His and Her Health

My wife has a few questions about success rates after a vestibulectomy.

In a number of your posts and eMails you mention that the success of surgery goes upward after pregnancy and delivery. Do you have any numbers on natural child birth (vaginal delivery), vs c-section and how that affects surgery success rates.

Dose pregnancy prior to surgery aggravate VV, or can it help symptoms go away without ever having a surgery?

What about breast-feeding and any connections to VV? Are their any studies or numbers on that?

Lastly, our doctor in California is reccommending that we have a "numbing" procedure done on my wife's vestibule to test if a surgery would be likly to be successful. What can you tell us about that?

You can read some of my other posts to see what we are currently trying as a treatment. Surgery seems like the final option and my wife is HIGHLY depressed. As I am sure you understand. She talks about NOT wanting to live a lot.

Thank you for any answers you can give us. I am sorry for skipping around on topics and ideas. I have always appreciated your input in the past.

<small>[ 09-17-2008, 03:52 AM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>

58% of women have COMPLETELY pain free sex after vestibulectomy but that goes up to > 85% after vaginal delivery.

breast feeding does not cause vestibulitis but can cause atrophy which can cause pain during sex.

I don't do the "numbing procedure"

Hi OrcaMar,

I read your posting and having had a similar journey and similar questions, I wanted to reply.

For my husband and I, it was many years of various treatments for vestibulitis before we decided to try the surgery. I'm so glad I did.

I, too, went through a very deep depression and often felt like I just couldn't go on. But, my husband, some close friends, and a Christian counselor were a tremendous support.

I would encourage you to consider the surgery if what you have tried hasn't worked so far. But, be sure to find a surgeon that is an expert at what he does, even if you have to travel. It makes all the difference. My surgery was 99% successful. We just had our first baby too. For other health reasons and also because I didn't want to damage the tremendous success of the surgery by adding additional scar tissue, we chose to deliver by C-section. It was a great choice for us.

I'm also breastfeeding full-time and have had no issue with that relating at all to a previous history of VVS and having had the surgery.

One thing I would say, is don't give up until you find a treatment that works and takes away your pain. We persevered for 4.5 years and now, looking back, I'm so glad we didn't quit until we found wellness. Not only has it helped me personally and given me my life back, but we finally have a whole marriage as well, with physical intimacy being part of it.

Esengo:

Thanks so much. I will forward it on to my wife. It is nice to hear success stories and to know that you were dealing with if for so long and DID get better.

Cheers!

Are there any studies that I can read about VVS, Surgery, and success rates after pregnancy and vaginal delivery?

Thanks

I have published several article on vestibulectomy. They can be accessed at www.cvvd.org