r/WomensHealth

I (20f) am a virgin. I have not exactly tried to masturbate, but I have put my finger in my vagina just to see if I can feel arousal. I find I don't.

I've got an anxiety disorder and as a result I've been on antidepressants since I was 14 (on venlafaxine right now). I don't know if its just my headspace but I am concerned that I don't seem to feel arousal. I've tried to find the 'g-spot', but I don't know if I just can't find it or I've found it and got nothing.

Is this normal? When I do have sex I want to actually feel arousal when I'm touched. Would it be different if it actually happened?

Last year, after being intimate with my boyfriend, I noticed some nipple discharge, so I went to my GP to get it checked. I was also worried because I have a small lump/lymph node in my armpit and a bit of excess fatty tissue/skin on my arm. I was examined by a nurse/HCA at the time and they weren’t concerned.

The discharge only happens if I press around my nipples. On one side it’s literally just a pinprick amount and looks slightly cloudy. On the other side it’s less than a peppercorn-sized amount and is clear with a tiny yellow tinge.

I went back to the doctor today because of a lump on my back, and while I was there I brought up the nipple discharge and armpit lump again. This time I saw a doctor, who did a full examination and said she had no concerns and that nothing felt worrying. I also mentioned that I have PCOS, and she said that could explain the discharge.

The thing that’s thrown me is that she called me back afterwards to clarify one of the things I’d mentioned, because she wants to run it past her team tomorrow just to make sure there’s nothing else that needs following up. She did say it’s nothing to worry about, but now I’m spiralling a bit because I keep thinking, “if she wasn’t concerned, why would she be discussing it with the team?”

Has anyone had something similar, or can anyone reassure me that this doesn’t automatically mean something bad? I’ve had quite a lot of tough things I’ve dealt with this year and I’m worried this is just gonna be something else bad I have to deal with.

Hi everyone, I 23F recently had a scan to check my copper IUD placement and discovered I have an ovarian cyst on my right ovary ( 10.97cm x 5.39cm x 8.75cm in size) that is causing the left ovary to become compressed to the point where it can't be clearly seen on a scan. I've never experienced any pain or symptoms from it, and have had no issues otherwise, except for irregular periods (which is not a big issue for me). I'm currently finishing my master's degree in the UK and will be moving back to Canada in about four weeks, and I was told by the NHS doctor that I would need an MRI/ultrasound in order to get more information.

I'm applying to PhD programs this fall and will be working a job that requires me to move and lift things and be active, so invasive surgery would be out of the question for me. Hoping someone will be able to share their experiences about how they navigated this, or whether or not this is even something to be that concerned about. Thank you!

I’m a 34A and 22 and I usually don’t wear a bra for my own comfort. For the past 4 months, my right nipple has been itching like crazy. It’s mostly the areola, especially around the edge where the nipple meets the rest of the breast. The worst spot is at the bottom. There’s no visible rash, & the aerola looks flakey/dry but the nipple looks fine and moisturized. It also feels warmer compared to the left but my right breast is about 10% bigger than the left (always has been)

I’ve tried just about everything. I’ve used gauze to prevent chafing, over-the-counter steroid creams, antibacterial ointments, moisturizing creams, new soaps, identifying allergens. The weird thing is that some creams seem to make it worse. Like Eucerin sometimes makes it burn or makes the itching even more intense instead of helping.

The only thing that gave me relief was covering the nipple with a nonstick gauze pad and not showering my body for about a week. (As gross as it is) The gauze stopped the rubbing and kept me from scratching it in my sleep. I had about 4 days of relief and thought maybe it was just a chapped or cracked nipple/aerola. I thought I cured it so I stopped using gauze

As soon as I stopped using the gauze, the itching came right back the next day. Wearing rough or texture shirts would retrigger this. Also normal bras retrigger it but I have to wear a sportsbra to sleep to prevent me from scratching it raw.

At this point, I’m honestly losing my mind. I don’t have health insurance, so I’d rather not go to a doctor unless this sounds like something serious like cancer. I’ve checked for lumps and everything feels normal.

And maybe TMI, but we're adults here, anyways my bf does like to do oral on them...maybe a cause for concern? EDIT: He has NOT done oral or touching them since it started flaring up (4 months ago)

Has anyone dealt with something like this before? If so PLEASE HELP!! :((

I’ve never posted in this Reddit before but my significant other suggested I post here to see if anyone can suggest things to help or to see if anyone has experienced any of what I’m experiencing as he is unable to relate to what I’m going through and doesn’t know how to help me.

I’m in my early thirties and I have a referral to a gynaecologist (there’s a huge wait list and it’s about a 4-6 month minimum wait just to see one). My problem started over a year ago. I went in to see my family doctor (for a routine check up and a Pap smear). I had expressed concerns about my significant other noticing a weird smell in my vaginal area. To quote him “It’s not fishy but it doesn’t smell like you”. When I went to my family doctor, they did all the tests that they could to check for yeast and BV. All the tests came back normal. They prescribed antibiotics while waiting for the results back in case it was BV or even a yeast infection.

The antibiotics seemed to have started to work but they didn’t make the scent go fully away. I wasn’t experiencing any itchiness at all (which was one of the symptoms my doctor asked if I was also experiencing). A few months go by and it seems the problem came back. Because wait times are so bad to see your family doctor and going to a hospital has you waiting a long time (some people aren’t able to see anyone until almost 24 hours of waiting in the hospital) where I live, I went in to a walk in clinic to see if they could help refer me to a specialist but also to see if they could prescribe a longer dose of the antibiotics (my friend who was also a nurse suggested asking this since my family doctor gave me 5 days worth of the pills). The walk in only prescribed 7 days of the meds and left it as it was.

A few more months went by and I was thinking it was getting better (again I didn’t notice the smell- my nose doesn’t have the strongest sense of smell) but my significant other let me know that the scent was still there and had gotten stronger in his view. I went back to the walk in and told them that I needed a referral and that the meds they prescribed didn’t seem to help the problem. They finally took the issue seriously and they not only prescribed antibiotics while waiting but they also prescribed a yeast infection medication and they sent in my referral to the gynaecologist that I had asked for.

The reason I’m posting here is because I’m still waiting for this appointment (still no date for this) and I’m worried that all the tests are going to come back normal again. I can notice the smell on my clothes sometimes and also sometimes when I’m sitting down crossed leg but unfortunately my significant other has a sensitive nose and can smell it all the time. Does anyone have any advise on what I can do to help try and solve this issue. I’m feeling very frustrated from this and I feel like it’s going to be a lot longer than 6 months before I can get in to see the gynaecologist (the referral I asked for has not so nice receptionists who made me feel like my referral was not as important). Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to help this while I wait?

I live in Canada, and for the past couple of weeks I’ve completely stopped eating chicken and rice, which used to be a huge part of my diet.
I’ve noticed some changes that I wasn’t expecting.
I feel so much lighter overall. The constant bloating is basically gone, and my face doesn’t get puffy throughout the day anymore. I also feel like I’ve lost a bit of weight, but not in an unhealthy way. My arms look thinner, the fat on my back seems to have decreased, and I just feel less swollen in general.
The weird part is that I wasn’t even trying to lose weight, I just changed what I was eating.
Has anyone else experienced something similar after cutting out chicken and rice? Do you think it was the rice, the chicken, or maybe just eating different foods overall? I’m curious if there’s an explanation or if anyone has had a similar experience.

I had a vaginal ultrasound for the first time last year. The technician was nice, and there was lube and all. It wasn’t the stretch of insertion that hurt; it was when she was moving it around. It was agony! It felt like my insides were getting all broken and mixed up. It wasn’t a sharp pain, more like getting punched and having the sore spot pressed on. Around when I was ready to give up, it was over.

I looked it up, and apparently it’s not supposed to hurt like that?! I don’t have sex, but I run into similar pain with just one finger. It’s not really the stretch (though I struggle with that too if I use more than one finger).

I didn’t have any severe swelling, injuries (that I know of, and she didn’t mention anything either), etc. I was in the middle of a period and had small cysts (pcom). At the time, I was bleeding through a tampon every 40 minutes; had pain like contractions; nausea; and extreme tenderness. The nurse said it was just my body resetting itself after unstable periods. I’m not even fully sure about how much pain or symptoms I feel during periods, because I used to think I was exaggerating. My mom and aunt have endometriosis, and my periods weren’t as bad as theirs.

Hi,
I’ve been on Alesse 28 since November and so far it’s been great for me. However I missed my last period, I think. There was some spotting for 2 days but I wouldn’t consider it enough to be considered a period. I waited 2 weeks and took a pregnancy test and it’s negative. My friends you’ve been on birth control longer than I have had mentioned an annual skip and some research mentioned that sometimes birth control causes your period to be very light.

Is this normal?

I (16F) have always had strange things revolving periods and my hormonal balance, however I've never told anyone or went to a doctor since honestly I have a bit of a fear of going to places like gynecologists. I just want to know if this is something I should bring up.

Firstly, my periods are VERY irregular. While it's obviously common for girls to have irregular periods for a couple years after getting it, I got my period at 10, and then they sorted themselves out over the years. However, over the last year or so they've gotten so insanely irregular. For example, I've been bleeding for 3 consecutive weeks straight this month. No cramps, no other symptoms, just bleeding. Not a crazy amount, just my average.

Secondly, I'm always bloated. I'm not fat, my weight is average for my height and my arms, thighs, and everywhere else on my body the weight is normally distributed. However, my stomach is ALWAYS bloated, like, balloon level bloated. Some days it genuinely looks like I'm up to 6 or so months prgnant (IM NOT). It's not even funny. I don't know if it has to do with my diet or anything, since I still eat under my parents' roof and they overall control what I eat. If I think about it, it's nothing out of the ordinary. My dad went to culinary school and is very particular about what we eat and making sure it's balanced, so I'm not sure.

Thirdly, I have always had strange hormonal balances. I have bad ADHD which affects my mood swings very intensely. Also, I have very thick, multi follicular body hair. It's impossible to get rid of and still look normal. No one else in my family has this issue at all, not my sisters, no one. Only me. I spend hours every week removing it, it's ridiculous.

I think overall these symptoms may mean something, idk what, but it's just starting to concern me and I wanted to know if anyone has any potential solutions, questions, answers, or anything that could help? Let me know if this seems serious and if I should tell my parents/see a doctor.

Thanks <3

hi friends
i wanna preface by saying sorry if this is normal and i just dont know, but i dont want to ask my dad and make it weird if its not..

i took my bra off yesterday after my shift at work and immediately noticed it stung a lot. the curve of skin where my boob meets the rest of my chest was completely raw and stung when i touched it. putting my bra on this morning hurt a lot too, but now there’s flaky skin/scabbing where it was and it no longer hurts. is there a reason this happened or something i can do to stop it? sorry again if i should already know this!

editing to add it doesn’t go around all the way.. starts towards the middle of my chest and curves around 1/4 of my boob

At what age did you start getting mammograms? How many have you had and how often do you get them?

I am 41 and have had about 6 mammograms beginning at age 34 (mostly diagnostic and due to call backs). I worry about the harm the radiation is doing…does this seem excessive?

Posted this in another thread to no avail so far, but I’m 17 now and started masturbating probably when i was around 11? and I do it most days and noticed slight gradual desensitization over time but nothing crazy, until I started dating my boyfriend.

I believe he goes harder than I do because it feels much more intense. Over the course of months, it has gotten harder and harder for me to finish whether its him doing it or me. I used to be able to make myself finish in a minute if I really wanted to get the job done. Now sometimes it feels like nothing or takes me an hour.

It could possibly be because I’m on Strattera (SNRI) for my adhd but even after I lowered my dose, I feel that it only continues to get harder to finish (also I’ve been on it for 6 months already). I’m starting to get pretty worried like there’s some permanent or semi permanent nerve damage or desensitization from stimulation thats too hard or too frequent.

Over the last several months I’ve also noticed it’s incredibly difficult for me to get physically aroused even if my mind is completely there. This has a lot to do with my difficulty finishing. Is there anything I can do? Is this reversible?

Hi guys I have this concern that I feel like I am not getting a satisfactory answer on. My breasts have this white liquid come out every time I squeeze it close to the nipples. I first noticed it a couple years after I got my period. I went to a doctor and they said it might be normal for me because i have a higher testosterone level than usual. It might or might not go away when i am grown up. I was 14 then. The next time i got it checked, I was like 19/20 yo. They told me the same thing. I got a whole extensive mammogram and everything last year on both my breasts last year, 22 yo, and they did not find anything wrong. My idea is that it might not be ‘milk’, could be just a discharge? It’s translucent mostly, very rarely milky white. I am concerned that the doctors cannot catch something that might be going on inside my body. My breasts are growing in size too, which I thought was me gaining weight. But I have not significantly gained weight for my breasts to grow so rapidly in a few months. When I lost the weight, my breasts were the same size. I am concerned because when I gain weight, it mostly deposits in my belly and back first, then the leftover ones in breasts. I hope it’s just my body changing going from a teen to an adult. But I am just not sure about the lactation part. Is there anything else I should check to ensure it’s not taking the cancerous turn?

Please read before you are too grossed out! I am a 40F and I have only had one other yeast infection in my life. Without knowing I had a yeast infection my husband went down on me and we also had intercourse. I thought I was having sensitivity from using toilet paper to stay dry while ovulating and I didn’t have access to a pad. We are on vacation so I don’t have my normal toiletries. This morning I realized I have a full blown yeast infection. I already called my doctor and have already taken my first dose of meds to clear it up. My question is….. has anyone had this happen and their partner got thrush or a penile yeast infection? I’m so freaked out that he could get infected now. He acted like it’s not a big deal but I just want to be prepared on what to do if that happens. Please tell me I’m not the only one this has happened to!!! Slightly freaking out and pissed that this is happening on vaca!!

Hello, does anyone else struggle with extreme depression and suicidal thoughts before and during their period? And if so, how do you deal with it?

It's really hard every month because I get really impulsive and feel like I can't be left alone.

I have a history of suicide attempts and I've found I'm extremely depressed and suicidal the week before and the week of my period, I usually feel muchhh better during ovulation

Hi everyone,
I’m a 27-year-old woman and I’m looking for some advice because I’m starting to get really worried.
My bleeding has been all over the place for the past month.

**26 May:** My period started.
It lasted for **12 days**, which is much longer than normal for me.
I then had about a **5-day break**.
After that, I started **light spotting**.
Around **5 days later**, I started bleeding heavily again like a proper period on **23 June**.
That period has only just finished a couple of days ago, but now I’ve started **spotting again** with fresh red blood.

So it feels like I’ve been bleeding or spotting on and off for over a month.

I’ve seen my GP, and they’ve arranged an ultrasound, but they’ve basically told me to wait for the appointment and theres nothing they can do. I’m worried because the waiting list could be quite long.

I’ve also been experiencing:
Headaches.
Lower /middle back pain.
Feeling tired and drained.

I've just recently started using tampons for the first time. On my heaviest flow days, I'm changing my tampon every ~3 hours.

What do people usually do for overnight on their heaviest flow days? So far, I've continued to just use an overnight pad instead of tampon so I'm not worried about leaking with my tampon after 4 or 5 hours.

i’ve been struggling with my eating and i’ve lost weight which has resulted in my periods stopping. my last period was in april. will they come back if i gain weight?

+ bonus question : if i have unprotected sex is it possible to still get pregnant without my period?

Does anyone else have debilitating fatigue on their period? I’m talking fatigue so bad that you can barely get out of bed. I’m so tired and no matter how long I sleep, I can’t seem to shake it. I’m thinking it may be my iron levels that are contributing to this. If you go through this, what helps if anything? Thanks in advance