personalstories

Personal Stories

Kate
Age 43

In my mid 20’s, I was in a sexual relationship with a man, I developed what I thought was vaginal thrush quite often. I used over the counter anti-fungal creams and pessaries and I seemed to get better. I was usually sore during sexual intercourse, we didn’t use lubrication, as I didn’t think of it. Some times I wouldn’t be sore during intercourse but would be sore and swollen for days afterwards.

After several years my man decided the best solution to my been sore was not to have intercourse at all, I didn’t really like this solution but my soreness wouldn’t go away, also he didn’t like hurting me. I tried homeopathy, Bach flower remedies, herbal remedies, drinking carrot juice, they all seemed to help a bit, but I still became sore if intercourse was tried. I don’t think I was sore for the time we weren’t been sexual.

Eventually the relationship fell apart and I left, I hadn’t had any children. I then had some short term sexual relationships with men and I didn’t get sore, yippy. A couple of years later, I was about 36, I settled into a long –term relationship with the man I am now with, we haven’t had children. I still get a sore fanny sometimes, but not nearly as bad as I used to, my man is supportive and understanding and we use plenty of lubrication during intercourse. He’s o.k about me saying “no, I am too sore to have intercourse”, we then try other things.

Things I did about 6 years ago when I was diagnosed with vulvodynia which greatly improved the soreness of my fanny and decreased the frequency which it became sore:
-stopped using anti-thrush vaginal creams
-took Sporanox,2 daily for about 2 months, then for short periods when vulva became sore on about 2 occasions over next few months, then the doctor wouldn’t give me any more.
-Boric acid- inserted one capsule twice daily for about 3 months then whenever I became sore I started inserting them twice daily until the soreness was gone. I tried Aci-gel but found it to messy and expensive.
-Physiotherapy, I went to a physio at Wellington Womens Hospital. She had a machine which is meant to help the pelvic floor muscles relax. I lay on a bed, she inserted a small probe just inside my vagina, then she turned on a machine which caused a funny sensation in my vagina, it didn’t hurt It was left in for about 20 mins, taken out and that was it. I had this done about 8 times, it seemed to help
- Homeopathy: I saw someone twice, she gave me a remedy, which I took and another one to take when I had symptoms. I think these have helped me.
- Joined a support group: I found and continue to find, this group really helpful and fun.. I realised I wasn’t the only one with a sore fanny.
- Q.V Wash: I started using this and have never used soap since.

Things I do every day to prevent my fanny becoming sore:
- Use Q.V wash, Almond oil on my vulva, Use lubrication with sexual intercourse- I’ve been using K-Y jelly, but tried Wet Stuff recently and it seemed good, I don’t have intercourse if I am sore, I don’t eat unripe apples ,oranges or strawberries, I limit my tomato intake, I wear cotton undies, I try to drink 4-6 glasses a day, I try a keep happy!

Things I do when my vulva becomes sore:
- Insert Boric Acid capsules twice daily until not sore, increase water intake, have about 2 ural sachets daily for a couple of days, if no improvement I take a homeopathic remedy, so far this has worked, but I might be sore for a few days.