**TMI BELOW,read at your own risk
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I'm torn between making another expensive appointment to see my doctor (first one was unrelated), or going out and buying some more monestat and waiting it out like last time. My sister was finally diagnosed with vulvodynia after a year or two of constant UTIs and yeast infections, and pills and shoulder shrugs. I can no longer speak with her due to circumstances I'd rather not go into, so I can't very well ask her what her experience was.

I considered myself lucky, as I really hadn't had but one or two my whole lifetime. Over the last few months it seems like right before or after my period I seem to have a yeast infection. I've never actually gone to the doctor for it, but the monestat always cleared it up, so, naturally, I knew/assumed they were yeast infections. Now, however, I'm beginning to notice I'm getting--something--so often it's driving me insane, and I don't know what to do. There's no stinging when I urinate, no itching, just RAWNESS and SWOLLENNESS, and occasionally some buildup around my clitoris, which very well may be toilet paper because I'm DABBING gently when I go to the restroom, because anything else is uncomfortable. I can't get any relief. No matter what I do, it just feels that sort of DRY RAW that I can't explain.

I'm beginning to wonder if I may have vulvodynia, too.

Do I break out the monestat and plow through another week or two of pain and the inability to get intimate with my boyfriend (I was on my period, couldn't mess around, then I got *this* and couldn't mess around, had a few days of relief where we were able to do something ONCE, and now I can't again! So I imagine he's as frustrated as I am), or do I suck it up and head to the doctors office with my wallet out?


I want to clarify that I've only had sex once, and my current bf and I are in a LDR, so I'm not having physical sex.

I tend to be a paranoid person and if its something you can "nip in the bud" I would pay for it. BUT it depends - are you in dire straits money wise?

Well, from the experience my sister had, it just seemed to be a very long and costly process to finally get a diagnosis and I don't know if I have the time or money for that now, or if I should just start heavily drinking to get through my day LOL

Go to the doctor. That doesn't sound good at all.

If the doctor is too expensive, try your local Planned Parenthood. They have sliding scales for fees and they will be able to take care of you.

Go to the doctor and mention that your sister was diagnosed with vulvodynia and ask if they think you may have it. Not all yeast infections are cured with Monistat alone. Also, make sure you're not eating too much sugar/carbs because that can allow yeast to thrive. Use a squirty water bottle to rinse yourself after urinating (you can also spray while you urinate to stop as much discomfort from urine touching skin). It sounds like you need an appropriate ointment to allow that skin to heal. Take some aleve or ibuprofen if you can to help with the pain and inflammation. Get well soon.

Go see a vulvar specialist. Family practice/internal med/GPs don't know a whole lot about vulvar disorders. Planned Parenthood is awesome, but probably not what you need for your situation. Even many OB/GYNs ignore vulvar conditions. If you're in Boston/New England, I can point you to some people, but otherwise not sure how helpful I can be. Also, check out "The V Book," written by one of the leading experts in vulvar disorders. PM if you have questions -- I'm a women's health NP, and I have lots of thoughts that might border too closely on medical advice. Good luck!

Note that I'm not a doctor or other medical professional, and my advice is probably worth about what you're paying for it. By all means, if you can, go see a doctor.

Vulvodynia appears to require some pretty long-term pain. So yeah, I'd expect it to be long-term and expensive to diagnose. Moreover, diagnosis isn't a cure, or even necessarily a treatment.

You might consider looking at the management options for vulvodynia and seeing if they help. They include a lot of standard best practices for vaginal health - cotton underwear, not synthetics (and changing multiple times per day, particularly after exercise), no douche/shampoo/soap. Try using a wet washcloth instead of dabbing with TP, cotton menstrual pads, no tampons, adjusting your posture or using cushions/rings so you don't put pressure on your crotch when you sit.

For the raw/swollen feeling, a personal lubricant might help. They come in a variety of different viscosities, so you might need to play around a little to find one that gives you the lack of friction you need. Avoid ones with glycerin, because it can feed the bad microbes.

A quick forum search indicates that you were using some creams/lotions to help lighten the skin in that area, have you considered they might be causing the irritation?