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Conditions

Vulvodynia

Vaginas

This unpleasant condition causes chronic pain and discomfort in the vulval area, with the most common symptoms including stinging, burning, irritation and rawness. The condition can vary in severity; for some they experience only mild discomfort, but for others it can severely inhibit their normal lives and prevent enjoyment of sexual activities. There are treatments available, including anti-depressant and anti-convulsant drugs, but there are also creams and gels that can be applied to help with the pain. With up to 15% of women suffering with this condition, you can be sure that you’re not alone, and your GP will be able to help.

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

Ive had really bad discharge for a year now whenever i move i feel like im soaking down there and sometimes it goes through to my leggins its really affecting my social life, and i no its not normal as i havent had it forever. I think it may be cericitus as it stings wen i wee , Painful during intercourse and i do get some itching im going to the doctors this thursday just to be safe. But any suggestions as to what it could be?





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I am 14 years old and the right side of my vagina has swollen. It is really sore and swollen and is red. Also, it is very itchy. I don't know what to do and as I am younger than the other females i was hoping you could tell me how to treat it at home without seeing a doctor or telling my mom.





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I think this may be what I've been suffering from. Just when I think it's calmed down, I find myself scratching at night and causing it to come back twice as bad. It can be very raw and inflamed and I've even got sores all down the sides of my vulva where I scratch without noticing at night. It's really upsetting. I also suffer from pain during sex, which is quite a recent development. I've been very stressed recently, so I don't know if the 2 are connected? I get a very sore, burning pain, which is a lot like cystitus, during penetration. But then the pain goes away as soon as penetration stops? Very strange. I've had chlamidya and general urine tests and both came back negative. I'm psyching myself up for a vaginal examination. So embarrassing though :(





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I'm not sure what I have but sounds like a vulvodynia symptom. I have been suffering since Oct 09 with an inflammation that comes up after intercourse. It comes up as a red lump right next to my urethra on the left side and then after a day or so it goes down but there's still a bit of soreness if touched. I have been tested for all STD's, all clear, had a biopsy and that came back negative, seen a few GP's, gynaeocolgists and no one can give me a diagnosis and I've just been offered an op to remove the area of tissue and they said they can then they can look into what could have caused this. I have put the op off at the moment as i'm quite scared of having it removed and worried it will make it worse. Just feel like no one can give me definite answer and to be offered an op without more investigations seems odd to me so now I don't know where to go or who to ask for help! If anybody could give advise on this I would be very grateful!! Thanks.





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Hi i'm 62 and for the past two years have suffered with vulvadynia. i'm on lyrica and anti depressants but they are only of limited help. i rarely wear trousers and have had to give up cycling. i was advised by the gyney not to use detergents when washing underwear and not to have an electric blanket on my bed, too bad there isnt more help for us sufferes of this miserable ailment. nora





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i started 6 months ago with the burning and stinging feelings also painful while having sex and worse after sex. i had the coil fitted 2 years ago so i thought it was just reacting to that.It got that bad at Christmas i took myself to a+e in Jan i told them i had enough i cant go on like this and i want you to do something. they didn't know what to do with me so they just got me in to see the gynecologist then next day. I had a scan that show nothing well everything was fine there so she had a look inside i was red raw around the opening to the whom so the cauterised it. I felt better for a few weeks but now its just the same i'm sick of it now..... I just want to be pain free and back to normal whatever that is.....I have just gone 39.....





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Since having my son just over two months ago I have had a sort of pulling pain from my clitoris as if it's pulling from the inside the pain is mostly when I'm having a period any sugestins on what might be wrong ?





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Could you possibly have a vaginal split? Or your nerve endings may be more sensitive because of having had your son.

Hi I have been suffering with intercourse from the begining.All the stpomies i have relate to Vulvodynia. I am 21 and have had one sexual partner and our still together but I feel so fustrated when i keep going round in circals. I have been to doctor after doctor, privelty and had all the tests but nothing. I am on a cream at the moment but its not working. I need help. Any advice please





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i think i may have vulvodynia, i'm 18 years old and in the past year or so i have found intercourse so painful its basically impossible. I've had the same partner for 4 years now and have no problems till last year. I kept going to the doctors and telling them, have smear tests and all sorts all negative then after 3 months they said i have erosion of the cervix (nothing has yet been done) they said they would arrange laser treatment but its not harmful. Then they said i had Endometreosis so i had the op, and thing still the same. i get a burning and stinging sensation when inserting and having intercourse. i've tried everything and don't no what else to do, my doctor just keeps giving me smear tests and saying its thrush. do you think this may be the problem??





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Again you could have a split, I had a really similar problem, same partner, but sudden stinging pain. The doctor kept telling me it was thrush, but when I went to a gynae she saw a really tiny split in the vaginal opening. It can be caused by having sex whilst having thrush, though you may not be aware you had thrush. It's definitely worth looking into.

I think i may have vulvodynia. i saw your show and saw a young lady who had symptoms like mine. Each time i have sex my vagina swells up and is very painfull and i bleed afterwards, almost like a light period, i have to wear a sanitary towel for the couple of days afterwards,this is is not due to it being tears from being too 'rough'.The GPs have checked that to. i have been to my GP about this many times and they always ask if i have been tested for STI's, which i have, all of which have been clear. So they give me metronidazole to clear the inflammation. it doesnt generally help, and when it does it is only short term. Or they ask if i want to change my contraceptive pill. I dont have a partner at the moment, but when i do eventually start seeing someone how do i explain. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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