Mrs Myrna Monday: Why Does it Hurt To Have Sex After My Period In Certain Positions? Let's talk menstruation and retroverted Uterus

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs. Myrna, why does it hurt to have sex after my period and only in certain positions?
Sincerely, Flinching Slightly

Dear Flinching Slightly,
Let's see if I can help you out here:

* The first thing to know is that after your period your uterus is still tender: Why?
Because you just shed the old lining and now have new tissue exposed. It works a bit like a wound (follow me on this, and no your period is not an injury, its an awesome time of renewal). When you really do a great job of scraping yourself up you get a scab that not only stops bleeding but protects the growth of new skin. If you were to remove it (I know, its gross, stay with me) and put pressure on the new skin before the scab came off of its own accord its probably going to hurt. Same concept. The new tissue is just that: new.

*Secondly, because this only happens in certain positions:
You may have a retroverted uterus.

What does that even mean?
It means that your uterus is tilted backwards. Because of its positioning your partner can 'knock' into your uterus slightly in certain positions, which can be pretty uncomfortable.

How do you know if you have a retroverted uterus?
Visit your CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) or your ObGyn and ask them to take a look and see if it is retroverted. If they have never mentioned it don't assume its not there, in my case it took them years to mention it to me.

So, what are the implications of a retroverted uterus?
First off, let me say that this is completely normal and often genetic. It wont affect your ability to get pregnant or give birth. In fact, a retroverted uterus will normally right itself in the 10th - 12th week of pregnancy. No, you don't need surgery or any kind of medical intervention to fix this. Again, its not a problem.

There are some symptoms that can point it out to you, though:
Lower back pain, painful intercourse in certain positions and painful periods are some that you can see associated with it.

Again, it is not a medical problem. Its just a thing, like not being born with wisdom teeth. Personally, I think it gives your Uterus a little panache.

Mrs. Myrna Mondays: Suffer From UTI's? She knows just how to prevent them.

Mrs. Myrna Mondays:

Where we answer all of the questions you have about your Lady Parts

Dear Mrs. Myrna,

I feel like I always have a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). What can I do to prevent them so that I don't have to feel like this all of the time?

Sincerely,

Sick and Tired

Dear Sick and Tired,

I know that there are a lot of women out there nodding their heads at this so I will do my best to end this saga for you.

1.) Go to your local drug store and pick up some over the counter cranberry pills. Take one a day at every meal. This will cause your urine to become too acidic for your infection to survive and serves as a very effective preventative measure. Don't do juice, the sugars in your juice can actually feed your infection.

2.) Never, I mean never take a bath. If you really need to then make sure you urinate as soon as you get out of the tub. Sitting in a tub can cause bacteria to enter the urethra and cause a UTI.

3.) Urinate after you have sex. Again, intercourse can cause bacteria to find their way into your urethra and cause a UTI.

4.) DON'T hold it in! When you've gotta go, take the time to make it happen. Holding it when you need to go can help any bacteria that may be present develop into a full-fledged urinary tract infection.

5.) Wear cotton panties. Cotton fabric breathes easy, keeping you nice and dry. Other synthetic fabrics do not breath and can trap in moisture, creating a potential breeding ground for bacteria.

6.) Last but not least: wipe from front to back. So, in plain terms starting with your vulva and ending with your anus, never visa versa. This keeps any bacteria from your anus from getting into your vaginal area.

If you have any question at all e-mail us at: VulvaLoveLovely@Gmail.com.

Mrs. Myrna's questions are answered by a host of women's health professionals in South Florida, including certified nurse midwives and naturopathic doctors.