Pain-free sex yet still diagnosed with vestibulodynia! Help!

You could have honey moon utis/yeast. Try a probiotic and than there are also yeast and antibiotics you can take before sex so it prevents it from happening. May be look into that?

Alana3 wrote:You could have honey moon utis/yeast. Try a probiotic and than there are also yeast and antibiotics you can take before sex so it prevents it from happening. May be look into that?

Hi Alana3, 

Thanks for your answer. I wish it was just honeymoon uti! But is not. I have been tested for yeast/uti with/without symptoms more than 10 times and tests always come back negative. I've been with this for more than a year now! 

Sorry to hear you are feeling so depressed.  I totally understand how you feel.  This is a miserable and frustrating condition.
I have symptoms similiar to yours- I think.  However, it is hard to say because I have only attempted to have intercourse with my husband twice in the last 9 months.  The first time it felt like he had razor blades on his penis upon entry.  NEVER had that feeling before in my life.  Waited for several months and then tried it again.  This time I was on top and was able to "control" entry.   Sex wasn't painful like the first time but 24 hours later the swelling/burning/aching/throbbing increased  and lasted for days at a level 10 before finally decreasing to a 7 or 8.   I had pain not only on the vulva but also inside the vagina.  My vagina and vulva actually swell.  I don't hear too many ladies mention that.   I haven't had the typical treatment with antibiotics and anti fungal meds that most have either.  I've only had one dose of metrogel (one night) and had a reaction.  So I tried hydrogen peroxide washes for 5 days.  After that all my BV tests have come back negative.  Always negative for all std's and yeast.   I  have been waiting 3 months to see a specialist.  Recently I have had a few days where the pain is at a level 1.  I really don't know why.  I have been taking a multivitamin, aveeno oatmeal baths, rinsing after urinating and washing only with water, and using an inversion table.  Your symptoms seem to have alot to do with the bladder.  Maybe your bladder is being irritated by your husband during sex.  Maybe a different position would lessen the impact on the bladder and decrease pain after sex?   The pain was so bad for me after the last attempt that I really don't even want to have sex anymore- of any kind.   The pain and burning increase even if I start to get aroused and with any light touch.   I never knew so many women were suffering with this kind of pain.  Something that should be so easy and natural becomes a nightmare.  I hope you start to see some good results with your physio.  Hang in there.  You will feel better one day!!

Hi Delilah1 ....

I cried when I read your message... Thanks for caring and taking time to write me...

I'm very sorry to hear what is happening to you. I haven't been able to have sex with my fiancé for more than 6 months now, we have tried twice and the results were exactly the same .... Swelling-rawness-burning for days, the last time we tried my symptoms lasted for almost 3 weeks! and just because we attempted to have sex only once ....

Have you seen a Physio yet? Or only Gyno?... In 3 weeks I have an appointment with a Urologist, let's see what she says....

I've been going to the Physio for almost 3 months, at the beginning once a week now every 2 weeks but I can't feel any difference, 15 min sessions are not very productive, I've only had trigger point therapy twice with her, the rest is just talking, and exercises explanations.

Seems like I'm not doing enough but I swear I see a new specialist every 3 weeks, I don't really know who else I should see or where else to seek for help.

All my tests come back negative, no matter if I do them with or without symptoms. I've seen 5 Gyno's, 2 physio's , 2 sex therapists. This is why I'm trying an Urologist now...

I just think that sharing your story and detailing your symptoms you can get in contact with more woman that experience exactly the same and might have tried something that really helped.

What I'll do now is research about what you told me. I'll try to find sexual positions that don't impact on the bladder that much and see what happens...

Please let me know how you are going...

Xoxo

Has anyone looked into ic for you?

Swelling is a very common symptom, I get swelling if I even sit for a few minutes so it's a provoked reaction.  The theory is the tissue swells in an attempt to pillow the area from more irritation so sex setting it off is just the same as some of us having problems with any clothing that rubs, sitting etc.  It is possible for sex to cause a reaction afterwards and not at the time and would come under the heading of provoked vestibulitis so I think your diagnosis is correct to be honest. 

I'm not sure what you've been given by a physio but most of the work is at home and not during a session, she should be teaching you to relax the pelvic floor in between sessions so trigger point therapy has a chance to work, I don't know if you have any stability issues but that could be part of your homework too.  I'd be interested to hear what your physio is giving you for homework, we had another member on here who was making no progress with one physio and when the details of the sessions were posted it became apparent the physio wasn't doing much of anything and a change of physio has yielded good results.

I think if sex is causing a problem it should be avoided for now, the more pain you have in the area the worse the muscles will get and sex will just make that vicious cycle worse.  Dilators might be a good choice for now so you can gradually loosen the tissue and get used to penetration again slowly, they don't have to be moved around just left in place for 10 minutes plus each day will slowly stretch out the tissue again.

Hi, 

    I would also suggest getting a second opinion in terms of Physio, I saw a private women's health Physio (expensive) but was really worth it. After I got referred on the Nhs and I was in more pain than I have ever been. It seemed like there was a list of treatment that was given to people with vulvodynia without really listening to what I was saying. I did pelvic floor exercises for 15 mins and was in so much pain for three weeks, was the private Physio was teaching me to try and release and relax my muscles. She also looked at the whole picture in terms of my back, tummy, hips ect. I suffered with terrible burning after sex which felt like cystitis, I no longer have that burning sensation after sex, I'm am just about able to have sex without pain. But there is still a psychological barrier to get over. 

Kt