I'm having a problem that's effecting my life but I recently lost my health care and can't see a gynocologist until I can get it back.

I've been experiencing vaginal dryness for months now. This causes sex to become more of a chore than anything else. I used to overproduce lubrication but now I barely produce any at all. It's actually necessary that I engage in oral sex first, but I really don't like it very much and would much rather just have normal sex most of the time. Lube has proven sort of awkward to use, and I have to anticipate sex before if I want to use it. I'm only 23, so it has nothing to do with menopause, yet that seems to be the only explaination I can find.

I'm also experiencing itching, which most likely is related to the lack of moisture, because there isn't any discharge or odor. I've had a yeast infection before and this doesn't seem to be the same thing. My labia aren't particularly red or swollen, just itchy and uncomfortable. I've been applying aveeno hydrocortisone cream, as was reccommended in another forum, but it's only helping temporarily. I need some sort of sollution.

As far as sexual history, I've been tested and am STD free, with the exception of the occassional abnormal cell in my cervix related to HPV, but my last exam put me in the clear for now. I had complications with healing from a coloscopy that resulted in a BV and YI, and I think I haven't really been the same down there since.

Honey I really feel for you as there is nothing worse than not feeling 100% where you need to be.

It still sounds as though you may still be suffering from a yeast infection and that will affect your lubrication, also note that the glycerin in lubricants can exacerbate the yeast infection.

Try something to balance out your vaginal ph balance. …

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) will alleviate the itching, and ease the yeast infection. Draw yourself a bath and pour 1-2 cups of ACV into the bathwater. Soak in it for at least 30-40 minutes. Another pleasant side effect is very soft skin.

While you soak drink 8oz of water with 2 Tablespoons of ACV.
Continue to drink your ACV drink at least twice a day, (am and pm) for 1 week.
Do not sweeten the drink as yeast loves sugar and will work against you. If you can, try to eliminate sugars altogether.

Then to maintain your healthy vaginal bacteria…

Acidophilus tablets 6 Billion count, 3 a day for 7 days, then reduce to 1 a day

Plain Unsweetened yoghurt with living culture Eat it as part of your diet.

VITAMIN B3 in the form of niacinamide (non-flushing) has been known in academic circles for some time to be relatively toxic to yeast. Therefore, if you have candida, yeast infection, or possibly even a UTI (urinary tract infection), taking niacinamide between 100-500 mg/day could solve this mystery that doctors have a hard time suppressing. In fact, you can expand this idea into applying the use of niacinamide (remember: NOT NIACIN), as a means of controlling fungus, since fungus is a relatively close cousin of the yeast also.Therefore a possibility exists from the point of view of biological terrain, candida, yeast and fungus infection is a form of niacinamide deficiency."

You may already know this…Keep your panties cotton and dont use dryer sheets when you dry your underwear or just air dry them, as the softeners can be irritating.

If you can, let me know how any of these work for you!