Vaginal swellness/numbness..

[ConfusedAgain]

Like it's fat on the upper part and around the opening and super sensitive. Would this be an allergic reaction? I've had it on and off for a few months. I'm wondering if I am starting to get allergic to tampons because nothing else is making sense. But it didn't start right after my period. I haven't changed soaps in the shower or laundry soap. I think I have a latex allergy so have stayed away from latex condoms. I use sensitive skin soap.

The last time it happened had to do with sex where it was too dry and then it started hurting and even the orgasm wasn't that great and hurt instantly and we stopped.

My current doctor was way too rough up there and I'm avoiding her.

No itch/smell/discharge so I don't think yeast infection and I've never had one of those.

Edit - I may have figured it out since posting this. Huggie's baby wipes or the Lysol floating around the bathroom we clean with.

 

[SweetErika]

Yep, baby wipes can contain some nasty stuff. My son reacts to Huggies specifically, but does fine with Costco's store brand of wipes. Because you're an adult and not needing to grab wipes quickly for poop emergencies on a squirming child, I'd suggest making your own wet wipes, if you want to continue to go that route. There are a bunch of articles online on making your own natural wet or baby wipes. Most of them use a very low concentration of tea tree oil and maybe a tiny bit of castile soap or non-soap (coconut-based) baby wash in a spray bottle that's applied to a cloth-like paper towel (Viva is the brand some of my friends recommend) that's cut in thirds. Of course you could keep a bottle of the solution by the toilet and just spray some toilet paper instead of using paper towels if you feel the need to use some sort of moist wipe.

Another option--and a better one for your health--is to use plain water. Last October, our toddler had horrendous bleeding diaper rash from a long bout of diarrhea, and as I was cruising through Costco one day, I happened upon the Intelliseat Bidet Toilet Seat. I bought it so we could wash our little guy off easily, but it's been fantastic for us as well.

If you don't already have one, I'd also suggest getting yourself a handheld showerhead so you can wash yourself with plain warm water. Go to town using a mild soap (again, I'd suggest castile soap or something else that's super gentle and natural outside your labia, but then only use warm water between your labia.

If your issues don't resolve with changing your routine(s), then go check with a doctor who specializes in female sexual/urogenital health and conditions. Most often these doctors are female urologists. The vast majority of even great gynecologists don't do well diagnosing and treating vulvodynia and vaginismus symptoms. I finally had to go to a urogenital specialist to get diagnosed with vestibulitis after my OBGYN wrote off my complaints and symptoms for almost a year.

 

[ConfusedAgain]

What do you think of just using witch hazel? It seemed too strong or something for me down there though but I've heard of people using it.

Ugh, castile soap? That hurts like hell down there! Same with any essential oil. I'm super sensitive to that. I was using the Dr. Bronner and Dessert Essence brands. Actually I recently bough the Dr. Bronners Mild/Baby Castile soap but haven't had the guts to try it in the shower yet.
I've been using Aveeno Unscented/Skin Relief. It's the only thing for the past few years to not bother me down there.

I already do have the handheld shower head so everything gets nice and clean.

I have many bad experiences with doctors so I'm scared of being written off too. It's bad enough the last time I had a problem down there they accused me of being a virgin because I was so tight when she was so rough and I was involuntarily clenching.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

DO you shave? It could be the shaving gel or lotion you use or if you use thoses razors that have the soap already on them could be causing the problem. I heard a DJ on the radio talking about thoses that his wife used them on her legs and caused her some major reaction. She had to go to the doctor for it.
If you think its the huggie wipes, stop using them and if you must use the wipes, try for sensitive skin. You could be allergic to alot of things. But I do agree you need to go to OBGYN to be tested.
I just had a thought, If your man does oral on you, it could be his shaving lotion or anything he puts on his face that could be causing you a problem. Just a thought.
Hope you get it straighten out.

 

[Bokonon]

My wife had bad reactions to regular baby wipes after our first kiddo was born and switched to some product that witch hazel with no ill effects. I don't remember if it was just witch hazel or something with it as the main ingredient.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[GrrlFriday]

I'm confused - I've always been taught that you should use a gentle soap on the outer labia (where the hair grows) and just water on the inner labia and clit... Feel free to think I'm feral, but where do baby wipes come in???

 

[ConfusedAgain]

Nothing new with shaving. No oral sex. I stopped using the wipes..

What I don't get though is if it were something worse going on with me than an allergic reaction, wouldn't I have had a hard time with tampons during my last/recent period?

 

[ConfusedAgain]

Feel free to think I'm feral, but where do baby wipes come in???

Period yuckness

 

[Bbb13]

Period yuckness

Natural is best

 

[GrrlFriday]

Period yuckness

I must be lucky - a bit of a trim beforehand and showering religiously (note - not once on Sundays!) clears this up for me enough.

 

[ConfusedAgain]

Different preferences I guess. Obviously I won't be using them anymore. Although I am still not convinced that caused it because 2+ days later without them and I still have this problem and still trying to get into a doctor for it.

 

[SweetErika]

I don't think there is any need for baby wipes at all for periods.

My periods are somewhat irregular and the flow is unpredictably heavy right now. Leakage with a super tampon is common, as is getting blood all over when I change my tampons.

So, yeah, wipes are super helpful when a shower isn't a possibility!

 

[ConfusedAgain]

I ended up going this afternoon. They're going with yeast infection. No discharge but it's likely up there and not actually coming out. Apparently being this swollen and sensitive is very common with them. I shower right after sex or exercise so not sure how I'd even get one but whatever..if it is one it'll be gone within a few days. The only other thing they were really concerned with were STDS but that isn't possible.

 

[SweetErika]

I ended up going this afternoon. They're going with yeast infection. No discharge but it's likely up there and not actually coming out. Apparently being this swollen and sensitive is very common with them. I shower right after sex or exercise so not sure how I'd even get one but whatever..if it is one it'll be gone within a few days. The only other thing they were really concerned with were STDS but that isn't possible.

Showering has nothing to do with yeast or other vaginal infections unless you're using soap in the wrong area, which can throw off the natural balance of flora in your vagina, causing an infection.

Yeast infections occur when there's an overgrowth of yeast due to either killing the good bacteria in your vagina via antibiotics, soap, the wrong type of lube OR when you create a good environment for the yeast to take over (e.g. tight underwear or clothing that doesn't breathe enough, wearing a swimsuit for too long, a stressed immune system, underlying health issues, etc.). If you do have some sort of infection, even something like the combination of having your period, tampons, using the baby wipes and washing too much or using soap on your vulva could have caused it.

Hopefully it is just a yeast infection and it'll clear right up. If the symptoms persist, go see that specialist because there's likely something else going on. I've never had an infection cause numbness or anything like you're describing.

ETA: If you're having sexual contact with someone, STIs are always possible. You said you're not using condoms, right? Well, then they're even more possible. Never assume your partner is clean/healthy just because YOU think you're in a monogamous relationship. You might be monogamous, but your partner might not be, or maybe s/he brought an STI with them into your relationship. Condoms don't protect against everything and can fail, but they're better than nothing, so if you're concerned about a latex allergy, use the polyurethane (plastic, latex-free) condoms instead.

 

[ConfusedAgain]

Yeast infections occur when there's an overgrowth of yeast due to either killing the good bacteria in your vagina via antibiotics, soap, the wrong type of lube OR when you create a good environment for the yeast to take over (e.g. tight underwear or clothing that doesn't breathe enough, wearing a swimsuit for too long, a stressed immune system, underlying health issues, etc.)

Right, which is why I would think showering would help since you're washing all that bacteria/sweat sitting there.. But anyway, I haven't used any antibiotics and am generally healthy so my immune system is fine. I often drink kefir and kombucha so I get a lot of good probiotics in my system.


The swelling is confusing. The doctor looked right at it and said it was typical like she had seen the same thing hundreds of times. I know doctors are often wrong and you have to weed through the bad ones. I thought they would at least do some kind of swab test to check for bacteria but they didn't do anything so I hope I'm not on Monistat just to *rule it out*. I've already done 2 doses so I'll see what happens after tomorrow.


I'm sure STDS aren't an issue because I haven't actually had sex in months. The first time something seemed off was when I used latex with spermicide. It did go away though, it wasn't this swollen or numb. The last time was with non-latex condoms and that was months ago and I was fine. The guy was as STD paranoid as I am and has been tested. Sex didn't trigger this recent problem. I have Googled swollen symptoms and found a lot of people complaining of the same things but no definite or common answers. Will see a specialist if it doesn't go away.

 

[ConfusedAgain]

Why is it when I obviously can't have sex is when I want it the most?

 

[GrrlFriday]

Sod's Law, I'm afraid... I hope that you get better soon!

 

[Fresh_N_wild]

Monistat?? That's anti fungal and yeast infection medicine. If you do not in fact have a bacterial infection and wasn't told to take it. It could leave you with a lot more problems. Anti bacterial medicine doesn't get rid of bad bacteria it kills the good ones you need also.
-cringed-
Don't do self medication find a doctor who will listen.

 

[ConfusedAgain]

Monistat?? That's anti fungal and yeast infection medicine. If you do not in fact have a bacterial infection and wasn't told to take it. It could leave you with a lot more problems. Anti bacterial medicine doesn't get rid of bad bacteria it kills the good ones you need also.
-cringed-
Don't do self medication find a doctor who will listen.

I didn't self medicate. They told me to take it and actually prescribed it. But yes, it bothers me that they didn't do any sort of test whatsoever to test for bacteria. Don't they do swab tests for that? They did nothing but look. By the time I find a specialist or get into a good doctor I figured I had no choice but to try it instead of maybe getting worse. It does feel less irritated down there but it is still super sensitive and I can't sit straight and am slouching or leaning.

I guess I'll be drinking a ton more good stuff to get good bacteria back into my system.

Sod's Law, I'm afraid... I hope that you get better soon!

lol, ugh. Thanks.

 

[SweetErika]

I didn't self medicate. They told me to take it and actually prescribed it. But yes, it bothers me that they didn't do any sort of test whatsoever to test for bacteria. Don't they do swab tests for that? They did nothing but look. By the time I find a specialist or get into a good doctor I figured I had no choice but to try it instead of maybe getting worse. It does feel less irritated down there but it is still super sensitive and I can't sit straight and am slouching or leaning.

I guess I'll be drinking a ton more good stuff to get good bacteria back into my system.

lol, ugh. Thanks.

Yes, they can test for many vaginal infections, including yeast infections, in a matter of minutes. It's just a matter of collecting a sample, putting it on a slide and looking into the microscope. When I had a pelvic exam for something else years ago, the doctor thought I looked a little inflamed or something and took a swab, even though I didn't feel off or notice any symptoms of an infection myself. Sure enough, she saw the very start of a yeast overgrowth under the microscope.

If the practitioner you saw thought it was yeast but wasn't positive, s/he should have checked it out further if there was a microscope available. But even if there wasn't, they could have swabbed you and sent it off to a lab for a more definitive diagnosis. Then again, if there was no microscope in the office, maybe the doc felt it would be cheapest and quickest to just try the Monistat.

AFAIK, antifungals such as Monistat do not kill off the good bacteria in your vagina. Antifungals kill fungi (e.g. yeast, ringworm, nail fungal infections, etc.), whereas antibiotics kill bacteria (both the harmful type and the "good" type, like acidophilus and other "probiotics"). Yes, using an antifungal like Monistat when you don't actually have a fungal infection could upset the balance of flora in your vagina somewhat, but yeast reproduce easily in that environment, and it's unlikely to cause any actual problem. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

IF this is indeed a yeast infection and a long-standing yeast problem, one course of Monistat will probably not solve it. You may need to use a vaginal medication longer term, an oral medication like Diflucan (even several rounds), and I'd venture to say there would almost certainly be a greater underlying cause like this.