When Sex hurts.....

[Guest guest]

Dear

Thankyou so much for getting this extremely sensitive issue into the mainstream

of news media. These conditions need so much more publicity, and there is so

little out there. Like many others I have found nearly all of my information

through use of the Internet. Until September of last year I thought that I was

some kind of freak with sexual hang-ups, frigid, even crazy because I did not

want sex with the man that I loved very much and that sex was incredibly

painful.

I am 24 and have had this condition for the past 3 years and have not been able

to have intercourse since April 1996, my boyfriend (and now husband) has been

very patient, but it has taken a toll on our relationship as I now only see sex

in terms of pain and have no Libido. I have seen so many Doctors (10 at the

last count), some sensitive but not able to help,some arrogant and insensitive,

one suggested that I see a Psychiatrist as " I may have been abused " . I HAVEN " T

(and even if I had it does not mean that pain is of a Psychological origin)

Vulvar Vestibulitis, Vulvodynia and Vulvar Pain are very real, very painful

conditions. Being in such a sensitive and intimate place, it is very difficult

to discuss. It's simple to say I've a headache/backache, but how do you explain

to someone, even close family and friends that your Vulva feels like it's on

fire, that the skin in your vagina feels like it's ripping when you attempt

intercourse?

After 3 years of treatments,

[topical steroids (betnovate), anaesthetic gel (lidocaine), repeated Diflucan,

canesten cream (anti-fungal), amitriptyline, metronidazole (antibiotic)

erythromycin (antibiotic) Laporoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy, changing contraceptive

pills, changing washing powder/bath & showers gel, stopping using tampons]

I had surgery in January of this year performed by a wonderful doctor who is a

member and past president of the International Society for the Study of

Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD). While surgery is most definitely the first option,

and should not be rushed into without exhausting other treatments, it has been

shown in the literature to be between 70-80% successful for appropriate

candidates. I am very optimistic, I can't bear to think of it now working.

The mailing lists that I have been on, Vulvar Disorders and the VulvarPainForum

have been a constant force of support, compassion, and information

dissemination. We all have learnt so much from each other. This publicity from

MSNBC is exactly what this condition needs

Thankyou for discussing it, I hope that this is the beginning of open

discussion,

Sally Chang

Houston, TX