New member- Elyssa Morse

Hiii,
So I'm sixteen and I haven't been officially diagnosed with vulvodynia, but my doctor believes that I have it. I lost my virginity back in April, and obviously it was painful. But, no matter how many times we had sex, it was painful and the burning actually get so bad that we would have to stop. I started to realize it wasn't normal, so I researched it and found an article about vulvodynia. All the symptoms matched up with what I was experiencing, so the next time I went to my doctor's, I told her that I believe I have vulvodynia. She examined my vulva/vagina and did a pain test. After the examination, she believed that my self-diagnosis was correct and she referred me to a gynecologist for treatment. Unfortunately, I don't have time to go to the gynecologist because I leave in a few days to spend 10 months in Germany (I won a scholarship to study there). I'm really frustrated because I wanted to be able to enjoy sex, if I had it, in Germany. Then, I found this water-based organic lubricant that said it could get rid of the pain from vulvodynia during sexual intercourse. I tried it and, sadly, it didn't make a difference. Then, I researched the causes of vulvodynia and one of the possible causes is hormone levels changing. I started on a birth control pill in February and I'm pretty sure I never had a burning sensation when sitting down for extended periods of time before I went on the pill. So, I think the cause of my vulvodynia may be the birth control pill (Ocella). I've decided that I want to go off of it to see if the vulvodynia goes away (even though I'll start to have heavier and longer periods again ). I really hope it works. When I get back from Germany, I'm going to try different birth control pills if the cause of my vulvodynia was my current birth control pill. Anyways, I joined this forum to hear people's opinions, rant, and seek support.
Responses are appreciated

Hi and welcome, have a good browse through the sections and see what you can find that will hopefully help you. There's not much else I can say really except hi.

Please please please get off and stay off any hormonal birth control. Google Dr Goldstein and you will see his research about the pill causing vulva pain. The theory is that it perminantly alters your testosterone and oestrogen levels and something to do with sex hormone binding globin. Goldstein thinks that anyone with vulva pain should come off the pill and get a baseline hormone test. From speeking with a parmacy the best way to do this is via saliva testing because it test for only free hormones (which are the ones effected)

For me, even if there is any chance what so ever of somehting I am putting in my body causing vulva pain, I am going to avoid it at all costs.

There is research suggesting that if you start the pill in your teens you are 900x more likely to develop v. And the fact that you started the pill in Febuary and then got pain in April strongly suggests a conneciton.

My pain with sex has improved to the point it rarely hurts as long as I am properly turned on and lubricated. Daily pain remains unchanged. I have been off the pill for 2 months now. No period yet. But sex pain is heaps heaps better! (I have had pain with sex and daily pain for 1 year)

If nothing else just get off the pill.

Claire