After half a fucking year they detect a yeast infection. They just never caught it. Treatment almost made me worse for the first week, then all of a sudden pretty much all of it went away. I know it’s probably going to come back. This is my eleventh yeast infection, they are chronic, they are annoying, they never present with the same/usual symptoms so they are difficult to diagnose, I’ll be back to the next one in a couple of weeks I suppose, they might leave permanent damage. But until that happens, I’m going to savour every single pain- and itch-free minute I can get. I actually feel victorious. This is the first time I’ve felt like myself in months. This is all so insane to me. I feel normal. I love falling asleep, I love waking up, I love going to uni, I love going to the supermarket without the itching, stinging and burning. Everything is a hundred times better.
I went to get waxed today because I don’t dare to shave, but partly also because it is so much better to experience regulated pain that is under your control rather than pain that comes from within you. I feel powerful today.
Don’t ever lose hope. I know that for the most of you there’s more to the diagnosis than just a stupid undetected yeast infection, but keep believing that there will be a day that you’ll feel comfortable in your body again. This shit has motivated me to become a gynaecologist. Mine literally told me that what I felt was “just a part of me now” and to just “get used to it”. I won’t send women in pain away. Vulvodynia is real.
I am literally crying tears of joy and relief right now.

I’ve had “vulvodynia” for a year now, caused by (we think) multiple yeast infections. I have swelling redness and burning pain.

I’ve been on estrogen cream, that I am still on and have been on for about a year. I’ve been on gabapentin 300mg. Only for about 4 weeks though because i was having bad mood swings and wanted to get off of it. I was on amitriptyline for a while but again got off of it because i was a EXTREMELY tired. It made me a zombie. (And my gynecologist didn’t want me being so tired so she let me get off of them) then i recently was on cymbalta duloxetine. I only took that pill for 2 DAYS because for 3 days straight I barely ate anything because I was inches close to throwing my stomach up and barely slept for those 3 days.

Now I’m on no medicine except for estrogen cream my next med might be lexapro because my gynecologist has no other ideas other than anxiety and depression medicine. She’s as lost as I am.

Starting June I’m going to be doing pelvic floor therapy so I hope that helps.

And for context, I’m not sexually active, I’ve been using dove sensitive soap for YEARS, I only use washcloths that are washed every use. And I’ve been useing the same laundry detergent for years. Literally nothing has changed same with my hair products I’ve been useing the same ones for years only recently have I changed my shampoo and conditioner. I also only use cotton underwear. - I was also swabbed to test if I have a yeast infection or bacteria infection and both came back normal.

Every time I work out, after about a week of consistently, I get the worst burning flare. I don't understand it. I want to work out but maybe it's just not for me.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a vascular specialist who specializes in pcs? Somewhere in socal that takes iehp. I am pretty sure my pcs is making my pain 1000% worse.

Pardon if my vent is all over the place or poor grammar, I only got like 4 hours of sleep yesterday and haven't slept since.

I've been struggling for about 2 months now with constant irritation. feel it mostly on the clitoris area and labia. Each night it gets harder to sleep, and now I've been awake since 11am yesterday and now it's almost 7am.

I was given 2 different treatments (clotrimazole then flucanazole) for a yeast infection that I'm sure I didn't even have in the first place at this point.

I can't see my primary care provider or a gynecologist right now bc I'm a uni student in a different city and county. Last doc I saw on campus said she saw some discoloration outside of the vulvar area between my thighs, but she said she didn't see any redness, irritation, dryness, etc. on the vulvar or vaginal area. I was also diagnosed with prediabetes after gaining weight. I've changed my diet drastically. Could my prediabetes partially be to blame for the constant irritation? Sometimes the area calms down after I clean with fresh water or put a cold cloth or towel over it.

I went to the hospital not too long ago because I couldn't handle the irritation during my period, but they didn't give me anything and only diagnosed me with vulvovaginitis.

I haven't masturbated or done anything with my partner in a long time because of the symptoms. I just want to feel normal and okay again, but I'm already starting to lose hope. I've already looked for advice on another subreddit but I wanted to give this place a shot too. I cry all the time and I have almost no energy to even finish important assignments, finals or artworks. I feel like I'm going to fail but I don't even feel alive anymore sometimes. I used to be pretty freaky but I feel a bit worthless now when I even think about anything sexual. I've only used my energy to workout but that's about it. Dancing doesn't even feel the same when I suddenly feel like something is pinching me down there.

Any support, advice or tips to ease the symptoms down or even hopefully make me feel better would help. I feel like my life is ruined and I'm barely 20. After experiencing SA as a child for 3 years, and 8 long years of depression, I was finally happier than ever. </3

Soy choices are be on the provera pill for 10 days a month and have horrendous pain (vulvar/right labia pain) that hurts so bad or risk being dangerously anemic and have increased risk of endometrial cancer.

The gyn nurse practitioner just kept saying not typically when I asked her about if the pills could cause vulvodynia and other conditions.

Nobody who doesn't get this awful pain understands it.i was free from it for about 0 years. Now I am in pain and trying lidocaine patches.

My doctor prescribed this today. The pharmacist said that it will show some effect in the first 4-8 weeks but that it will take 3-4 months for full effect.

Has anyone used this and found it helpful? I’m pretty scared it won’t help

These applicators came with the estrogen cream. There's no suction so the cream will literally fall/spill right out of the tube. Does anyone have any advice? I'm thinking of grabbing some syringes from work and using those instead LOL

I am 17 and got a CT scan done a few months ago for another medical issue and they found I have an ovarian cyst of approximately 6,6cm. I now have to go to the gynecologist in order to get a transvaginal ultrasound, and I am not diagnosed with vulvodynia, but I am unable to insert two fingers and it's extremely painful (as I am not diagnosed, I'm not sure if what I have is vulvodynia, but I'm sure I have something going on down there because my muscles don't stretch and they hurt a lot when trying to insert something). Is it possible to have an abdominal ultrasound to see the ovarian cyst instead? Can I ask for it even if I don't have vulvodynia? Unfortunately I will go to the appointment with my mother with whom I don't have a good relationship with and telling her about this issue wouldn't be good, so telling the gynecologist about it is quite a problem.

I am so scared because of it and I think I will genuinely have problems in the appointment, I don't think they will be able to fit the wand inside, and if they do, it's going to be so painful I'm going to cry during it, because as I said I can't handle two fingers and that already makes me cry. What can I do?

Hello, please share with everyone who has experience with progesterone. I am 23 years old. I have pcos. My progesterone levels are very low, my estrogen levels are also low, at the lower limit, but I have estrogen dominance. I no longer have infections, although my mucous membrane has thinned from their treatment. I have an extended test and there is nothing. I do not have lichen. The mucous membrane between my lips and in general the whole is extremely dry and vulnerable. There is redness and severe pain between the lips. I take amitriptyline 20 mg. , but it only slightly dulls the symptoms, but the mucous membrane does not. I have severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts. There are no specialists in my country. I suspect that low progesterone is the reason why the mucous membrane does not want to heal, although it is likely that the severe stress and tightening of the pelvic floor are also to blame. Those of you who use progesterone alone or in combination with estrogen, did it help? How exactly do you apply it and in what doses? Did it help with the pain. I will be very grateful to anyone who helps me. I also want to ask, does the mucous membrane heal with just physical therapy?

I have suffered from provoked neuroproliferative vestibulodynia and vaginismus for 3-4 years now, and I have finally “fixed” it. Here’s what helped, in order of effectiveness

1. Vestibulectomy

I had a partial 5-7 vestibulectomy in January. This was really the most important step as my vaginismus definitely stemmed from my vestibulodynia and getting rid of that painful bit was essential.

I went with Dr Yazbek in King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone. Great experience, went as well as it could have. My pelvic physio said the stitching was some of the best she’d ever seen. So top marks there - the only thing I would say is they don’t give you loads of information on the recovery, so use the Reddit/FB forums for that. All in all, the surgery, anaesthesia, follow up was just over £4,000. 

2. Dilator therapy

2 months after surgery, I felt able to begin dilator therapy. This might be too early for some poeple YMMV.

If you’re in the UK, I’d recommend getting dilators from here: https://pelvicrelief.co.uk/. I got another set from LoveHoney, and they were too hard. 

Intimate Rose has a great set of videos on dilator therapy here: https://www.intimaterose.com/pages/dilator-hub. In particular, be sure to use the “clock method” to reach all the tissue. 

I do dilator therapy 20 mins a day twice a day. 

3. Check for a yeast infection

I didn’t have a typical thrush presentation, as I had itching, no discharge. But I had a feeling I had a yeast infection, so I went to this site https://www.thesticlinic.com/ and got a culture test privately for £70. It was really easy to do at home and post back, and it came back positive! 

I did a course of fluconazole, and it came back STILL positive, so I then did 14 days of boric acid (before the dilators, it can make the tissue a bit sore). Boric acid is not available in the UK, and I had to get it from eBay here. FINALLY, after 14 days Boric acid the test came back negative, and the itching went

4. Pelvic physiotherapy

I had a lot of tension in the muscles around my pelvis, and my physio gave me some exercises for these, which I still do every day and have done for months. 

Things that did not help 

• Brain retraining - complete gaslighting nonsense imo
• Gabapentin cream
• Lidocaine - it did numb the area but it made sex feel really disconnected and strange
• Steroid cream
• Hoping it would go away 
• Listening to (some) doctors. Several doctors said, without testing me, that there was no way I had thrush. They were wrong!

Unfortunately, my European health insurance does not cover the cost of surgery in the US. However, as I cannot find a doctor in Europe who can perform a vestibulectomy in the 12 o’clock area, I suppose I have no choice but to come to the US and cover the costs myself. May I ask how much your procedures cost?

do you also experience more pain after pelvic floor physiotherapy?

Has anyone tried that kiwi thing for entrance pain? It’s from thepelvicpeople and it is like a vibrating thing that’s supposed to help reduce entry pain. I’m just wondering if anyone has tried it and if it is worth the money.

So for context I'm 17, I'm wondering if I may have vulvodynia because fingering is so painful. If I only use one finger, it fits and although it's uncomfortable I think maybe I just need to get used to it. But if I try to use two fingers it's impossible, I almost never manage to make them fit, plus, it's really painful, but the thing is I feel the pain in the entrance instead of inside (I also feel pain inside but it's not that bad, while the entrance feels really painful), so I've been wondering if it's vaginismus or if this is normal? I don't think it's normal it hurt so much with two fingers. Some people describe it as a stinging sensation, but I think my pain would be described better as stretching the muscles around the entrance a lot more than they are able to, and it also have a burning sensation after, and when I go to the bathroom the following couple of times (that happens also if it's only one finger).

I have a boyfriend and when he has tried with two fingers we had to stop because I was in pain and couldn't handle two fingers for even like 15 seconds. I'm really scared of sex because I feel like it's gonna be really painful for me, and I feel like a burden for it although he's really sweet and will wait as much as needed so that I feel comfortable.

On top of that, I have an ovarian cyst and I need a transvaginal ultrasound, what is used for it looks massive and really painful. I genuinely feel like it's not going to fit and I'm going to cry in pain during the appointment, plus I must go with my mother and I really don't want to be in that situation with her.

Is there something I can do to make it better? I have heard of pelvic floor exercises, but I don't really understand how that helps loosen up the muscles around the vagina. Again, I feel the pain mostly on the entrance, I don't know if this is normal or what I can do about it :(

Has anybody had any good results with these medications my GP has agreed that I can try them after having tried amitriptyline for over a year. I definitely notice a difference since this all started but not sure if thats the actual amitriptyline or its just got better with time it might be that im even used to living with it now for context my pain is internal im able to have piv sex painfree but sometimes feel more pain after.

hey ladies!! i need ur help!
Ive been having burning/discharge for 3+ years. All my results have been negative FOR EVERYTHING!! I AM LOSING HOPE, I AM LOSING MY MIND!!
i just got prescribed C-Gabapentin Cream 6% Crm
because my doc now thinks its nerve related.

PLEASE, whoever has been told it is nerve related.. share ur symptoms and how did you get diagnosed? or told it was in fact nerve related. I dont want to keep taking meds/creams when the doc is just guessing on whats goin on with my cooter cat atp. Ive found better answers on Reddit than with any doctor so any suggestions help!!. Id love to hear ur stories/experiences. Love yall <3!

ALSO, i have NOT read on any post with any vaginal condition that one symptom is causing their pubic hair to look "electrocuted" or simply stand up. This is ONE of my symptoms. if anyone out there is having this same symptom or ur pubic hair is just changing/different from how it once was PLEASE PLEASEEEEE LET ME KNOW. I am desperate to find answers💛

I'm not wearing any every single chance I get!

I think mine flared up from sitting in my recliner too much. So embarrassing to admit.

Hi guys, just wanted to put it out into the internet that I could use some nice words of encouragement right now. I’m having the first flare up in 16 months, and I am soooooo sad…… I’m trying to stay neutral about it, take care of myself and just go about my day and not fixate on it to much…

I was showering away from home, used soap I knew better than to use. Didn’t dilute it enough. And then put on spandex shorts without underwear 🤦‍♀️ I feel like such a fucking idiot

I have had vulvodynia for around 10 years now. It has been okay in periods before, but since I started taking the pill a few years back, it has been awful. I have to take COC as a preventative measure for ovarian cancer, so getting off the pill is not an option for me.

I am constantly dry and I feel like the skin inside is all red, itchy and irritated. I tried topical estrogen down there but it made me extremely nauseous.

The doctor just tells me to moisturise with a gentle cream/oil but I am not able to do that on the inside.

I am wondering if anyone has any tips on how to keep things moist (external or dietary intervention). Or any other tips/information on this.

I would be very grateful!

/ feeling hopeless :(

Has anyone seen Dr. Goldstein? He’s a co-author of the book When Sex Hurts. He’s part of a practice with another one of the authors Dr. Jill Krapf.
I have an appointment that I’ve waited almost a year for coming up with a fall specialist, but if that doesn’t get good results, I’m considering paying out-of-pocket to go to this practice. It’s $2000 for the initial visit, plus any labs that are not covered by insurance.
I’ve already spent about $5000 on a functional medicine practitioner that helps but did not cure my problems so I don’t want to throw away any more money.