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Undiagnosed Vaginal Burning
For about 4 years, I have had undiagnosed vaginal burning. It's been tolerable but recently got worse again. It first happened about a week after sexual intercourse, I got cramping & then burning with discharge, no itching. The doctor told me I had yeast without doing a culture or looking under microscope.
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I have also been checked for strep & herpes by culture. I have seen a total of 5 gynecologists who all do the normal cultures & they all come back negative & the doctors give up. No further testing. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year & one gynecologist wrote it off as being a symptom of MS but that doesn't explain the discharge.
I do get some burning on the outside. One doctor noted my skin was white on the outer lips which indicated prolonged irritation. I wear cotton underwear & had not made any changes to my detergents prior to this happening. I never use soap in my vaginal area.
The burning is about a few inches inside the vagina against the outer wall, I guess close to where the "G spot" would be or bladder. I am fine inserting tampons, etc but the friction of intercourse causes burning. This in particular has cause a lot of stress since I am single.I never have itching, and the discharge is usually a thick white. The doctors have seen it, said it looks like yeast, but then cultures come back negative.
I am 37, still menstruating. I asked the doctor if I could have my hormone levels checked but was refused. I have heard bladder infections can cause burning but I assumed that was the outer vaginal area? Mine is primarily inside.
This past month, I started spotting almost 2 weeks prior to my period but it stopped. Then started a week before & continued until I got my period. I often would have 1 heavy day but this time I was bleeding very heavily with heavy clotting the entire time which was about 4 days.
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I have also been checked for strep & herpes by culture. I have seen a total of 5 gynecologists who all do the normal cultures & they all come back negative & the doctors give up. No further testing. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year & one gynecologist wrote it off as being a symptom of MS but that doesn't explain the discharge.
I do get some burning on the outside. One doctor noted my skin was white on the outer lips which indicated prolonged irritation. I wear cotton underwear & had not made any changes to my detergents prior to this happening. I never use soap in my vaginal area.
The burning is about a few inches inside the vagina against the outer wall, I guess close to where the "G spot" would be or bladder. I am fine inserting tampons, etc but the friction of intercourse causes burning. This in particular has cause a lot of stress since I am single.I never have itching, and the discharge is usually a thick white. The doctors have seen it, said it looks like yeast, but then cultures come back negative.
I am 37, still menstruating. I asked the doctor if I could have my hormone levels checked but was refused. I have heard bladder infections can cause burning but I assumed that was the outer vaginal area? Mine is primarily inside.
This past month, I started spotting almost 2 weeks prior to my period but it stopped. Then started a week before & continued until I got my period. I often would have 1 heavy day but this time I was bleeding very heavily with heavy clotting the entire time which was about 4 days.
Thank you Dr. Brown. I had considered vulvodynia but it was my understanding that this was mainly at the opening but my pain is mainly inside. Touching the outside & inserting tampons, etc causes no pain.
I have also searched for a specialist but have been unsuccessful. I got a list from the NVA but only a couple were in my area. One of them was a location that claimed to specialize in gynecological issues but she did one culture & that was it. Would a uro-gynecologist that also specializes in pelvic floor issues be beneficial? There is one in my area.
I have also searched for a specialist but have been unsuccessful. I got a list from the NVA but only a couple were in my area. One of them was a location that claimed to specialize in gynecological issues but she did one culture & that was it. Would a uro-gynecologist that also specializes in pelvic floor issues be beneficial? There is one in my area.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HI!
If you were my patient, I would advise you that you very likely have a condition known as vulvodynia. This condition is relatively common and very frustrating. If you were my patient, I would offer you the option of a course of therapy with diflucan to see if that would help.
I would consider checking an FSH and estradiol level. It is possible that you have atrophic vaginitis, but very unlikely because your hormone levels need to be pretty close to normal for you to cycle.
A vulvar biopsy might be appropriate to rule out Lichen Sclerosis (not related to MS)
Dermatitis such as eczema is another possibility.
If you have the time and $, a consultation with a specialist in vulvo/vaginal pathologies might be beneficial.
Good luck!
Dr B
If you were my patient, I would advise you that you very likely have a condition known as vulvodynia. This condition is relatively common and very frustrating. If you were my patient, I would offer you the option of a course of therapy with diflucan to see if that would help.
I would consider checking an FSH and estradiol level. It is possible that you have atrophic vaginitis, but very unlikely because your hormone levels need to be pretty close to normal for you to cycle.
A vulvar biopsy might be appropriate to rule out Lichen Sclerosis (not related to MS)
Dermatitis such as eczema is another possibility.
If you have the time and $, a consultation with a specialist in vulvo/vaginal pathologies might be beneficial.
Good luck!
Dr B
Thanks Lena but I haven't been sexually active in awhile. It's stressful trying to get into a relationship when you don't know if you'll be able to have a "normal" relationship sexually. So, latex isn't the issue.
perhaps you're allergic to latex condoms? assuming you use them. the heavy bleeding though could be something else.
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