Could my birth control be messing with my hormones?

[sugarbunnny.livejournal.com]

I've been on the NuvaRing for about two years now - never had any problems with it before. It even helped to clear up my acne. However about two months ago, my acne started getting really bad. I've tried everything. I'm an esthetician, so it's not that I'm uninformed and doing the wrong things. I'm not using harsh products. I'm on a balanced skincare regime. I hardly ever wear makeup. I change my pillowcases weekly. I drink plenty of water. I try to eat as healthy as possible. I'm not pregnant, because about three months ago I took a pregnancy test that came back negative, and I got my period a little bit after that.

So I'm at a loss. I don't know what to do. My skin is absolutely going nuts. I thought it was from stress, but school is done for me now and I have nothing to do but relax all day. So what gives? I've been to the dermatologist, about ten days ago. She gave me some creams which I'm using religiously, and she ordered a blood draw for me to get my hormones tested, but I haven't been able to do it yet. It's also probably important to note that I haven't had my period in probably...two months.

Help please :c I'm really upset about this. It just seems to be getting worse, and I want to cry because in four days I'm going on a trip that I've been excited about for ages.

Edit: Just took another pregnancy test - not pregnant.

Tangerines and HBC?

[violetstar124.livejournal.com]

I've heard that grapefruits can interfere with the pill, would this also be true for tangerines (I'm thinking citrus-related)? I tend to eat a lot of tangerines when they're in season (up to 10 a day!) so I was wondering if it could interfere with the effectiveness

Thanks!

Make the itching stop!!!

[electriceff.livejournal.com]

So for about a week now i've had a really bad itch, not in my vag but around my clit and hood and pretty much every part except inside my vag and outer lips. It's getting really annoying and i'm not sure what it's from. I don't think it's a yeast infection because there's no weird discharge or odor. I thought it might be from shaving but I haven't shaved in over a week, maybe even two weeks. It gets even more itchy when I masturbate or after I have sex (but not during sex for some reason) but I keep my hands and toys clean and so does my girlfriend. I thought it might be my underwear but I only wear cotton panties and I rarely wear stockings or anything other than jeans. Could it just be an allergy or something? I just want it to go away, it's driving me insane!

UTI next steps

[caterpillgry.livejournal.com]

I've started seeing someone new. Over the weekend I had more sex than in the whole nine months prior, and it was awesome, but I should have known better... on Monday I felt the twinge, and tried to head it off with cranberry pills. Monday night I took an Azo test (BRIGHT purple, very clearly positive) and started on 250mg of Cipro every 12 hours. The guidelines I found online said to take it for three days, but now I've only one dose left and I'm still not feeling quite right. I can pee fine, but I feel the slightest burn at the end, and my lower abdomen is a teeny bit achy (but not my back, and there's no fever).

COuld it just be continuing irritation, rather than the infection? Should I keep taking the Cipro for another couple of days, or up the dose to 500mg?

(Please dont' advise me to seek medical advice -- I'm on assignment in Haiti and trust the internet more than doctors here -- plus there are no pathology services available!)