I tested clean for STIs at my last exam a year ago. When should I get tested again if I have no symptoms?
Jul 13th, 2021
I tested clean for STIs at my last exam a year ago. When should I get tested again if I have no symptoms?
Yes, spotting between periods when you are on a progestin-only mini pill can sometimes be normal, especially if you have just started this new method within the last couple months.
It has been four days since the condom broke while we were having sex. Can I still take the "morning after pill"?
A change in the odor of your vaginal discharge may be a sign that you have vaginitis. Vaginitis is "inflammation" of your vagina and can be caused by bacteria (BV), yeast, or flagella (Trichomoniasis).
Unfortunately, the only way to obtain a sexually transmitted infection is through sexual activity. If you have not been tested for STIs recently, it is also possible that your partner is faithful and contracted the STI from you. Unfortunately, many women
It is a popular culture myth that it is healthy and/or necessary to have monthly bleeding. In fact, using birth control that stops your period is not unhealthy. Patients are sometimes worried that the blood "builds up inside" or causes....
Absolutely. You could choose to have a medication abortion in the privacy of your own home. If you choose a surgical abortion under local anesthesia (numbing medication injected into your cervix) you would not need a driver to accompany you on the day...
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. If you forget to take just one birth control pill out of the month, your risk of unintended pregnancy is increased. Remembering to take a pill every day is difficult for many women, which is why we love birth control that
Yes! If you have had an abnormal pap, you have likely been exposed to at least one strain of HPV. Unfortunately, there are many different HPV strains. Some types of HPV cause cancer and others cause genital warts. The Gardasil Vaccine will protect you aga
The most common cause of a penile "bump" would be Herpes (HSV). Herpes comes in two forms: HSV-1 (usually affects the mouth) and HSV-2 (usually affects the genitals). The herpes virus can be transmitted even if you are using condoms and even if you don't h
There are many causes of vaginal bleeding after sex. The bleeding can be from the vagina, the cervix, or your uterus.
Your partner should not feel the actual IUD if it is placed correctly in your uterus. He may be able to feel the strings which are intended to protrude through the cervix into your vagina. If you have any concern that your IUD is not placed correctly, pl
Topic Tuesday: Can STI's be spread during oral sex?
Great question! Vaginitis is an irritation of your vagina or vulva.
Can I still use tampons if I have an IUD?  Great question! Yes, it is safe to use tampons when you have an IUD.
Vaginal itching or dryness could unfortunately be caused by a lot of different things. Without examining you it is impossible to say for sure, but it sounds like you may have a yeast infection.
Good question – and we are so glad you asked before trying this. There is a lot of confusion regarding birth control pills, morning after pills (emergency contraception or “EC”) and the actual abortion pill, and what exactly they do. We will dive into some
Great question! There are definitely some times when your period gets in the way more than others…vacations are a great example!
Great question! It actually depends on which STI you may have come into contact with. For example, it can take three months for HIV to show up on a test, but it only takes a few days for sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia...
Great question – It can be alarming to find that you are bleeding after sex when you weren’t expecting it. It can be normal, but it could also be a symptom of a serious problem.
Topic Tuesday: Can I get pregnant again if I just had a miscarriage? Great question – miscarriage can be a very difficult and confusing thing to go through, and this is a very common question you have, so know that you are not alone!
Great question – it is sometimes frustrating to determine if you could be pregnant, and if you aren’t, why your period might be late!
Topic Tuesday: I have absolutely no discharge and very little lubrication during sex. Great question! Lack of vaginal discharge and lubrication can be very uncomfortable during intercourse, or even leave you feeling dry and irritated at other times.
Great question! In most cases, yes you can – having a tubal ligation done does not affect your ability to use birth control for all of the other great benefits!
"I have vaginal itching and dryness since I started taking the pill – could the pill be causing it?" Vaginal itching or dryness could unfortunately be caused by a lot of different things.
I have Nexplanon and have had irregular bleeding since I got it 4 months ago – is this normal? Yes, spotting between periods when you are on a progestin-only method like Nexplanon or an IUD can be normal...
Can having an IUD increase your sex drive? Some patients do report a decrease in libido (sex drive) when they go from not using any birth control to using a traditional birth control pill.
"Is this funky smell I have normal? I don’t have any itching or discomfort, just a foul odor down there."
"What do I do if I want to switch the time I take my birth control pill?" Great question! Since it is very important to take your pill at the same time every day, it is difficult to change the time and not recommended to change it in the middle of a cycle
I’ve had the Mirena IUD for a year now and I stopped having a period, but sometimes I have some spotting from time to time - is that normal?" Great question! For most women with a Mirena IUD, not having a period at all is actually the most common side ...
I had a one-night stand with someone and we used a condom. Could I still get an STD? It is great that you used a condom! When having sex with someone you just met, or when you are not sure about their STD status, it is always safest to use a condom.
I am on the mini pill and am spotting between periods. Will it ever improve? Is this normal? Yes, spotting between periods when you are on a progestin-only mini pill can sometimes be normal, especially if you have just started this new method within t
“Does Paragard IUD cause your period to be heavier?” The simplest answer to this question is yes… and no. Let’s dive into why this is!
"I heard that the morning after pill is not effective if you are overweight, is that true?" Great question! There are a few types of emergency contraception (EC) and each of them works a little differently.
Do I need to be asleep to get my IUD taken out? Great question! We hear from many patients that they are a little apprehensive about getting their IUD removed, but the majority of the time, it is a very simple and quick procedure.
I’ve had the Mirena IUD for a year now and I stopped having a period, but sometimes I have some spotting from time to time - is that normal?
Struggles to get to the clinic? Trying to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, as well as other contagious illnesses, and still need to see your doctor? Telehealth is safe and easy — receive quality care from anywhere.
“I tested clean for STDs at my last exam a year ago. When should I get tested again if I have no symptoms?” Great question! We recommend getting screened for STDs annually, or whenever you have had a new sexual partner.
As your trusted Women's Health provider, we want to assure all of our patients that we are open and here for you!
“Can the Mirena be taken out at any time or do you have to wait the 5 years?” One of the best things about Mirena is that it lasts for UP TO 5 years. That means, you can take it out before ​five years if you choose!
Do I need to worry about an IUD getting infected? Enjoy your IUD, worry free! While infections are always possible, your IUD getting infected is very unlikely – less than 1%. If an infection does occur, it usually happens within the first 3 weeks
To our valued Patients: Since 1969, FPA Women's Health has taken great pride in our commitment to caring for patients when they need us most.
Can I still use tampons if I have an IUD? Great question! Yes, it is safe to use tampons when you have an IUD.
“It is exciting to be on the frontier of women’s health. The EVA system enables us to overcome the geographic challenge we were facing, train new colposcopists and give us oversight over our whole program.” – Dr. Rachel, Medical Director
Why Do Some Women Have Heavy Periods? So it's that time of the month again, your period is here and seems to be heavier than other women you talk to. Why is it that some of your friends have lighter periods, while others experience heavy bleeding for long
"I have vaginal itching and dryness since I started taking the pill – could it be causing it?"
Is it normal for my vagina to hurt during sex? I've noticed that after my menstrual cycle is over and we have intercourse, it hurts inside. My husband has told me on various occasions that he can feel something in there that feels swollen. We've tried all
After getting Nexplanon and completing my checkups for post abortion care, is it weird to be constantly bleeding? It's been like having a light period for almost 2 months. I don't get any pain/cramps, just never ending blood flow.
Is it normal, or why is it that every other day I get this funky smell in my woman area? I noticed this happened once I got an IUD. Is it normal or why does this happen? I talked to a close friend of mine and she said she's experienced the same
The question that I get asked most frequently, multiple times on a daily basis is “Will it hurt?” The answer is both simple and complex. The short answer is yes. Getting an abortion hurts. But so does having a baby. And so does a vaccine, and so does ...
Good question – and we are so glad you asked before trying this. There is a lot of confusion regarding birth control pills, morning after pills (emergency contraception or “EC”) and the actual abortion...
Great question! There are definitely some times when your period gets in the way more than others…vacations are a great example! The most common birth control pills are combination ...
Great question! Yeast infections can be frustrating and uncomfortable to deal with! Yeast infections happen when there is an imbalance of the good bacteria in your vagina and it allows yeast to overgrow. Some things that may cause this are: ...
Great question! It actually depends on which STD you may have come into contact with. For example, it can take three months for HIV to show up on a test, but it only takes a few days for sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and ...
Great question – It can be alarming to find that you are bleeding after sex when you weren’t expecting it. It can be normal, but it could also be a symptom of a serious problem.
Great question – miscarriage can be a very difficult and confusing thing to go through, and this is a very common question you have, so know that you are not alone! Miscarriage is also unfortunately quite common, although not always discussed. It might...
Great question – it is sometimes frustrating to determine if you could be pregnant, and if you aren’t, why your period might be late! The simple answer is yes, you could still be pregnant even with a negative test, depending on when you took it, but ...
Great question! Lack of vaginal discharge and lubrication can be very uncomfortable during intercourse, or even leave you feeling dry and irritated at other times.
Great question! In most cases, yes you can – having a tubal ligation done does not affect your ability to use birth control for all of the other great benefits! A tubal ligation procedure is a good option for women who know they do not want to have any ...
Yes, spotting between periods when you are on a progestin-only method like Nexplanon or an IUD can be normal, especially if you have just started this new method within the last couple months. This irregular, or even daily, bleeding is not dangerous and...