Your Most Intimate Questions Answered: Find out what’s going on DOWN THERE
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Tyra’s lady docs Dr. Debby, Dr. Donnica and Dr. Francis get you the answers you need.
1. Is it safe to douche?
Although douching is typically safe, it doesn't really make your vagina cleaner or better, and it may cause more harm than good. Our vaginas are self-cleaning. Just as our eyes use tears to clean themselves, our vaginas use discharge to clean itself, and it's perfectly fine and natural. It also doesn't prevent pregnancy, as is sometimes mistakenly believed.
2. Is it normal to bleed after a pap smear?
It is common to have spotting because the nature of the pap is you are moving cells and removal can irate the cervix and cause bleeding.
3. Is it okay to have sex the night before a pap smear?
If you are going for a regular exam then the answer is yes it is okay.
4. When do I have to start going to the gyno and how often?
Start at 21 or three years after you become sexually active. Girls who are thinking about becoming sexually active should consider going to a gynecologist too for a general check-up and to learn how to protect themselves.
5. What causes my friend’s cycle to sync up?
The medical term for this is "menstrual synchronicity". It usually affects women who live together and is believed to be caused by pheromones (airborne chemical signals that are not consciously detected as odors but are sensed by the nose). Interestingly, this happens in animals as well.
6. Why do I have food cravings during my period?
This generally happens in the 10 days before your period: there are biologic and psychological reasons. Biologically, serotonin (a neurotransmitter) levels decrease at this point in the cycle. Low-levels of serotonin may stimulate an urge to eat carb-rich foods, which in turn increase serotonin synthesis and levels (this is similar to how antidepressants work). Psychologically: decreased serotonin influences mood (badly!), causing increasing anxiety or stress…and stress eating. Also, chocolate is one of the biggest antidepressants.
7. Do artificial sweeteners cause worse cramps?
Artificial sweeteners get blamed for a lot of things but there’s no clinical proof. But if you want to cut it out of your diet and see if it helps, go for it.










I tuned in to watch this segment and I have to say it was very informative. It was lighthearted and funny at times. I am one of the few women that are well informed when it comes to my vagina and I am never too shy to ask questions and talk about issues concerning women's health. Tyra, thanks for brining this to television and I hope a lot of women found it informative and will feel more impowered to ask questions and take care of themselves!
Posted by: Lupie | November 5, 2007 6:34 PM
Hi Tyra, Todays show was awesome! Im so glad that you are helping alot of women think about this important exam that must get done. I just turned 31 yrs old and I have been diagnosed with HPV. I just found out about 1 month ago.. I recently had a biopsy done about 3 weeks ago and last Thurday on the 1st of Nov I had a procedure done to try and get the abnormal cells off my cervix. It's very ironic that as im going through this hard time in my life because of this specific reason you have this topic on your show. Thank You Soooo Much for doing this show and for letting women especially YOUNG women know the importance of getting an annual pap. I'm currently married and I have a 8 yr old daughter. So you can just imagine how scared and terrified i am. I thank god that they caught this right on time because my stage of cells are 1 stage away from turning into cancer. I just thought I'd share my story because of your topic on the show today ,,,
Thank You,
Lissette
Posted by: Lissette | November 5, 2007 6:34 PM
I tuned in to watch this segment and I have to say it was very informative. It was lighthearted and funny at times. I am one of the few women that are well informed when it comes to my vagina and I am never too shy to ask questions and talk about issues concerning women's health. Tyra, thanks for brining this to television and I hope a lot of women found it informative and will feel more impowered to ask questions and take care of themselves!
Posted by: Lupie | November 5, 2007 6:31 PM
Hi Tyra, Todays show was awesome! Im so glad that you are helping alot of women think about this important exam that must get done. I just turned 31 yrs old and I have been diagnosed with HPV. I just found out about 1 month ago.. I recently had a biopsy done about 3 weeks ago and last Thurday on the 1st of Nov I had a procedure done to try and get the abnormal cells off my cervix. It's very ironic that as im going through this hard time in my life because of this specific reason you have this topic on your show. Thank You Soooo Much for doing this show and for letting women especially YOUNG women know the importance of getting an annual pap. I'm currently married and I have a 8 yr old daughter. So you can just imagine how scared and terrified i am. I thank god that they caught this right on time because my stage of cells are 1 stage away from turning into cancer. I just thought I'd share my story because of your topic on the show today ,,,
Thank You,
Lissette
Posted by: Lissette | November 5, 2007 6:23 PM
hi tyra, todays show was great. i have a question is it normal not to get your period every month lets say i get my period every 2 to 3 months, but the problem is that when i get my period i get it for more than a week, i first got my period wen i was about 8 years old..its it normal or is it a sign or cancer or a tumor or any bad infection.thank you.
Posted by: roxana | November 5, 2007 6:17 PM
tyra
todays show was AWESOME!
i so understand sara.. except.. i am still scared.. i still have not gone to get a check up since the birth of my daughter, 6 months ago...
my first pap smear was when i was 18 yrs old when i found out i was pregnant, and the doctor was VERY rude and totally made me feel tense and uncomfortable. now because she RUINED my first experience of the test, i am terrified and very self conscious about going again. plus with my financial situation, its hard to find a doctor who will provide their services for hardly anything, and still treat me like a "regular patient".
could you please help me out??
Posted by: Larae | November 5, 2007 6:13 PM
hi tyra, todays show was great. i have a question is it normal not to get your period every month lets say i get my period every 2 to 3 months, but the problem is that when i get my period i get it for more than a week, i first got my period wen i was about 8 years old..its it normal or is it a sign or cancer or a tumor or any bad infection.thank you.
Posted by: roxana | November 5, 2007 6:12 PM
tyra
todays show was AWESOME!
i so understand sara.. except.. i am still scared.. i still have not gone to get a check up since the birth of my daughter, 6 months ago...
my first pap smear was when i was 18 yrs old when i found out i was pregnant, and the doctor was VERY rude and totally made me feel tense and uncomfortable. now because she RUINED my first experience of the test, i am terrified and very self conscious about going again. plus with my financial situation, its hard to find a doctor who will provide their services for hardly anything, and still treat me like a "regular patient".
could you please help me out??
Posted by: Larae | November 5, 2007 6:09 PM
tyra
todays show was AWESOME!
i so understand sara.. except.. i am still scared.. i still have not gone to get a check up since the birth of my daughter, 6 months ago...
my first pap smear was when i was 18 yrs old when i found out i was pregnant, and the doctor was VERY rude and totally made me feel tense and uncomfortable. now because she RUINED my first experience of the test, i am terrified and very self conscious about going again. plus with my financial situation, its hard to find a doctor who will provide their services for hardly anything, and still treat me like a "regular patient".
could you please help me out??
Posted by: Larae | November 5, 2007 6:06 PM
tyra
todays show was AWESOME!
i so understand sara.. except.. i am still scared.. i still have not gone to get a check up since the birth of my daughter, 6 months ago...
my first pap smear was when i was 18 yrs old when i found out i was pregnant, and the doctor was VERY rude and totally made me feel tense and uncomfortable. now because she RUINED my first experience of the test, i am terrified and very self conscious about going again. plus with my financial situation, its hard to find a doctor who will provide their services for hardly anything, and still treat me like a "regular patient".
could you please help me out??
Posted by: Larae | November 5, 2007 6:04 PM
hi tyra, todays show was great. i have a question is it normal not to get your period every month lets say i get my period every 2 to 3 months, but the problem is that when i get my period i get it for more than a week, i first got my period wen i was about 8 years old..its it normal or is it a sign or cancer or a tumor or any bad infection.thank you.
Posted by: roxana | November 5, 2007 5:59 PM
hi tyra, todays show was great. i have a question is it normal not to get your period every month lets say i get my period every 2 to 3 months, but the problem is that when i get my period i get it for more than a week, i first got my period wen i was about 8 years old..its it normal or is it a sign or cancer or a tumor or any bad infection.thank you.
Posted by: roxana | November 5, 2007 5:57 PM
tyra i really enjoy watching your show it can be so interesting. my question is if im takin birth control pills now to take care of my self with my husband cause were both in school, can there be any effect at all later when we are ready to have children, cause i hear so much that if you take the pills for so long you can become steril. im really interested in knowing. thanks.
Posted by: Angie Hernandez | November 5, 2007 5:56 PM
hi tyra, todays show was great. i have a question is it normal not to get your period every month lets say i get my period every 2 to 3 months, but the problem is that when i get my period i get it for more than a week, i first got my period wen i was about 8 years old..its it normal or is it a sign or cancer or a tumor or any bad infection.thank you.
Posted by: roxana | November 5, 2007 5:54 PM
hi tyra, todays show was great. i have a question is it normal not to get your period every month lets say i get my period every 2 to 3 months, but the problem is that when i get my period i get it for more than a week, i first got my period wen i was about 8 years old..its it normal.thank you.
Posted by: Roxana | November 5, 2007 5:51 PM
Tyra,
I know exactly what Sara was going through. I am 27 years old and had not gone to see a gyno until I was about 24, when I got married. My mother was persistant on me seeing one before getting married so that I could get birth control. We didn't want to take the risk of me getting pregnant right away. When I finally did I realized that it really wasn't as bad as some people made it out to be. The doctor that I saw was very gentle and excelent in keeping me comfortable and talked me through each step. So now going to the gyno isn't a fear anymore.
Posted by: Darin | November 5, 2007 5:47 PM
Hi Tyra, today's show was awesome, I've always been afraid to the gynecologist, I am 26 almost 27 years old and had sex for the first time at 25 and 1/2 with my fiance, I was the kind that would wait to get married or find that special someone and only one.
My problem is my family is in Guatemala, and I dont know where to go, I dont have to much money so I want to find something affordable, but I really felt inspired to go. I always go to the general doctor for normal check outs because I am afraid of cancer and stuff, and now that I learned so much in today's show I really want to check that too :) I get really bad pain with my period, I have never used Tampax or put anything in because I just dont like it, but I know it is good to know if I am healthy or not, thanks, love your show too, In Florida!!! Thanks Tyra!!!
Posted by: Astrid | November 5, 2007 5:13 PM
Hi Tyra, today's show was awesome, I've always been afraid to the gynecologist, I am 26 almost 27 years old and had sex for the first time at 25 and 1/2 with my fiance, I was the kind that would wait to get married or find that special someone and only one.
My problem is my family is in Guatemala, and I dont know where to go, I dont have to much money so I want to find something affordable, but I really felt inspired to go. I always go to the general doctor for normal check outs because I am afraid of cancer and stuff, and now that I learned so much in today's show I really want to check that too :) I get really bad pain with my period, I have never used Tampax or put anything in because I just dont like it, but I know it is good to know if I am healthy or not, thanks, love your show too, In Florida!!! Thanks Tyra!!!
Posted by: Astrid | November 5, 2007 5:08 PM
Is it true that you have to visit the gyno when you turn 21? what about if you are still a virgin? do I have to go?? by the way i am 18
Posted by: Cynthia | November 5, 2007 4:56 PM
Is it true that you have to visit the gyno when you turn 21? what about if you are still a virgin? do I have to go?? by the way i am 18
Posted by: Cynthia | November 5, 2007 4:56 PM
Hi Tyra, today's show was awesome, I've always been afraid to the gynecologist, I am 26 almost 27 years old and had sex for the first time at 25 and 1/2 with my fiance, I was the kind that would wait to get married or find that special someone and only one.
My problem is my family is in Guatemala, and I dont know where to go, I dont have to much money so I want to find something affordable, but I really felt inspired to go. I always go to the general doctor for normal check outs because I am afraid of cancer and stuff, and now that I learned so much in today's show I really want to check that too :) I get really bad pain with my period, I have never used Tampax or put anything in because I just dont like it, but I know it is good to know if I am healthy or not, thanks, love your show too, In Florida!!! Thanks Tyra!!!
Posted by: Astrid | November 5, 2007 4:55 PM
Thank you for your show. It was very appreciated and very informative. Also, I love your other show, "America's Next Top Model." Keep up the great work and great topics.
Posted by: Julia | November 5, 2007 4:54 PM
Is it true that you have to visit the gyno when you turn 21? what about if you are still a virgin? do I have to go??
Posted by: Cynthia | November 5, 2007 4:52 PM
i tend to ovulat alot alot. but should it smell wired?
Posted by: caitlin | November 5, 2007 4:33 PM
P.S. They did have your show on but it was a re-run
Posted by: Jess | November 5, 2007 4:22 PM