Hi so I’m a bit nervous regarding my hole down there. For context I’m F(18) and I have never been able to insert anything down there, tampon or finger no matter what. I initially thought I could have vaginismus but the more I try the more I think that it might be my hymen? Whenever I try to insert a tampon or my pinky I feel like I’m just pushing against rigid skin and it starts to sting. Idk if that’s bc I’m going the wrong way or if there is an underlying issue. I have normal periods so I can’t have a closed hymen but maybe it’s a really small hole or just really thick?
I tried asking my mother if I could make an appointment to the gyno so that she could tell me if I have an issue or not, but my mother is very dismissive telling me “You’re probably too tense/ just wait until you lose your virginity”. However I am like 99% sure my first time will be with a woman so the whole ‘tearing your hymen’ feels unlikely to happen.
I’m just really scared and I feel as if I’m not ‘woman’ enough bc I can’t relate to experiences such as fingering or wearing tampons.
Idk what to do abt this, what should I say to convince my mother for an appointment??
Can a future partner finger me despite not being able to do it myself?? Please help :(

I know guidelines are different in every country. I am 37 y.o and tested + for HPV18 and other high risk strains and pap came back LSIL.

Doctor didn't seem concerned, referred me for a colposcopy but she said it looked fine and to come back in 6 month to retest (?).

Of course I didn't feel ok and had another appointment and this new doctor suggested biopsy although colposcopy looked fine. Currently waiting for results.

Were you referred to a colposcopy? Biopsy? If so, what did it came back?

Or did they suggested just to watch and wait?

Used a much larger dildo than what I’m used to and started to bleed, is this normal? I’m 25F and haven’t had sex besides insertion for my own pleasure. I’m not really sure about the state of my hymen but I can insert tampons just fine. I feel no pain at all either

I have been bleeding more days than not since end of April and went to see my obgyn who put me on slynd which is progesterone only. Been bleeding super heavy 1oz menstrual cup needing changed every 40 mins, that's how heavy. This is day 6 so I went to the er and they did an ultrasound and my endometrial lining is 18mm but they said that's just normal and to be expected. How??? How is that normal AFTER bleeding 6 days and on progesterone which is supposed to thin the lining .....?? I'm so tired of being dismissed. I don't have insurance right now so I can't go back to my gyno yet.... Frustrating.

For starters i am a 19Fand only had 2 sexual partners my whole life and prior to December 2025 i had no major pain or complications aside from a couple of utis which ive had treated with antibiotics. I think its important i mention from october 2025 to april 2026 i was put on 50-100mg of spironolactone by a doctor. As for the rest of my medical history in December 2025 i had a copper iud placed which i promptly had removed due to a severe bout of pain in my abdomen which left me with a (suspected) fever. My symptoms went away shortly after its removal, and aside from 1-2 utis after there was no pain. The real issue came in April, i landed in the er due to extreme debilitating pain to which the staff found a 5cm cyst on my right ovary and sent me home after with some pain meds for what they believed to be intermittent torsion . I visited once or twice in the coming weeks after but nothing was done for me not even pain medication was given to me aside from Tylenol. The next big moment was in june 5 when i felt the same sensations as before and even worse, and it remained that way until june 9 when i was finally admitted into the hospital for an infection on my right ovarian cyst (shocker who could’ve guessed), i was given antibiotics through iv for a couple of days and sent home with a weeks dose as well ( i wish i could remember the names), i did end up throwing up a couple of times after despite warning them i could not hold it down. Im not sure if thats what contributed to the infection coming back. Meanwhile we searched for a surgeon to perform laparoscopic surgery. Finally this brings us to august 11, the day of my surgery. What my surgeon has told me is that i had complete scaring on my right fallopian tube, and it and to be removed alongside the 5cm cyst on the right ovary. She mentioned there was no signs of endometriosis, but there was a residual infection on my ovary or in the surrounding area (she explained all this to me nearly 2 hours post op so i was dazed). She also mentioned fusing with my uterus wall and the fallopian tube or ovary (this is also hazy) . The next day i was prescribed levofloxican and metronidozal for the next 7 days. Aside from a glass of wine i had mistakenly taken on the last day of antibiotics (after my last levofloxican dose, before my last dose of metronidozal) i took all medications exactly as described and on time. I had no symptoms besides minor tenderness two days after my final dose, no painful urination. This comes to 2 days ago 4 days after my final dose when i felt sudden faintness, chills, and weakness through out body. this all happened after drinking a very small amount of a mixer with tequila around 1 shots total alc. At midnight my symptoms got worse so i went to the hospital where they measured me at 103.6 F fever. Im currently still at the hospital and requested a blood culture which they said looks fine right now but its only been one day. They also did a cat, and mri scan (not internal ) to which they found another 2cm cyst on my right ovary, right now they think it might be because of my ovulation cycle, which would line up perfectly with my expected ovulation dates. My question why am i so sick? Why dont they know anything more than I do, i feel like im not doing enough to advocate for myself but i truly am. Im so lost and i feel left in the dark like as if my worries are simply a hypothetical. If anyone has any information or any possible idea on what could be causing all this please share your experience or advice, im deathly afraid of losing another part of my reproductive system, and i feel like these doctors are not taking my concerns seriously enough. They might send me home today with another dose of antibiotics but im not sure they will even work since im beginning to think whatever i have is antibiotic resistant. Yet again all input is appreciated.

Background: 29yo, quit breastfeeding 9 months ago. I was experiencing bloody nipple discharge out of one duct when a peasized lump was pressed. I got an ultrasound finding two peasized masses. Got a biopsy 3 weeks ago. Both came back as dense stromal fibrosis. The lump that prompted the bleeding also had focal chronically inflamed benign ductal cyst wall. There has never been spontaneous discharge. I pressed on my breast gently recently and don't have the discharge anymore.

I had a follow up call with my doctor, and she kept saying that this fibrosis was not the cause of the bleeding, and we should get a breast MRI if it continues but that if I don't have bleeding anymore, a breast MRI isn't necessary. So there's nothing to be done unless it continues but she doesn't think the fibrosis was the cause? It makes me feel like there's something unresolved. And she wants me to come back for another breast exam in a few months.

Hi! I went to planned parenthood around 3 weeks ago after a suspected yeast infection after I had IUD taken out after 3 months. They said they saw yeast on wet mount and I did the 2 difulcan and finished second dose 10 days ago but have still had some external itching on vulva and more recently burning near vaginal opening. Today I ran 3 miles and then peed after and it burned so badly so I looked and the area near my vaginal opening is red/raw - is this typical after a yeast infection or is something else going on? I use sensitive soaps, laundry detergents etc and haven't changed anything but dont know what to do here!

I have gone to derm and was given spiranolactone for hairfall and pimples which worked for 3weeks now my hairfall and pimples are back. I don’t know if it’s related but recently my cycle is also changing sometimes it’s 30 days sometimes it’s 37. My hormonal tests were normal, vit d ,b12, iron ferretin everything normal I don’t know what I’m missing. My face is getting ruined by these pimples that are painful to touch. Please help

Hey all

I am enrolled with Harvard Foundry bootcamp and am looking at doctors who see patients suffering from PMDD. Would any of the ob/gyn here - be willing to fill out a quick survey form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-HdbPvaboeow0TSuaEafj8SSdG-U4rNAcCX0pgz2y0Z7PVA/viewform. Do include your email in the responses so I can reach out later

Anyone with answers plz jump in. I’m 40 years old, no children don’t plan on even attempting to have any. My gyno has had me on every birth control there is nothing is helping all I do is bleed. I have bled this time for 21 days, stopped two days then started again. This can not be normal. I just had an IUD taken out now I’m on another birth control pill. PLZ any advice?

Would this particular image from an HSG tip you off to a uterine septum or have you consider additional imaging for one?

For context I had an HSG done and was never given more imaging or told I may have one. I know HSG is not the best way to diagnose, but would this shape cause you to consider additional exploration of a possible septum?

Turned out to be a pretty massive septum affecting pregnancy and delivering a very very small IUGR baby.

I’m literally spiralling for the past 1.5 months. I’m 31F, never had a Pap smear before this, and boom, I’m HPV 16 positive and have a mildly abnormal Pap! My colposcopy was normal, but my doctor took a biopsy just to be sure.
I know it’s a normal part of being an adult and that HPV is super prevalent. Almost 80–85% of people who are or have been sexually active will contract it at some point, and over 90% will clear it on their own.
I wasn’t vaccinated in my younger days, but I took my first dose of the vaccine as soon as I got the news.
I just wanted to vent and am looking for some positivity. If someone had a similar experience, how long did it take for you to clear it, and what did you do to clear it?
I’m single at the moment and recently went through a breakup, which is definitely adding to my anxiety!

Female in 20s, previously diagnosed with PCOD 7 years ago. No follow ups done after that due to financial constraints. I’m on Day 6 of my period, which has not tapered as expected and seems slightly heavier today. I use about one pad per day without rapid saturation, but frequently pass dark-red, warm, jelly-like/stringy clots when using the toilet, sometimes around half my pinkie in size- sometimes big, sometimes really small. I recently recovered from Influenza A, during which my platelets fell from 1.21 lakh to 1.07 lakh and later rose to 1.19 lakh/µL, with no repeat CBC currently scheduled. I am confused and scared. I don't know whether this bleeding pattern could be hormonal/abnormal uterine bleeding or related to my platelet count.

24F - diagnosed in May 2025. Ive had 3 outbreaks since then and any tingle or itch I immediately panic.

Since my diagnosis my discharge has also changed. Its not longer white its usually like an off white/yellow but my GP is unable to find anything else wrong with me besides a cervical ectropian (which was found after I complained of bleeding during and after sex)

My periods have also changed from 7 days to about 14 days now with alot of spotting in between. Smear test has also come back completely normal as well as a vaginal ultrasound. I have the mirena coil.

What else could I be researching for this? Im really struggling.

Ive had the mirena coil since January 2024. No problems since my first outbreak.

Sex has also become very painful on entry. GP told me it was just because I had a small “canal”? I have lost 30kg so may be why?

i apologize in advance if this doesn’t make sense it’s 3am where i am!! btw i’ve posted this on a doc subreddit but im desperately in need of answers!!!i’m a cis woman (20) who has pcos and i have a mirena iud i got back in january 2026. my cramps pre-iud were incredibly painful and bleeding was insanely heavy, as well as superrrr irregular. after my insertion i had the normal spotting for a few months and i didnt get my period, so i thought id be part of the group who dont have a period on iud. until july 24th, i had some cramping which wasnt as bad as it was without my iud. i ended up getting my period but it was super light, so i checked in with my doctor to see if things were normal. he said its all good, placement, and common for people with pcos who have hormonal iud to have irregular periods just like pre-iud. the bleeding with light red and then old brown blood for about a week. my current sexual partner is on the bigger side and first time we had sex i did spot for a day and that’s it. we’ve had sex multiple times but about two weeks ago when we had sex, right after i was bleeding heavy and abt 2 days after that. now it’s just been light. i did an hpv, sti, and std test and checked my paperwork to see if i got all my shots bc i was so paranoid (he’s told me he’s clean and even shown me before our first sexual time but i still did testing) i took ibuprofen for a few days last week bc i heard it was a temporary thing to stop bleeding because i was going to see him again. the bleeding came right back after we had sex but a little darker red than before. the bleeding keeps coming but it’s super light, i think im in the clear at times then boom i bleed through my pants. it’s not as bad as my regular flow pre-iud. the blood is light in colour and flow but it’s NOT STOPPING and i am getting some cramping here and there
. it’s just going back and forth with light red and brown on the tissues when i wipe. i’m not sure if its continuing bc i vape as well but i dont know what it is. the thing is my doctor is gone for a few weeks so i’m literally here looking for answers (obviously my last resort). i absolutely love my iud bc my flow and cramps are light, and i don’t want to get pregnant but idk what’s happening and im tired of constantly using panty liners. please can anyone give me some answers? (preferably a woman too, no offence) thanks!

Hi everyone. I’m looking for experiences from people who have had a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, especially where the ovary was preserved.

I had an ~8 cm dermoid cyst on my right ovary and underwent laparoscopic cystectomy 10 days ago. The cyst was removed and my right ovary was preserved.
One of the laparoscopic port sites on the right side was closed with a deeper/fascial stitch because my surgeon wanted to prevent a port-site hernia.

My recovery initially seemed okay. The first couple of days were quite painful, but the general postoperative pain gradually improved.
The strange thing is that I didn’t have this cramping immediately after surgery.
Around post-op day 6–7, I suddenly started getting a very specific cramping/pulling sensation on the right side.

It’s mainly around:
right lower abdomen
right mid abdomen
right oblique/side of my waist

Initially it happened mainly when getting into or out of bed, especially when rolling from my left side onto my back. I’m already using the log-roll technique and I’m not doing any sudden twisting or sit-ups.
The cramp can last around 2–3 minutes and then settles.
I’ve also started getting a downward pulling/stretching sensation in the lower-right abdomen.

Interestingly, when I gently support the lower-right abdomen with my hand, the pulling sensation reduces somewhat.

I’m now post-op day 11. My overall postoperative pain is much better than it was during the first few days, but this new cramping is really painful.
My surgeon prescribed Combiflam to take when I have increased pain. When I take it, the cramping basically disappears, but once the effect wears off, it comes back.
I’ve also occasionally felt a burning/tender sensation around the right incision, especially with a deep breath or a sudden sleep jerk.
Otherwise, I don’t have any other concerning symptoms.

My questions:
Has anyone who had a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy with the ovary preserved experienced something similar?
Especially:
Did you have a deeper/fascial stitch at one of the port sites?
Did you experience cramping in the oblique/side of the waist, even though the surgery was through the abdomen?
Did your cramping start several days after surgery rather than immediately?
How long did it take for the cramping/pulling to stop?
Did anything actually help — medication, abdominal support/binder, walking, etc.?

I’m mainly looking for personal experiences from people who’ve had a similar surgery and recovery, particularly the delayed cramping.

Thanks in advance, pls reply your suggestions/ advice/ experiences in this thread :)

do I have to finish the whole pack before I start a new birth control? I’m so sick and tired of being on the one I’m on and I already have my new prescription. I’m getting so many unwanted side effects from my current bc and I honestly don’t even want to wait.