The Girly Thread

Yeah I'm out of gynecological adventures for now, maybe next year.

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Paloma

Ah man, I'm just about to start bleeding again. I just got put back on birth control so it's not that bad. I had to get my gynecological exam done so I could get it again. That **** is so awkward, the first time I had one I'd eaten burritos before the appointment, so my legs are all up in the m stirrups and I'm trying to hold in a ****ing fart.

About the Pill:

Do you worry much about the risks of birth control hormones? I've never used the pill and avoided it because I don't want to change my hormone levels and increase certain cancer risks. Here's a quote about oral contraceptives (OCs) and cancer:

The risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers is reduced with the use of OCs, while the risk of breast and cervical cancers is increased.

A 1996 analysis of worldwide epidemiologic data conducted by the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer found that women who were current or recent users of birth control pills had a slightly elevated risk of developing breast cancer. The risk was highest for women who started using OCs as teenagers. Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk: Q & A - National Cancer Institute

Also, I'm concerned about the effect of The Pill on women's libido. I have another question for all you pill-users: what effect does the Pill have on sexual desire? I usually assume the pill reduces sexual desire or libido, based on what I've read. Here's a disturbing article about long-term effects of the pill on sexual desire: Less Sexual Desire After The Pill? - CBS News.

Originally Posted by Paloma

Yeah I'm out of gynecological adventures for now, maybe next year.

Gynecological Adventures:

Here are some of my thoughts on gynecological adventures, Tumor (still have to look up that religious anti-lust book).

I don't know which would be worse...having a gynecological exam, or (for men) having some doctor or nurse stick her/his fingers up the rectum to feel the prostate. In both cases, holding in a burrito fart would probably be uncomfortable! I wonder...do you think men like having a prostate exam? The feeling I get is that they feel it is kind of humiliating.

I don't like the part of the gynecological exam where the midwife/doctor does the PAP smear test by taking a cervix sample: it causes a little sting. Also, having a metal speculum up one isn't pleasurable, though it doesn't hurt. I appreciate it when the midwife warms up the speculum first!

Whenever I have a PAP smear, I ask the medical professional if causing a small cervix wound, leading to cell division to fix the wound, increases the chance of cervical cancer. Apparently it doesn't.

I don't know, though, why they bother checking for cervical cancer, since if I don't have the virus that increases cervical cancer risk (and I don't), then the risk is very low!

The part of the gynecological exam I dislike the most is putting your feet on the stirrups. It kind of gives me a helpless feeling, like I'm not in control...the stirrups are. I don't like that helpless feeling. I had one midwife, though, who I think understood that, because she put little sock puppets over the stirrups you rest your feet on. That was funny! And soft.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

I had one midwife, though, who I think understood that, because she put little sock puppets over the stirrups you rest your feet on. That was funny! And soft.

That's hilarious. What were they? For some reason I'm picturing Ernie and Bert.

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Paloma

Nah I'm not too worried about it, I got put on birth control because I had really long periods, like for a whole month one time and it was awful, so I finally got up the courage to ask my mother to take me in to be put on it. What really pisses me off is how close minded she was about it! Jeez mom, you'd rather I be pregnant? ffs. The pill doesn't have any effect on my sexual desire, but one of the symptoms of my mental illness is hypersexuality :P so that may have something to do with it not changing

I had a friend who has used the Pill for years for a similar reason: I think it helps reduce painful symptoms of endometriosis. I'd be pissed off, too, if my mom were closed-minded about using the Pill. I'm glad it doesn't seem to affect your sexual desire negatiavely! Huh...I wonder what "standard" is being used to judge whether someone is considered hypersexual or not?

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

How strange it is that the pill began as a symbol of women's empowerment. It seems like it's far less popular today than thirty years ago.

You are right that The Pill was a symbol of women's empowerment because back then you couldn't get abortions, or only with a husband's signature. Having control over our sexuality and when we have kids or don't is fundamental to our human rights. The Pill is nice because it puts women in charge of procreative decisions.

However, I think eventually women figured out...hey...wait a minute...why isn't there a MALE oral contraceptive pill?! Why do we have to mess with *our* hormones? Also, the Pill does nothing to protect from sexually transmitted diseases, so it isn't all that great. You've really got to have the man use a condom for safety.

Originally Posted by Janszoon

That's hilarious. What were they? For some reason I'm picturing Ernie and Bert.

Ha ha! I know there were two faces on them, so you squashed your feet right on top of their faces! Take THAT, little puppet people!!! It was like therapy, Janszoon.

I actually think one was a woman and one was a man, so probably not Ernie and Bert. They had string hair and noses that were a little lumpy under my heels. That was the only drawback.

[Janszoon]

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Ha ha! I know there were two faces on them, so you squashed your feet right on top of their faces! Take THAT, little puppet people!!! It was like therapy, Janszoon.

I actually think one was a woman and one was a man, so probably not Ernie and Bert. They had string hair and noses that were a little lumpy under my heels. That was the only drawback.

That is seriously one of the funniest mental images ever. I'm trying to imagine how something that entertaining could be worked into a prostate exam as well, but all I can picture is a latex glove colored to look like a turkey, sort of like those drawings you do in kindergarten.

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

That is seriously one of the funniest mental images ever. I'm trying to imagine how something that entertaining could be worked into a prostate exam as well, but all I can picture is a latex glove colored to look like a turkey, sort of like those drawings you do in kindergarten.

Seeing a man getting a latex gloved finger colored to look like a turkey stuck up his rump would certainly get a chuckle out of me! I know if *I* had a prostate and needed a prostate exam, *I'd* appreciate the humor of a turkey finger.

Maybe they could give you a choice of latex finger "puppets" you'd like to have give you the exam! That would certainly make prostate exams more interesting, wouldn't it?

[Janszoon]

I just came across this turkey glove and thought I'd share. I love the expression on its face. Probably not something you could use for a prostate exam though.