Vaginal dryness/rawness after 12yrs of birth control pills - please help!

**bflytilidy** · 01-05-2010 12:57 AM

Hi, I'm new to the forum

and would appreciate any advice.

I started taking Ortho Cyclen birth control pills when I was 18. A few months before my 29th birthday, I started feeling very dry and raw, like sandpaper. I had zero natural lubrication. At first I thought I had a yeast infections since I was prone to them and am a bit overweight (180; 5'8"), so I treated using an over-the-counter med. The problem continued and became quite painful, even during activities such as sitting or walking. Intercourse also started hurting (I've never had this problem, if anything, I was always overly lubricated naturally). I didn't do anything different when the problem started. I had been with the same boyfriend for 2 years, both got tested for STDs (negative), no dietary changes, etc...

After trying some different things for nearly a year - anti-candida diet, exercise, drinking more water, etc... I decided to quit taking my birth control pills. This was about 6 months ago and I am still having the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've been thinking about buying progesterone or Vitex to "naturally" rebalance. I'm also working on trying to lose the excess weight. The dryness is really starting to take a toll on my daily life.

Thank you!!!

**LanaBear** · 01-05-2010 08:35 AM

Have you been to the Dr about it?

**WildChild** · 01-05-2010 08:44 AM

Losing weight, exersizing and eating a healthy diet are always a good plan. The bc may still being lingering in your body, stored in fat and maintains a low level presence, enough to mess you up? Keep up the diet and exersize to really get it out of your system. Are taking any Omega3s, E, B and D3? Have you done an actual Candida cleanse?

**ItsASecret** · 01-05-2010 10:39 AM

After six months the bc will be out of your system, so this is probably something else like a random infection. Talk to a doctor about it, they may give you some antibiotics just incase.

**bflytilidy** · 01-05-2010 08:31 PM

Thank you for the replies! Yes, I have been to several doctors and all they saw was a little bit of yeast and said some women's labias are just raw. Yeah, I was annoyed too to be so dismissed.

They did not see any other type of infection.

I have done a candida cleanse, but I only lasted for about a month, so it likely wasn't long enough. I agree exercising and losing the excess weight is the way to go before I embark on anything else. I just wish there was something that could help me out while I am slowly losing weight, like a moisturizing cream or a special type of supplement.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you again.

**Mes T** · 01-05-2010 09:12 PM

Oi!! I swear, doctors can be terrible! And they are much more prone to dismiss a woman's concern than a man's, even in this day and age. I think in cases like this it's really important to stand your ground and demand some answers.

Have they checked your hormone levels, and are they in balance? If they are in balance, then taking progesterone might not be a good idea.

Perhaps you could apply some lubrication in that area, some regular KY jelly or something, both when you're having sex and at regular times throughout the day... ?