Vaginal Odor

[microgirl8225.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

First time poster, and I am so glad I ran across this informative community.

I have a question for everyone. Lately I've noticed I've been having a fairly strong vaginal odor. I smell nearly every time I'me in the bathroom and it's so bad that the smell stays in the crotch area of my pants and I don't even wear tight clothing. I bathe regularly, using mild, unscented soap and wear cotton underwear.

My questions are: has anyone else had this problem and were there any home remedies that worked for you? There isn't any unusual discharge and no itching so I don't think it's an infection of any kind. The smell is just strong and embarrassing and I'm really looking for some methods to get rid of it.

ETA on December 31: Thank you all so very much!! You all are so awesome! All of your answers were incredibly helpful and informative. Thank you, thank you!

IUD and Instead

[fairis.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking about getting an IUD like the copper T, but I love my Instead softcups. I've heard that IUDs have strings that come out of the cervix that you have to check. Can these get pulled by menstrual cups? Does anyone know if it's ok to have an IUD and continue to use mentrual cups like the Instead soft cup? Thanks!

HBC expiration dates

[collsers.livejournal.com]

I noticed that my backup pack of hbc (Loestrin24) has an expiration date of February 2012, so I want to use it this month so it doesn't go to waste.  I've taken a few pills from this pack (I think I have 19 active pills left in it), so I plan to just stack it and skip the brown pills before starting the next pack.  Anyways, my question is: is hbc that is near the expiration date still as effective?  I feel like the answer is yes, since it hasn't actually expired, but I am nervous and considering using a backup method during this pack.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Nuvaring

[lilly4supper.livejournal.com]

I will be starting Nuvaring soon. I have been off hormonal birth control for about two and a half years now. The package says I should wait to start the ring until the first day of my period. I would like to start it before that because I will be using the ring to possibly skip my period. I am on day 25 of my cycle right now and I normally get my period on day 32. Which would be exactly one week from today. Do you think it would be ok for me to put the nuvaring in now? Or should I follow the directions on the package and wait till my period starts? For you information... I am not having sex right now so it is not possible for me to be pregnant. I will be having sex in the very near future which is why I would like to start the nuvaring sooner rather then later. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.

Brown discharge after masturbating?

[amoebapudding.livejournal.com]

Alright. So.

I'm 20 years old, and I've never had sex. I'm pretty sure I have a microperforate hymen, because I've never been able to get anything in there and when I check it out it looks like there are 2-3 small holes. I'm going to make a gyno appointment to verify it, but here's my real question: I almost always have brown discharge after I masturbate (I only use clitoral stimulation when I masturbate, so I'm sure I'm not tearing/scratching anything). Could it be blood left over from my period? I'm taking Seasonique, so my periods are once every 3 months and I still get the discharge no matter when I masturbate. Could it be at all connected to the fact that I have a microperforate hymen, or is it kind of a normal thing? I'll ask the doctor about it when I go, but I just want to see if any of you have any ideas.

PCOS/Endometriosis/Hysterectomy

[beautiful1096.livejournal.com]

I just underwent a laproscopic hysteroscopy and have been diagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis. I have debilitating cramps all month long and my quality of life has just gotten increasingly worse. I have gone all of the traditional routes of treatment, Mirena IUD, birth control pills and nothing has worked. My OB/GYN is suggesting our next course of treatment would be a hysterectomy.

I was wondering if anyone has undergone alternative forms of treatment in lieu of undergoing a hysterectomy. I am 33 and the idea of loosing my uterus is terrifying at this moment.

TIA