Vaginal Discomfort

Oh I know what you are talking about....Sounds like you have Vulvadinia (Vulvar Vistibulitis) (sp) I ended up needing physical therapy. Worked wonders. It's called pelvic floor dysfunction and is treatable.

I guess my first question are you using a spermacide or condom that could be irritating? Lubricants that have scents or the hot ones? Made with capsasian by the way which is a dirrivative of hot red peppers...A no no for women to use. yikes.

I would have your Dr./OB to do a vaginal swab test for a vaginal infection. It could be Bacterial Vagintis, which will need a different antiobiotic to treat, like, Flagyl.

Have they tested you for HPV? In other words a pap.

If it just started 4 months ago, retrace any changes you've made... Dietary, laundry, bath soap, your undies, etc Try to trace it to something.

Sounds like its not yeast unless he is not being treated.

Check for UTI, HPV, etc to rule things out one at a time. Are you using any type of "fun gel"? Maybe you have a reaction to it.

When you get out of shower or bath, use the hair dryer on low to fully dry down there. Watch out for super tight pants/jeans.

Good luck! Keep pursuing until you figure it out, Remember... It just started 4 months ago... What changed?

Per the yeast infection if that is what it is:
Your HUSBAND ALSO has to be treated.
Otherwise, you and he will constantly be giving it to each other.
Same for breastfeeding Moms and thrush. Both have to be treated at the same time. Or it will not go away.
Same for STD's.
BOTH partners have to be treated.

It could be so many things. Menopause. Dryness. If you're tense or stressed. PID. Cysts. Fibroid tumors. Tears around the uterus. Vulvodynia, which is really hard to diagnos. You could be allergic to his semen, another thing really hard to diagnose (try using a condom if you aren't already, if you're fine with a condom, you may want to let your Dr know and see what treatments are available. 15% of women, between ages 20-30, are allergic to their partners semen.), or other products you might be using. It could be a sign of cancer. UTI. Endometriosis. Vaginismus. Hemorrhoids. Alergic to Soaps you use.

Oh...and some STD's like herpes can not be diagnosed unless you have visible sores. I'm sure there are others, too.

I would look up all the above on the Internet and see which one(s) best compare to your symptoms, so that you can go in to your Dr visit prepared.

I'd be interested to know the outcome of this.

Good luck!

I hate to tell you this, but you might be allergic to your husbands seminal fluid. Especially if it's happening after each time you have sex.

Symptoms can be moderate, to extreme. It can happen if you are having sex for the first time or after many years with the same partner. It could occur after pregnancy or abstinence.

Give a read:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32555520/ns/health-sexual_hea...

It sounds like you've had some changes down there for sure. I've never had trouble till recently, it burns now when I have sex but there is nothing wrong with me except for "thinning" of the vaginal wall according to my doc. It SUCKS.
I hate lubricants, they all burn too!

First of all, it's not TMI - no one can help you without the information, and anyone who's squeamish just shouldn't click on the question! So don't hold back!

Obviously you've been treated incorrectly or incompletely. Either that, or the medications have created another situation that's been missed. I agree that you and your husband both need a comprehensive work-up by one doctor or by 2 doctors working together. Go see your doctor with your husband, and make some demands for a more comprehensive investigation and any appropriate referral. This is not about no sex. It's about something abnormal that they've missed. Be tough, take notes and ask questions! Don't let them just give you another prescription to get rid of you.

Good luck.

This sounds very much like the vestibulitis I've dealt with for several years now. It is a skin issue, not a yeast issue. Once I was diagnosed by my OB-GYN, he sent me down to the women's health clinic at our local University hospital. In addition to a steroid cream, they had me change almost every product I was using. From detergent to body wash to feminine hygiene products and the type of underwear I wore. My husband had to make several changes also since in theory his parts would be touching my parts - although that was NOT happening at the time thanks to pain! The combination of cream and lifestyle change helped very quickly, although it can still "flare up" if I have a heavy period, wear panty hose, or get in a pool thanks to the chlorine and other chemicals.

Best of luck getting a diagnosis and treatment. I would at least mention vestibulitis to your OB and see if that's the answer!

Could be atrophic vaginitis due to the hysterectomy. Easily treated w/ an estrogen cream like Estrace or vag suppositories like Vagifem. Could be lichen sclerosis, which does affect women at the peri menopausal stage usually. This is treated w/ a steroid cream, usually clobetasol. I went through a similar problem and I know it can be discouraging when you can't find a diagnosis. Hang in there.

It may be a lubrication issue. I would try prepping yourself before you even start to get intimate. See if that helps. I know that burning can occur if the vagina isn't prepped or lubricated enough----the burning comes from the tiny tears you get with all the friction. I would go get a really good lubricant and take note of any changes you have made recently with soap, laundry detergent, body wash etc. Also if your same obgyn keeps treating you for yeast and it isn't going away, ask for a 2nd opinion. It sounds like they are missing the mark.... you obviously don't have a yeast infection! Good luck.

I kind of think that you need to find another doctor. He or she doesn't seem to be able to think outside the box on this, and should already have thought about testing both you and your husband.

Grandma T, ask your doctor about Vagifem vaginal suppositories. They are wonderful! During peri-menopause and menopause, the vaginal walls do get thin. These suppositories really help that and thicken the walls, as well as help lubricate. My doctor laughed when I told her "no more sandpaper sex!"

I hope you get some help with this, T.!
Dawn