Hi everyone,
I've been suffering from vulvodynia for about 2.5 years now, which is the same length as my relationship so we've only experienced pain-free sex once.
When it started, I thought I was getting a UTI because I hadn't that long ago been stuck in a cycle of UTIs, antibiotics, and thrush. However, instead of a UTI, I just had unexplainable pain around the entrance to my vagina that got worse and worse.
Eventually a doctor explained what was wrong with me and demonstrated that it was psychological using a cotton bud.
I thought this was the beginning of getting better, but I was wrong. After my sessions with the doctor I would come out feeling optimistic, only to be met with negativity by my partner. Eventually, she started hinting that I should leave him which was absolutely no help to me. I told her that apart from this issue, we were very happy but she wouldn't believe me.
Eventually we got to a place where the pain was tolerable for us to have penetrative sex and the doctor said I was good to go. But the tolerable pain came and went, and back came the excruciating pain.
After a few months I went back to the clinic and saw a different doctor who gave me some breathing exercises to do along with the tensing and relaxing of the pelvic floor. I've been doing that for a few weeks now, but after 2.5 years of painful sex, my sex drive has almost completely gone.
My vulva is still painful to the touch and I feel in the same place as when I started.
Has anyone been in a similar position? Was there anything that helped you?
Tips on getting some of my sex drive back would be super helpful as when I am actually in the mood, it hurts a hell of a lot less, but that sex drive is elusive as hell! But tips to reduce pain are especially welcome too! !
Thank you for reading.
UPDATE: Made an appointment with my GP. Hopefully they can prescribe me amitrypteline and possibly refer me to a pelvic physio person 🙌