wow! I was just about to post a topic about this!
For the past two years or so I have had the worst itching, burning, and leaking "down there" on a mostly constant daily basis. Numerous doctors later and countless swabs I finally have a diagnosis! I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was.
I have been seen at the Mayo clinic for numerous different reasons, but one of them is the functioning of my female systems, or rather the lack of function. Anyways, the doctor did several swabs for flora, as there are apparently several different types that indicate different treatment options. Now he did want to do a biopsy of some abnormal tissue, but I could not tolerate the swabs without loads of lidocaine both topical and an injection, so there was no way I was going to be able to withstand a punch biopsy of my already incredibly sensitive tissue. I think he said i will have to be sedated in order to do it, but heck that is fine with me as long as I don't feel it!
He said that I have vulvodynia. I was like, ok...which is what exactly? Now I am still not entirely sure how to describe it to someone, but I can tell you that it fits the symptoms. The treatment options are equally as bizzare and I won't find out my treatment protocol until next friday when the results are in, will let you know what that involves.
Here are some websites that explain what it is and how to treat it.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vulvodynia/DS00159 http://www.nva.org/about_vulvodynia/...ulvodynia.html
-explains the different types, I really like this one!
I would mention this to your doctor. There are only a handful of OB/GYN's worldwide that actually know what this is and how to treat it. So, you might have to be kinda pushy and let them know what you are thinking up front.
Keep us posted!