Irregular bleeding? Possible miscarriage symptoms?

[1000-smiles.livejournal.com]

 Hey guys, sorry if this has already been answered in the tags, but it's awfully late and my attention span has been zilch as of the past couple of days.

I seemed to have started my period a couple of days ago, and I'm not due to start until October 15th, and since I'm on HBC, I'm perfectly regular. (Even prior to being on birth control, I had a very regular period.)

So at first, both my husband and I thought it was breakthrough spotting, which was no biggie, a minor inconvenience, but hey, it happens.

I use a Diva Cup, so obviously when I empty it, I'm aware of what the contents are like, and the past two days, they had been nothing like any period I've had before. The blood was very thick, lots of clots, an almost goopy consistency, and very, very dark. 

I haven't been cramping too much, but I have been very tired, and while doing a google search of miscarriage symptoms, I haven't found anything more than a little vague. 

I can't remember the last time we had unprotected sex (I currently have a four month old so all of the days are kind of mashed together as it is).

If I'm still bleeding like this tomorrow, I'm considering calling my OB/GYN. Suggestions? 

Celebrating toys, beauty, masturbation, and recovery

[leafing.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone! I've been dealing with some sexual issues stemming both from the way I was raised and a fairly recent sexual assault, and this seemed like the best place to bring it up. I really wanted to get this story/celebration out somewhere and see if maybe anyone could relate.

( Cut for length + talking about sexual assault, though this mostly focuses on how I'm dealing with it as opposed to the event itself )

With all that said, I was wondering, does anyone else want to take the floor here? I'm very interested in others' experiences, both with taking control of what their genitals are up to and with finding the perfect toy (if applicable). Additionally, if anyone has any advice or encouragement, that is super-welcome!

Loss of vaginal wetness?

[h-e-r-e-s-y.livejournal.com]

Hey VP, ever since I started having sex with my current boyfriend, I haven't been able to get wet no matter how aroused I am. When I masturbate, I get a little wetness going on down there, but not much. Same with when we spend a lot of time on foreplay; there's still not enough to be able to not use lube. The first time we did it, I was extremely super-wet and we used no condom. The next day we bought latex condoms and I thought that could be a problem because afterward, my vagina was itchy in general, but no discharge/smell/real itching sensation...just kind of dull if you understand what I mean; that day my vagina hurt like it was raw down there and my vulva was a little itchy. Didn't have sex at all the day after that and things calmed down down there. Along with the dryness I've noticed that my inner labia and my clitoris feel kind of...weird. Like puffy and itchy if I try to touch myself and it's almost like there's no sensation in my clit unless I rub it super hard but then it ends up itching more than anything. :/

Sorry for the major rambling but I really have no idea what's going with my vag.

And also, another quick question: every time my boyfriend enters me, it feels literally like I'm having my hymen torn every time. The pain doesn't lessen, but it doesn't ever last longer than a few seconds. Is that normal for the first few times having sex?

Thank you very much for any kind of response/help/advice. :]

Antidepressants for Endo Pain?

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

Reposted from endometriosis. Apologies if you've read this already.

Just curious as to whether anyone's tried antidepressants for endo-related pain and/or has discussed this with their health care providers. (I've discussed it with my general practice nurse practitioner, who has an open mind about it but is not terribly familiar, and my gynecologist, who's unfamiliar enough to not feel comfortable prescribing them. Which brings the additional complication of finding a knowledgeable-in-this-area provider and getting a referral.) According to this and other sources, there's some evidence that tricyclic antidepressants are moderately effective for managing nerve pain.

Per discussion with my own providers, there is endo in my sciatic nerve, though it's diffuse enough as to make me not a good candidate for a nerve block. (Plus, I'd have to travel ~125 miles to get a consult with anyone who would do them.) There is also, however, plenty of endo in the pelvic-area muscle and connective tissue outside of the nerve. It's not really possible to say which endo-gunk spots are causing which pain, so we can't predict the probable level of relief beforehand.

On one hand, I'd welcome anything that was reasonably effective at staving off the really fucking intense pain with side effects more manageable than those of my little opiate friends. And given that antidepressants are generally prescribed in lower doses for pain than they are for depression, side effects would likely be less prominent than if I were taking higher doses. I'll admit, the idea of never being incapacitated by pain or drug side effects -- even if there are still some drug side effects -- is damn tempting.

On the other, in terms of endo pain (minus bleeding), my life is more tolerable now than it's been since my university days of marijuana joy. (Meaning: the time I lived on largely self-contained rural campus and rarely had to drive anyplace.) I like having a medication regimen that works more than it doesn't and whose side effects are more deal-with-able than not. I know antidepressants come with their own side effects and often involve trial and error to find the right formulation for an individual. I've been through that for years and years with hormonal birth control: I like being done, and I'm not sure I want to go back to Medication Guess and Check v.2.0.

Thoughts?

Spotting

[kymmeebear.livejournal.com]

So I posted a couple weeks ago that my period (or withdrawl bleed) didn't come when it was supposed to.  It Did come the next day however and last the normal 4 days that it usually does.  Then On Thursday of this week (which would be 3 days after my period ended) I had sex.  I woke up this morning with light bleeding.  Is this normal?  Could it maybe be another side effect of my HBC or could it just be from having sex and "knocking loose" any blood that was left up there? Another theory is that I could be stress mentally and Physically.  My boyfriend and I got into a fight last night before bed and I just finished my 5th night working (as a waitress).   
Any adivce would be aprriceated! 

Laser Hair Removal

[sarahfer.livejournal.com]

Anybody had this done? It's something I've been thinking about for a while, a couple of friends have had their bikini lines/entire area done and they swear by it, so I'm considering it.

Question:
I know you have to shave the area a day or so before treatment. Well, part of the reason I want to get laser done is because my minge HATES razors, no matter how new or sharp or specially designed or how well I've exfoliated etc etc... I can pretty much already tell you that the day after I shave to prep it my skin will be angry and itchy with ingrown hairs starting to pop up. Will this have any effect?

(also, thanks VP for still having the Everyday Vulvas project still visible - I also had a 'but what if they get D: face when they look at my bits' moment earlier, but after perusing everyone else's bits I've realised...... it looks like a vulva.)

ease a worried mind?

[linger-fingers.livejournal.com]

I'm on my second pack, day 12 of microgestin fe 1/20 and am experiencing spotting. I had sex (for the first time! late bloomer here!) two days ago and we used protection. I know he didn't ejaculate but with the first condom I think he fumbled a bit and may have put it on backwards at first. It was hard to tell as it was dark. Is spotting typical for the second month of birth control or could it possibly have been implantation bleeding?

Like I said, it's my second pack of birth control and I took the first pack perfectly except for one incident (missed pill), which you ladies have graciously lent your expertise to. (community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/18885499.html)