PLEASE READ THIS... IT MAY HELP YOU!!!

Hello,
I am 18 now and had been suffering from vulvar vestibulitis for about a year and a half. A few months ago I was truly miserable because I felt as if I would be stuck with it forever. It was completely ruining my relationships and self confidence. I was desperate for some kind of relief and as doctors weren't helping very much (other than suggesting lidocaine, a numbing gel which only works temporarily) I decided to go down a different route. I started seeing an acupuncturist once a week and I also read online that TAKING BAKING SODA BATHS might help. I thought anything was worth a try so I gave it a go, even though I was sceptical.
A month later, and I am over the moon because the burning pain has almost completely disappeared. I have been taking baking soda baths about 2 times a week - I run a warm bath and drop in 4 tablespoons of baking soda. It seems to have worked wonders - I guess that means my condition has/had something to do with the ph down there and I have suffered from other ph issues in the past such as BV so this does make sense.
As for the acupuncture, it is very pricey but it seemed to do SOMETHING immediately - after my first session all the way up and down my left leg was painful way into the next day and this is what happens when the liver channel is unblocked. As the weeks have gone on I have been feeling healthier and healthier. I can't say how much of the vulvar pain disappearing is to do with the acupuncture but it does give me an overall sense of wellbeing.
PLEASE ALL OF YOU TRY BAKING SODA BATHS!!!!! because for me it really has gotten results - this is the best Christmas present I could have asked for, I'm just praying that it will last.
Good luck, I really hope it works for lots of other people. This condition is a nightmare but it is so important not to give up hope and remember you're not alone.
Merry christmas!!! x x x

This excellent! It's always good to hear when someone gets better, it gives the rest of us hope! Can I ask what your pain was like before though? Was it only provoked pain? x

Hello, yes the pain was only provoked, and at its worst would feel like hot pokers. I was also often left the day after any sexual contact feeling like I had been punched in the stomach repeatedly and sometimes would bleed. I'm so relieved that this seems to have helped!

I'm so glad you've begun to experience some relief so early on! That's amazing! I'm going to try the baking soda baths too, thanks for the tip!

I started baking soda baths last week along with HC cream but stopped because my doctor suggested that the acidity of the baths might make it worse. However I don't wish to restart the HC cream until after Christmas so for the next few days I am going to have these baths and see if they help! I have unprovoked pain but it's worth a try! Thanks for giving everyone hope and I'm glad you will be able to have a lovely Christmas

At Tesco's they have baking powder or bicarbonate of soda - is it the latter I should get? Thanks

We don't have anything that is the same as baking soda here in the UK I don't think, I went down this road once and even looked at the chemical ingredients and ph of bicarb of soda and our baking powder and they were completely different to baking soda so I wouldn't recommend using either.

Sarah, what do you mean? Baking Soda should be the same as Bicarbonate of Soda - the only ingredient of which is Bicarbonate of Soda. Baking powder has several ingredients in so avoid this one, but the other two should be the same.

I tried a baking soda bath yesterday, and it actually really aggravated my V, which is odd because i have pain upon contact! I think i may have put too much baking soda in the water, but maybe it can still irritate?

I seem to think the ph of bicarb of soda was different to the U.S baking soda but of course anyone can try bicarb if they so desire, I'm in far too much pain to argue about it!

I feel unsure about many things at this point. I don't need more irritation. I might get bold and try baking soda.

Baking soda and bicarb soda are the same thing.

Have used both here in Australia. No irritation.