Female Reproductive Health [explicit]

[lilatha]

Before you start to shave, trim the hair with a manicuring scissor. Next, take a warm bath or shower to soften the remaining pubes so they are easier to remove. (Covering the area for a few minutes with a warm, wet washcloth will also do the trick.) Then, smear on some shaving gel or lotion, but be careful not to get any inside your vagina. When you're ready to start shaving, get into a comfortable position. You can lie on a towel with your legs spread if your guy is helping you out; otherwise, stand in the shower with one leg on the edge of the tub. Make sure you use a new, i.e., sharp, razor and hold the area taut with the hand you don't use to shave so the razor can glide easily. If you have sensitive skin, you'll lower the chances of getting ingrown hairs or razor bumps if you shave in the direction that the hair grows. You'll also have to figure out how much hair you want to remove. You can simply tidy up the region, leave a landing strip or go completely bald.

And yes shaving does improve sex and also stops it smelling down there when you sweat.
(To lazy to go into detail on that since I just woke up /sleep)

[cowmuflage]

Ok. I was just thinking it would be a nice surprise for him on his birthday XD seeing as I like it wild down there. I'll give it a go and it will allways grow back if I don't like it!

Allso facial hair on a man is awesome! I like playing with it haha.

[lilatha]

Some guys really do like it ... Like REALLY like it. I never understood it myself the whole shaving thing but once you get use to doing it its like nothing. Then agian waxing it nice to do if you don't enjoy shaving that much, but that depends on the whole aspect of pain you have I know people who waxed and felt nothing.
I tease my boyfriend and his facial hair only cas he really vain on those kinda things mean I know but he knows I love him and his hairs :p

[cowmuflage]

There was a thing on the news about about Birth control used by teens in NZ and they where talking to teenagers about what they think is the best form of Birth control and alot and I mean ALOT of girls where like "well if you get the guy to pull out before he climaxes then he does not need to were a condom". It's crazy these girls where like 4 years younger than me and most thougt that was the ebst way *headdesk* I mean I thougt girls in my year were thick but my golly gosh. It's like they don't listern in health class anymore. I mean theres that little thing called pre cum that guys do before the big event. No wonder theres more teen mums every year.

It's not like teens can't get condoms for free or anything

[Wark]

I'd second the "shave WITH the grain" suggestion if ingrown hairs are even remotely common. On me at least it basically leaves a layer of stubble, which is all I need to keep my follicles from punishing me for a few weeks. Yeah, it's not as smooth, but I'd have stubble in 5 hours anyways no matter WHAT I do, so I might as well not have the misery too.

That said, I'm with Cow on the "but it looks funny without hair!" As interesting as the different skin tone/texture is, I find it unsettling without the, ah, "drapes" in place. Makes me feel like I'm 10 again, ewwwwwww. Combine that with the money and time expense (razors are NOT cheap!) and I pretty much refuse to bother.

...I don't mind trimming the jungle back though. As much fun as being very hairy is, I prefer it when my underwear fits.


Cow: don't tell me you're surprised! Condoms are shunned the world over by everyone who thinks "oh, babies/STDs can't happen to me." Especially since pulling out totally works!* It is a fact of life that many, many humans are extremely bad at weighing short term pleasure/laziness against long-term health. Well, that, and condoms do require some effort and planning. And the education... I sat through close to 7 years of sex ed classes in school, as well as read a few informative books, plus whatever extracurricular materials I partook in. The first clue I was ever given as to how to put a condom on was from a European ad on youtube when I was 21 or so. I still don't trust myself to be able to competently do it. And I'm older and wiser and not suffering from any "BABIES CAN'T HAPPEN TO MEEEE" illusions like a lot of teens are, so presumably my barriers to use (hur hur hur) are pretty low.

Not to say it's not facepalm-stupid. Just that it's less bewildering than I wish it was.


*I find the faith people have in contraceptives mind-boggling from time to time. A friend of one friend was conceived when his mom was on the pill and his dad was using a condom; one of my guildmates was born long after his mother's tubes had been tied. And that's the stuff that is supposed to stop babies in their tracks!

[Hesantia]

Okay, first I am one of those who shaves EVERYTHING down there. I don't care enough to make cute little landing strips or stars or whatever, and I like it completely bald. I don't like body hair overall, if I were in charge even guys would shave their armpits and probably legs At the beginning of our relationship I did ask my BF how he wanted it though, because if he would totally love hair I wouldn't bother probably. Well, he didn't care so I continued to shave it all


Wark: just... wow... I think the first time I learned how to put on a condom (or atleast was introduced to the different kinds) I was about 12 years old and learned this in school (swedish 6th grade). We even passed around the strawberry one because everyone wanted to smell/taste it (yes, even the guys, although the ones who though they were cool were the ones tasting it) We had gender-separate discussions aswell. The second time I had sexual education I think was when I was 14, don't remember if we had one in 8th grade and one in 9th, or only in one of those. In the later one we learned about STD and stuff like that, had discussions and so on (although some of the "cooler" guys just acted like total idiots..) and if I remember it correct we wrote anonymous questions that the other gender answered to. We also had forms to fill out about or sexual and masturbation habits.

Wow, when I think back on this, I guess my education was pretty good and thorough.

[Wark]

Oh, I learned lots of stuff from all the classes. But every last bit of it was purely academic: charts and diagrams (and... word puzzles?) and videos and lecture after lecture after LECTURE. Useful stuff, but it doesn't do squat to give a person a good understanding of how you get a condom onto a penis and make it stay there until you're done. A couple guys have since kindly demonstrated for me (*cough*) so I have a better idea. I've still never tried it myself, as you pretty much need to do it right as fast as possible the first time so I usually just watch and then move on to other things.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I guess I do have that box of condoms I bought that won't see use anytime soon, and my dildo doesn't have any attention span/interest problems the way penises do. Hmm....


...and you leave me my hairy men! And the hairless ones... I guess I don't actually give a flying fig how much hair they sport, I just want something halfway natural.

[Hesantia]

Oh, I learned lots of stuff from all the classes. But every last bit of it was purely academic: charts and diagrams (and... word puzzles?) and videos and lecture after lecture after LECTURE. Useful stuff, but it doesn't do squat to give a person a good understanding of how you get a condom onto a penis and make it stay there until you're done. A couple guys have since kindly demonstrated for me (*cough*) so I have a better idea. I've still never tried it myself, as you pretty much need to do it right as fast as possible the first time so I usually just watch and then move on to other things.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I guess I do have that box of condoms I bought that won't see use anytime soon, and my dildo doesn't have any attention span/interest problems the way penises do. Hmm....


...and you leave me my hairy men! And the hairless ones... I guess I don't actually give a flying fig how much hair they sport, I just want something halfway natural.

I'm sure you learned good stuff, but as I hope you understood, my comment was mostly about the fact that you didn't learn such a vital thing as putting on a condom. And I do know how you feel, that you have to be fast and awesome from the first time you put one on.... but trying on the dildo was a pretty darn good idea


Let's just say we can both be happy I'm not in charge then

[Comett]

My sex education was/is appalling.

I grew up in a conservative country town and then moved on to a highly religious population and conservative city (so in both places, sex was more or less ignored, and if not, abstinence was taught). The few sex ed lessons I remember having were things like diagrams of sexual organs. Interesting I suppose, but useless in the "real world". I didn't even know what a condom looked like til a few years ago, yet alone any tidbits about sex, shaving, foreplay, so on and so forth... what I do know is from my own curiosity, the internet, the friends (who unfortunately are mostly of the gay male circuit so there's only so much they can help me with LOL) and the bf. So intimidating.

[cowmuflage]

Oh boy Wark I'm surprised that they are getting stupider tho. I mean back in my day gladrap with a bit of ducktape WAS a condom for most people I don't know why alot of people at my school did that when you could ask the nurse for a box of condoms thats what I did lol. Now its all bearback this and that least people tryed 3 years ago XD

[Celi]

I'm with the shaving crew! But that's mostly because before I started loosing my vision, I was a keen horse rider and white water kayaker. I found it uncomfortable when riding to have much hair down there and I was very concious about it when wearing swimwear. I also prefer my male partners to be at least trimmed - I was spoilt by one of my ex's who waxed everything, he was very vain - because I enjoy going down on them but don't enjoy a mouthful of hair.

But to my problem. I don't get any enjoyment out of sex and never have had. It hurts. Really really hurts. It's why after my last ex, I decided that I'd never be involved with another guy again. I'm not much of a touchy person, don't even like hugs from my family and kissing will send me running for the hills. It makes me feel like I'm being suffocated. So combine the 'not very affectionate with the sex hurts every time and I don't see it as being worth persuing male company. I've tried self-service but it goes no where except to leave me feeling bored and questioning why I was trying in the first place. I saw my gp about it a couple of years ago and his suggestion was to get a toy and see if that helped, specifically to start with a small one and slowly work my way through sizes. Didn't help.

[Cerah]

I'm also a shaver. I just find it more confortable to not have to worry about hairs down there, not to mention the area's a hell of a lot easier to keep clean, especially when I'm on my peroid. Ingrown hairs can be a problem, but my bf's very gentle in plucking them out with tweezers. If he's not around, I check after having a shower (when hairs are softer), and pluck them out myself. It does hurt sometimes, but that's better than how much it hurts if you don't pluck them. My bf shaves too. We both agree it makes oral sex a lot more fun when we don't have to worry about swallowing hair.

My sex education was, well, interesting, for a lack of a better word. My Mom was always very open-minded and supportive. She practically buried me in pamphlets about maxi pads and tampons when I first got my peroid, shortly followed by ones on birth control and STDs, and she assured me I could always talk to her. I guess it helps that's she's relatively young for a Mom, having had me when she was only 17, and thus was easier to talk to than an older parent would be, I guess. Early on in my relationship with my boyfriend (about 4 months in), she kind of walked in on us -- and it was only the second time we tried anything. Mom didn't get mad, she didn't really say anything, but immediately made a doctor's appointment for me to go on the Pill. Still, my bf and I were too freaked out/embarrassed to do anything again for at least a month after!

Celi, if you don't like sex, nobody's forcing you to do it. Some people are simply asexual -- there's nothing wrong with that, it's just the way some people are. Don't worry too much. As long as you're happy with your life, sexual, lack-thereof, or otherwise, that's all that matters.

[Nubhorns]

I would shave, I really would, but anything even remotely approaching a razor causes a horrible rash to crop up. It's not ingrown hairs, it's not razor burn, it just burns for days and makes me want to cry. I don't have the gall to get it waxed, so I guess I'm stuck with Nair or whatever - then again, I haven't used that for anything besides my legs in months. I don't even think we have any anymore. >_<

I've just given up on it lately, really. I'd shave if I had someone to bother shaving for. Although frankly I'm getting fed up with the extra hygine issues it drags along - I've never actually shaved anything down there fully since even just a general pruning causes a rash, but I desperately wish it was easier to keep clean. It seems like no matter how much I bathe and trim and wear pretty perfumes, you look away for ten seconds and you can swear something died up there. I should probably see a doctor about it, but frankly it's too embarrassing because no one else ever has that problem - I like to think it's because they all shave or wax or whatever and that will solve it. I wish I could sit in the shower all day. At least then I wouldn't get stinky.

And that's my TMI for the day.

[TygerDarkstorm]

I think the smell thing is subconscious, to be honest. I think that some of us ladies get so paranoid that we can always smell it, or always think we smell it; I know that's how it is for me, at least because I've never heard anyone say anything to me about it, and I'm pretty sure my bf would be honest with me if it did stink.

If you really are concerned that you smell more than you think you should, I'd try to get the courage to ask your doctor--I'm sure you can't be the only woman concerned about smelling too bad down there.

[Celi]

Well I want to have it. While I was in Melb for the F1, I met this lovely guy and we got on well, had a lot in common (not just our screaming love of Fernando Alonso, I think poor 'Nando must have be frightened when he met us ) but because I get no enjoyment from sex due to the pain, I'm not willing to persue anything. I can and have worked around the discomfort with cuddles and kissing, but the pain. Ugh. That's not something so easily worked around

[lilatha]

Nubhorns its actully normal So your not the only one I myself offend found myself paranoid about down there smelling funny or something. Really its mainly comes down from the teasing boys do at school since for some reason they think down there is a fish (kids huh?)
As for your shaving issue maybe go to a doctor if it is really hurting after shaving maybe your having a reaction to it and they might eb able to help and again if your paranoid about a smell they will always help
As for sex being a discomfort again normal as hell!
I myself never did see the whole 'hype' of sex having a guy spaz on you for 7 mins oh wow ¬.¬ (yes I know that isn't teh nice way of putting it but facts say men only last 7 mins so yeah flame me!) I mind it but I never had that phase in which I needed to screw anything with a pulse if you know what I mean?
Recently with my new BF I would find myself in pain after sex, anything from a sharp pain in my lower abdomen which could last 30 mins to a week, feeling light headed or having stomach pains. Now for me this went on for a month and was very off putting and really I am still scared it will happen again, but lucky for me it wasn't anything to major. It was merely he was bigger to what Im use to and me being a small person ... Well put two and two together one that one ^^
Sex is a very painful thing for those few moments of pleasure so really its perfect fine to find it painful or even not be phased by it. I was put off from a young age since I knew the changes that happen in your body during sex, but over the years I over came that fear I guess you can call it that? But if you do find yourself in alot of pain after or during sex it is good to go get a check up ... For all you know you might enjoy it but something in your body is having a reaction! Yes girls you can have reactions to things down there from condoms to cum.
As for your hugging and kissing thing! Im the same I felt really werid kissing my family even had a small issue with BF's Im not really into relationships tbh but then again I have had a horrible history with people Seems Im just to boring to be around D: Tbh not shocked Im 19 Ive always acted like the 'smart one' in a group so I can understand and I can say some harsh honest things from time to time. But I really hate talking to people like face to face ... Over the computer I like it since I can cut it off when I please and don't need to reply all the time but Im werid like that ;D

[Celi]

When it first started happening, I thought it was caused by my lanolin allergies but it wasn't. My gp suggested what he did because his theory was that I'm to small/tight but that didn't seem to help. *Sigh* Don't know what else I can try if the suggestion made by the dr didn't help.

Do you guys in America have the gardasil injection yet? I had mine when it was first brought out. I think it's still free for females between 16 and 30ish over here. If you can get it, it's worth it as a bit of protection against HPV. Not 100%, but nothing really is for anything.

[lilatha]

/Agrees with Celi!
Anyone offered that injection should take it not just for yourself but your partners! Men are at a higher risk of getting HPV and they have to pay for the injection while we are offered it for free until a certain age the cost of the injection is £300! So take it while its free!
Again not just for your self! In women it only causes one type of cancer in men it causes two!

[Cerah]

We have Gardasil in Canada, but it's not covered by provincial health care plans, at least not in Ontario, and it's quite expensive -- about $300 for the series of shots. I wanted to get it regardless, as anything that can cut down chances for cancer has to be good, but I'm too old (it's recommended for women 25 or younger; I'm 28), and I'm in a low-risk category anyway, being in a monogamous relationship for over a decade.

[Hesantia]

I would shave, I really would, but anything even remotely approaching a razor causes a horrible rash to crop up. It's not ingrown hairs, it's not razor burn, it just burns for days and makes me want to cry. I don't have the gall to get it waxed, so I guess I'm stuck with Nair or whatever - then again, I haven't used that for anything besides my legs in months. I don't even think we have any anymore. >_<

I've just given up on it lately, really. I'd shave if I had someone to bother shaving for. Although frankly I'm getting fed up with the extra hygine issues it drags along - I've never actually shaved anything down there fully since even just a general pruning causes a rash, but I desperately wish it was easier to keep clean. It seems like no matter how much I bathe and trim and wear pretty perfumes, you look away for ten seconds and you can swear something died up there. I should probably see a doctor about it, but frankly it's too embarrassing because no one else ever has that problem - I like to think it's because they all shave or wax or whatever and that will solve it. I wish I could sit in the shower all day. At least then I wouldn't get stinky.

And that's my TMI for the day.

I guess you have tried this, but just if there is a slight chance you haven't:
Are you shaving with or without "cream"? My sisters legs get REALLY itchy if she isn't using it, and myself never has to bother. Just a thought