Vaginal Burning/Dryness

Candice…go back and find MermaidDrowning’s post on vulva, vestibulitis, etc. (the web techs are updating the forum software soon, so we WILL have a search function, I promise!) I’d look it up for you, but I’m running late here. It’s wonderful and something about it seems so deeply truthful – I guess because it was created by a thoughtful young woman determined to bring herself back to health.

Also…I’ve heard Susun Weed’s NEW Menopausal Years has a lot of great info about this (I haven’t made the time to go get it, but a gal from the herb store here read me a paragraph or two on the phone…”Do you feel like you’re sitting on a volcano?” YES, YES, YES! I never gave chronic vulva conditions much thought until I developed one this past year! They are a great mystery and probably something women in olden times had many good remedies for. All modern medicine can offer are steroidal preparations, some VERY toxic.

I’ll be pursuing this more, will share all I learn, and hope others will do the same.

Christine

p.s. I don't think it has anything to do with the pads. A lot of this has to be a biochemical/hormonal thing deep in our tissues.

I just joined, and read the comment about vaginal dryness.
It might be worth being checked for lichen schlerosus -they have to do a biopsy to be absolutely certain, taking a tiny bit of skin from the area, which hurts a bit, and takes at least a few days to heal - but some practitioners recognize it visually - I had itching for a long time, and didn't have any idea what it was about, till someone recognized it, and then I had the biopsy done.
Even though apparently @5% of postmenopausal women have it, and it also occurs with young women and men too, on the tip of the penis, it is not well known, and even experienced women's practitioners don't seem to always 'pick up' on it. I am 59, and was told I had it a bit over a year ago - the symptoms are an itchiness and 'thinning' of the skin in the vaginal/vulva area.
There is supposedly no known cause and no known cure although there is a fair amount of information about it (probably because enough research isn't done on women's issues) - (check google or www.kozmix.com for lots of links for the different sites with info - there's pretty reliable stuff available there - so I won't go into a lot of detail about the symptoms, but it is sometimes described as being a bit like an eczema or else like a 'whitening/patchiness' of the skin).
The typical western medicine treatment is topical steroids, possibly for life...and I have refused to use that after some of what I read on the internet, which is that in one chat, it had gotten worse after stopping use of it. The doctor I have seen says it is possible to taper use and keep it as low as possible if one's symptoms go away, but since I don't like the idea of using steroids on my skin for life, I am still seeking some alternative remedies or approaches - which is why I joined, hoping that others might know about it.
My 'case' is mild enough that the doctor is 'letting me' choose to refuse, but I really want to be more pro-active and find something workable..and will be followed to make sure it's not getting worse meanwhile. The scary part is that in some cases - and there's not even a clear correlation that there's a linkage - some people with lichen sclerosus (@5% ??) also end up with cancer of the vulva (possibly when there's violent itching and the skin is irritated??) - so that's why it's very important to get followed - and baseline photos of the area can be done and then followup photos to keep on file..I was REALLY upset about this, and 'freaked' but since there's no clear correspondence of one leading to the other, it's important to not get too upset, and keep a sense of perspective about it - i.e. 5% may have LC, and 5% of those possibly might later have cancer of the vulva. Still, considering how little it is known or discussed or recognized as compared to herpes or other vaginal problems, it is important to me now that I know about it, to have people be more informed.
I hope this helps - I'd love to hear if anyone else has dealt with it. Thank you.

I read an interesting theory that the cells affected by LS are embryologically analogous to the penis/scrotum (LS never occurs in the vagina, but always in the same clitoral, vulva, perianal area) and have become resistant to testosterone, not unlike insulin-resistant diabetes. 5% is A LOT of women, but I don't understand how the theory could be extrapolated to men and children. Testosterone must keep this area healthy, but if the cells are resistant I guess that’s why the oft-prescribed testosterone creams don’t work. A healthy diet with lots of live enzymes and probiotics is a must as is lowering stress (I wonder if exhausted adrenals have anything to do with breakdown of the feedback loop.) Make it your meditation not to scratch. I’ve found tea tree oil and salves with comfrey and lavender very soothing.

Hi Candice

I'm 53 and near menopause, so it may not be the same thing, but it sounds very similar to my experience. I have put it down to a combination of hormones, friction associated with sex, but more importantly the general sagging of the area as a result of prolapse which results in bits rubbing against each other and knickers in a way that they didn't a few years ago.

I have found that an oil based vitamin E ointment used liberally, daily after showering, does help it to heal quickly. Reapply after sexual stimulation. This keeps the pain and inflammation at bay, and seems to heal any little skin breaks.

Also, make sure you use a personal lubricant for sex and/or lots of foreplay, which plumps up and moistens the tissues round the vulva. I have found that oil is better than a water-based lubricant. Its lubricating effects last longer for me. Just experiment. Be careful using teatree oil as it can also be very irritant in itself, and your tissues don't need further irritation at this time.

You could also try going without knickers as much as possible, just wearing a skirt. Keeping your pubic hair longish can also protect the vulval area from external friction. See, it does have a function after all!

I used to have these symptoms constantly along with thrush and urinary tract infections but now, a few months later, having used these techniques together, it doesn't happen as often, and it goes away quicker.

It is as if I have looked after the area carefully for a period of time, and allowed it to established a new balance which is now quite resilient. It's all a bit strange, but these things are sent to try us. Keep posting your progress. I hope it isn't that lichen thing. Sounds like a nightmare.

Cheers

Louise

ps, Another thought. I use napkins, and have found that with a bit or urinary leakage during my period for one reason or another, I get a kind of nappy rash after using napkins for a few days. Towards the end of a period it is tempting to not change the napkin as often. Urine can be there, but just not apparent to the eye. Make sure you change napkins often towards the end of your period, and use some vitamin E cream on the vulva to help protect it. Maybe it is stating the obvious. I don't want to sound 'matronising', but every little bit helps. Cheers, L

i have been using a hormone cream prescribed for me (Bi-Estrogen, Progesterone, and a small percent of Testosterone)- but it is applied on the arm, not in the vaginal area - emotionally, and energetically it seems to have made a big difference. I haven't been checked for a few months, so don't know yet if it has made a difference 'down there'. I had heard that the testosterone creams applied to the vulval area weren't effective - the doctor I'm seeing (at UNM hospital) didn't want to prescribe them for me.
I am not feeling itchy, luckily - at least that's the good side of the LS being mild. When I found out about this, I decided to totally stop - as you say, like a meditation, and I think that helped.
I am a little uncomfortable with the idea of the tea tree oil, thinking it might be astringent, but comfrey seems fine.
I know there has certainly been tons of stress - I went back to school, to grad school, and have lots of financial stress, as well as being single, difficulties with cars, and more...so that is a big 'koan'- how to unhook myself from how I get into stress attitudes. I am definitely working on it though. I've been really drawn to the new Kombuchu drink they have at the Coop, etc. -it's expensive, but it's my little treat, as well as yogurt pretty regularly. I have heard that from the naturopathic point of view, usually skin conditions are an external expression of an internal condition...It's good to be sharing about this. Thanks for your comments.

Hi

i may have posted this elsewhere but if the search function is out for a while i'll just summerise.

i had chronic vaginal infection's about ten years ago and was diagnosised as having candida and then at one stage non-specific vaginitis or something which i think meant (a kind of vaginal problem but we dunno what it is). They put me on liver destroying FLAGYL for a loooooooong time and it never worked.

Finally someone suggested i try giving up the contraceptive pill. A week later and it was gone never to return. I've never gone on the contraceptive pill since and never had it since.

So perhaps check out the med's you are taking, especially the contraceptive pill.

(according to my chinese medicine teacher Acupuncturists are seeing horrendous problems with clients using those arm insert ones and the one's involving skipping menses all togther).

Best wishes

Anne-helen