Sweetly

Sorry for the gross details ahead...

Over the last year and a half or so, I get really itchy down there about once a month. I've been to the gyno more than enough times and have had a ton of std tests taken because I was always paranoid that they missed something. But i've never had an std so that's not the reason.

It's so itchy that I end up getting swollen because none of the itch creams/sprays do much other than numb it for a few minutes. This typically lasts about a week, and it gets so bad that I refuse to even have sex with my husband because it's so tender that i'm afraid i'll cry.

I've asked my gyno about it a few times and she said that I simply have to be wearing the wrong kind of underwear. This doesn't make sense to me. I switched underwear and went without them completely and it didn't make a bit of difference.

Do any of you guys have simliar problems? Do you know what might cause this? It's driving me insane!

neen4ash

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Tiffers1984

I had this happen a couple months ago and went to the doctor 3 times in about 2 weeks and had the bf go get tested as well. I swear my obgyn thought I was crazy! It happened two months in a row. They ran every test on me and couldn't find anything wrong. I had no dishcarge and nothing except extremely dry skin and itchy. ANd if I itched it then it hurt. I ended up taking a heavy antibiotic and using a prescription yeast infection cream just because they didn't know what was up. It cleared it up and then it came back again and then went about a week and hasn't been a problem for 5 months. *crossed fingers*

It drove me nuts! I think the only thing they could think of was extremely dry skin due to a couple reasons. Stress, too many warm baths, switching or a reaction to soaps, shampoo, detergent, something I ate... I don't know but it drove me crazy whatever it was. The only thing that helped was a cold bath but then I had to put Vaseline down there to make sure I didn't dry out more.

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Novgirl

I feel for you!!!

Have you ever got yeast infections in the past?? The horrible thing about yeast infections is that they NEVER leave your system... once you've got it - you've got it!

I got EXACTLY what you're describing almost every month that I was on BCP... it was always the week right after AF and it was hell! My Dr first thought maybe it was the pads but when I stopped using them it was obvious it wasn't.

Try a baby rash cream to sooth - it's thick and lasts longer than anything else. (Penaten is a good one)

I wouldnt' take actual yeast infection meds b/c as far as my Dr can tell it's not quite an infection, just more of an imbalance after AF that causes the irritation.

I know how awful it is... I feel for you!!

Oh and as a PP said - if you're hairless I find it a bit easier to deal with BUT don't try any hair removal when you're irritated... that'll just make it worse!

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Leigha789

Is the itching actually on the inside or on the outside area called the labia majora?

I'm asking b/c for months I had extreme itching and tenderness on the labia majora. I tried otc creams and also changed up soaps, underwear, pads etc. and nothing helped. My gyn tested for numerous std's and all tests were negative. Finally she did a biopsy. I have something called squamous hyperplasia of the vulva. It's when the skin down there becomes thickened and irratated and EXTREMELY itchy and inflamed. It's not really caused by anything like soaps or the kind of underwear I wear or anything like that, it just comes from within. I have to use a steroid cream to get rid of it.

I hope you get some relief soon!

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SunsetMuse

If it is somehow related to yeast infections try eating more yogurt with the bacteria (forget specific name of it), usually plain has more so my dr says. I used to get yeast infections a lot, and that helps just a couple scoops a day even. If it's not yeast infection related I don't know. I hope you can find some help. GL

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Italian Friend

i suffer of that too, for me is stress related.
what worked for me was only cotton underwear, well rinsed when washed, and tea tree cream.. now i am like a drug addict, the smell only makes me feel less itchy lol! one gyno once gave me some vitamin suplly too, guess it was vitaminE..

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Tiffers1984

mmmm tea tree. My sis has Tea Trea Oil Shampoo. I can sit in the bathtub with that bottle almost up my nose for an hour.

I used Neosporin for a bit too. I think I tried everything in my medicine cabinet.

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Met 500mg & increasing
Yaz


“According to a recent survey, men say the first thing they notice about a woman is their eyes, and women say the first thing they notice about men is they're a bunch of liars”

Sweetly

Wow, I don't feel so bad after seeing all the responses! haha

The itching is mostly on the labia majora, on the upper part near the clitoris. I thought for a while that it might be because that area is like a little crevice and it might collect bacteria or something.
I bathe/wash daily and I never switch soaps because I have really sensitive skin.
It seems that usually it happens a couple weeks before I get my period, but it's not always consistant.

I have gotten yeast infections in the past, and usually when i'm at the doctor and they test my urine I always come back a little yeasty. I have the over the counter yeast infection cream and i've been using that for the last couple days, but it's not helping.

I might ask my gyno about that squamous hyperplasia just to make sure it's not something I need meds to get rid of. Ugh.
Is that connected to PCOS at all?

Thanks for the advice ladies. I appreciate it.

TeachinAuntie

I have excema & get breakouts "down there" every so often. The only thing that helps me is to NOT SCRATCH & take lots of lukewarm baths. Oatmeal baths are a plus. I also use cloth pads. I have some "Anti-Itch" medicated cloth wipes that I use after a bath & then put on a pad w/cotton undies & that normally helps.

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catsnack

make sure it's not a reaction to laundry detergent or fabric softner. fabric softner can be particularly bad if you have sensitive skin.

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Erica011407

I get that every month and my gyno says that it is due to hormone fluctuations. For me I get it when I am about to ovulate or when AF is on the way. It makes me crazy too!! I tried some otc creams and they help but not for long..

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DX with PCOS 2002
Will Start TTC July 2008

JenGemini

I have eczema as well and I have broken outt down there as well. What helped me was cotton undies and warm baths and I also make sure to put on some Eucerin moisturizing lotion on the outside skin and vagisil powder for the itchiness. Hasnt happened in months.

LoLo32382

I agree with the other ladies who suggested Tea Tree Oil. Maybe a few drops in a lukewarm bath would help some? I use it for everything. Also, Sunsetmuse had a good idea with the Acidophilus. I eat yogurt with Acidophilus at least weekly and have had zero problems since. There are also Acidophilis pills that you can buy at the health food store. You might talk to your doc and see if that's something you should try. Hope you get feeling better soon!! =)

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RNtobe

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!

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Medications:
-Metformin (1000mg a day)
-Metoprolol
-Spironolactone/HCTZ
-Lexapro
-Potassium
-Protonix
-Acidophilus
-Fiber supplements
-Multi-vitamen
-Vagifem

Currently undergoing Mayo Clinic "diagnostic evaluation." Oh what fun!