His and Her Health

I've been back and forth trying to cure what I thought at first were stubborn recurrent yeast infections but I continue to have the same symptoms... sometimes it is worse and other times not as bad, but the slightest touch to the area around the opening to my vagina and the tissue surrounding the labia and the clitoris "stings" intensely. It feels like a fissure or tear in my skin but I don't see tears. What I see is varying degrees of redness and experience burning and irritation. It can be close to the anus as well and it is really horrible to live with... I feel embarrassed and it really has caused problems with intimacy. I love my husband tremendously and I want to be intimate but it is extremely painful. I could really use help. My provider is Kaiser and the OBs I have seen do not know or misdiagnosed. I have taken three courses of an anti-fungal medication in tablet form which did not resolve this problem. I really need help.

Cortney, welcome to the forum. Here is a link to our website with an article describing vestibulitis and other conditions.If any fit your symptoms maybe you could take the article to your doctor to discuss it .
http://www.ourgyn.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=84

If you don't have yeast then the anti-fungal tablets can sometimes aggravate the tissue more. it is important to get a proper diagnosis. It could be a hormonal issue, a muscular problem or nerve irriation. I would suggest seeking out someone who has specific training in this area. look for a provider on www.nva.org, www.pelvicpain.org, www.ica.org and www.apta/womenshealth.org

Good luck!

I know how you feel Cortney, I have been having painful sex troubles for about 2yrs now. Creams & pills that the doc prescribes dont seem to work or if they do, it is a temp solution & problem returns soon afterwards. We are TTC & will try IUI treatment firstly & if this fails IVF treatment. I'm not sure how my painful sex problem will be cleared up, but I'm hopeful there is a solution sooner rather than later.

Did your pain start while taking hormonal contraceptive? If not, do you have urinary urgency, hesitancy, frequency- if so it can be related to tight pelvic floor muscles.

<small>[ 08-08-2009, 08:40 PM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>