Vaginal soreness/burning IVF

[Simmokt]

Hi all,

A weird question. I've been having on and off vaginal soreness (mainly a burning feeling) for the last couple of months ever since I took a course of clindamycin for uterine lining issues. I've had low level BV diagnosis at various stages through my IVF journey, but at the moment my swabs are coming up clear. Despite this, I'm getting burning pain in my vagina. The clinic have done two examinations and tell me that they can't find anything. The pain is pretty bad - I've had to take painkillers at stages and have struggled to sleep. I'm now a week into prep for our next FET (on prognova at the moment and due a scan to check my lining next week). The clinic keep telling me not to worry, but clearly something is wrong and I'm really nervous about going ahead with the FET until I know what's going on. I think it could be vaginal dryness due to all the hormones and anti-biotics over the last few months, but no one seems to be able to give me an answer. Any thoughts or anyone who has experienced similar?

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Could be due upset to in vaginal secretions after treatment / anti biotics Make sure not using soaps for that area - just clean with plain water no wipes etc For the same reason no bath bombs- bath lotions etc for the same reason Have not recently changes soap powder /fabric conditioner ? Try plain yogurt to soothe the area

Hope it settles soon

Janet

[Simmokt in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thanks. I've been having no baths, washing with water only, and being really careful to avoid recurrent BV. And ecover sensitive washing liquid. All I can think is that my body is over sensitive after all the drugs. It's so frustrating to be in this much pain and the clinic just don't seem bothered.

[soccerkt6]

Hey lovely, it sounds like you could have thrush. It's not uncommon after taking antibiotics because they mess with your vaginal/uterine microbiome. If it were me, I would delay the FET for a month and take Canesflor probiotics to try to rebalance things. Have your clinic also tested you for thrush or just the BV? xx

[Simmokt in reply to soccerkt6]

They've tested thrush. And it's not that apparently (I agree, the symptoms sound like thrush!). I've taken the canesflor but they actual seem to make it worse - I'm wondering if I'm allergic to something in them.

[MariaHdz in reply to Simmokt]

It can make it worse at the start. But i was thinking I also had those symptoms with low estrogens.

[NP2021 in reply to MariaHdz]

hi MariaHdz I think I may have low estrogen also currently on norethisterone to induce a bleed to start ivf my last period was 11/11. How did your clinic resolve this please?

[MariaHdz in reply to NP2021]

Well, it happened to me before fertility, while they gave me Diane (a strong contraceptive), with PCOS i produce too many estrogens and Diane made it worse (it has too many estrogens, but then they drop). At the time, all my swabs were negative for yeast and bacteries, the doctor gave me some pessaries, they had a lactobacillus or soemthing like that... it was for preventing infections instead of treting them (as all was negative). They helped a lot. Then when I stopped Diane it became all solved. I know how you feel, at the time it was such an awful feeling that i could not even think. I know that sometimes they recomend a cream with estrogens.

[Jokiekin11]

have you treated for thrush with a pessary? I know it wasn’t detected on swab but it won’t do any harm. Thrush needs to be treated internally x

[JOSANDY40]

Hi, I feel its probably hormones but when I did IVF one of the reasons my IVF failed was the Cyclogest pessaries contain the active ingredient progesterone I believe after the eggs were put in the womb which gave me a reaction of dryness, abdominal pain and to bear down. They said next time they would give the hormone by injection.

[Hope086]

Had a similar problem but it wasn't related to IVF. No thrush, minor BV that cleared up after antibiotics. I think it was possibly related to low estrogen due to perimenopause. I'm also prone to UTIs.

Anyway whenever this pops up I take a vaginal gel for pH balance such as Rephresh gel or Multigyn. It's made a huge difference for me.

Just Google it you can probably get in on Amazon.

Hope this helps!

[Simmokt in reply to Hope086]

Thank you. I think it's probably vaginal dryness - not sure if it's just from the drugs or perimenopause, but that makes sense. Will give that a try!

[Rainbow008]

I had really similar on my last round of IVF, all swabs came back clear until post miscarriage where they came back positive for ecoli (likely linked to MMC as opposed to was there before). I have used canestan twice since then and they relieve this issue for a while but it comes back. Was recommended canesflor and at the moment it seems to be working. It’s really frustrating though, I’ve had it in both FETs and both have ended in miscarriage around 12 weeks, doctors tell me it’s unrelated. Hope it clears up for you and best of luck xx

[Simmokt in reply to Rainbow008]

Thank you, and sorry you've had such a rough journey

[Olive12345]

Are you allergic to the jelly they use on the probe for scans? I am and it causes the same symptoms! Last time they found some condom type things and protected me from the jelly with it! I’m allergic to parabens but they didn’t have any jelly without at my clinic!

[Goldenegg1]

I know this is an odd one but I get similar mild symptoms of dryness and mild pain when using pads and liners. Depending on the brand. Swap the brand and it resolves its self.

[Simmokt]

Thanks everyone for your help. My latest swab has come back with a very good mix of all the right bacteria and my consultant is really happy to go ahead. He thinks it's probably a bit of vaginal dryness combined with a reaction to some of the ingredients in Canesflor. He has said to be careful with using vaginal moisturiser as he doesn't want to disrupt a very hard won good bacterial balance.