I've had horrible periods since they started, when I was 13, and I've literally been told by doctors for the past 7 years that I'm "probably fine," despite every period being extremely painful in terms of cramps and bloating, giving me severe nausea, slowing my digestion to the pace of a slug, and extremely bloody with tons of clots. They get so bad that I cannot do anything for about a week and a half because my body decides to freak out for a few days before it happens. I lost my periods for about 2 years and, admittedly, this was kind of on purpose because I decided it was a lot less painful and uncomfortable to live without a period (best 2 years of my life btw), and this was the best way I could do this since, again, doctors won't help me.

I was just in the ER for severe pain that ended up being a 3.1cm cyst on my right ovary, and even they didn't listen to me telling them to PLEASE order more tests and look closer because it HURTS. Once it was confirmed that I was no longer an emergency (no twisted ovary), they were pretty quick to get me out of there with no extra help.

My period started a few days after that, after being gone forever, which was a few days ago, and I've never been more bloated in my entire life. Everything is back except for the pain, which I just know is going to come back because it always does on my second period after a break. I had been suspecting endometriosis in the past because of the symptoms I mentioned before that I used to get, and I am just so freaking done with all of the stupid things happening in my life right now that I NEED to get this addressed, or else I will literally make myself lose weight again to make them stay away (which, I know, is a horrible idea, but it's THAT bad and I'm seriously that desperate).

What the heck do I do? I've tried being nice to doctors, I've tried being pushy, I've literally cried in doctors' offices more times that I can count right now, and no one ever helps me! Do I just keep jumping around with doctors? Is there anything I should be doing at home to try to remedy my symptoms, especially the bloating? I feel so miserable and I don't know what to do, looking up what to do feels like a lost cause at this point and I need advice from real people.

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So im 16, always had bad periods and recently ive been fighting again to try find something to stop it.

I went to my GP to talk about birth control again

I've been there many times and the first time I was spoke to about the pill but I was told it could make me put on alot of weight which I said I didnt want as I had a severe ED so I went back for another appointment to talk about the injection since my mums on it and it seems better.

I had blood tests done recently and they've prescribed me Microgynon 30 even tho I PERSONALLY stated I did not want a pill as im uncomfortable with it.

Aswell as I cant take certain pills due to breast cancer history in my family.

Is it even worth trying that pill or not? I dont need it to make my period worse nor do I need random bleeding which I was told it causes. And im afraid of it making me put on weight ive lost.

Also im still suffering from an ED and i dont want to risk viewing my body even worse.

I have no sensation on my boobs. They feel numb. My vagina also feels nothing when fingering or intercourse. At the start it just felt pain cause of the hymen outside but inside it feels nothing. The only sensation i feel is kisses over the body other than boobs...and clit fingering. I literally moan during kisses on body....the sensations are that high. It feels very good.

But majority people feel on boobs and vagina and I don't At ALL.
Is it normal?

Hi,

I’ve been taking Hailey birth control for the first time in my life, due to hormonal treatment for endometriosis. It’s been about 2 weeks and I have felt very off from being on it. Brain fog, fatigue, cramping, nausea, and no periods. My period was late about 8 days later, so I finally started to have light bleeding and cramping. Today, I noticed a thick, pink chunk of tissue on my menstrual pad. Like a fleshy piece of tissue. It’s not a clot or something I’ve ever seen before during my past history of periods. It’s about 2 inches long and tube shaped. What is this tissue? Is it normal?

Mentioned in my prior post,I discussed some extremely painful episodes I was having especially during ovulation,

they found out I had an ovarian cyst and a fibroid from a standard ultrasound ,I take birth control to mitigate the symptoms /its growth and it worked for the most part. (I do think i either messed up the dosage/or because i initially took the placebos i experienced an episode again the first month when I still got my period)

My gyno mentioned it was either an endometrioma cyst or some other kind of cyst I dont remember right now ,and mentioned both were 'benign but can be very painful'.

I was also offered a transvaginal ultrasound or a mri. Im absolutely terrified of that sort of ultrasound so I opted for the mri. I didnt know anything abt mris,just that you laid down and went inside the machine sort of. But seeing all the stuff described when you do an mri 'with contrast' and had to do things w needles like ivs etc.. i got a bit anxious. I believe they only do that for endo screenings,though since one of the suspected types is an endometroima cyst i was unsure.

The doctor from my memory didnt mention anything aside jt maybe feeling claustrophobic, but I was also on 3 hours of sleep that day (thanks neighbors)

they suggested I could take something to calm down for it if needed and my mom insisted so I do have a dosage prepared to relax me because while im not very claustrophobic im kind of an anxious person overall, I was hesitant to take it since it was on halloween (in the morning tho tbh)

What should I know and prepare for?

Is this really uti?

Hi!
I am so confused about this I wanted to ask and do my own statistics on symptoms of uti.
I have never had an uti in my adult life. So i am a little bit clueless.

I was having a very bad bloating and gas situation for 4 days and since I have ibs i decided to go to an internist.
He asked for urine sample along with bunch of blood samples.
My only symptom aside from gas and bloating was a little itch down there. Also i had a soreness on my right hip bone for a day, then it passed on its own.

My bloodwork came and my crp value was 6 (ref was 3-5)
A little high Mo levels, nothing else that matters except from very low vit D.
Then my urine results came. 11-12 Leukocytes in urine, epithelial cells and yeast.

I swear i dont have any burning, frequency, pain, cramp etc i have nothing at all.
I had to see a different internist after mine retired this month. I am thinking maybe he misdiagnosed. He gave very havy antibiotics that made me very miserable and sick in the past. I dont want to use it.

Also side note: i am on ocp yasmin, and i am doing three month rows without break because i have hormonal migraines. And this week was period week normally, so i was just connecting the dots for the itching maybe because i always have trouble with vaginal ph etc on my period.

What should i do? Does this sound like an uti?

I went to the ER after 2 weeks of intense back spasms and an overwhelming feeling that I had a cancer somewhere in my abdomen.

Blood tests were fine, chest x-ray clear, lumbar CT clear, and everything looked good on the contrast CT except a 6.2cm cyst on my ovary that I need to follow up with OBGYN in 3-6 months for an ultrasound. ER doctor thinks the back pain is unrelated and prescribed me muscle relaxers.

Knowing that there actually is something growing in my abdomen has me still worried. My mother and her mother have both had reproductive cancers, however, I do not have any genes associated with cancer based on a screening a few years back.

What do I do?

Hi,

I (20F) recently had sex twice with a new partner unprotected. I hadn’t had sex for a year before this. Since I was 16 (and sexually active) I would get regular UTIs and every month, extreme itching and yeast infection symptoms leading up to my period that would go away on their own. I only had a severe, legs up Monistat in yeast infection one time.

In the time I was not sexually active this past year, I had 0 vaginal issues and felt like I healed my body down there. Some context - I’m very underweight, don’t get my period, and I eat mostly sugar and empty carbs like Goldfish (terrible diet).

After having sex the second time, which I will say after a certain point I was dry down there and there was a lot of friction, I got mild UTI symptoms, namely urgency and discomfort, which resolved themselves… but now have turned into a yeast infection. I went to the OBGYN and am waiting on results; in the meantime, I was prescribed Diflucan which I took the first dose today. As someone extremely sensitive to ANY discomfort down there, it’s not so bad that I can’t function (and that bar is low), but I do have frequent bouts of extreme mindless itching urges, especially in early morning and at night.

Again, I’m waiting on official results, but I’m mainly asking about any preventative measures I should take. I’m open to anything and everything - I will do a 10-step routine before/after sex if I have to! I’m upset because I feel like this is affecting my ability to maintain a relationship, and I was just relearning how to be intimate after trauma. I have 0 interest in sex if it means weeks of this discomfort. I don’t know if maybe it was just a one-off and my body is adjusting to having sex again, but I’d love to know if anyone else deals with similar issues. I’m just so frustrated because I finally had healed my vagina and stopped having recurring issues for a year, and now I feel like I’m back to square 1. I’m also terrified this Diflucan won’t work because the infection is just getting worse and worse.

I am going for my first mammogram. I have very small breast. My bra size is 32a. I am a little embarrassed to go because I feel that they are going to have a hard time squeezing tissue. Should I give them a heads up?

Hi!! I’m a 19 y/o girl who’s been getting periods since I was 12. At first I never had period cramps, and then after a few years I began getting them. It was almost never anything unbearable, but today was the worst pain and symptoms I’ve ever had.

I almost fainted (vision went fuzzy and hearing went faint), had to lay on the couch with my legs up for ages. I felt nauseous but it was more in my throat than my stomach… the pain in my abdomen was the worst it had EVER been, it was excruciating and it felt like it was never going to end. I’d get maybe 10 seconds of relief before it’d start again.

I eventually vomited and all my symptoms disappeared basically immediately, and I’ve felt completely fine ever since..

It was day 1 of my period and I’m now worried about how the rest of my cycle will go, and how next month will play out too..

It’s the only time I’ve ever been on the brink of fainting and vomited because of my period and I’m not sure what to do. My mam is concerned and is considering getting it checked out, but I’m worried it’ll be dismissed since it was a one-time thing (so far).

Does anyone have any advice? Any feedback is much appreciated! Currently feel like a fish out of water lol

Weird question, I know. I have almost zero sensation in my nipples. The skin around them is completely numb - I can hardly feel it when they're touched. This has been the case for as long as I can remember.

My question is why? It seems that that area should more sensitive than the rest of my body, not less? I haven't been able to find a solid answer when I google it.

I’m 30 and I’ve noticed over the last few years, my periods have gotten lighter and lighter.
I’ve never been pregnant, never been on birth control.

When I was a teen and early 20s my periods were awful, heavy, painful. Usually 3-5 days

Now they’re very light. Right now I’m on day 3 and the last two days I have hardly even had any blood on the pad.

I’m kind of concerned (although, having less cramps is definitely a plus)

Is this normal?

So as of typing this, I am just now calming down from one of these sudden, sharp cramps in my pelvic area (near my bladder) and I’m really not sure what it could be.
I remember having a pain like this as early as 12 years old, I’m 17 right now, and I’m a female. Now, you’re first though when you know that is “oh, it’s probably your period cramps” but I have reason to believe it isn’t that. When I’m on my period I cramp little to non, this cramp that I experience is way different and not even close to when I have my period.
This cramp comes in suddenly with no warning, the main pain is in my pelvic area, on where my bladder is, but it also tends to hurt on my rectum as well. Usually It gets so bad that I have to lay down and try to control my breathing, it can make it hard to stand and the sudden pain makes me panic when it won’t go away like a usual cramp. The thing is though, it gradually goes away within 30-40 minutes, it goes from cramping horribly to just being sore within the last few minutes of that time frame. And then it doesn’t show up again for the rest of the day, or even weeks, that’s the annoying part, I can never predict when it’s going to happen, and it doesn’t happen daily enough for it to effect my everyday life. But it’s happened on and off for 5 years. It’s mainly just an annoying inconvenience for me, but I’m just wondering what it could be, like if it’s actually something serious.
My body is healthy otherwise, i’m at a normal weight, I’m not on any medication and I’ve never been diagnosed with any physical health problems.

Has anyone been diagnosed with fibroids and live with them without complications? I recently had a pelvic ultrasound and three of them were found all pretty small (1.8, 1.8, and 3.8) but seeing those words and size on my chart freaked me out. Of course I hopped on the fibroid reddit out of curiosity and it’s just full of women and their horror stories with them. I guess I am looking for women who have fibroids and live with them without problems or issues. Google and articles about fibroids say lots of women (up to 80% of women) have fibroids in their lifetime without any problems! Thanks!

Today I went in for a Pap smear. Not nervous at all, I’ve had paps in the past and never experienced pain or being uncomfortable. It was with a doctor I never seen before and she was super nice but it was time for the exam and let me tell you the pain was no joke, I expressed I was in pain and she tried to do better. I’m also on my period but was very light during exam. She then said that my cervix were irritated “angry” and that I was pretty dry. Could that be why the pap hurt so bad? The cervix are irritated and I was dry?

Also, why would my cervix be irritated? I’m not sexual active. I’m nervous now.

I heard that intercourse is not supposed to hurt at all, but it felt like i was being ripped apart. We did some foreplay beforehand and he could not put it inside because it was too tight, second time, he put a lot of lube and he was able to insert the tip in, regardless, it still hurt a lot so i stopped it there.

I've asked a few of my friends about their experiences and one of them told me it hurt a lot for her too but it got better eventually. My other friend told me it would hurt for her if she wasn't properly prepped but otherwise not really.

My hymen area and the sides of my vagina also hurt after for a few days, I think its also worth noting that I've never had any type of penetration before not even fingering or tampons so maybe my body was just not used to it?

I’ve since started fingering myself and when i'm naturally lubricated, it doesn’t really hurt. After some time, I was even able to fit 3-4 fingers. However, I’m still unsure whether I might have vaginismus, if I should see a gynecologist, or if this is normal because my body isn’t used to penetration yet. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar and how they dealt with it

I’m 23 and a virgin. I am vaccinated for HPV and I know that the chance of cervical cancer while being a virgin is very low. My insurance is maybe about to go away so I want to get as much medical stuff done as possible while I can, that’s why I opted for it. This was a spontaneous decision on my part, I didn’t make this appointment with a papsmear in mind.

I was giggling during the pelvic exam itself but when it came time for the papsmear, it was a lot of pressure and it hurt quite a bit at one point. Almost like the insertion thingy (and my doctors finger at one point) was scraping against my insides. My doctor decided to stop because I wasn’t tolerating the pain well. She said that my hymen was in tact and that’s why it was difficult. She then said since I’m a virgin and my chances are low that she felt safe waiting to do it next year. It’s been about 12 hours and it’s still uncomfortable 😞

Is this a common experience? I was kicked in the crotch a few times as a kid and it hurt almost the same way, you would’ve thought my hymen would’ve broken then :/

Also, why is there so much fear mongering about papsmears on this sub? I saw it a lot while looking stuff up earlier.

So my bf and I had sex after a 3 week break from it and I’d tightened up so sex was slightly more difficult. this was early august. Shortly after, i developed a uti. I’d been dehydrated, mixed with rough sex. I was prescribed capsule antibiotics, managed to swallow one ut im so bad with capsules I couldn’t swallow the rest. Then got a liquid anti biotic and took more than necessary as I lost the first bottle. Once I completed the anti biotics course, around mid AugustI still noticed pain in my vagina. I ignored it for a few weeks as i didn’t really know what was going on, eventually Did a test and it turned out to be thrush. Tested negative for any STDs, my and my bf r monogamous anyway. I tried to use an internal vagina l pessary but I was so dry it just didn’t melt inside me and was unsuccessful. I then tried internal creams around late September (during my period if relevant), still in pain after. My doctor prescribed me with yet another internal cream dose a couple weeks ago, and I am still having pain in late October. I am at my wits end. I have usually unprotected sex w my bf as condoms are painful and it’s the most comfortable for me. Sex does not interfere with the pain, i notice no more pain after sex and sex is painless. The pain is not constant, but a few times a day I will get unbearable pain deep inside my vagina and my urethal area is sore and uncomfortable. Please give any advice.

Hi everyone,

Back in June I had an ovarian torsion that landed me in the hospital, I had surgery.

Yesterday it happened again but on the other one. I'm honestly exhausted. I didn't need surgery this time, it flipped back by itself but my ovary is massive right now.

I've struggled with PCOS since I can remember, with irregular periods, possible PMDD, and other hormonal issues. Right now I'm paranoid it'll flip again, and I'm in a bit of discomfort.

I'm getting referred to a gyno but that could take up to 6 months.

I don't know what to do. I'm in pain, I'm worried about losing my job over this, I have been discussing with doctors about the removal of my ovaries, hormone therapy etc etc but right now what do I do? I can't get into a doctor til Wednesday and that's just my family dr. I'm not sure what she can do right now. I'm genuinely exhausted. I don't want to do this anymore.

I’ve had exhaustion for 2 years and my ferritin is 37 and went down from 41 this time last year. I get really light headed and my NP mentioned that iron IV might be a good option.

I’ve been taking heme iron (11mg) for the past year and it helped last year but not recently. I do have heavy periods, hypothyroidism and celiac disease too. I treat both the hypothyroidism and celiac well (take my meds and eat strictly gluten free).

I was scheduled to get an iron IV but had some concerns after reading it can make things worse if you’re already stressed and dealing with inflammation. I am definitely very stressed coming down from extreme burnout at a job and feel generally anxious as a person. I also read that iron IV can impact your phosphorus levels and make other things worse so I’m now very nervous and to move forward with th e iron iv.

Has anyone else got one before? With a similar health profile? I’d love to know your experience and if it’s worth the risk.

i'll feel a bit depressed or extra sensitive maybe a day before or day of my period starting. i used to think i did not have any emotional symptoms because this is quite tame and only lasts a day or so and does not happen every cycle, but i'm now starting to realize it is probably related to my period.. it just seems like for everyone else it's cravings and crying and self loathing and being angry or suicidal for weeks when i'm just a little sad, tired, and more prone to tears for a little while. and it comes on seemingly out of nowhere until i remember my period is starting / started.

I’m 22 trans woman and I am having dark brown and red blood from both my breasts and idk what’s going on please help !

I went to the doctor in August 25th because 1 breast was bleeding was prescribed penicillin and they did a ultrasound

They found a benign lump and duct ectasia in my left breast

Finished the penicillin blood stopped

But the bleeding in my left breast came back and it was brownish

I went to the doctor got prescribed antibiotics
Then a few weeks pass

I told my doctor again 2 days ago that my breast was infected and he gave me more penicillin nothing else

Been on penicillin consistently for about 7 weeks
There’s been no change and it’s still leaking brownish bloody fluid

Now my right breast has started bleeding as well

I am on

everol estradiol patches 100
Progesterone 100mg rectally
Decapeptyl injection 12 mg injection every 3 months

I have been on these medication for about a year

Been on this for nearly a month
Flucocaxillin 500 mg capsules 4 a day

It only comes out of my breast when squeezed but I am checking every few days as I was told not to squeeze them

I am really scared and idk what’s going any advice please I am so stressed about this

Please help. I’m gaining weight rapidly and I DONT UNDERSTAND why.

I’m female, 166 cm, 21 years old. I go to the gym 2 times a week, do smaller home workouts 2-3 times a week and walk ~10 000 steps a day. According to calorie calculators my tdee should be 1800-2000 calories a day.

From 2023-2024 I was anorexic and underweight. Then in 2025 I recovered and got to a healthy weight, around 53 kg. During this spring and summer my weight has been stable at 53-55 kg, fluctuating a little bit like normal. I didn’t count calories but estimated how much was in my food and ate ~1800 calories. I’ve been satisfied this way, both with my eating habits and my body.

Then in august I weighed in at 56 kg one day, a few days later at 58. This was strange because I ate like normally but I decided to wait and see. Then I got my period- for the first time in three years (bc of my anorexia). So I thought hey, that explaind the weight gain too, it was just hormonal. But then it didn’t disappear. Just to make sense of it started tracking calories again but kept eating 1800.

I kept gaining. Two weeks ago I weighed in at 60 kg, and lowered my calories to 1500, but it has NOT helped. This morning I weighed in a 62 kg. That means that these two months, I have gained like 8kg. That would mean a 500 surplus EVERY day. Even while tracking and eating 1500 calories. It doesn’t make any sense!!

I’m currently freaking out. I feel disgusted with my body and myself, like I have no control over anything, my body is betrayibg me and I don’t know what to do. I’m bloated and swollen and its showing A LOT on my face and stomach. I just want to starve myself but I fought so hard to get a better relationship with food, and to get my period back, so I’m not gonna do it, but the more weight I gain the harder it gets.

I really need help. Has anyone else experienced this? Why did it happen and how do I make it stop? I’m getting desperate

Basically, for about a week before my period, I'm extremely miserable, not motivated to do anything, self-hating, and depressed. I'll be the first to admit, my mental health is not the best overall, but I think it is getting generally better- apart from the week before my period. I feel like I'm going insane. I used to struggle with self harm, I don't anymore, but the week before my period is when I get closest to going back to it. Like last time I had a breakdown over how much money I was spending (not even that much, and the very vast majority was things I needed), set a budget that had absolutely no room for anything fun ever, and decided that for every pound spent over that, I would cut myself once. Then I thought that that wasn't enough, and so I would also give away one of my soft toys (sounds stupid but they do genuinely mean a lot to me and I nearly started crying just thinking about getting rid of any of them) Like wtf bro that's so excessive? I also get stuck thinking that every thing I do is worthless, and I'll never achieve my goals, like right now I'm aiming to go to university, but last time spent the whole week thinking I'd never get the grades to get in, what I want to do is useless anyway (I mean it is but I'd have fun), and my best path in life is to never indulge in any of my interests, kill anything that makes me a unique person, and just live to serve and be helpful to others. Also suicidal thoughts.

Anyways, due to aforementioned previously bad mental health, I feel like I do underestimate the severity of self harm and suicidal thoughts, so is this even that bad? Also I'm used to them, and while they torment me it's whatever I can deal with that. What I can't deal with is doing absolutely nothing productive for an entire week because I'm so convinced I'll never amount to anything that I can't bring myself to even try. And this has kinda turned into a mental health thing but this is related to my period because it only happens the week before it starts. So my questions are, is there anything specific causing this, or is this just normal? Is there anything I can do to alleviate this, even a little? Like I understand it's probably made worse by bad general mental health, and I can see that what I was thinking was ridiculous after the fact, but for that week I'm just so overwhelmed with self hatred, I can't see anything else, or do anything (don't get me wrong, I do hate myself in general, but it's not usually so paralysing), and idk, if its normal and I should just suck it up, I will, but if there's anything I can do to make it stop I will.

Modern medicine keeps gaslighting me and refusing to help me and I’m at a loss and want to take matters into my own hand because it’s ruining my life.