BV/YI without serious symptoms

[love-hate-idk.livejournal.com]

 Hey all, thanks in advance for your help!

In the past month or more I have noted an increased amount of discharge, some of it quite white and chunky. I have no other symptoms, and didn't smell much, so I assumed this was just a natural change relating to me getting off HBC for the first time in almost 5 years. I have had a period in the midst of these symptoms.

Fast forward to my GYNO/STI exam. The doctor seems to take issue with the discharge she saw, and I ended up testing positive for yeast and gardnerella. She prescribed me Flagyl for a week, and then if that doesn't work, a pill for a YI. 

My question is: I'm not so into taking unnecessary medicines, and nothing about these symptoms really bother me. Is there a risk if I just leave it all alone? Also, could there be any risk to the female bodied person I'm having sex with right now?

Period - MIA

[pineapplebear.livejournal.com]

Hello VP'ers. I have a question about my missing period and when it's time to call the police on it. Just kidding, kind of.

So after a decade on the Pill, I went off HBC about a year ago, during which time I had the regular withdrawal bleeding. At first after stopping the pills, my cycles were about 2 months long, then last winter they shortened up to about 5-6 weeks or so. I got a copper (nonhormonal) IUD in April and had a 6.5 week cycle for my first period with the device. My last period was at the end of May, so now we're coming up on 8 weeks here. I had what felt like some minor cramps about two weeks ago, but they were only intermittent for a couple days and led to now bleeding.

I had my doc check IUD placement after it was inserted, and I've felt the strings, so I think it's in there properly. I know it's 99% effective, so I'm not terribly worried about pregnancy. I'm otherwise feeling totally healthy and fine, no excessive stress or other illnesses. I've been traveling a lot, but that's the only lifestyle change.

Does coming up on 8 weeks for this cycle sound like reason to be concerned to anyone? At what point should I start worrying? And can long cycles be an indication of a bigger problem (with no other noticeable symptoms), or can they cause a problem themselves?

Thanks everybody!

annoying heat rash

[naked-beauty-21.livejournal.com]

Hey everyone!

I feel a little silly even posting this because most of the other posts are about serious things. This isn't really serious, but it is SO annoying and it's bothering me almost every day. I work at a Sonic Drive-in, if you're familiar, and I'm constantly walking/running out in the heat to cars to deliver food. Anyways, I've been getting what feels like a heat rash, but instead of on my inner thighs like you'd expect, it's around my butthole(!), mostly on the "vagina side," if you know what i mean. I didn't even know that was an area that could chafe from walking! I've tried liberally applying baby powder before work, but it all just rubs away and doesn't do any good. My underwear is kind of bunchy sometimes, and I tend to get some wedgies so I thought maybe that would be contributing to the rash. Would wearing snugger undies that don't ride up help? Anyone have a miracle cure I've never heard of?

Thanks in advance!!

Am I too used to 'getting off' by myself?

[jammie-toffee.livejournal.com]

Hi ladies,

I have a.. problem. Before my current (one and only) SO, I could happily satisfy myself, alone.
I still can but it's generally the quick 'duvet hump'! I do this during sex with him while on top too.

Sometimes I can reach orgasm within 30 seconds this way, which I'm thinking is a little abnormal.
I don't have any time on my own now I work so much and live with him so I don't really masturbate anymore.
The problem is, I've always wanted my boy to touch me and send me to my happy place, but it just doesn't happen.

I almost don't like him touching me there, it just feels alien and I constantly move his hand away if he tries to stimulate me during sex.

This makes me feel really bad and guilty.. it's not that I don't want him to do it, and I know he wants to make me feel good, he likes doing it.

I've tried showing him the way I like it but it still doesn't feel right.

No matter how many times I demonstrate to him (by using his own hand with mine on top) it's just not happening. 

He also wants me to do it to myself during sex, he moves my hand there alot, but I feel so awkward!

Is it me? Am I doing something wrong? Or is there something I can do to make it all better?

 

Thanks in advance.

Delaying period with Yaz

[smallwonders8.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I'm going on vacation and would really like to not have my period while I'm there. I'm on Yaz and I should be getting my period about 2 days before the end of my trip and was hoping I could delay it those few days. I've heard that Yaz follows the 21/7 rule even though it's 24/4 pills...could I wait a full 7 days (as opposed to 4) before starting the new pack without compromising protection? Has anyone ever done this before? Would it be more likely I'd have spotting or the effectiveness would be compromised at all? The other option is to try stacking and just start my new pack instead of taking the placebos but I've never done that before.

Any suggestions or similar experiences would be great! Thanks!!

cortisone and estrogen creams

[chipie.livejournal.com]

Hello!

My doctor recently prescribed me both cortisone and estrogen creams to use on my vulva.  The cortisone is to help with long term itching I've been having, and the estrogen is to hopefully help with vulvodynia.

I am super uncomfortable with the idea of putting these things on my vulva.  (I grew up never using phamaceutical drugs and they make me very nervous.)  I have been using the creams anyway, but it makes me really anxious.  I am probably worrying for nothing, but I was wondering if anyone could answer some of the questions I have. 

Have any of you used either of these medications?   Are there any side effects I should be looking out for?  Does it matter if those creams get on areas they are not supposed to be on (ex: my clitoris)?  Is there any way I could cause damage to myself?  The instruction say to "use sparingly", so I'm worried that I'll somehow put too much on and hurt myself.

Does the estrogen from the cream get into the rest of my body?  Could it possibly cause effects similar to hormone replacement therapy?  The idea that I'm using a form of hormone replacement therapy really worries me.  Is estrogen cream similar to HRT?

Do I have to keep using the cortisone for 6 weeks twice a day followed by 6 weeks once a day as recommended, or can I stop using it if the itching stops?  (I do plan to ask a pharmacist about this eventually if I want to stop using the cortisone, but in the meantime perhaps someone here knows.)  The area around the anus is also itchy but I forgot to mention it to the doctor, is it okay if I use it there too?

(I don't want to call my doctor to ask because she doesn't return my calls.  And anyway, I just called about a referral that was supposed to be put through two weeks ago and the secretary was extremely rude to me.  I asked how much longer the referral would take and she said "well, if you weren't complaining to me right now, I could be dealing with this," among several other rude comments.  I was in tears after talking to her so I'd rather not call back.)

Thanks so much!

What else could it be besides a YI

[lalalalie.livejournal.com]

Are there any STI's that cause severe external itching/irritation of the inner labia but no visible signs of infection? I have been treating it as an external yeast infection but am finding no relief so is there anything else it could be? Now I have the itching along with a burning sensation but I'm guessing that is from scratching. It feels like it's getting worse because it started on the inner part of just one labia and is now affecting both sides as well as the area surrounding my vaginal opening. I have had unprotected sex with a couple people recently so I'm worried. I have also been experiencing pain during sex recently and was wondering if it could be related?

Worried now

[gavinsmommy84.livejournal.com]

I made this post (http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/19988689.html)--not sure if I did that right--and still need a little more help because something else strange is going on.

I'm not spotting from my vagina after bowel movements. Been on this brand HBC since January and haven't experienced spotting with it previously. And I'm definitely positive the blood (which is bright red in color) is coming from my vagina. My withdrawal bleed isn't supposed to start until next week. So, I don't know where this blood is coming from.

Maybe the two instances are not connected, but I've never had this happen before in the past, so it seems weird that vaginal bleeding during a bowel movement would happen after that almost unexplained pain in my stomach. And I'm still on cipro for the UTI.

I've also been really moody and emotional for the past few days. My son's at his dad's house, which normally isn't a problem for me, but Monday night after he left, I just cried and cried missing him.

Please, any ideas of what's going on. I'm about to cry now because I'm so scared and confused and really freaked out.