Vulvodynia Support

Hi Julie!  The good news is that what you're dealing with doesn't sound like textbook vulvodynia. 

You're timing sex right around ovulation, right?  Has your husband's sperm been checked out to make sure he's got good quantity and motility and all that stuff?

As far as making sex more comfortable, you're using a lubricant like Astroglide or KY Liquid, right?  If you're not, I'd start there.  You'd be surprised what a difference it can make in your comfort.  Another thing you might ask your doctor about, since sex is more comfortable in the several days before ovulation, that's when your estrogen is the highest.  It may be that if you had more estrogen at other times in your cycle that sex may be less painful, whether that's because when your estrogen is higher you lubricate better or because low estrogen can reduce your pain tolerance.  You could ask your doctor for a sample of estrogen cream to see if that helps you to use just a little bit externally for a few weeks and see if that makes a difference.

Even before I got on the pill, before I had any issues with vulvodynia at all, even then sex wasn't always comfortable.  It wasn't as uncomfortable as it  has been these last several years, but it wasn't as easy for me as it was for my friends.  And it wasn't that my estrogen was low, because I still had heavy periods.  It's one of those things I think that doesn't really have an explanation.

Good luck finding a solution!  If you get your husband checked out and nothing seems to be wrong with his swimmers, you might check with a reproductive endocrinologist and see if there's another route to take as far as getting pregnant.  Take care!

Judie

Co-cl for Birth Control 
Cl for Vulvodynia Support
Birth Control Homepage

 

(Since Jill has her favorite shoes....)

Since you're not using condoms, you can also try olive oil as a lubricant.  Make sure, when you are using a lubricant, that it's just a lubricant, no scents, no flavors, nothing extra, just the bare minimum.  I like Astroglide, it seems to stay fairly good for a period of time, but also don't be afraid to reapply it when it starts to dry out.

When you do use a lubricant, do you notice that you have less pain? 

It does sound like your periods are pretty light, which can be a sign of low estrogen.  It doesn't explain why you're having difficulty conceiving, but it may help explain why sex is uncomfortable for you (estrogen greatly affects lubrication).

Judie

Co-cl for Birth Control 
Cl for Vulvodynia Support
Birth Control Homepage

 

(Since Jill has her favorite shoes....)