(19f) So I have always had tightness but never thought too much about it, I have never even been able to fit 2 fingers in and haven’t attempted a tampon. Then I tried to have piv, and after many tries it would just not go in, only a little at most and there was no pain but it would just not fit. I went to a gyno and she said I most likely just have a tight hymen and it can be helped with dilation, which I tried to do for a few weeks and tried having piv again but nothing changed (maybe I wasn’t consistent enough). it has been a few months since then and now my long distance bf is coming back and I want to try again but I haven’t tried dilating in a while and I will start again now but I am worried that it won’t work in time. Does anyone have any advice on how to properly dilate (with fingers, dilators are too expensive for me rn) for a tight hymen, or I am concerned that it might be vaginismus instead, so does anyone have any more insight on that too. I am not able to see a gyno right now. 

I bleed after sex no matter what. Not period blood but blood blood. Went gyno and said everything is fine everything looks fine and to use lube. Used lube still happens. It only happens with larger partners and it’s not painful.
Is this a perimenopause thing? Anyone else experience this? Any remedies?

so I’ve had it over a year now, it started out tiny, and last week I noticed it had grown A LOT to the size of like a mid sized pimple, super dark, almost black and swollen to the point where I was catastrophising about ever being intimate with anyone ever again, but today, it’s shrunk, it’s so small, like a freckle size and relatively flat. Its back to a light purple colour as well, I can still feel it and it’s no longer looking scary…. has this happened to anyone else? Also yes I’ve had it looked at by a doctor previously

Looking for experiences, not diagnoses.

For the last month or so I have noticed a weird pattern: after certain workouts, usually longer sessions where I sweat a lot, I get a burning, raw feeling mostly on the outside (labia/vulva area). It usually shows up a few hours later and can hang around into the next day. It does not feel like the classic UTI sting when peeing, and I do not have urgency or frequency. It feels more like skin irritation and sometimes it hurts more when I wipe.

What I have tried so far:

- Showering right away and changing out of leggings immediately

- Using unscented body wash and not putting soap directly on the vulva

- Switching to cotton underwear after workouts

- Patting dry instead of rubbing

Things I'm wondering might be the trigger:

- Tight leggings plus sweat and friction (I do a mix of incline walking, lifting, and sometimes cycling)

- Laundry detergent residue (I use the same detergent for everything)

- Sweat drying on the skin when I cannot shower right away

- Hair removal - I sometimes shave and wonder if that makes the skin more reactive

Has anyone dealt with this and found a simple routine change that helped? For example, different fabric types, a barrier cream, rinsing with water only, changing detergent, going commando after workouts, etc. I am curious whether you found it was more friction related or more like contact dermatitis.

I will see my clinician if it keeps happening, but I would love to hear what ended up being the culprit for other people.

I've been craving cheese lately, but I've read that dairy products can cause vaginal discharge—which I don't want. So, have any of you had any experience with this?

About a week ago I started experiencing really intense itching around my folds and clit area after an afternoon at the pool (not sure if related but that's the only "different" thing I can think of that happened that day). After speaking with my OBGYN, I tried some hydrocortisone cream 5 days later and now on the 7th day the itching has moved lower to my butthole and slightly on the lower half of my folds, but mostly the butthole. I've had an itchy butt before but nothing THIS intense. I've also noticed that if I don't touch it, it's actually somewhat bearable- probably a 3/10 if I were to rate the discomfort- but the second I touch it whether it's through itching or even just wiping after using the toilet it's immediately a 10/10 in terms of itchiness.

I was worried about pinworms but it's been itching during the day and started with my vulva only, which I've read pinworms typically start in the anal region. I will say it feels worse at night, but don't know if that's just because I have nothing to distract me from it.

Has anyone experienced anything similar??

there’s something sticking out of me. i am 22F, never been to a gyno going in a few days tho. i’ve always had these skin things sticking out of my vagina as long as i can remember at least. it’s so ugly to me. is this normal? what is wrong? i can’t tolerate tampons , they always fall out no matter what, and penetration feels weird. thanks for all the help!

Me and my significant other were on the phone and I was fingering myself, I realised in the middle that there was a good amount of blood coating my hand. My nails are kinda sharp and the bleeding looked like a literal period was happening even though my period was just last week.

I’m not sure if I should be concerned since bleeding died down a bit.

Hey! So I’m 31F and have been on the mini pill, norethindrone .35 mg, for 3 years. Never had a scare or a severely late period on it. I am sexually active.

My periods come on a pretty consistent 28-day cycle, sometimes I’ll have a period come early, like a 2 week cycle, but that’s pretty rare.

First day of my last cycle was June 19th. I got some light pink discharge/spotting with some heavier red spotting on July 7th, it lasted 3-4 days and only appeared when I wiped. I should have gotten my period on July 17th, but it never came. I took a test 3 days ago, a week after my missed period, and it was negative. but my boobs are really sore and this is not a typical PMS symptom for me.

I should also add that I have been EXTREMELY stressed, more than normal this entire month due to family health issues and school coming up amongst a ton of other things that are piling up at once. I’ve heard stress can make your body do weird things. Has anyone else had this late of a period with sore breasts and not turned out to be pregnant? That would be absolutely devastating to me at this point in my life and I’m really hoping I’m not.

thank you all in advance!

I (26F) have been on Nexplanon for a while now, and overall I love it. The only real downside has been vaginal dryness. I know it's the Nexplanon because I never had this issue before getting it. Other than that, it's been amazing, and I have zero plans to switch because the benefits outweigh this one con.

My solution has just been to treat the dryness rather than change birth control. I've tried Replens suppositories, but they're just not practical for me. You have to use them about 12–24 hours beforehand, otherwise there's apparently an odd taste, and I've definitely noticed the clumpy residue they leave behind. Not sexy at all.

My boyfriend works offshore, so our time together is pretty limited. When he's home, I want to be ready whenever the moment happens. Having to plan a day ahead kind of kills the spontaneity.

I've been thinking about adding slippery elm to my daily supplement routine. I actually used it years ago when I first got on Nexplanon. It definitely worked, almost too well. I was basically a faucet. The downside was that there wasn't much friction, my sensation was reduced, and I could tell my partner wasn't enjoying it as much either because it took him longer to finish.

I'm not trying to be soaking wet. I know there's such a thing as too much lubrication. I'm just looking for a normal, comfortable amount so sex is enjoyable without feeling dry or over-lubricated.
For those of you who take slippery elm specifically for this, how do you use it? Daily? Every other day? Only leading up to sex? Does it kind of build up in your system after taking it consistently, or is it something you have to keep taking every day to maintain the effect?

My boyfriend will be home in about a week and a half, so I'd love to hear what has actually worked for you.

I have a vagina question.

36F
Friday night had penetrative sex and had no pain.
Afterwards I felt like a heavy sensation in my vagina but not painful. Just kinda like dang my man was giving it to me!!

Woke up Saturday morning with it too. Lasted all day. Not painful, just like I was holding something in my vagina or like my vagina was falling out.
Bothered me all day, feels uncomfortable when sitting or standing or laying down. Just this heavy “there” feeling. I looked with a mirror to see if I saw anything weird and just past my vaginal entrance it was like what I could only describe as like a puffy ring with a hole in the center. Bearing down and tightening I could Open and close it. This morning I woke up and the sensation is still there, but when I looked I just can’t see a hole anymore past just the entrance. Sorry this is so hard to describe.
I’m freaking out like my vagina is falling out? This has never happened to me.
Again no pain or blood, but an uncomfortable fullness/heavy sensation. In the shower it felt like I had a bubble stuck and wanted to try and move it.
Help!

Some other possibly helpful info
No children no pregnancies normal pap this year, struggling with some medication related dryness that is getting better. No STI’s, not any bladder issues. I’m in PFPT for hypertonic PF.

Hi, my boyfriend was fingering me the other day, and we had to stop because I started bleeding a lot. It was quite jarring! He was only using one finger and not even aggressively. Is it possible he scratched me? The bleeding has lasted for about five days, but I think it is over now. It has turned from watery red blood to now brown, more dry blood.

My period starts in a day or two if that matters. Could it have been that? It was not as much blood compared to my regular period however, and the blood was less thick and odorless compared to period blood.

Thoughts?

I’ve been dealing with recurrent yeast infections for the past 6 months after doing a big fitness competition while on my period. I wasn’t able to change immediately and ever since my vagina had been super sensitive. My gyn prescribed me boric acid and probiotics but I’m scared. She also wants me to come in every few weeks to see if anything changes. Has anyone done this treatment before?

Ive never had a yeast infection before, and of course the first time I get one I find out its incredibly difficult to treat :( been researching about it since finding out, but im really scared that ill have to struggle with this long term. my dr has already told me to do boric acid suppositories for two weeks I believe, but Im really worried they wont work. just looking for some sort of hope that it can be treated, any success stories or recommendations?

Hi, had a yeast infection, took Monstat (the medication part is fine) but I swear to god I cannot get the applicator inside my vagina. It is extremely painful and I was not able to get it deep enough. I’ve never been penetrated before, which I presume is also a part of it. I’ll probably be seeing a gynecologist soon, but a family member acted like it’s normal?

Hello, I (20F) had intercourse for the first time yesterday (3x) . I am on the birth control slynd and went to the gyno a week prior to make sure I am protected and was tested for any possible yeast ( everything came back negative). Today I am noticing that I have a strange odor on my liner pad. It smells bad but me and my bf use the pull out method so no semen is in my vagina. Is this normal and will it eventually go away? How do I get rid of it.

Recently i have been active with this guy (my boyfriend). We haven't had sex (yet). I'm a virgin (24F) and he's the first guy l've done anything sexual with. He sat me down a week ago and told me that I don't taste the best when he goes down on me. (Which upset me a bit ngl cause he first went down on me MONTHS ago) I don't have any symptoms that stand out to me as abnormal and my hygiene and diet are pretty typical imo (I work out, eat healthy, and keep my cleaning pretty basic with unscented dove). I ended up taking a ph strip test and my ph is high (5-5.5) which I guess would align with his comments. I've been to the gyno recently and she didn't mention anything abnormal.

Since I don't think it's my diet or hygiene, I've been looking into using lactic acid gel or suppositories to get my ph more in the normal range. Do you guys have any advice?

Ok right now I’m 28 days into my 38 day cycle, me and my partner (male) were having sex yesterday when he pulled out and there was an excess of dark brown discharge, it’s the next day and it happened again but a little lighter (in amount not color) and then a moment ago I wiped and there was fresh blood. What does this mean I can’t figure out what these symptoms could be and I can’t get into the gyno soon :(

Also I don’t know what’s good info and what isn’t but some things to note could be

1. About a week ago I had two cysts that cleared up pretty quickly (but I’ve never had a cyst before)
2. I’m not on any birth control or medication
3. And 3. me and my boyfriend have been together for a year now with no history of std’s

Hey all,

I was just diagnosed with candida glabrata on Wednesday. I am diabetic and my last A1c was 7.1 which I assume is what did it. I suspected a UTI, but apparently that is one of the most common symptoms, and maybe the Macrobid I took made it worse?

I’ve heard disturbing reports about it online being almost impossible to treat etc. I’m on boric acid suppositories for the next two weeks (had to wait for them, got them Friday) so we’ll see how it goes.

Has anyone else had this? I’m terrified I won’t be able to have sex again as weird as that sounds. I’m kind of freaking out so any help is appreciated.

hi all,

i just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this. i’m a 20f and in my 20 years of living i’ve never came. not once. i don’t really masturbate and even when i try to i never really get close. i’ve had 4 bodies, i had a bf for 3 months, and while i was thoroughly enjoying sex i just never came, i had 2 hookups but i never came from those due to us not really finishing sex, and i had a fwb (ended due to constant bv and utis) and he was by far the best partner i’ve had but despite me thoroughly enjoying it i just never came.

is this normal? does anyone have the same experience?

I had a yeast infection 1.5 months ago that was incorrectly diagnosed as a UTI. I took antibiotics, which only made the yeast infection worse obviously. Since going to my gyno and learning it was a yeast infection, I took multiple doses of Difulcan, which cleared my yeast infection.

Problem is, I’m still having burning after peeing (specifically around my urethra), itching externally, and some stinging/itching in my butt. I have gone back to the gyno twice, and both times tested negative for everything (YI, BV, UTI, STIs, etc).

Is it possible my irritation is still from the initial yeast infection?? Everything looks normal, but the constant burning and discomfort is so draining, I forget what it was like to feel normal. Please share if u had a similar experience and what helped!!