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Ask Emma! Answers-General Health | |
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Any health information contained in this service is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Nothing contained should be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you have an urgent medical problem call 911 or contact your health care provider. Questions about Female Anatomy and Women's Health
Where is the cervix located in the vagina? How can
I be sure the sponge is in the right place? Questions about Male Anatomy and Male Health
Is pre-cum a sign of infrequent sex? "What's Normal? What's Not?"
Is
masturbation good for your health? Questions about seeing gynecologists or other health care providers
I'm a virgin.
Should I wait until after I have sex to go to the gyno? Questions about Yeast Infections
Can I use the over-the-counter yeast infection
treatments while I'm on my period? General Sex/Masturbation Questions
I've only had oral sex, so I can't have an STI,
but I have these symptoms...
Questions about Female Anatomy and Women's Health The location of the cervix within the vagina is something that is going to vary considerably from woman to woman. It also usually varies for the individual woman based on where she is on her menstrual cycle. Generally, the cervix is closer to the opening of the vagina, and usually feels firmer, around the time of menstruation. When women are ovulating, the cervix usually moves further back into the vagina and usually feels a bit softer. The best way to get to know the location of your cervix is to put your fingers in your vagina and find out. (Always wash your hands before inserting anything into the vagina to prevent introducing new bacteria into your vagina.) While the walls of your vagina feel like the inside of your cheek (soft and wet), your cervix should feel firmer, kind of like the end of your nose or like your chin (depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle). After you get to know your body and the location of your cervix, it will be much easier to tell where to put the sponge and to know it is inserted correctly. You should also read the sponge inserting instructions located on the Today Sponge's website, www.todaysponge.com. If after all of this you are still
unsure that you are using the sponge correctly, you may consider
scheduling a consultation with your health care provider and they can
give you some in-person advice.
No. Urine does not come out of the vagina,
it comes out of the urethra, a completely different opening. Thus, the
urine will not wash out any sperm that is inside of her vagina.
DON'T DOUCHE!!!!! Douches, whether you use just water, homemade concoctions, or the commercially available products, don't cause cancer, but they can cause a wide variety of other serious gynecological conditions. They can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and they can leave you more susceptible to vaginal infections including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). I may not be understanding what you mean by "cleansing myself". If you're douching with tap water (or any other water or liquid), that's unnecessary and you should stop. It is OK to wash the outside of your vagina with water, while in the shower, for instance, but don't try to clean the inside of your vagina. You shouldn't use any soaps on the outside of your vagina, since those can be very irritating to the delicate tissue there. Your vagina can take care of itself. By douching, no matter what substance you use to douche, you are washing out the very things that your vagina uses to protect yourself. Some women feel that they need to douche because of the smell, but douching actually makes that worse.
The best thing that you can use "that is safe" is nothing at all. Just
let your vagina take care of itself. It may take you a while to get used
to how your vagina smells and feels after douching for a long period of
time. These are all normal smells. If you have any especially bad odors
(fishy or really foul) or any especially funky discharges, you should go
and see your gynecologist immediately since those can be symptoms of an
infection. But no matter what, don't douche, just let your vagina take
care of itself.
First let me get out my female anatomy drawing. I drew this up, remember I am not an artist, but you do get the idea from it. When a woman has her period, the blood comes out of her vagina. When a woman urinates the urine comes out of her urethra. Sometimes, when a woman goes to pee when she's having her period, it can look like blood is coming out with the pee, but it's just dripping into the toilet from her vagina. Now, as for how much blood comes out at a time, and for how long (commonly referred to as the "flow"), depends entirely on the individual woman. Some women's periods are very heavy (a lot of blood), while other women's periods are pretty light (not too much). Some women's periods last for a whole week or more, and some other women's periods only last a few days. A lot of women's flow starts out heavy and then gradually gets lighter until it stops. It can look like a whole lot of blood coming out of your body, but women only lose between 6-9 tablespoons of fluid during their periods, and about half of that is blood (the rest is other menstrual fluids).
It's a good idea to keep some period gear (pads, tampons, etc.) in your
purse/backpack or locker when you think your period is coming up so you
can be prepared. It's very common for women's periods to be very
irregular when they first start getting them, meaning that it's really
hard to predict when your period will come. If this is the case with
you, you may consider just keeping the period gear around all the time,
just in case. If nothing else, you can usually go to your school nurse's
office to get pads in a pinch.
There are no health problems caused by your wife's period. The only
thing that could every possibly come up from being exposed to your
partner's menstrual fluids is if she has a blood-born illness (HIV/AIDS
and hepatitis are very big concerns there, but you may have been exposed
by having sex no matter what time of the month it is). Otherwise, you
have nothing to worry about if about having sex during her period, or
right after.
The vagina is really a pretty small place. It's also solid skin, not a sponge that absorbs all liquid. Just like how your period runs out of your body every month, any liquid that flows into your vagina will flow back out. What goes up, must come down. Just because fluid flows back out of your vagina after entering it, this does not mean that you have not just become pregnant. You need to use protection every time you have sex to prevent pregnancy. If you don't use protection, you also have no way of knowing what sexually transmitted infections (STIs) you may have acquired. STIs are very serious, as is pregnancy. Both of these can affect you for the rest of your life.
While there's no way to prevent getting an STI after unprotected sex,
you still have 5 days to prevent pregnancy.
Click here to learn more about emergency contraception.
The inside of the vagina isn't a completely smooth surface. A lot of it kind of feels like the skin on the inside of your cheek, but most vaginas also have folds and creases on the inside. This is totally normal. Also, towards the back of your vagina is your cervix, which is the opening of your uterus. This most of the time kind of feels like the end of your nose (firm and round).
Most women have no idea what the inside of other women's vaginas feel
like, so it's hard to get an idea of what "normal" is and if their own
vagina is "normal". Every vagina is completely unique, just like the
rest of your body parts. If you ever have suspicions that your vagina
may have a problem, you should go see the gynecologist. I don't know if
you've been to a gynecologist before, but if you have, and they didn't
tell you anything was out of the ordinary, it's usually safe to assume
that everything is A-OK. But next time that you go see the gynecologist
ask them some questions about your vagina, and it will help set your
mind at ease. I know it can feel very weird and awkward to talk to
someone about your vagina, but just remember that gynecologists are
there solely for vagina questions. There's no question that they haven't
heard before, and there's no silly questions. It's important that of all
people you feel comfortable talking with your gynecologist about your
vagina, since it's important for you to get proper health care. If you
don't feel comfortable asking these questions to your gynecologist, you
need to find a gyno that you do feel comfortable with. Try asking your
friends for recommendations of ones that they like.
A better definition of a missed period, would be a period that you don't get. If you got a period after 7 weeks, then it may be late, but if you got it then it's not missing. Most women have periods that are somewhere about 4 weeks apart, but a lot of women are different from that. Their periods may be 3 weeks apart, 5 weeks, 7 weeks, and there are some women who only get 3 or 4 periods every year. If your periods are normally more than 4 weeks apart, then that doesn't necessarily mean that anything is wrong if it is more than 4 weeks apart. You need to base your definition of what is "normal" on your cycle, not anyone else's. It is especially normal for periods to be irregular during the first few years that you have periods. Many women's periods don't normalize until they are well into their twenties (I know mine sure didn't!). If you are at all sexually active, you need to keep religious track of your periods, especially if they are irregular, or if you only have a few periods each year. If a sexually active woman only has 3-4 periods a year, she should also get to know her body very well so that she can notice pregnancy symptoms as soon as possible. Otherwise she could be up to 3 months along before she has a late period. If you have periods more often than that, you still need to keep very good track of your periods. No matter what your decision would be on whether or not to continue a prospective pregnancy, you still need to know if you become pregnant as soon as possible. Many women who have
periods that are more spread out, or are generally irregular, will
choose to go on hormonal birth control (pill, patch, ring, Depo) just so
they have their periods on a regulated basis. This is not required by
any means, but it can be helpful. If you are thinking of going that
route, you will need to speak with your physician. It's probably a good
idea to bring these questions to a physician anyway. If you are sexually
active you should see a physician for a gynecological exam annually.
This is to make sure that everything is all right, to make sure you
don't have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and to go over
your birth control options.
First of all, quit with the herbs and creams and any other product you have been using. They don't work. The only thing they are good for is wasting your money. I'm sure you're not going to really like the rest of my response. The truth is the best possible thing you can do is to learn to love the body you were born with. Even if you did decide to go the route of surgery to "improve" your body, it can end up being an endless road. Often women who have their breasts enlarged then become unhappy with another body part. Then after they get that body part altered, they keep finding more things to get "fixed". Even if you found the magic cream that did make your breasts bigger, thus avoiding surgery, then you may be prompted to find other magic creams for the rest of your body. It's common for surgeons to recommend that their clients undergo some counseling before getting any cosmetic surgery. Even though you don't want surgery, it may be helpful for you to talk to someone about why you want to change your body. Make sure that you are wanting to change for your own reasons, rather than as a response to other people. For many women it's a long and hard journey to learn how to love their body, but it's definitely worth it.
In the meantime, the second best thing that you can do (for your breast
size anyway) is chest exercises. (Pushups, Pushups, Pushups) Increasing
the mass of the muscles underneath your breasts will push your breasts
out further and make them appear bigger. Now this won't make a woman
with an A-cup look like a Pamela Anderson double, but it does make them
look bigger. Plus, exercising has the added benefit of increasing
endorphins in your body, thus making you feel better. In the long run,
exercising regularly tends to make people feel better about their body
generally, even if it doesn't create the results that you may have
started exercising for. Best of luck.
Women's bodies produce fluids when sexually excited to facilitate sex and make it more comfortable. A lot of women have the opposite problem. Their bodies don't produce enough secretion, and because of that sex is very uncomfortable unless they use extra lubricants. It's important to have enough lubricant, whether natural or artificial, during sex, otherwise it can cause injury. My question to you would be exactly how the sex has become less enjoyable. Is it physically uncomfortable? Or are you self-conscious about the amount of secretion you are producing, and not letting yourself enjoy sex as much. If it is the first one, or if these "secretions" are yellow, green, other colors, or smell foul (which can be a sign of an infection) you should speak with your gynecologist or health care provider. If it's the second one, you really just need to learn to love the vagina that you have. Your body is producing these secretions to help you enjoy sex more.
Just about anything can cause a woman's vagina to change like this.
Changes in diet and medications are the main causes, especially if you
are changing your birth control. If the change in secretion is really
bothering you, you should go speak with your gynecologist or health care
provider, but otherwise you should just try to enjoy yourself.
Is this something new? If so, it’s best to see your doctor to make sure you don’t have an STI or a vaginal infection. Discharge is normal – up to one teaspoon a day. Sometimes discharge can vary a lot depending on where a woman is in her menstrual/ovulation cycle, sexual activity, sexual arousal, or if she’s on medications. It’s ok to use a tampon
or pantiliner but be aware that sometimes these products (tampons moreso
than pantiliners) can irritate the vulva/vagina and can lead to
vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina, often comes with irritation).
Discharge is your body’s normal way of keeping itself clean. Do contact
your health care provider if you develop any pain, green/yellow color,
foul odor, rash/sores, or other symptoms that are not normal with your
discharge.
Some women wear tampons because of excessive vaginal discharge or
spotting between periods. But who knows? The best thing may be to ask
your wife directly.
It's probably best to use the day that you have your actual period blood flow, not so much the pre-period discharge. However, when you are trying to get pregnant, it's usually a better idea to err on the side of having sex on more days than you may need to. There are some schools that say that you may not want to have sex more than once a day (especially if your fertility problems may be because of a low sperm count), because having sex more than once a day can deplete the sperm count. It may be helpful to use other information, besides simply calculating two weeks from when your period starts, to help you find out when you are ovulating. That two week number is only for women who's periods are 28 days apart, if yours are different you will probably ovulate at a different time. You can use basal body temperature (BBT), which means taking your temperature at the same time every day. Theoretically, your temperature will drop and then rise again as you ovulate. You can also learn to tell when you are ovulating based on the fluids coming out of your cervix. This is called cervical mucus monitoring. Click here to read a basic description of these two methods. This page describes it in the context of trying to avoid getting pregnant, but if you just do the opposite of what it says, that is how to become pregnant. If you are trying to use these methods as birth control, you will need more information than this basic description.
But, back to your question, in the meantime, just have sex every day,
and good luck!
"I have gained weight over the years since
my marriage. My husband says he finds it difficult to have sex with me
because of the weight. I am about 4 stones overweight.
When we do have intercourse my husband
climaxes within a couple of minutes. He said that the reason for this is
because I have gained weight inside my vagina and it makes the
experience too intense. Is this possible? He's called me fat everywhere
else? Can I really have a fat vagina?" (Stone is a British measurement equaling about 14 pounds. 4 stones=56 pounds) No, your vagina doesn't gain weight. Your vagina is made up of muscles, and the surrounding tissue is all organs, not fat. It sounds like this is more of an issue of your husband projecting his own issues onto you, rather than a change in your vagina. Being overweight does pose significant health problems, but your husband telling you that you're fat or that your vagina is fat is no help at all. What people need in this situation is support, not ridicule. Your marriage may be benefited by some couples counseling, or maybe some counseling for both of you separately.
I don't know what your husband was like sexually before these weight
issues developed, but until his issues are resolved, you may need to
develop some temporary solutions. You may see if your husband would be
willing to perform oral sex to make up for him finishing early. If
you're not being satisfied sexually by your husband, you may need to
work on pleasing yourself by masturbating.
There are lots of things that can affect periods. A change in diet,
heavy exercise, medications, and stress are the most common things. Try
to relax as much as you can, and see if your period comes. If you miss a
second period, go see your physician and they can try to figure out the
problem.
"If I douche when I'm on my period,
will it stop my period?" Douching may make your periods
lighter, since you could be flushing out blood. However, douching is not
something we or most doctors would ever recommend as a healthy nor safe
way to clean the vagina. DON'T DOUCHE! It has been linked to an increase
in infections, and douching can even introduce bacteria into the cervix,
uterus, and fallopian tubes. It can also increase your risk for STI and
pelvic inflammatory disease. Using any scented products like douches,
scented tampons, pads, or sprays can increase your risk of a vaginal
irritation and/or infection. The introduction of scented products like
douches disrupts the vagina's sensitive chemical balance.
"It can take several months for your body to return to its regular cycle
after stopping birth control. However, if you continue to experience
abnormal bleeding you should contact your healthcare provider for an
evaluation. Even if your periods have been irregular you can still
ovulate and may become pregnant. Depending on the type and amount of
exercise you do, it can be a factor in irregular bleeding. However,
this cannot be determined without seeing a practitioner.
PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, has many symptoms including
irregular menstrual bleeding, infertility, increased hair growth, weight
gain, and pelvic pain. Some women with PCOS are able to get pregnant,
but often have higher rates of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and
high blood pressure. There is no cure for PCOS, but there are
treatments that can help reduce some of the symptoms. If you think you
may have PCOS you should see a practitioner who will be able to properly
diagnose and begin treating your symptoms. Consulting with a fertility
specialist is another step you can take whether or not PCOS is an issue.
Questions about Male Anatomy or Men's Health Before men ejaculate it is very common for them to secrete what is called "pre-ejaculatory fluid", or "pre-cum, out of their penis. This is something that male bodies do no matter how much sex they are, or aren't, getting. Do remember that
this pre-cum does contain sperm, and women can become pregnant if that
fluid makes its way into their vagina.
For the record, all of the advice goes to men of all ages. Don't take the pills. If for no other reason, because none of them work at all. There's a whole lot of different medications, herbal supplements, and other pills that advertise the ability to increase penis size, and all of them have different ingredients. Some of these are harmless, and some are dangerous. Also, don't use any of the pumps or other devices that are advertised for increasing penis size, since some of them can be harmful as well. Especially since you're so young, my advice for you, Bill, would be just to wait until you are finished growing. You have no idea what your body will be like in just a few years. Teenage bodies change very quickly, and you could even notice significant changes in months. There's no way of telling when and how your body will grow and change. You really shouldn't take anything to increase the size of anything at this age, because it could affect how you would grow naturally. If you do have concerns, I recommend that you take them to your doctor or health care provider. I know it's embarrassing to talk about your penis to them, but they will be able to give you objective advice. Don't base your evaluation of your body off what you see in films, or how big other men say they are (men are notoriously inaccurate in how big they say their penis is). Popular media (movies, TV, magazines, etc.) gives people unreasonable expectations of what their bodies are supposed to look like. It's really hard, but you need to ignore them and learn to appreciate your body as it is. Plus, 3 inches isn't all that bad. You
need to realize that some of the most popular vibrators around are 3
inches in size or less. I know a lot of guys think this is just a line,
but it's true that size doesn't matter as much as your ability to use
what you have.
Have no fears. The amount of masturbation has nothing to do with how
your penis grows or what size it will eventually be. Masturbation also
does not turn your palms yellow or hairy, or make you go blind, or any
of the other things that people say happens when you masturbate too
much.
You need to go see your physician. I cannot diagnose any condition via
email. I think it is very likely that this infection was caused by you
not cleaning yourself properly, but you still need to see a health care
professional. It's hard to say what they will use to clear up this
infection. Sometimes this is a cream you rub to the area, and sometimes
it's oral antibiotics. While you are speaking with your physician, you
should ask them for advice on how to clean this area. Maybe they have
some hints or tricks that you haven't tried yet. You need to take proper
care of yourself or this problem will keep coming back.
"What's Normal? What's Not?
"Is masturbation good for your health?"
Yes! Masturbation is a healthy sexual activity that has zero risk of
acquiring STIs or causing pregnancy. It's a good way for people go get
to know their body, and learn what sexual stimuli work best for them. It
is also safe to use sex toys for masturbation (please be aware of your
state's laws on the subject), just make sure you clean them properly,
and NEVER use someone else's toys. The only concerns is for people who
masturbate at inappropriate times.
"Why do we get the feeling of having sex...I mean.. why do we want to masturbate?"
All animals, humans included, are sexual beings. Sexual intimacy is a
strong emotional and physical need. Because of this, there are lots of
reasons to masturbate. Maybe we don't have a sexual partner, but still
need an outlet for our sexual desire. Maybe we have a partner, but we
are waiting for marriage or a committed relationship to have sex so we
masturbate alone or together. Masturbation can be a very healthy outlet
for sexual desire. You can't get STIs (as long as you don't share sex
toys) or become pregnant from masturbation.
"What are reasons for there to be lumps in
the breast?" Anytime you notice new lumps in your breasts, you should get that checked out right away.
Women as young as in their twenties should do a breast self-exam
monthly. This is so they can familiarize themselves with the normal
state of their breasts and be able to know right away if there's any
changes. It is best to check in the first few days after your period. In
the weeks before the period, many women's breasts feel a bit lumpy due
to hormone changes. Those hormonal breast changes are called
"fibrocystic changes". Click here to learn more about
fibrocystic breasts, and click here to learn about
breast self-exams. Besides fibrocystic changes, lumps can also be
other kinds of cysts, or even cancer. If you develop new lumps, or if
these lumps don't go away after your period, you should get them checked
out with your health care provider right away.
Most vaginas produce a variety of fluids, discharges, and mucus as part of being healthy. The mucus that most healthy vaginas produce will vary from the consistency of an egg white, to thick, white, and sticky. The fluids coming out of your vagina change over the course of your menstrual cycle. You didn't describe your discharge at all, and even if, I can't diagnose anything from an email. The only real way to figure out what's going on is to be seen. If you're really worried (and it sounds like you are) you can always go in to a gynecologist for their opinion. There's no harm in that. You should go in and get seen right away if any of the following happen (all of the following goes for guys as well as girls):
The best thing that
you can do to get an idea of what's normal for your vagina and what
isn't is to keep a good idea of what's going on down there. Pay
attention to what kind of mucus or discharges that are coming out of
your body. If you have a really good handle on what's normal for your
body, you will be better be able to identify what's not normal should
anything like that happen.
To start with your first question: masturbation is very safe. The consensus of most experts is that the amount you masturbate isn't considered unhealthy until it starts to interfere with the rest of your life. For instance, if it gets in the way at work, school, or with relationships. It could also be a problem if you have excessive guilt about the amount you're masturbating, and are beating yourself up emotionally about it. If either of these situations are the case, you should speak with a counselor. When masturbating, you should make sure that you take care of your body properly by doing things like using enough lubrication. If you are a frequent masturbator and don't use enough lube, that can cause injury. (This goes for sex with another person too.) There were a couple of issues in that second question, so I'm going to address them separately. Generally speaking, it is perfectly OK to taste your own fluids. The fluids that come out of your vagina/penis are just as much a natural part of your body as your saliva. Really, the only time it wouldn't be OK to taste your fluids is if you have a current STI or other infection of the genitals. For instance, if you have a current chlamydia, and taste your fluids, you can spread that to your throat. Generally, it is recommended that you don't masturbate or have any sexual contact at all when you have a current infection, because those infections can spread very easily. If you are having sex with another person, they will then have the infection, or in the case of your example, you can get chlamydia all over the end of your mop. This brings to the other issue of the household items. A good rule to follow at all times is to never use any item for sex unless you can vouch for everywhere that it has been. This includes sex toys, "the end of a mop", and other household items, but also other people's genitals. The best way to keep safe is to know what you're putting into your body. How do you know that your roommates/family members didn't clean up something really disgusting with that mop? At least when I'm mopping up something gross, it usually gets on my hands as well, and thus the handle too. The other gross scenario here is if another roommate/family member had your same idea with the mop handle. I hope I don't have to elaborate on how gross that would be, but I'll just generally say that sharing sex toys is very bad. Plus, it's just very impolite to use things for sex that other people will have to touch (no matter how well you clean them afterwards).
It's a really good idea to only use items for sex that were meant to be
used as such. Sex toys are specifically designed to not only be a lot of
fun, but they are usually made of materials that are easy to clean. You
can really spend just about any amount of money on a sex toy. They range
from $10 and up, and most stores will also have small toys that are easy
to hide. They will also have toy cleaners available, so you can keep
your toy safe and clean. If you don't feel comfortable walking into your
neighborhood sex shop, there's also hundreds of websites where you can
buy toys in the privacy of your own home. The first one that comes to my
mind is
Good Vibrations. They are a feminist sex shop that has been in
business for almost thirty years. They are very well trusted and
respected. Another great shop is
Toys in Babeland.
Giving birth dramatically changes your body. Most women do gain a bit of
weight during pregnancy, and it can take a very long time to come back
off, or it may just stay there permanently. Pregnancy can change your
metabolism, so that the way that your body stores and loses fat can be
altered. It's good that you are talking with your physician about this.
If they are concerned that this weight puts you in a medical risk group
you should follow their advice. If they say that this is still a healthy
weight for you, you may just have to get used to your new body. Ok, if my conversion is correct,
you have lost about 7 pounds (US). Seven pounds in 3 months (3 periods)
is not an immediate warning flag. But your health care provider might
ask you if you have had any changes in diet or lifestyle. Weight changes
can be also be due to stress, illness, exercise, and medication. Sometimes women can actually feel
themselves ovulating, but it isn't usually described as "stinging" or
painful. However, this would not explain the stinging you feel in your
legs. I do not know what this could be, you should really talk to your
health care provider. Spotting can mean several things, including an STI, pregnancy, something related to hormonal birth control, or something else. Spotting is a symptom that could be a sign of gonorrhea/chlamydia. If you have not already been tested, it's a good idea for anyone sexually active to get a test for those STIs. You also want to keep up to date on your pap smears (generally, paps are recommended annually). Also, if you had intercourse, you can take a pregnancy test (10 days after intercourse). Spotting sometimes occurs during pregnancy. It doesn’t sound like you
are on hormonal birth control, but if you are, sometimes spotting
between periods is normal. Ask the person who prescribed you
pills/patch/ring/etc if spotting continues past three cycles. If you get
breakthrough bleeding, use a backup method (ie condoms) while you’re
bleeding and for 7 days afterward. If you are on birth control pills and taking them correctly, periods are usually more regular. If you are sexually active, it’s good to do pregnancy tests and STI tests to check on your reproductive health. If you are not on hormonal birth control, then it is normal for periods to vary for many women. Periods can be late for a whole variety
of reasons. For some women, it’s normal to have irregular periods.
Stress, change in diet, travel, heavy exercise, drastic weight change,
illness, breastfeeding, pregnancy, drugs/medications are other reasons
why your period is “not on time.” Fingering yourself is unlikely to be
related to why you are “late.” A woman who knows her cycle to always be
regular and predictable is a lucky one… however, if this is not your
case, just remember, you’re not alone! You can always talk to your
health care provider if this becomes a bigger concern. If you are around
your period, it can be normal menstrual bleeding. If there is trauma to
the vagina due to nails or sex toys or sex, that can be normal. Small
bleeding that can result from those activities usually goes away on its
own. You should get
regular testing for STIs (sexually transmitted infections) if you are
sexually active with other partners, as bleeding can also be a sign of
an STI. If your worried about cutting yourself with your nails, just
make sure to trim your nails, and always wash your hands. Lube can also
help reduce friction. The older the blood, the
darker it is and it can even be brown in color. The faster the flow of
your period, the brighter red in color the menstrual blood can be.
Sometimes a woman's period can vary in flow. You situation can be
entirely normal but you should make sure if you’re sexually active that
you are up to date on your pap smear and STI (sexually transmitted
infection) testing.
Sounds like you should see your health care provider. It is possible you
may have an STI or a type of vaginitis.
Questions about seeing Gynecologists or other Health Care Providers I really want you to share what I'm about to write out to who gave you your information about gynecologists. It sounds like they have given you some inaccurate information that has unnecessarily freaked you out. On the whole, gynecologists don't use too many "machines". In fact, I'm not sure what you are referring to at all.
I'm wondering if you might be referring to a
A speculum does not "make your vagina bigger" or at all affect the permanent characteristics of your vagina. All it does is temporarily open your vagina, so the gynecologist can see inside. Condoms are effective methods of birth control, and if it makes you more comfortable to use condoms at first and then get fit for the diaphragm, that's fine. Condoms are effective at birth control without spermicide, but if you will feel more comfortable using spermicide with the condoms, then go ahead and do that. SIDE NOTE: We here at the Emma Goldman Clinic now recommend that women do not use spermicide at all. Spermicides are harsh chemicals. As well as destroying sperm, they also irritate if not degrade the inside of your vagina. This leaves women more prone to sexually transmitted infections or other vaginal infections.
My opinion is that you should go to the gynecologist before having sex
solely for the reason that you have a whole lot of questions about sex,
birth control, diaphragms, spermicide, vaginas, etc. and you need
someone that you can sit down and have a long conversation with. They
will be able to give you answers that are personalized to your
individual circumstances and medical history. Maybe you can even just
ask them over the phone what they will fit you with a diaphragm while
you are still a virgin, or if they think that you should have sex first.
You seem to have a whole lot of questions, and I think it will help you
to talk to someone in person.
"What do they do when you get a pap
smear?" Usually a pap smear is a part of a whole "yearly" exam. So, at this exam, as well as the pap, they will also do a pelvic exam (two fingers from one hand in your vagina and the other hand pressing on your abdomen to check your uterus and ovaries). If you ask them they can usually check for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the same time. A pap smear checks for cervical cancer, it does not check for any STIs. They also usually do a breast exam, and sometimes they check your breathing and lymph nodes. The pap smear itself is 4 steps. The first step is they use what looks like a giant Q-tip to wipe extra discharge off your cervix. The second is they use a tool that usually looks like a little spatula to rub the surface of your cervix and get cervical cells from that. The next step is they use a small brush and rub that just inside the opening of your cervix. Sometimes women feel a small cramp when that happens. After that, the last step depends on which kind of pap smear they are doing (there's 2 to choose from). With one test they rub the spatula and the brush on a slide (hence the "smear" name), or with the other one they swoosh both items in a chemical solution.
During the pap smear test they are collecting cells from your cervix
which are sent off to see if any of the cells are cancerous. Cervical
cancer is very common among young women, so it is important to get this
test done. It's important to find a gynecologist that you like and
trust. Try asking girlfriends where they go so you can get some
recommendations. If you're in the Iowa City area, you can visit us here
at the Emma Goldman Clinic. Give us a call (toll-free) 1800-848-7684.
Generally doctors do ask this, or at least it comes up in the
conversation, because the most common reason to be on birth control is
sexual activity. There are times where a woman who is not sexually
active will be prescribed birth control pills, because the hormones can
be used to regulate irregular periods and other conditions. Most health
care providers, especially in the context of a gynecological exam, will
ask about sexual history, because a woman who has sex with only men will
have different health needs than a woman who has sex with men and women,
or a woman who only has sex with women, or someone who completely
abstains with sex. This is information that is very important for your
health care provider to give you the best possible care. If you are not
comfortable enough with your physician to disclose this information, you
should find a physician that you can be comfortable with.
First, these descriptions are what exams are like here at the Emma Goldman Clinic. If you go to any other clinic, things may be a little different. Second, I'm going to describe a couple of different exams that you may get. The first will be just a STI testing exam, and then will be a more "yearly"-like exam. If you come in here to get a STI screening, you will take off your pants, and the nurse will start by doing a visual exam (just looking). This is to check for sores that could indicate herpes or HPV (human papillomavirus, genital warts) infection. Next the nurse will most likely do the test for chlamydia and gonorrhea. These are very common among young people, and here in Iowa, the test is free to people under 25. The test involves inserting a swab into the penis (one swab does the two tests). As part of our male exams the nurse also instructs the man how to do a testicular self-exam to check for testicular cancer (a relatively common cancer in young men). What else happens depends on what you want to happen. You can have a small amount of blood drawn to test for hepatitis and syphilis. You can also have the HIV test run, which is a oral test. For that you just put this salty, cotton swab in your mouth. Each additional test does have an extra cost. When you call to make your appointment, ask the scheduler how much extra these run. For women, their yearly exams involve a pap smear, which is test to screen for cervical cancer. They also get a pelvic exam, in which the nurse feels the woman's abdomen to check the size and placement of the uterus and ovaries. They also receive a breast exam, and the nurse listens to their breathing, heartbeat, and checks their lymph nodes. If you were to schedule a physical with the nurse, she could check your breathing, heartbeat, and lymph nodes as well, and just make this visit your physical for the year. What happens at men's exams that rarely happens with women's exams, is it's common to get a rectal exam. This involves the nurse putting a finger into your anus to check your prostate. Being that you're 18 years old you most likely do not need this. This is most often used only if the man has symptoms.
What may be a good option for you is to schedule for the STI screening
exam, but maybe tell the scheduler that you have a lot of questions for
the nurse. That way they can schedule more time for you to ask these
questions. You can ask her if she thinks that you need to do the more
involved exam, and the rectal exam. You can also ask her questions about
your risks to determine what STI tests you should have run. Definitely
do not be shy about asking the nurse questions, that's what she's there
for.
"Should I go in for a pap smear if I've been masturbating frequently?" You should avoid putting anything in your vagina for 24-48 hours before you get a pap smear, or generally get a gynecological exam. Putting anything in your vagina can make the area look more red, and can make it look like something is wrong. Anything includes, but is not limited to: fingers, penis, tampons, sex toys, douching, and anything.
Masturbating isn't a risk factor for an abnormal pap smear, so
masturbating by itself isn't a reason to get one. Generally women should
get a pap smear and a general gynecological exam once they become
sexually active, or around the age of 18, whichever comes first. After
that, they should get them as often as their gynecologist recommends
(usually once every one to three years).
You are correct. It is generally recommended that women start seeing a gynecologist every year if they are sexually active. What happens at these yearly visits is they do a pelvic examination (they put a finger in your vagina to feel your cervix, while their other hand feels your uterus through your abdomen) to make sure your uterus and ovaries are of normal size and shape. They also run a pap smear, which screens for cervical cancer (common among sexually-active women). It is also common do do a breast check, as well as check your breathing and heartbeat, since this is most women's physical exam for the year. Once you have a pap smear you can get on hormonal birth control if you wish, and your physician can talk over your options with you. Each state (and country) has their own rules regarding whether or not minors have to tell their parents if they use birth control, or see whichever doctor. In Iowa parents do not have to be notified if their daughter chooses to see a gynecologist (or any physician), or if she chooses to use any kind of birth control. Underage women do have a significant disadvantage in that they rarely have the financial resources to pay for these services without a parent's help. At the Emma Goldman Clinic we have reduced rates for women under 18 to help meet this need. If you are outside the area, you can try calling around to local reproductive health care clinics to see if they have any reduced rates. Also, talk to friends that are sexually active. Ask where they go, or what places they have heard good things about. That way it can be a bit easier to find a gynecologist you feel comfortable with (very important). If you're nervous about going to the gyno for the first time, you can see if any of your friends need to go, and you can schedule your appointments right next to each other. That way both of you have the moral support. At the Emma Goldman Clinic, and many other reproductive health clinics, we also see men for physicals and STI/HIV screening. You could see if your boyfriend wants to schedule his appointment at the same time.
You may also want to look into using insurance if you have it. Try
calling the customer service number on your insurance card to see how
much they cover gynecological services. Then ask them about keeping your
medical records confidential. Every health care consumer in the country
has the right to have their records kept confidential, even from the
holders of their insurance policy. Ask the customer service
representative about this and they will be able to give you more
information about how their company does this, and what the insurance
statements that your parents get will look like.
"I don't want to get pelvic exams during
my pregnancy until I go into labor. Can a doctor refuse me as a patient
for this reason?" I'm not sure if you're trying to ask a legal question, and if that's the case then we cannot help you. We aren't in Massachusetts (Iowa, actually), and we're not lawyers. Generally a pelvic exam is done at every visit during pregnancy to make sure that the uterus is growing at the proper rate. An ultrasound will tell the size of the fetus, but it's not good at telling the size of the uterus. This physician probably feels that to give you the best possible care they need to give you a pelvic exam, and thus they probably feel that they cannot give you proper care if you refuse to allow them to examine you. They may decide that you both will be better off if you find another physician that feels more comfortable in this situation. I'm not sure that you will be able to find a provider that will be OK with you not receiving pelvic exams. Health care providers generally don't do those exams for fun; they do them because they are necessary.
I don't know why you don't want to have a pelvic exam. If this is a
religious issue that you have, then I recommend that you speak with one
of your clergy members. They can either refer you to a health care
provider that will be understanding about these beliefs, or they will
help you with your denomination's beliefs regarding pelvic examinations.
If these are more personal issues, like you just don't like pelvic
exams, I think you should talk to someone about this. For the optimal
health of both you and your child, it's important that you get all the
care that you need.
Pelvic exams can be uncomfortable for many reasons, especially the first
time you have one done. The best way to make yourself more comfortable
is to be open with your practitioner about what you are feeling during
the exam. Many practitioners will use smaller speculums if they know
you are uncomfortable or have never had a pelvic exam before. A small
amount of bleeding following a pap smear or speculum exam is normal, but
this does not indicate whether or not your hymen was broken.
“Are school nurses able to
give Pap smears?” It's great that you're thinking about this important test. Pap smears involve collecting a small sample of cells from your cervix. This preparation is then sent to a laboratory and examined for cancerous or pre-cancerous cells.
Student health clinics at universities and colleges sometimes offer pap
smears. Most high school/junior high/elementary school nurses in the US
do not provide reproductive health care. You can certainly ask the
nurse at your school whether that service is provided. If not, s/he
should be able to give you a list of health clinics in your area where
you can get a Pap smear.
“Is
it ok, to have an annual pap smear, like a day or so after your
menstrual period?”
It is best to have a pap smear at a point
in your cycle when you are not bleeding. In a pap smear, sample blood
cells can obscure cervical cells and make the test difficult for the lab
technician to read.
Questions about Yeast Infections The over-the-counter yeast infection medications should still work, even when you're on your period. Just to make sure, you should read all the instructions that comes with the medication before starting it.
Many women choose to wait until their
period is finished, just because yeast infection medications tend to be
a bit messy, and they don't want to combine that with the "mess" of
their period. However, there's no medical reason to wait to treat the
yeast infection. Especially if your yeast infection is severe, you may
not want to wait a few more days. You can also ask the pharmacist or
your health care provider if they have any suggestions.
Sex is NOT the only way to get a yeast infection. Women can get yeast infections from just about anything. Some women get them every time they are put on antibiotics. Others get them whenever they get stressed out. Other women get them when they wear underwear or tights made of artificial fibers, and others get them when they change laundry detergent. Guys generally don't get yeast infections as easily, but it's possible. Another possibility is that one of you did have a yeast infection, and just didn't realize it. Or one of you could be just starting to develop the yeast infection, but hadn't gotten to the point of having noticeable symptoms yet, and spread it to the other person during that time. It is not a bad idea for you both to go in and get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. It's a possibility that you have another infection that just looks like yeast.
Occasionally people will be allergic to their partners, but this is
INCREDIBLY RARE. If you continue to have frequent infections or
strange reactions after sex, you should get this checked out with your
health care provider. In the meantime, you should probably quit having
unprotected sex. This will help eliminate the possibility of passing
infections between you two.
"Can I masturbate with rubber gloves on while I have a yeast infection?" Can you masturbate if you have a yeast infection? There are a couple concerns to take into account about masturbating while you have an active yeast infection. The first is that masturbating could increase the irritation that the yeast infection has caused. The second is that you could very easily spread yeast to other areas of your body. It would be very easy to spread the infection to the outside areas of the vagina, such as the clitoris, which would make any irritation that you are experiencing from the infection more intense. You can also spread it to places like your mouth if you don't wash your hands well (or remove the gloves). If you decide to use the rubber gloves, make sure you throw them away afterwards and not to reuse them.
On the whole, it's probably best to just
wait until the yeast infection is cured. With treatment that you can
either buy at the drug store or get from your health care provider, it
usually takes less than one week.
("Thrush" is a British term for yeast infection.) I know gynecological doctor's visits can be very embarrassing and intimidating, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go. If you're not 3000% sure of what infection you have, you should go see a doctor before you try to self-treat it (including over-the-counter medications). It's important to look at your vagina as just another body part. If you had an infection in your throat you'd go see the doctor, and an infection in your vagina shouldn't be treated any differently. I know it's really embarrassing to go to the gynecologist, especially the first few times you go, but it's really important. I'm not sure what laws are like in Britain, but here in Iowa, a teenager doesn't have to get their parent's permission to see a doctor, especially for routine visits like this.
Yeast infections/thrush can be sexually transmitted, but there's lots of
other ways to get it. Changes in diet, or medications can cause it to
flare up, as can things as trivial as changing laundry soap.
I have been diagnosed with candiditis a month ago, I was treated for 3 days I got better but I had sex 2 days later and it was still painful. NOW, I have a greenish thick discharge that seems to be getting worse, it' s not too foul, but it itches and burns, but now when I urinate. Could I have a yeast infection or trichomoniasis or whatever it is? :) Your reply would help me go see a doctor, I’m shy about it since my female gyno isn't in the country." -Ray It’s possible you
may have a yeast infection or trichomoniasis. We can’t diagnose you
without seeing you. Whatever it is, something is going on and you should
see a doctor.
“Can a woman get a yeast infection
somewhere other than the vaginal area? For example, under the breasts or
above hairline of vagina?”
Late periods can be caused by a number
of things including: pregnancy, irregular menstrual cycles, medication,
stress, or other health factors. However, it's not likely to be caused
by a yeast infection.
"If I have a yeast
infection and am on my period can I still wear a tampon?" Yes, although
oftentimes the vagina is inflamed due to the yeast infection and it can
be painful to insert a tampon.
General Sex Questions First of all, you CAN get sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from oral sex. Pretty much anytime you exchange fluids with another person, even kissing, you can also exchange viruses and bacteria. Herpes, genital warts, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and other STIs can all be transmitted with oral sex. It's just as important to use condoms and dental dams to prevent STIs during oral sex as it is to use condoms during anal and vaginal sex.
We can't diagnose any condition via the
internet, so I really think you should go and get seen by your health
care provider. There are a lot of infections that could have those
symptoms; some are sexually transmitted (like chlamydia or gonorrhea)
and some usually aren't (urinary tract infections can be cause by sexual
activity or they can just happen). You should go in and get seen as soon
as possible to get this taken care of. Whether you have a bladder,
urinary tract, or sexually transmitted infection it's important that you
get it treated quickly. Leaving any infected untreated can cause
permanent problems to your body.
"How safe is it to use lotion as a lubricant when masturbating?" I'm sure that it would depend on the lotion. We wouldn't recommend using anything with fragrances in it, since that can irritate sensitive genital tissues. You also shouldn't use anything with antibiotic properties.
Lotions generally aren't recommended as
lubricants for sex, since the oils in the lubricants can damage latex
condoms. If you are using any sex toys, you should read any packaging or
speak with the people who sold the toy to you to see if lotion would
damage the toy. Generally, you're probably better off going and getting
a product that is meant to be used as a sexual lubricant. Any drugstore
(the online drugstores too) will carry at least one of these, if not
several. The most common name-brands would be KY-jelly, Sippery Stuff,
or Astroglide and there are MANY others. Since they are meant for this
use, there will be less possibility for irritation, they will do a
better job lubricating, and you can use them for sex with another person
as well.
"Could having an orgasm too frequently
injure or hurt my body?"
No. The only problem we could come up with is other women who do not
have many orgasms becoming incredibly jealous of you. Have fun!
Right now, the best things on the market are some over the counter sexual enhancement creams and lubricants. These work by enhancing sensation, most by causing a warming sensation. As with all over the counter products they rarely come with guarantees, so this may be a lot of experimenting with different products. Right now there are a couple different drugs working their way through the FDA approval process that are being toted as the "female Viagra", but they have not been approved as of yet. When they do come on the market they will be prescription medications that you need to see your health care provider to get. It can also be helpful to try working on imagination and fantasies to increase desire. When you do start having sex again, it is important to start slow. With women well past menopause it is common to have vaginal atrophy, especially if it has been a long time since you were last sexually active. So it is very important to use A LOT of lubricants. It also can be very helpful to try smaller objects, like fingers or small sex toys, in the vagina before you work up to a penis. Some older women find sex very painful, even with smaller objects and lots of lube. You may want to try a variety of sexual positions until you find something that is comfortable for you. To deal with vaginal atrophy there are also hormonal options. For instance, estrogen creams can be used to help, but these are available only by prescription and you have to see your health care provider to get these. It is also important to be safe about sexually transmitted infections. Seniors aren't immune to these conditions, and in fact they have started to be come a fast growing group for transmission. This is largely due to people neglecting safe sex post-menopause since they can't get pregnant, and because people are living longer with conditions like HIV. Make sure that you and your partner get tested regularly, and to always use safe sex. Hopefully, all this
hasn't scared you off. There is a lot of experimenting to find what
works best for you. Try to keep your partner involved as much as you
can. Good luck!
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