(no subject)

[meretia]

Should I be worried about a sea change in my period?

I just turned twenty-five a few weeks ago. Normally my period is fairly light; lots of spotting the first few days and light-to-moderate flow from then until the end. This cycle and the one before, geez. Niagara Falls with enormous clots, if I'm not being too graphic. They also seem to have moved back a week or two later than I usually get them. The last one only lasted three or four days. I've been menstruating for three days now, but it doesn't seem to be winding down.

I hit puberty late and it took a long time for my cycle to settle down. I'm kind of hoping that it's just being screwy again. I have a tendancy to immediately jump to the worst possible scenario, so the back of my mind is telling me, "Oh no, it's ovari-uterine-cervical cancer, all three of them, and endrometriosis and cysts with a side of TSS and a big old hole in the side of my vagina that's making me slowly bleed to death!" It's really freaking me out.

I'm reluctant to go to the family doctor here at home since I don't have any health insurance. I go back to university in two weeks, and I've been planning to go to the heath centre and ask for a gynecologist almost as soon as I'm moved in. That's probably equally a headache, since the school is run by patriarchal parentalists--before any female student can see an ob/gyn, she has to take one of the sexual health seminars which are offered only about once a month (and no, there's no corresponding requirement for males). Anything that happens there is probably not going to happen very quickly. I suppose that's my second question: Does this sound like something serious enough that I should forget about the money and go right now, or can it wait a little while?

Comments

[winifred.livejournal.com]

I've been told by a hundred women that changes in what comes out of you during your period is normal. I'm like you and tend to be doubtful anyway.

What's your activity level like? Your diet? These things, along with stress, will affect your menses. Make sure you're taking a multivitamin, getting enough rest, and make a note of when and where your pains occur.

When my cycles started shortening I was told not to worry too hard until they got shorter than 21 days. Read up on the symptoms of HPV before you start panicking more. My opinion is that this is something you can wait until you return to uni for, then give the doc there everything on your mind.

[--heartattack.livejournal.com]

if i'm remembering correctly, with those types of cancers there is usually some sort of rancid fluid/discharge that goes with menstrual blood. if you are also experiencing serverly painful beyond belief cramps then you might have endometriosis.

it could just be nothing but if it is really bothering you, try a free health clinic.

your university policy is bullshit.

[sparkliediamond.livejournal.com]

Ooh your school pisses me off, I would freaking rebel, that is sexist, wrong, and women need them more anyways. F*** whoever made that rule.

[harpygirl.livejournal.com]

Re your school policy: You seriously need to organize and get some petitions going. That's such fucking bullshit. OOOOOOhhh that makes me mad.

[purplefeltangel.livejournal.com]

A male ob-gyn is like a mechanic who's never owned a car . . . so why should girls have to take that stupid thing and not guys?