Trying for a baby after 9 years of vulvodynia

Hi there

I'm new to this site but not to the condition! I was diagnosed with vulvodynia nearly 10 years ago and spent many months in and out of the Drs/Hospitals/Pain Clinics etc. The only help i found was pregabilin which I was on up until recently and really the symptoms pretty much stopped. however last year I started to try for a baby and was told I couldn't be on pregabilin as it can lead to abnormalities and so I slowly withdrew the does from 300mg to nothing over a few months. Initially the pain was bearable but over the last 2 months the pain has never been so bad and it's having a debilitating effect on myself and my partner. I have to wear anaesthetic every day just to walk now and sex is proving very difficult. I just wonder if anyone else out there has been or is trying for a baby and has been successful and whether anyone can offer any advice not just to me but for my partner too. I've wanted a baby for so long and now worry that I'm putting too much pressure on us to conceive ASAP. I'm 35 as well.

Many thanks for any help. It's the hardest condition to cope with and I think unless you've been through it, it's just so difficult to understand.

xx

Can you ask for a topical instead of a pill? I don't know if this would have any effect or if it could be used safely but it would be absorbed thru your skin wall instead of your liver and bloodstream. I have no idea what to tell you, but maybe you can have his sperm put in you artifically? I have no idea how that works tho and how much it would be lol... But is not being able to walk really worth it? Are there other options you can consider? Don't get mad, at me suggesting this, but if I were in that much pain, I might consider a different option. Also, how will a pregnancy affect your pain? Can it be made worse, these are all things I would ask your doctor. I would hate for you to get worse after having a baby :/ freaking vulvodynia sucks! Sorry I couldn't help, but ask if a topical might help your pain and be safe to use.

I am also 35, and I am wanting to have my 2nd baby. I have had V for 1 full year, and didn't get it under control until 5 months ago. I was thinking about going off of meds in another year to try, but my fears are that the pain would be overwhelming. I am even going to a doctor next week to ask questions about pregnancy with V and my options for drugs, etc. I just wonder if we can go on some type of low dose med or something to sort of numb the pain. I don't think a cream is an option for me, since my pain centers aroudn my thighs, not my vagina.

Something my physio said before is that people who have worse pain during their cycles tend to have easier pregnancies with V...and those with better cycles the opposite is true. She says most people grit their teeth through the V pain until they can get off pain meds. Not sure I could handle it for 9 months. In her opinion, it would be very difficult to work AND be pregnant with V due to teh pain issues. I feel for you so much, since I am also upset about this but at least I had one child right before V kicked in. I have a feeling this will be my only child.