"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 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.
It’s easy to assume you don’t have any STDs if you haven’t had any symptoms, but in reality, many STDs cause no symptoms at all for women. In fact, 75% of women who have an STD show no symptoms! This means, you could have it, be spreading it, and have no idea.
That is why it is imperative to get checked on a regular basis so you avoid any complications or spreading a possible STD to any partners. Two of the most common STDs (gonorrhea and chlamydia) can cause infertility when left untreated and most women don’t know they have it.
In 2018, nearly 2.4 million cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis were diagnosed. According to the CDC, there was a 22 percent increase from 2017.
If you haven’t been checked for STDs in the last year, or since you’ve had a new sexual partner – make an appointment for a screening today.
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"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 ...