Posts by Douglas Booth22

Jamie Davis17 said:The pack was roughly$23 about two years ago. There are about 12 units in a box, though I can't say for certain.

Here is a link if you want more details:http://www.patentex.com/patentex_oval/

They are contraceptive rings used before intercourse; they have a specific window of effectiveness.

I don't believe these require a prescription here in the States.🙂

They aren't prescription-based, but when you buy them, make sure to ask the pharmacist for an itemized receipt in your name so you can claim them on your tax returns. That's how I handled my contraceptive patches and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Emily Morales77 said:Quick question—someone mentioned patches? How often do you actually have to apply them, and more importantly, what's the damage to the wallet? My pills currently run me $33 a month, which isn't breaking the bank, but I end up blowing $400 on them every year. If patches are even pricier... that’s going to be a tough pill to swallow.
Also, what’s the deal with implants? You get some little thing tucked under your skin that just releases hormones steadily for a few months at a time?

(God, if my parents saw how I talk about this—they're both EMTs, they'd kill me😁 )

I’ve used the patches before. They cost roughly $33 per month; you get three in a box. You slap the first one on when your period starts, then the second one after seven days, and the third one after another seven. Then you get a seven-day break where your period hits. You can put them on your hip, stomach, back, or shoulders—they stick really well, so I never had issues with mine falling off. In the summer, I usually just skipped them during the off-weeks. Personally, I find them more reliable than pills because the dosage is consistent in the bloodstream rather than being processed by the liver like tablets. Even if you have a stomach bug or vomiting, it doesn't affect efficacy, and if you forget to change one or don't notice it peeling, you're still protected for another couple of days. On the downside, they tanked my libido for me, made my PMS worse, caused water retention, and spiked my appetite, so I gained some weight. But that's just how hormones work—everyone reacts differently. I'm not using them right now; we're just sticking to condoms.

Those effervescent tablets are fantastic; I haven't dealt with an infection since I started using them. Lately, I’ve also been incorporating a water flosser into my routine—I just fill it with water and add a few drops of tea tree essential oil. It works wonders for hygiene after sex or during my period; it does a great job of cleansing the area 🙂

I’d much rather schedule an appointment with my OB-GYN than sit in a dentist's chair; the latter is a total nightmare for me.

James Cox6 said:Mine didn't show up until I was 38 weeks pregnant... honey, let's not get ahead of ourselves.🙂

Just because yours appeared at 38 weeks doesn't mean it's a universal timeline. I have this faint brown line running down from my navel, and the area around it has darkened too—something that definitely wasn't there before. Even my boyfriend noticed. As I understand it, this is driven by hormones; it’s entirely possible my levels are slightly off, potentially indicating some kind of hormonal imbalance causing these symptoms. I live in a small town, so getting bloodwork done locally isn't really an option. I'm heading to Cleveland for an appointment soon, so I might just stop by a private lab there beforehand.

I’m starting to suspect these tests aren't giving me the full picture. A few of them showed nothing, yet I haven't had my period. About eight days post-ovulation, I noticed some light pink spotting—which could be implantation—and then the symptoms kicked in: dizziness, nausea, and a sudden aversion to strong smells. I’ve also developed a dark line from my navel down, similar to a linea nigra, and my blood pressure seems slightly elevated. On top of the bloating, I’ve had mild cramping and a total loss of appetite, which is completely out of character for me. It’s strange for my period to be this late; my last three cycles were perfectly regular, so such a sudden delay suggests more than just a minor hormonal fluctuation. In the past, my cycle would drift later gradually—maybe three days one month, four the next, creeping up to an average of five to seven days. Just now, a test showed a faint line for a few seconds before it vanished. Tomorrow, I’m picking up some First Response and Clearblue to get some real answers.