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 was just wondering if there was any way that I could get a tape of the "What's up down there" show. They did not air it in New Orleans. I was upset because I especially wanted to hear about the cramps. I have severe cramps and nothing seems to help much. Please if there is any thing yu can help me with it would be greatly appreciated.Thank you Tyra!
Jess
Posted by: Jessica | November 5, 2007 4:19 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 4:12 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 4:09 PM
Hi Tyra,
I have a question about what's going on down there. I am 31 years old and I have extremely irregular periods. My question is during my cycle I tend to always have lots of big and thick clots. Is this normal? Also, everytime I address a GYN about my abnormal periods they always tend to look at me and say I need to loose weight. Yes, I am a big girl but I swear I feel something else maybe the problem and they can't get past my weight. HELP!!!!
Posted by: Sandra | November 5, 2007 3:56 PM
is masterbation safe on your vagina...????????
Posted by: malua | November 5, 2007 3:56 PM
Hey Tyra
im 16 and ive had my period for a couple years now and i dont have a regular period usually its every othermonth but sometimes its very crazy, the longest i didnt have it was 5 months my mom thought i was pregnate... but i knew i wasn't but i was wondering is it normal to have a irregular period
Posted by: Katie | November 5, 2007 3:53 PM
i was watching the show that appeared on 11-5-07 and i wanted to comment on the lady w/ 4 kids. i dont think that she is a bad parent and i do know what its like. i believe its the stress that causes it because stress does the same for me. i think that what you do is wonderful and amazing and out of all the celebrities, that you see now nows days, you seem real.i also write because i do want to see if you do write back as you see.
Posted by: chris | November 5, 2007 3:52 PM
Hi Tyra,
I have had two kids. After my second( she's 18 months) why do I still have mucus coming out of my vagina?? My doc says it's because I'm a good mucus producer? Is she right? Thanks
Posted by: angie | November 5, 2007 3:51 PM
Hey Tyra
im 16 and ive had my period for a couple years now and i dont have a regular period usually its every othermonth but sometimes its very crazy, the longest i didnt have it was 5 months my mom thought i was pregnate... but i knew i wasn't but i was wondering is it normal to have a irregular period
Posted by: Katie | November 5, 2007 3:50 PM
Hello Tyra,
I'm 16 right now, almost 17. I'm on the pill, and i have a boy as a friend so my mom thinks im having sex. I know i'm not going to until im married. My mom is on the hunt to find out if im a virgin or not because she doesn't believe me. She also says that everyday i take the pill i'm causing more health problems. Is this true? My periods used to be horrible, but now they're really short, and i don't have to lay in bed for 15 minutes trying to get up. Is that even normal? My mom says it is. What do you think about all this.
Posted by: Natalie | November 5, 2007 3:28 PM
Hi Tyra.
I'm 16 and taking "the pill" for my periods. But I was wondering, how young is too young to take it? My mom is worried that it's harming me more then helping me. It's also giving her these crazy ideas that I'm having sex because I won't get pregnant -I'm still a virgin. Is it causing more trouble then relief?
Posted by: Natalie | November 5, 2007 3:23 PM
Hey Tyra,
I was just wanting some advise on how to talk to my mom about going onto the pill. The reason that I want to is because of the decreasing of cramps and heavy flow. But I'm scared to ask my mom because of the fact that she will probably think that I'm having, or wanting to have, sex with my boyfriend, and I'm not. I just need some help. I don't want her freaking out on me. Thanks very much!
Posted by: Lacie | November 5, 2007 3:16 PM
Tyra you are soo awesome! Thank you for doing a show like this, I think that everyone should watch this episode. I don't understand why other people can't talk about their vagina. I'm quite open about it and so my friends always come to me to talk about it. Thank you for doing this show and educating all women and to not be shy about it. You're awesome!
Posted by: Ngan | November 5, 2007 3:10 PM
Hello :) I wanted to watch this show really badly because it was educational to many women, especially teenagers. I want to see this show, so if you can, please repeat it in the near future. It is worth repeating a lot more than some show about celebrities. I would advise you to do more shows like that (shows that are educational, especially if it is about health). For example, I remember the show about STDs, but it was pretty general. You could pick one STD and talk about it the whole hour. In addition, there are so many women who have been raped and left with STD's and often with children. There are people who do not learn that they have an STD until a year passes (for ex genital warts) and since this is contageous, how does it affect these people's lives ? Give precautions, educate women and younger girls, rather than spend too much time on celebrities because we already see enough of them in the media and magazines. I was shocked to learn that 12, 13, and 14 year old girls have sex and it is a good thing according to them. Sometimes you need to show something graphic, shocking, sad, but realistic, etc...in order to help young girls open their eyes. People treat them like children (which they still are), but not when it comes to sex.
So just keep doing educational shows, for that opens eyes for many people :)
Posted by: Diana | November 5, 2007 3:02 PM
After a hysteroctemy, why is the vagina so dry and is there anything that can bring the spark back into a 56 year old VAGINA???
Posted by: Shay | November 5, 2007 2:56 PM
Hey tyra!!!
does masturbation hurt you in any way? can it give you cancer? tumors? or anything like that? it is a question that has always been on my mind
Posted by: Elizabeth | November 5, 2007 2:48 PM
OTHER TRICKS TO EASE CRAMPS AND DECREASE THE HASSLE OF MENSTRUATION.
This like many of your shows was such a great idea. I have been so confused why women have such a problem looking and taking care of their vaginas. VAGINA see I have no problem saying it, in fact my e-mail have been vagina.junction@gmail.com for a long time now. Promoting gyno health is a very important issue and you tyra darling are a talkshow maven! I just wanted to add another piece of advice for the cramp attack. I understand that this may be a subject that you didn't want to discuss on the show; but orgasms really help with menstrual cramps. You get out your fav vibrating pal and pleasure those cramps away. Or if you have a very enlightened partner you can wear a sea sponge while you menstruate and it absorbs the the flow and also feels like vagina! so every one's happy. for more info on the sea sponge google sea sponge tampons. you will find a bunch of sites selling them but you can get one at your hardware store in the paint isle or the beauty isle in most department stores. You need a piece as big as your fist or smaller depending on your flow. Make sure to sterilize it before use. You can do so simply by boiling it for 3 mins or less and adding some vinager and baking soda or tea tree oil. You need to be pretty comfy with your body to use these so be sure when you try them out you're in a comfortable environment. I also suggest that if you'll be using them while having intercourse that you sew some strong thread to it so you have an easy time getting it out :) Trust me the sea sponge has changed my life and I no longer dread my cycle!
Posted by: meika | November 5, 2007 2:39 PM
OTHER TRICKS TO EASE CRAMPS AND DECREASE THE HASSLE OF MENSTRUATION.
This like many of your shows was such a great idea. I have been so confused why women have such a problem looking and taking care of their vaginas. VAGINA see I have no problem saying it, in fact my e-mail have been vagina.junction@gmail.com for a long time now. Promoting gyno health is a very important issue and you tyra darling are a talkshow maven! I just wanted to add another piece of advice for the cramp attack. I understand that this may be a subject that you didn't want to discuss on the show; but orgasms really help with menstrual cramps. You get out your fav vibrating pal and pleasure those cramps away. Or if you have a very enlightened partner you can wear a sea sponge while you menstruate and it absorbs the the flow and also feels like vagina! so every one's happy. for more info on the sea sponge google sea sponge tampons. you will find a bunch of sites selling them but you can get one at your hardware store in the paint isle or the beauty isle in most department stores. You need a piece as big as your fist or smaller depending on your flow. Make sure to sterilize it before use. You can do so simply by boiling it for 3 mins or less and adding some vinager and baking soda or tea tree oil. You need to be pretty comfy with your body to use these so be sure when you try them out you're in a comfortable environment. I also suggest that if you'll be using them while having intercourse that you sew some strong thread to it so you have an easy time getting it out :) Trust me the sea sponge has changed my life and I no longer dread my cycle!
Posted by: meika | November 5, 2007 2:31 PM
Hi Tyra! i just caught the last part of your show today and i was just wondering if there is a problem if there happens to be a lot of discharge. I am not sure if other women get it but i seem to have it on my underwear all the time. Sometimes it i a lot. I am afraid to ask anyone else. please tell me. P.S. GREAT SHOW!!!!
Posted by: Michelle | November 5, 2007 2:23 PM
I keep getting yeast infection about every three months. I just had a yeast infection and i used the seven days treatment. I still had yeast after i used the treatment, what do i need to do?
Posted by: jocelyn | November 5, 2007 2:20 PM
I was wondering if it's true or not that a male is able to feel the difference as to if you have had sex with another male. Is this true?
Posted by: shana | November 5, 2007 2:12 PM
Thank you for the information. tyra is it safe to wear a tampon before you have sex or will it pop your cheery.i would love to meet you, but im only 13teen.
Posted by: jamie | November 5, 2007 2:08 PM
Hi tyra, i get irritation from shaving and it becomes red and itchy..
is there anything i can do to prevent this? One of the doctors on your show today said that when you are on birth control and you are at the end of your pack and expecting your period that u can skip the sugar pills and just start a new pack, now i'm just windering if its healthy and if you dont skip your period on the next pack will it be longer and heavier? How do you know if you have a yeast infection?
Posted by: Allison | November 5, 2007 2:00 PM
Why does your discharge smell bad eventhough you take a shower everyday?
Posted by: Valerie | November 5, 2007 1:58 PM
I get bumps on my sweet talker everytime my cycle comes. Why do they come and How do I stop them from showing up? They're not razer bumps. I started getting them when I started my first cycle
Posted by: teonvia | November 5, 2007 1:55 PM