Nurse_Nettie

You’re welcome @fruitcake123! It’s also great to hear that you’re drinking lots of water. Specks in urine is not usually a sign of infection. Generally signs of a UTI (urinary tract infection) or an STI (sexually transmitted infection) is pain when passing urine. As you had a cystoscopy it’s likely the doctor also checked your urine for infection,…[Read more]

Hi @fruitcake123, it’s great to read you got tested for STI’s!
Urine is a waste product of your bodies metabolism. It gets filtered by the kidneys & sent to your bladder until you pee to get rid of it from the body.
You’re urine will change in colour and concentration depending how much water you drink.
If you’re dehydrated (say from hot…[Read more]

Hey @tea, great topic! Yes, online testing is a thing! 🙂

Online testing allows you to print a referral form, skip talking to a doctor or nurse, and go straight to a pathology centre to get tested. (Pathology centres are those places you drop-in when your doctor sends you to give a blood or other sample). It means no appointment, no examination…[Read more]

Hi @andymate, thanks for your question 🙂

I’m glad to hear that you’re getting out of an abusive relationship, but if it’s not fully over, I just need to check-in that you’re safe. If there is any violence or threats of violence involved, it’s important that you reach out for help & support, especially when trying to leave. You can speak…[Read more]

Hi @aunt_flo 🙂 Ideally, most medications should be kept within 15-25 degrees celcius. Temps outside of that range don’t automatically make The Pill useless or dangerous, but it can become less effective. When in doubt, use a back-up method of contraception like condoms or the Emergency Contraceptive Pill.

Some tips for keeping your medications…[Read more]

Hi @tea, it’s a good question! There’s no current evidence that says menstrual cups will cause an IUD to come out. The overall risk of an IUD dislodging is 5% & this is more likely to occur soon (weeks) after insertion. If your concerned about this, then it’s ok to check your strings are in place after your period.

@Aunt_Flo a throat swab is not part of routine STI testing. It’s mainly for people at high risk of gonorhoea infection. This is based on epidemiology (big word!) & research.
If a person had condomless oral sex & then condomless vaginal sex with the same partner -then gonorrhoea can be found in the throat, urethra & vagina. So all of these body…[Read more]

You’re on the right track @GoldenRose @sextronaut @tea. Different STIs are tested in different ways. It depends on the sex you have & usually involves a urine sample or self collected swabs for Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea as well as blood tests for HIV, Hepatitis & syphilis. As @aunt_flo says it’s quick & easy these days.
Other tests may be added if…[Read more]

That’s great to hear @tea! Always great to check with a doctor if something is bothering you. A few simple tests & you can rest easy 🙂

Vulvas & vaginas are as unique as any other part of our bodies! I love this topic & hope it encourages a little exploration at home 🙂

Check out the Labia Library for great health info for those concerned about their labia plus a photo gallery of a variety of vulvas! The Vulva Gallery is another art project, this one includes illustrations &…[Read more]

Hi @sextronaut you’re not alone! It’s true. In fact research says that 1 in 3 people have this experience. That’s alot! Symptoms may include constipation, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting or a combination of all these signs.

Hi @jackh, thanks for visiting the Forum again. There’s a lot to think about contraception & pregnancy for both partners….
First of all is cost. Some oral contraceptive pills are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme which make them cheaper. Family Planning Clinics also offer cheaper access which is worth checking out too.
The…[Read more]

You’re not alone @tea… many people get confused! Basically there are two types of herpes simplex, that is type-1 & type-2. They’re both really
different, so knowing the type is important to understand what it may mean.

HSV-1 or ‘cold sores’ is mainly transmitted by kissing (mouth to mouth) & oral sex (mouth to genitals or bum).
HSV-2 or…[Read more]

@purple I really like your confidence & fact sharing when disclosing. Although it may feel awkward sometimes, being honest is the key to healthy sex & relationships.
Did you know that HSV-1 affects 7 out of 10 people in Australia? That’s a lot a people! So much so that it’s more normal & common to have HSV-1 than not. HSV-1 or ‘cold sores is…[Read more]

Great topic! Talking about STIs can be hard & like @tea said, it helps to be armed with the facts! So I’ll post a few points here:

1) It’s really important to tell past and current sexual partners when you’ve been diagnosed with some STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea & syphilis. The reason is because these STIs don’t always have symptoms, but it’s…[Read more]

Hi @tea, if breast cancer runs in your family, it’s important to talk your GP (regular doctor) about what kind of screening you should do. Thy might recommend you start mammograms/ultrasound screening earlier. They might recommend genetic testing as well. Sometimes nothing extra is needed — not all breast cancers are hereditary. It’s important to…[Read more]

@tea Despite some early claims about Vivagel preventing a range of STIs, it’s only been approved in Australia & the EU to treat Bacterial Vaginosis! It may be a good addition to the treatments we already have for BV, but best to get advice from your doctor about what’s right for you.

@tea Just getting comfortable touching your own breasts regularly is more important than following some technique perfectly. Ideally, it’s best to feel all over both breasts & under the arm at around the same time in your cycle every month. The point is to learn what’s normal for you & see your doctor early if you notice anything unusual (e.g. a…[Read more]

@ekoorb sorry to hear your housemate had such an unpleasant experience getting the rod (AKA Contraceptive Implant or Implanon) removed. Luckily, this is not typical! Most of the time removing the rod is very simple. The most common complications are usually minor bruising, bleeding or scarring. Occasionally, the rod can shift out of position,…[Read more]

Hi @champagnepapi & @ekoorb9, these are all good points. The web contains a lot of accessible info, however like @tea says – people do need to think about how valid some sites are. Some information is outdated or in the context of a different country. Some sites claim to be about health & wellbeing however are generally relying on advertising &…[Read more]