Non-latex condoms

[kaberett]

So it turns out that I'm allergic to latex, like, no, actually.[1]

As such I'm kinda keen on working out what my options are in terms of non-latex barrier protection.

I'm aware of Pasante Unique[2]; ideally, I'm interested in getting info on as wide a range of sizes etc as possible (and personal recommendations would be great!).

I'm specifically interested in safer sex from an STI point of view (I'm probably infertile; at the moment, people I'm likely to be shagging with relevant equipment have mostly been sterilised) so lambskin aren't a good option[3]. Any other suggestions? Bonus points for things available in the UK (extra points for readily available!) - but I might well be moving continent soon, and this might as well be a more general resource post, so. :-)

Thanks in advance!

[1] I discovered this by handling bike pumps. Hrrgh. etc.
[2] Pasante are AMAZING and not heteronormative and generally fantastic and I strongly recommend them to everyone for everything.
[3] I would plead the vegetarianism thing but, um, given I wear leather shoes... :-p

Featured content on LJ

[kaberett]

This week: a discussion (US-centric) on banned books

Last week: I debunked the myth that teenagers don't get endometriosis over at the Lashings of Ginger Beer Time blog, and it was reposted on VP@LJ with lots of discussion in comments!

Pain in uterus/lower abdomen after sex

[helpme11111.livejournal.com]

Im fairly certain there have been posts like this before, but I'm having trouble searching for the right keywords.

My boyfriend and I had some pretty rough sex last night, and at one point we were doing it in a version of doggy style (leaning over the bed, standing on the floor) and I felt that sensation of going really deep to the point of almost pain. It wasn't a full-on pain feeling, and it also felt good, so we did it that way for a while.

As soon as we stopped having sex, I started getting these stabbing, cramping pains in my lower abdomen, where I'd imagine all my reproductive organs are-cervix, uterus, etc. last night the pain was so bad and would become worse if I moved and then would even out when I settled. Peeing or pooping also made the pain worse.


It all makes sense to me that this is directly related to the sex and perhaps I bumped my cervix? I guess my question is, when should I be frightened of the pain (it's better than yesterday but I still get stabbing pains that make me want to tell out) and what should I do for it today besides just relax?

What's Plan B like?

[hikari87.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone! I'd like to note that I've never done anything sexual and don't forsee it happening anytime soon, but I always like to find out about things way in advance of a possible emergency, so I have a question for all of you who've taken Plan B. Very simply, what kind of effects does it have on your system? After taking it, what kind of...behavior, for lack of better term, do you note in your body, and how long do the effects last? I expect it affects different people differently, but I don't know anyone irl who's used it (afaik), so I'd like some first-hand accounts, please :)

Furious rant :(

[tylanir.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone! Through this post I'm asking you some advice and mostly, comfort.

I don't know how to cut the post, and some of the contents may be triggering for some people.

( Read more )

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bleeding/cramps after sex

[justforapicture.livejournal.com]

hey all! i'm currently on birth control pills and also have an IUD due to a bleeding disorder. i've been having a great sex life and all bleeding has subsided, but the last two times i've had sex, weird things have happened.
last week, i went into the bathroom after having sex and wiped to find little bits of blood. a few days later, i had sex, andt here was a glob of blood. but after that, absolutely NO bleeding. just one and done.
today i woke up and had sex and had cramps so bad afterwards i felt like i was going to be sick. i had a BM and felt better soon after that, so i don't know if that's what it was.
my doctor is really far away and i can't miss any more work so i'm trying to figure out what's wrong on my own before taking the hour and a half drive to the most amazing gyno ever (they're worth the drive).
thing is, i got worried my iud moved, but since the first month, the strings have been hidden. they did one ultrasound to make sure it was still in place, and it was, so they'd only check it if there's an issue, because it would require an ultrasound everyime.
how would i know if my iud is out of place? i'm only cramping after sex, and it's only been the last two weeks. any ideas?
:(

TIA

Proton pump inhibitors and yeast infections

[evilnel.livejournal.com]

Hi superstars! This is more out of curiosity than any pressing need, but I'm interested in your thoughts. I have been taking omneprozole (generic Prilosec) for about 4 years. At the time it was necessary to continue taking it past the recommended 2 week dosage, and even though circumstances my body (basically a change in weight) made it no longer necessary, I had been unable to stop because of the horrible rebound.

Completely randomly (I was not sexually active at the time, nor had anything else particularly changed in my overall health for a while) I started getting chronic yeast infections. I would get them monthly, and this continued until recently. It would be bad around my period but would flare up throughout the month despite prescription and OTC treatments. I was also diagnosed with BV twice in this time. Basically, my vag was not pH balanced as it should be!

Through a fluke I stopped taking the omneprozole (ran out, didn't notice, was able to handle the rebound this time) and have been off for about a week, though still treating the rebound reflux with tums or baking soda. This could be coincidental, but my vagina has been feeling great. It hasn't felt itchy, my vulva hasn't felt itchy, it smells like it should smell for me… these two events seem related, but I'm not sure why. Could it be that messing with the amount of acid in my stomach was changing how bacteria/yeast was being processed in my gut and ultimately affecting my vaginal pH? I googled around and didn't see anything pertaining to vaginal yeast, though a rare side effect of that drug is GI yeast infections. Do you think this is possible or is it just a lucky coincidence? I'm super curious if anybody else has experienced YI while taking PPIs! Thanks!