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Anonymous
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 What's with my uterus?
#8328650 - 04/25/08 09:38 PM |
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I finished my usual 5 day menstrual cycle exactly a week ago. It was more sluggish than usual and on the last day it was kind of brownish and even less volume than usual. For the last 3 or 4 days I've had a little bit of brownish discharge that seems to be stagnant old menstrual fluid mixed in with thick but otherwise fairly normal discharge. What's with that? I can't remember this ever happening in the past. I'd really like to understand the cause as well as how to get things moving properly. Anyone?
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 OwMyHead
Village eediyot
  
Registered: 04/11/08
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Last seen: 1 hour, 19 minutes
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Hm. I've had this happen on occasion and it wasn't anything alarming; it was worse on certain kinds of birth control, and it always sort of naturally cleaned up on its own.
There is the chance it could be hormone related, particularly if you're on some sort of birth control. It could be infection related (everything from a yeast infection to an STD). It could even be latent breakthrough bleeding (irritation of the vaginal tissues due to infection, fluctuating hormone levels, rough sex, insufficient stimulation, insufficient or inappropriate lubricatoin (glycerin based lubes are the death of me) or even an allergic reaction to a condom, lubricant, tampon, even your partner's semen.
So, in short, it could be something z0mg!serious, and it could be nothing.
I know that I had an instance a few years ago where I was passing really dark (black) clots at random for several months and tried to get a GYN to even pay attention, and they basically said "oh, don't worry about it", although it hadn't happened before and I was quite seriously worried about it.
A little more information may be helpful.
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Anonymous
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I'm not overly concerned about it because it doesn't seem like it's dangerous or anything, it's just unusual and I have a VERY usual cycle. I'm not on birth control and never have been aside from one week five years ago so it's not that. I don't think it's a yeast infection because I'm mildly yeasty most of the time and it's never resulted in stagnant menstruation. I'm certain it's not STD related because aside from recently, I haven't had sex in a year and before that one night stand it had been several months as well, and I always use condoms anyways. Perhaps it has something to do with having had sex again? I haven't had a lot of it and it wasn't rough but it's the only thing related to my cooch that's changed at all. Since I hadn't had sex in awhile my vag was tight enough that it was uncomfortable at first and there might have been some very mild tearing, but that was at least a week before my period and here we are a week after it. That shouldn't have any effect on menstruation anyways (which was sluggish,) even if it did explain the presence of stagnant blood in my vag. I'm not allergic to condoms and I haven't come in contact with lube, tampons or semen.
Maybe it's due to a hormonal fluctuation brought on by being aroused much more frequently than usual (new partner)... but it seems counterintuitive that being turned on would slow down my reproductive system. It seems like it should kick it up a notch, if anything. Also, I've never noticed a correlation between being sexually active and changes in menstruation. So I'm still stumped. Maybe it's nutritional? I have a feeling I'm anaemic again, and possibly deficient in other things. That probably makes the most sense.
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OwMyHead
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I can't even begin to speculate (and shouldn't anyway) on whether or not you're anemic without having some idea of your medical history and recent blood tests.
But it's entirely possible that you've recently built up an intolerance to latex, and/or to nonoxynol-9, which is the so called "spermicidal lubricant" that is actually an industrial grade detergent and was approved by the FDA in the first place because it was "proven" to reduce the transmission of HIV. Not only is it utterly ineffective as a lubricant (would you use anti-bacterial soap as a lubricant? Tide? Lysol? I think not!), it actually significantly INCREASES transmission of HIV because of all the irritation it causes to mucus membranes, and is an abysmal spermicide. Why the hell it's still allowed on condoms, I haven't a clue.
My recommendation is this: go to either a dry condom paired with a dimethicone based lubricant, or stringently read the label of the condom, and *make sure* it doesn't contain nonoxynol-9 or say "spermicidal lubricant" on it. (There are lubricated condoms that don't use that shit).
Try that and let us know?
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Brainiac
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I'm a guy so I really don't know much about that area...
But one way to tell if it's latex..Is to buy some latex gloves and ware them for some time..If a rash appears then you know..
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I wear latex gloves at work and they don't bother me.
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OwMyHead
Village eediyot
Registered: 04/11/08
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Last seen: 1 hour, 19 minutes
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It could still be the lubricant, or whatever.
I can wear latex gloves, but I can't use latex condoms, so I wouldn't swear that's a good way to rule out a latex sensitivity. Your hands are not mucus membranes, after all. 
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Well, it's cleared up now. I have a feeling it was just a shift in hormone levels. I'm just curious as to what woud cause that to happen when I'm usually so regular and haven't made any unprecedented changes in habit. Hmm... one more baffling mystery to ponder on...
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 mushbaby
in flux
Registered: 09/30/06
Posts: 1,982
Loc: in the garden
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I think it sounds fairly normal. Occassionally I'll have one like that. It's one of the few times I'll use a douche. My guess is that it's just slow coming out, you know how blood turns dark.
I'd be more worried about the being "yeasty" part if you are like that all the time. I tend to be moist most of the time but that's not the same as yeasty.
Maybe start taking acidophilus to help with that.
But of course go see a Dr. if anything seriously worries you. But your cycles will change a little over the years.
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Maybe - and that's final.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Yeah, I try and take acidophilus for my yeastiness but I forget most of the time! It's not overt, but once in awhile a slight twinge of yeasty itch will flare up. I've only ever had a full on yeast infection once or twice. I definitly should get on the acidophilus though.
I'm also quite certain that you're right that it was just slow menstrual blood, which is why it was dark, but I was just curious about what would have triggered the variation in horomone levels.
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OwMyHead
Village eediyot
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I think what I was told when I asked the doctor the same question was "this is not fully understood".  Which sounds an awful lot to me like "we don't know and it's not worth it to us to find out".
But, whatever. I'm glad it's cleared up.
You do know you can get well-woman care at Planned Parenthood, right? Without insurance?
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
OwMyHead said:
I think what I was told when I asked the doctor the same question was "this is not fully understood". Which sounds an awful lot to me like "we don't know and it's not worth it to us to find out".
But, whatever. I'm glad it's cleared up.
You do know you can get well-woman care at Planned Parenthood, right? Without insurance?
Ah, that's annoying. I'd be really interested in understanding the subtle intricacies of my body and it'd be nice if the studies would get done so that I could have all my questions answered!
That's cool that Planned Parenthood has that stuff, but lucky for me I'm Canadian so I can go to a doctor any time I please, for free. The only reason I didn't go was because I know they would have told it it was normal and kicked me out the door the second I asked my question. Yargh!
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OwMyHead
Village eediyot
Registered: 04/11/08
Posts: 155
Last seen: 1 hour, 19 minutes
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Yargh indeed. I mean, if you bleed every 28.5 days like clockwork for 5 days (for example), and then you randomly start bleeding at other times or longer times or bleed for longer or shorter, AT THE VERY LEAST you'd think they'd want to do an exam/check for STD/some other infection and bloodwork.
Man, you go in with that shit and they're like "quit bugging me". THE GYNECOLOGIST!!! WTF?!?
*flail*
(This would be why I haven't gone in *cough*fouryears*cough*)
>.>
(Don't try this at home, kids . . . these people are trained professionals!)
<.<
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TheHappyHippies
Dick Hippie
Registered: 05/07/08
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Last seen: 23 days, 12 hours
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Your age may be relevant here. During the major life cycle of all women, menstruation patterns differ. Sometimes the change between major stages can be drawn out over years, sometimes it is an instant switch. Of course, this only a possible answer, there are so many reasons cycles differ.
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recycledsoul
Stranger
Registered: 05/06/08
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Last seen: 1 month, 15 days
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do some yoga. this will help balance your hormones and shorten your period and make you happy during it
i reccomend kundalini yoga but all are beneficial.
read the precautions beforehand
http://anmolmehta.com/blog/classes-online/
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Listen to what the universe wants you to do, be happy
listen to what the mind wants you to do, be miserable
just be Here. Reality as it is, dont change it as you would like it to be, just observe, no repression, no expression
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adrug
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Your cycle is not set in stone. Changes are not necessarily a sign of health problems. If your gynecologist doesn't feel its necessary to do any tests, then it seems like you should stop worrying.
I've had times in my life where my period was extremely regular, and then other times where it was highly erratic. There was nothing wrong with me.
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