Re:If always test positive for BV, can it really be vulvodynia? Please

[Guest guest]

Somewhere I read diagnostic criteria for vulvodynia that said (my paraphrasing):MUST HAVE NEGATIVE YEAST OR BACTERIAL CULTURES FOR SIX MONTHS.

that's right...no abnormal cultures, slides, etc. that would indicate yeast or bv for several months. If you have negative cultures for six months and still have pain I would say you have vulvodynia, but for you I highly doubt it. PT might help it from developing into a muscular problem, but you really need to get those infections under control before you accept a diagnosis.

I would suggest a specialist that can deal with recurrent infections. I suspect my recurrent infections (yeast and bv) that lasted 1.5 years was probably what caused my vulvodynia. I finally got them under control, did PT to address the muscular problems, and am now almost 100% well (also a little estrace helped!).

Look into your diet-be sure you're taking a probiotic and plenty of immune boosting vitamins (C and such). Look into underlying issues like thyroid that might make you prone to infection. But, honestly, you don't sound like you have vulvodynia.

Lindsey