Hi ladies,

ok, well, back again, with something new! About 2 days ago i started to notice this "stinging" feeling in the vulva area , not up in my vagina, just the vulva. It's as if it's "sore" or "raw" .... now, I saw my GYN for a full pelvic on the 19th, and everything was fine, so, it can't be anything serious ....... I didnt have it then anyway. I finally got my period yesterday, which made it about a 39 day cycle this time, usually it's somewhere in the '20's.....anywhere from the 20th day of the cycle...and on. This time it was 39 days, which has happ.d before. Every month is different really. But, this stinging started about 2 days ago, and my period started yesterday, so, I don't THINK it could be from that. This must have something to do with the hormonal shift right now, being that i did get my period yest...but, i don't know.

does anyone else have this?

I think it could be hormonal (let's face isn't everything, lol) I used to get itching like that right before my period it was the way I could tell it was coming. Now it doesn't happen, I probably ran out of estrogen already, lol, or whatever hormone that causes that. I would get it about 2-3 days before my period. I wouldn't give it too much thought unless it really bothers you. Although I'm just realizing you didn't mention itching. But, I have also had the soreness there as well. I don't really get it anymore. Mich

Hi mydarling

I get this as well. Usually I get it at the end of my period. Everything in that area feels raw and a bit swollen. I asked my ND about it and she said it is likely that my system is a bit acidic. Not the same type as acidic stomach but your whole system can be a bit acidic. My tends to come and go.

Hope that helps
Maura

I would describe it as tiny tears or "splits" or fine cracks in the external tissue, urine would cause it to sting. Of course, I panicked and had every STD test under the sun...all STD tests negative...only offered Vagifem (estrogen suppositories) as a treatment but I held off and kept reading. Some women found Vit E oils (pure no additives) helpful. I tried vit E too and yes it was calming and non-allergenic.

In my case - yeast infection was NOT the cause. Vaginal flora healthy.

Like the internal walls thin with estrogen loss, so too must the external tissue thin and become sensitive to stretching, abrasion, products and in some instances vunerable to infections....

I did notice a cyclical link too. It only started during peri. I no longer panic about it. Just avoid strong products - try baby butt wipes instead of toilet paper.

Hope that helps.

Thank you girls ............ i kind of figured it was hormonal, i mean, at this stage of the game, it seems that everything is! But, I was getting a little concerned ... it is ok now though! So, go figure. Yes, the idea of "drying up" down there, and probably causing tiny tears and stretching to much, is a good thought, and like you said, just like the INSIDE of the vagina, the OUTSIDE also has to deal with that "dry" problem ... oh boy...........at this point, i think my BRAIN is drying up too!!! ..lol

Wait until you're menopausal for a few years. It really dries up down there! Even vaginal lubricants seem to STING me! Everything shrinks and loses it's fullness as well. Shriveled old woman parts now.

momma never said theyd be days like this !!!!!

Oh, I distinctly remember my mother saying "Welcome to the club" when I got my first period at age 12. Of course, she didn't have a clue of what was going to happen at the other end of reproductive life because she wasn't old enough then to have experienced it and besides, they didn't talk about those things back in the 1960's!

UGH! that's all I can say .... thank you everyone for responding! See, now it 's better, and it has been for a number of days now ........... but, that really was awful .... well, heck, all of these symptoms are awful! Oh boy, this old lady dried up parts thing, really stinks! .. lol ... there HAS TO BE SOMETHING WE CAN DO! I refuse to have old lady dried up parts! lol ...
... ...... well, I remember my mother talking very openly and freely about anything to do with the body, whether it was sex, or my period, or whatever ....... but, again, I think every womans peri is so drastically different, that, even when she describes what it was like for her, it's really not the same for me! I do remember her having crazy headaches, hot flashes, off balance, TERRIBLE ANXIETY, weird periods, and bloating ....... but, it does seem worse for ME .... I don't know, you really can't assume your peri will even be the same as your mothers, but it probably will have similarities. I know she did experience that dryness, that I can remember for myself .... oh, now that "old lady dried up parts" thing is going to keep going through my mind, over and over, and over and over .............. lol....

I tell my hubby like it or not it's his job to make sure I get exercise "down there" at least once a week whether I need/want it or not, lol. I figure if I keep using it maybe that will stave off the shriveling somewhat. Don't know if that viewpoint has any validity to it but it sounds good to me. Plus, not to get too graphic, there has to be some moisturizing value/benefits to the male culmination (to put it nicely) of our joining. See how prettily I said that, lol....

I think you said it beautifully!

I read on another thread about vaginal burning stinging and I am so grateful someone recommended vitamin E vaginal suppositories--they are very soothing. I am also using estrogen cream, but the vitamin E lets me use less of it...