MARA FORTES/vaginal secretion? yeast? dryness?

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Happy to hear from you again, Mara. I'm so glad you have gotten rid of most of the pain and are living fairly normally now. Do you think it was those Birth Control Pills all along? I remember when you first stopped them you didn't think there was any difference - but now - maybe so, huh? During certain phases in our cycles our progesterone is really high and women who are familiar with the process can detect this time by sampling the vaginal secretions (for natural birth control purposes). The texture and amount of discharge changes depending on which part of the cycle we are in. Perhaps when you get this discharge now, you are in the high progesterone phase of your cycle - and maybe not necessarily having a hormone problem at all other than normal cycling.I've never heard of the maturation issue, but maybe it would be a good thing to read up on if your problem persists or worsens.Since I am 59

and long since menopausal, using that progesterone is just awful for me. That pasty thick stuff really can do a number on older less resilient tissue. Though I use HRT, I don't use estrogen topically because of bleeding issues and because it has caused topical yeast on me. I use the patch instead and add in P to get a short bleed every month or so.Anyway, good to hear from you and especially good to know that you are doing so well.DustyMara Fortes wrote: Dear dUsty,It's been a long time! I have actually been pretty much pain free forthe last year or so (which Is why I haven't really posted on the listserv). However, I still sometimes have flare ups and they are almostalways accompanied by a thick pasty waxy discharge. I have had

itrepeatedly cultured and it never shows anything abnormal. However, Iam sure that this discharge is what irritates my tissue. The last timeI saw my Doctor, she suggested that I get a test for vaginal maturationindex (??) I don't know what that is, but I think maybe it is hormonelevels. I haven't done it, mainly because of $$ issues. ANd I alsodon't think that I have a hormonal imbalance as I show no other signsof it (I have normal periods, etc). I'm not taking any bcps, but nowI'm wondering if perhaps my progesterone levels sometimes go slighlyoff. .. I don't know. Just something I thought of with your post. When I was on BCPs I did get a thick discharge, but I don't remember itirritating me. I just don't buy the theory that I have yeast issues,partly because I have had only one yeast infection in my life, andbecause my cultures never come out positive for yeast.m.--- Anonymous

wrote:> If your birth control pill is very heavy on the> progesterones/progestins - this thick white "stuff" is a possible> consequence - or at least it was for me when taking too much> progesterone compared to estrogen. I had to change my HRT because> the thick, pasty stuff was very irritating to the vulvar skin,> further aggravating my DV.> > You might want to check out the books by Dr. Vliet on> hormones. In her books she suggests some of the least offending> BCP's and she discusses why they are least offending.> > DUsty> > Yvonne wrote: Hi all,> > in the last few weeks I have repeatedly noticed an unusual vaginal > secretion. It's thick, white, and very dry (and absolutely odorless).> > Nothing like normal discharge. At first I thought it was a yeast > infection. But there is no

itching or burning, like when I had a> yeast > infection a while ago. I have also noticed that my vagina is much> drier > than it used to be. My prime suspect here is the birth control pill, > which can cause vaginal dryness. Ok, so my vagina is very dry. And> when > I insert a finger or a dilator, it comes out coverd in this white > secretion. I know that this is not any leftovers from lube or vaginal> > cream or anything. > > I'm very sorry for the gross descriptions. I was wondering, if anyone> > has had similar experiences? Could this be due to the increased > dryness? Could it be yeast even without the itching and burning? Or> are > there other infections that could cause this kind of discharge/ > secretion? > > Thanks a lot for your help.> > > > **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST,

> Thanks for your cooperation! **> > ***