call him my) boyfriend on Thursday, and I'm only on day 4 of my withdrawal. I think I'm going to begin taking pills again tomorrow (giving myself a 4 day like with Yaz etc) so that I'll stop bleeding by the time I leave. That gives me Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs to take pills to get myself protected again. We will definitely have sex on Thursday. I'm pretty sure I'll be fairly well protected after 4 days so that we won't have to worry about backups. Yes/no?

ETA: I know the 21/7 rule. I'm curious as to how protected I am from pregnancy by 4 days of pills, with the full intention of taking the remaining 17.

period pain or not?

[https://users.livejournal.com/pretendworld-/]

Is it normal to experience period pain/cramping all throughout your period? I feel as though I've been experiencing this - and up until now I only ever had period pain on the first day of my period. I've been on the pill for three years, no problems there..my period isn't even heavy or anything, yet I feel this almost constant dull cramping feeling. No other symptoms. Not sexually active, either.

Transvaginal ultrasound

[estrellafugaz85.livejournal.com]

Just having a little worry - I had a transvaginal ultrasound last week. This carries no risk of infection or anything like that, right? Because I have been having recurrent BV and only just finished my latest course of antibiotics. I checked with my consultant and the ultrasound tech and neither seemed to think it was any cause for concern, but I'm confused as to how the transvaginal actually works and how they can see your organs. I felt too stupid asking the ultrasound tech *blush*

Can some people just be symptomless?

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

Hello :), I tried searching for the answer to my question on search enginges and couldn't find a straight-forward answer.

Do some women just never ever get yeast infections? Or do they get them and just have NO symptoms what so ever of having one? I've never had an infection, and while yes, I am thankful for this, I do wonder if something is wrong. I hope I'm not being confusing, but did you ever not having any issues with something and you think, "this is too easy..." I've never had any odor (unless I couldn't get to a shower for 3 days or something), never had a yeast infection, no bumps, and never any itches. My period is like clockwork (on and off birth control). Discharge has always been clear/white and in very small proportion, and when ovulating more elastic and completely clear, but still not alot.

My mum told me, as well as other women, that yeast infections and having a lot of "lady issues" is normal. How come I haven't had any "lady issues?" I'm almost 19 and got my period when I was 10 years old. The only problem I've ever had is finding the type of tampon that I like best.

Can some women be symptomless?
I don't want to find out one day that I have some sort of infection/sickness/disease that was undetectable.

Superstars, can you share your knowledge? Should I tell my gynocologist my concerns? Or am I just overreacting?

**Sidenote: The reason I ask is because I have a friend who was just like me, never had any issues down there, but then one day she found out she had severe cervical cancer! I got tested and got the vaccine, but Idk, I'm kind of wondering if I'm normal?

Neosporin around urethral opening?

[asianonymous.livejournal.com]

Hey folks,

My boyfriend and I got a little too rough this morning, and I think I'm a little torn up.  Peeing is incredibly painful and sharp, like there are a million tiny cuts around my urethra and vaginal opening. Otherwise, there is a dull-ish pain between my legs at all times. :(

Is it safe to use Neosporin around your urethra and inner labia?

Is there anything else I can do to quicken the healing process? (I also have a little tear on my perineum.)  I'm afraid to pee because of the intense sting.

Thanks in advance!

Best Menstrual Heating Pads?

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Okay, folks, I swear this is my last post for a number of days.

But I just burned a hole in my most favoritest heating pad. I do not know how: I microwaved it for 2 minutes, just like I've always microwaved it for 2 minutes. But apparently, this time I burned a hole through the fabric, and all the flax seed is falling out. Everywhere: the hole is large, and I already trashed the heating pad.

So. I am asking VPers for recommendations re: the best heating pads for menstrual-related pain. My major criteria, in order of importance:

1) Attaches to my body -- Aforementioned Favorite Pad had a velcro strap that enabled me to anchor the pad around my midsection (front or back) while I moved around from room to room. When I'm on my period, I kind of live with my heating pads, so the freedom of not being plugged into the wall is a Big Deal for me.

2) Gets fuck off hot -- If it doesn't, it's not really contributing to pain management for me.

3) Resusable -- While I do buy disposable heating pads, the whole "living with" aspect makes this financially infeasible for the duration of my period.

If it's possible, I'd also prefer a pad that involves smelliness/aromatherapy (which is grounding and gives me something to focus on besides pad) and/or to purchase from an independent maker (like an Etsy seller).

Thanks for any suggestions!

VCH (vertical clit hood) piercing

[notknowhow.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone!

I got my hood pierced on Friday, and so far it's healing very well. It just feels a little bruise-ish, but i'm already at the point where i can tell that it's going to feel REALLY good within the next few days.

One thing that i've noticed is that when i get 'wet', which is happening way more often then normal, it's showing up on my panties up at the top, near where the piercing is, rather then at the bottom of the gusset, where my vaginal opening is.

Has anyone else who has the piercing done noticed this? My theory is that the piercing is sticking out a little bit and 'breaking the seal' so to speak between my labia, letting the lubricant eep out. Theory two is that the piercing, as it heals, is creating discharge, but i don't think so, because there's no real 'redness' or swelling beyond what I was told to expect, and there are NO signs of infection.

Reminder: Everyday Vulvas & Faces!

[jocelina.livejournal.com]

Hello, VPers! Let's talk about the Everyday Bodies Project for a minute.

We're currently accepting submissions for two galleries:

Everyday Vulvas
We're still accepting vulva submissions, so if you're interested, head on over here to find out how to get involved.

Everyday Faces
As you may recall, a recent member post brought to our attention the fact that we no longer have access to the Everyday Faces gallery, so we're creating a new gallery. If you'd like to participate, see this post for information on how to get involved and for some background on Everyday Faces.

A few people have asked when the new galleries (especially the Everyday Faces gallery) will be posted, and the answer at this point is that we're waiting for more photos, so if it's something you're interested in being a part of and seeing live in VP, now's the time to send in yours! :)

Happy VPing!

Jocey
For the VP Team
contact_vp

am i crazy?

[darkest-irony.livejournal.com]

hi... ive been a lurker here for i guess a few years now. and now i have a question of my own.

some background info:
short, somewhat petite 21 year old
i have been taking ortho cyclen for the past six months
i had an abortion at 16
condoms and certain types of lube give me yeast infections
i am in a monogamous relationship, we have both been with 10 partners each, including each other

here's my problem: i noticed it started after the abortion and still happens every month like clockwork. i guess i would call it a pms symptom since thats when i feel it most... but i always think im pregnant. even during a 2 year span when i was not sexually active, every month i always thought i was pregnant.

so... any ideas why? am i crazy, do i feel guilty about the abortion, is my biological clock just ticking, or what? its driving me (and my boyfriend) up the walls... some insight would be much appreciated, thanks! :)

I am WOMAN hear me ROAR

[lady-jade7.livejournal.com]

Hi, everyone! I had sort of forgotten about VP for awhile. But then i got an e-mail because there was a response on an old post of mine that it was getting "tagged" and I guess it was bought of the mothballs via web link to help a gal on here recently dealing with similar issues - being a short, light-weight high school girl with no figure, no period, and no breasts! I am so glad that happy that someone else was able to find some help as a result of my experience. It makes me feel like a true member of the VP community! Anyways, it being almost a year since i left that post, I thought it would be nice to leave an update. I have grown two inches since my last update (when i started my monthly bleeding at the tender age of 16, and as some of you predicted, there are certainly moments when I would like to give it back! ha ha) and now stand at 5'2"  and have finaly broken 100 pounds (YAY!). And i have moved up from "barely any breasts" to "tiny breasts." But you know what? I am okay with that because i have sorta embraced the braless lifestyle and suddenly sprouting some C cups would make that a bit difficult. I still deal with a lot of teasing from haters at my high school (do you seriously think I WANT to be this skinny? Geeez, if anything I WANT to put on more weight), but MEH, what can you do right? And i have found ways to dress more maturely. Got a cute, shorter haircut. Anyways, i guess i wanted to thank you all again for being so amazing when I needed you last year. I think probably the best piece of advice I have received from one of you was to show confidence in my self and I will irresistible. You know what? That is pretty true. Keep rockin hard, fellow superstars...

EDIT: BY the way, quick question: Since starting my period last year, it's only been every other month or so... that's fairly normal right?

Sex confidence!

[aruinedepiphany.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm 22 and have been sexually active since I was 16. I grew up in a Christian family and thus had a hard time coming to terms with my sexuality. I've been in a stable, monogamous relationship for about 5 years now, and it's going really well.

I never had much of a sex drive, but I think now that I've gotten older (and switched from the pill to Mirena), it's starting to rev up. I've never really been able to orgasm from sex, but that doesn't particularly bother me.

What I'm having a problem with, however, is experimenting with new things sexually. I'm sexually shy.. I even have a hard time looking my boyfriend in the eye while we have sex (and this doesn't have anything to do with my feelings for him). I'll try any position... but there's no way I could ever talk dirty, role play, strip, or anything like that. I can't even really initiate sex.. I'm not sure how to approach it (I'll lay on top of him while we're in bed together sometimes and wait for him to get a clue). I feel awkward trying to stick my hand down his pants and feel like it would seem like it was coming out of nowhere. Anyways, you get the point.

I suppose it's probably a confidence issue, although in every other area of my life I don't lack confidence. I just feel silly trying any of these things.. I guess I don't feel like a really sexual creature.. I have a hard time being "sexy." I blame it at least partially on my upbringing.

I really want to get in touch with that part of myself.. I think it would drive my boyfriend crazy and in a way, I would feel much more womanly if I could express myself in this way.

Anyone have any tips for me? Thanks so much :)