Recently Diagnosed.... Help!

Hello everyone. I'm so happy I have found this page. I'm new so I am hoping this gets
posted to the right place, haha. Today I was diagnosed with provoked vulvodynia. I've been having painful intercourse for the last 1.5 years. Super burning, a lot of raw/irritation after, even ocassionally bleeding. The pain makes sex almost unbearable. Sometimes I can't at all. It's destroying my mentallity and my relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years. This never was an issue before and suddenly happened. He is very supportive but for me, as a once very sexual being, am super depressed. Luckily it's not as worse as some cases where you cannot walk or sit. I'm just so frustrated and sad that this has happened. I recently got over a 7 year struggle with anorexia. I am 21 and things finally have turned around for me, until this. I feel so doomed.

I feel it may have started with a yeast infection that I thought cleared up but never did. My gyn is putting me on a 6 month oral yeast treatment, and I'm hoping for results. He recommended antidepressants, but when I was sick with my eating disorder these were like deadly for me, so I am hesitant.

What do you guys do you help?? Will this ever get better/be normal again, or anchor I doomed? I just need some hope. I'm so distraught over this.

Side question: could birth control pills lead to this? I've tried switching brands and no help

Hi,

I am sorry your going through this experience. It's not fair to any of us. Since you have provoked vulvodynia just get the surgery. You having provoked makes you an excellent candidate for the vestibuletcomy. None the meds every worked for me. I am still recovering from my vestibuletcomy but I already feel better than I did before. I have provoked and non- provoked.

Find yourself a specialist and do research to ensure they are good at dealing/treating Vulvodynia.

You probably don't have a yeast infection. When my symptoms first started they told me the same thing. Had be on yeast pills for 6 months and boric acid suppositories. Again none of that helped.

I'm glad your boyfriend is supportive during this struggling time in your life. That's the kind of guy you want to keep.

Please don't allow this condition to jeopardize how far you've come with your eating disorder.

If your going to take any meds I would take something for anxiety and maybe Gabapante.

We are here for you if you need us.

Hi there,

Please don't rush to get the surgery just yet. From what you've described, this pain hasn't always existed? Therefore, it sounds like you have secondary vulvodynia- where you've not had it all your life. I had primary, so since birth.

From my experience, people like me with primary have no massive options other than surgery, and even that hasn't got 100% success rates. I do believe that yours could be due to something else. It's incredibly likely it's down to the pill, perhaps try coming off it altogether for a while if you can?

Studies have shown that some women suffer due to the bath products they use, so you could just be badly allergic to something you are using in the shower. I'd try and reduce this if you can

I hope this helps- I'm no expert but believe me, the surgery is a big ordeal and it's definitely worth trying other things out first. Every woman is different so it's best o find something that works for you.

Please message me for any more help/advice or info if you need it x

The thought of a surgery does intimidate me, especially due to my career field and my last year of school for my degree... but yes you are correct, it is secondary, which makes it all the more confusing and random for me. It's odd because I can use tampons comfortably for the most part, or even Monistat applicators. However, sex is just a no go and it is driving me nuts. Thank you so much for your advice though. It is just comforting to hear from other people. I've been on the pill for about 3 years. The first year or so we're completely fine, then this developed out of nowhere. I tried switching but it didn't need help. I've read that hormonal changes can contribute so I am willing to stop the pill completely... I do us every pH balanced soaps and wear cotton bottoms. It does help if I am sore afterwards but certainly isn't no the cure, haha. Thank you again.

infinitelywondering wrote:Hi there,

Please don't rush to get the surgery just yet. From what you've described, this pain hasn't always existed? Therefore, it sounds like you have secondary vulvodynia- where you've not had it all your life. I had primary, so since birth.

From my experience, people like me with primary have no massive options other than surgery, and even that hasn't got 100% success rates. I do believe that yours could be due to something else. It's incredibly likely it's down to the pill, perhaps try coming off it altogether for a while if you can?

Studies have shown that some women suffer due to the bath products they use, so you could just be badly allergic to something you are using in the shower. I'd try and reduce this if you can

I hope this helps- I'm no expert but believe me, the surgery is a big ordeal and it's definitely worth trying other things out first. Every woman is different so it's best o find something that works for you.

Please message me for any more help/advice or info if you need it x

You may just need physical therapy. I wasn't born with vulvodynia. It started 10 years ago for no reason. But try PT I've hears it helps many.

The birth control pill is what caused my pain. I was perfectly fine, never experiencing pain for 20 years of my life, but then it all started once I went on the pill.