Aa
clitorodynia???
i was wondering if anyone on here had clitorodynia..i've been struggling with yeast/bv for 3 months and now that i am yeast/bv free i have a constant aching pain in my clitoris. i was told by an afterhours nurse to try a hydrocortisone cream on it to soothe it, but when i went in today and got checked out i COMPLETELY forgot to tell the nurse that I had used it- she said she saw some discharge or remants of the metro-gel that i had used for bv under the clitoral hood and cleaned it out- she said she was sure that's what was causing the pain and that the nerves were just irritated..however, i completely forgot that I used that cream and that is probably what she found under there and cleaned out- the pain started before i used the cream so it makes me think the pain is unrelated to what she cleaned out, especially since its still painful. i've been reading a lot and have found vulvodynia and clitorodynia and am now wondering if that is what i have. i am so scared that i will have permanent nerve damage by the time i get it figured out or that this is something that will never go away..it is unbearable and it makes me think that if it doesn't go away i will never be able to have a sexual relationship again..i actually had an appointment with a specialist for tomorrow but then cancelled after my follow up for bv with the nurse today- what she had told me and found made complete sense, until of course i got home from work and realized that the cream is probably what she found..now who knows when i'll be able to get in again. any words of advice would be greatly appreciated!
I find it helpful to read what all of you have written. I am 50 and didn't realize I might already be nearing menopause, but it appears that's at least part of my problem with vulvar pain. For those of you close to that age, consider that dropping estrogen levels can cause dryness, itching and pain in your vagina and vulvar areas, and that there is a remedy -- estrogen. Topical estrogen is considered safe (isn't absorbed into the bloodstream like oral estrogen is).
Three months ago I had what I thought was a UTI, which is a rarity for me. I had discomfort in the bladder and frequent urination, but the culture was negative. My primary care doc gave me 14 days of cipro, which I believe was a disaster, because it killed all my good bacteria. (I now take probiotics; wish I'd known to take them along with the cipro.) After finishing the cipro, burning pain in my vulva and vagina flared up overnight, FAR worse than any UTI symptoms. Diflucan did nothing. Tests for UTI, yeast and vaginal infections have all been negative. Went to a gyn and got steroid cream, which did nothing, but the gyn said this vaginal thinning/drying/chafing is typical of menopause. I suffered for another month before I did enough research to coax her to prescribe Estrace (estradiol) cream. After only a dose or two, the burning pain faded somewhat so it's not horrible 24/7 anymore. I'm told it'll take a month to get full relief, and I'm on day 10, so I'm trying to be patient. I do have some periods each day when I feel rather OK, but the pain comes back. I use lots of ice packs, including in bed at night.
Like all of you, sitting is awful, as is the rubbing of anything at all on my labia. I use a doughnut pillow when I can. I insert K-Y jelly into my vagina using a tampon applicator, and that helps a lot. I use vitamin E and A&D zinc oxide ointment on my vulva several times a day. Messy, but somewhat helpful, temporarily. The cool dampness is better than chafing/burning.
A friend told me that taking estrogen cream or suppositories cleared up her vaginal chafing in two months. My vaginal symptoms are definitely better, no doubt from the Estrace, and now I'm thinking I should ask about lidocaine for the vulvar pain. Estrace is supposed to work on the vulva and urethral opening, too, but the friction in those areas is probably making it tougher for the Estrace to work real well, at least for now.
The amazing thing about all this is that I *have* been able to have intercourse fairly comfortably. I use lots of K-Y in and around my vagina, and my husband is careful and gentle. That was a big relief, knowing that I can still enjoy sex. It's the day-to-day sitting (and even some walking, if chafing is going on) that's driving me crazy.
The other thing I've been pursuing is chiropractic treatments. When the chiro adjusts my hips, which are connected to the pubic bone, I do experience some relief. That makes sense, since any nerve interference in the lower spine or hips can cause pain in the pelvis. Physical therapy probably accomplishes something similar, and it's a safe and painless approach.
I've considered the low-oxalate diet, but it's so restrictive that I haven't stuck with it. I'm not willing to give up heart-healthy foods like whole grains and fruits, unless I have better evidence that a strict low-oxalate diet will really work. Does it take months and months to see results?
With lidocaine, how long does the numbness last? It does seem that my nerve endings are working overtime, and I would like a break from that intensity, at least until the estrace thickens the vulvar skin better.
If it's any encouragement, I do think that we will all find some resolution to our problems. In years past, I've suffered from debilitating pain on several occasions -- migraines and sciatica, to name two. When you're in the middle of the pain, it seems as if you'll NEVER feel better and it affects everything you do, which is depressing. In every case, though, a solution somehow emerges eventually. The pain may still show up now and then, but I can manage it well, so it doesn't affect my life much. I'm looking forward to this vulvar pain going into the same category; I'm just trying to be positive and keep looking for solutions and be patient with the treatment I'm currently undergoing. When I'm feeling really discouraged, I use some of Christiane Northrup's affirmations, and that at least makes me a bit more optimistic.
Thanks all for your ideas and encouragement! It's good that we're talking with one another and sharing ideas.
Three months ago I had what I thought was a UTI, which is a rarity for me. I had discomfort in the bladder and frequent urination, but the culture was negative. My primary care doc gave me 14 days of cipro, which I believe was a disaster, because it killed all my good bacteria. (I now take probiotics; wish I'd known to take them along with the cipro.) After finishing the cipro, burning pain in my vulva and vagina flared up overnight, FAR worse than any UTI symptoms. Diflucan did nothing. Tests for UTI, yeast and vaginal infections have all been negative. Went to a gyn and got steroid cream, which did nothing, but the gyn said this vaginal thinning/drying/chafing is typical of menopause. I suffered for another month before I did enough research to coax her to prescribe Estrace (estradiol) cream. After only a dose or two, the burning pain faded somewhat so it's not horrible 24/7 anymore. I'm told it'll take a month to get full relief, and I'm on day 10, so I'm trying to be patient. I do have some periods each day when I feel rather OK, but the pain comes back. I use lots of ice packs, including in bed at night.
Like all of you, sitting is awful, as is the rubbing of anything at all on my labia. I use a doughnut pillow when I can. I insert K-Y jelly into my vagina using a tampon applicator, and that helps a lot. I use vitamin E and A&D zinc oxide ointment on my vulva several times a day. Messy, but somewhat helpful, temporarily. The cool dampness is better than chafing/burning.
A friend told me that taking estrogen cream or suppositories cleared up her vaginal chafing in two months. My vaginal symptoms are definitely better, no doubt from the Estrace, and now I'm thinking I should ask about lidocaine for the vulvar pain. Estrace is supposed to work on the vulva and urethral opening, too, but the friction in those areas is probably making it tougher for the Estrace to work real well, at least for now.
The amazing thing about all this is that I *have* been able to have intercourse fairly comfortably. I use lots of K-Y in and around my vagina, and my husband is careful and gentle. That was a big relief, knowing that I can still enjoy sex. It's the day-to-day sitting (and even some walking, if chafing is going on) that's driving me crazy.
The other thing I've been pursuing is chiropractic treatments. When the chiro adjusts my hips, which are connected to the pubic bone, I do experience some relief. That makes sense, since any nerve interference in the lower spine or hips can cause pain in the pelvis. Physical therapy probably accomplishes something similar, and it's a safe and painless approach.
I've considered the low-oxalate diet, but it's so restrictive that I haven't stuck with it. I'm not willing to give up heart-healthy foods like whole grains and fruits, unless I have better evidence that a strict low-oxalate diet will really work. Does it take months and months to see results?
With lidocaine, how long does the numbness last? It does seem that my nerve endings are working overtime, and I would like a break from that intensity, at least until the estrace thickens the vulvar skin better.
If it's any encouragement, I do think that we will all find some resolution to our problems. In years past, I've suffered from debilitating pain on several occasions -- migraines and sciatica, to name two. When you're in the middle of the pain, it seems as if you'll NEVER feel better and it affects everything you do, which is depressing. In every case, though, a solution somehow emerges eventually. The pain may still show up now and then, but I can manage it well, so it doesn't affect my life much. I'm looking forward to this vulvar pain going into the same category; I'm just trying to be positive and keep looking for solutions and be patient with the treatment I'm currently undergoing. When I'm feeling really discouraged, I use some of Christiane Northrup's affirmations, and that at least makes me a bit more optimistic.
Thanks all for your ideas and encouragement! It's good that we're talking with one another and sharing ideas.
I am 26 years old and I am in India.For past 10 months I have been having pain in clitoris. Initially I had an infection in clitoris area (minor itching sensation and some pain and burning but it was bearable) and the problem went away after one week of antibiotics.
For next 4 weeks I had no problem. then one day I wore a new tight jean and I started having pain in clitoris area. This time no itching and burning only stinging and aching pain mainly on clitoris and sometimes on labia minora. I have undergone many courses of medications, seen many specialists and still the problem persists. I changed from wearing "small" size panty to XL only cotton and stopped wearing jeans or trousers all together. I wear loose traditional indian salwars.
The pain is sometimes severe, sometimes bearable and discomfort all the time. Pain is usually triggered by touch/contact with fabric. On some days even walking and sitting is so painful. Just bending forward in sitting position is enough to trigger the pain. sometimes just a brush of the panty with the clitoris is so painful. It is worst during periods when use santiray napkins. And occasionally there is pain even without any touch. I have been suffering with this for 10 months now.. went to 3 gyns and all of them felt there is no infection (to look at) and still gave me antibiotics, medication for yeast infections and many other experimental medication.
Finally the last gyn I went to prescribed sitz bath and licodaine but she
did not mention "clitorodynia/vulvodynia". I read about it myself on net. I dont like using licodaine as relief is temporary and so I stopped using it. I dint like the idea of fooling the brain either. now I am wonder if I should start using it again.
To compound this problem, I have a history of Poly Cystic Ovaries and irregular periods and it was controlled when I lost weight to reach a BMI of 23 from BMI 27. and now suddenly, in parallel to this pain, my periods though regular have very less bleeding, decreasing with every period.. Some doctors also suspected enlargement of clitoris (I feel its looks bigger than before but I am not so sure :-( or I dont know if its swelling though there is no redness or any visible infection)
Then 4 months back i started getting another problem. coccyxdynia. Atleast this was diagnosed unlike my pain in clitoris!. But this is also very painful and I can hardly sit now. I have taken treatment( physiotherapy, laser and ultrasound treatment, local corticosteroid injections) for this and got some slight relief. I am told it will go away overtime.. Now I can sit for max 10 mins and then I cannot sit again for next 1 hour.
In the midst of all the pain all over the pelvic region I started going into depression with all suicidal thoughts. I am so fed up with doctors telling
me to "forget" my pain and that its all psychological and stuff. It feels
like someone is poking a needle there and how can i forget it? I was
referred to a psychartist and given medication for depression. its tricyclic antidepressant - which i read on net can help clitorodynia and vulvodynia so in a way i decided to take the medicine as it may help me.. I am still taking it, its been 3 weeks no relief as yet.
Then recently a new doctor i visited suspected cystitis. and ultrasound also suggested it. Now since 3 weeks I also have some pain in urethral opening. I dont know if it is due to the pain in clitoris or something else. urine test indicates no infection. Now i am going to undergo a urethrogram and a cystoscopy to check my bladder. I am wondering if it is interstitial cystitis(IC) that I read about in net and if clitoral pain is related.
But I alarmed that not one doctor mentioned "nerve related pain" or clitorodynia or vulvodynia though they all tell me I dont have any infection based on all tests. and I am also told skin there appears normal. to me the pain feels like a "nerve pain". Medical field in India is quite developed with people visiting for treaments from other countries... still no one has heard of clitorodynia??
I am so confused and right now I have pain all over - clitoris, coccyx and urethra.. I have decided to go ahead with the cystoscopy but i am still confused and depressed.
I have a steady boyfriend of 5 years and he knows about all this and is supportive. But I am unmarried and a virgin (thats common out here where premarital sex is still rare).I am now so scared that this will never go away and will wreck my marital life. right now I am trying to overcome the depression and learning to accpet all this.. everything I normally do are now not possible. I hardly go out except to workplace and to meet my boyfriend. I cannout wear my favorite clothing as anything fitting is painful.. and I cant go to restaurants movies or anywhere.. I keep comparing myself to how I was one year back and what a miserable wreck I have become.
I cant stop crying.. sometime I feel ok and start thinking i will deal with this, then i get the stinging pain and the crying starts again..
I now wondering if yoga will help. has anybody got relief from yoga??
For next 4 weeks I had no problem. then one day I wore a new tight jean and I started having pain in clitoris area. This time no itching and burning only stinging and aching pain mainly on clitoris and sometimes on labia minora. I have undergone many courses of medications, seen many specialists and still the problem persists. I changed from wearing "small" size panty to XL only cotton and stopped wearing jeans or trousers all together. I wear loose traditional indian salwars.
The pain is sometimes severe, sometimes bearable and discomfort all the time. Pain is usually triggered by touch/contact with fabric. On some days even walking and sitting is so painful. Just bending forward in sitting position is enough to trigger the pain. sometimes just a brush of the panty with the clitoris is so painful. It is worst during periods when use santiray napkins. And occasionally there is pain even without any touch. I have been suffering with this for 10 months now.. went to 3 gyns and all of them felt there is no infection (to look at) and still gave me antibiotics, medication for yeast infections and many other experimental medication.
Finally the last gyn I went to prescribed sitz bath and licodaine but she
did not mention "clitorodynia/vulvodynia". I read about it myself on net. I dont like using licodaine as relief is temporary and so I stopped using it. I dint like the idea of fooling the brain either. now I am wonder if I should start using it again.
To compound this problem, I have a history of Poly Cystic Ovaries and irregular periods and it was controlled when I lost weight to reach a BMI of 23 from BMI 27. and now suddenly, in parallel to this pain, my periods though regular have very less bleeding, decreasing with every period.. Some doctors also suspected enlargement of clitoris (I feel its looks bigger than before but I am not so sure :-( or I dont know if its swelling though there is no redness or any visible infection)
Then 4 months back i started getting another problem. coccyxdynia. Atleast this was diagnosed unlike my pain in clitoris!. But this is also very painful and I can hardly sit now. I have taken treatment( physiotherapy, laser and ultrasound treatment, local corticosteroid injections) for this and got some slight relief. I am told it will go away overtime.. Now I can sit for max 10 mins and then I cannot sit again for next 1 hour.
In the midst of all the pain all over the pelvic region I started going into depression with all suicidal thoughts. I am so fed up with doctors telling
me to "forget" my pain and that its all psychological and stuff. It feels
like someone is poking a needle there and how can i forget it? I was
referred to a psychartist and given medication for depression. its tricyclic antidepressant - which i read on net can help clitorodynia and vulvodynia so in a way i decided to take the medicine as it may help me.. I am still taking it, its been 3 weeks no relief as yet.
Then recently a new doctor i visited suspected cystitis. and ultrasound also suggested it. Now since 3 weeks I also have some pain in urethral opening. I dont know if it is due to the pain in clitoris or something else. urine test indicates no infection. Now i am going to undergo a urethrogram and a cystoscopy to check my bladder. I am wondering if it is interstitial cystitis(IC) that I read about in net and if clitoral pain is related.
But I alarmed that not one doctor mentioned "nerve related pain" or clitorodynia or vulvodynia though they all tell me I dont have any infection based on all tests. and I am also told skin there appears normal. to me the pain feels like a "nerve pain". Medical field in India is quite developed with people visiting for treaments from other countries... still no one has heard of clitorodynia??
I am so confused and right now I have pain all over - clitoris, coccyx and urethra.. I have decided to go ahead with the cystoscopy but i am still confused and depressed.
I have a steady boyfriend of 5 years and he knows about all this and is supportive. But I am unmarried and a virgin (thats common out here where premarital sex is still rare).I am now so scared that this will never go away and will wreck my marital life. right now I am trying to overcome the depression and learning to accpet all this.. everything I normally do are now not possible. I hardly go out except to workplace and to meet my boyfriend. I cannout wear my favorite clothing as anything fitting is painful.. and I cant go to restaurants movies or anywhere.. I keep comparing myself to how I was one year back and what a miserable wreck I have become.
I cant stop crying.. sometime I feel ok and start thinking i will deal with this, then i get the stinging pain and the crying starts again..
I now wondering if yoga will help. has anybody got relief from yoga??
2 Comments
Hi!! I just read your post and I can identify myself with you completely. I know this was made years ago and you probably won’t see this but if you do could you please tell me how was your healing journey or if you ever heard from your pain. I’ve been having pain for months and I’m getting very depressed because I feel like I will stay like this forever. Please of you see this I would like to know how you’ve been!
Hi Meldionne. I hope she comes back to answer you but we still want to support you. What would be helpful is if you start a new question outlining what is going on with you. When it started, what your symptoms are and what doctors visits have resulted in. We'll try to help as best we can and at least offer some ideas.
the same thing is happening to me i was 16 years old when i suddenly felt pain in my clitoris, and now i'm 20 years old and still have the pain ,at first it was coming and going but never 100% gone,but now its been about 2 weeks of great pain, i'm really suffering from it and it is untill now that i figured it out , it is clitorodynia because all my symtoms say so.my clitoris is swollen, and has white stuff that come out of it ,if i pull the hood of the clitoris back it hurts a lot and i see those white stuff and the swelling! nothing really helped me i did one culture and tured out negative,i put all the creams and antibiotics i was told to put but nothing seemed to help. ur all talking about lidocain but is it really helpfull??plz let me know if anyone has something that might help,i'm in desperate need for any info that might be helpfull!!thx
I have been suffering with the symptoms of what appear to be clitorodynia for a little over a year. Have been to two different ob/gyn's and one doc of internal medicine only to be told that they have no idea of what I have, not one of them even mentioned vulvodynia or clitorodynia. Found the info on clitorodynia myself online tonight. Does anyone know a good doc in the central fla area? I've been put on the lidocaine with little to no relief. I was just glad to finally be able to put a name to what I probably have. I intend to print some of the info I have found and hand deliver it to my doctor's. It sounds like there is a possible link to yeast based on all the comments. A good web site I found is Vagisil: V Views The Latest in Women's Health Issues.
I am 27 years old and after my very first yeast infection ever in late March 2008 I have developed what feels like a UTI. I have constant bladder pain, urgency and frequency. My urinalysis and urine cultures all came back negative. My urethra is irritated and I experience clitoral pain as well. My gynecologist diagnosed me with vestibular adinitis (aka vulvodynia) but I believe mine is clitorodynia as well. Could anyone tell me, did your symptoms possibly begin after the onset of a yeast infection also?
I will visit my urologist next week to rule out Interstitial cystitis (IC), but I'm so confused at this point as to what is going on.... I take AZO Standard daily to help prevent pain.
I will visit my urologist next week to rule out Interstitial cystitis (IC), but I'm so confused at this point as to what is going on.... I take AZO Standard daily to help prevent pain.
I am 36 years old. I have always enjoyed a wonderful sex life with my one and only partner, my husband. In the last month or so though I have had pain in my clitoris which I stimulate most times we have sex as we both enjoy the spoon position very much. I have been prone to yeast infections for most of my life, but nothing a little monistat couldn;t cure. I do not have Herpes, and other than two herniated discs in my lower back am in great health.
Today was the first time I am looking for an answer to what could suddenly cause this to hurt me. I have heard about this clitorodynia for the first time today and was wondering what causes it and if this could be what I have.
Any help or advice would be great.
Thank you, hrp1972
Today was the first time I am looking for an answer to what could suddenly cause this to hurt me. I have heard about this clitorodynia for the first time today and was wondering what causes it and if this could be what I have.
Any help or advice would be great.
Thank you, hrp1972
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Women's Health Community
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Normal vaginal discharge varies in color, smell, texture and amount.
Bumps in the genital area might be STDs, but are usually not serious.
Chlamydia, an STI, often has no symptoms, but must be treated.
From skin changes to weight loss to unusual bleeding, here are 15 cancer warning signs that women tend to ignore.
