So dry down below...can anyone help....

[FrustratedFreakyFanny]

Please don't laugh. This is a real long shot as no Doctor has ever been able to help so far but maybe you know something I don't and my Doctors are rubbish.....it's worth a go! As it says in the title really. Am now 40 but this has been going on for as long as I can remember. My vagina is dry all the time and has been for at least the last 5 years.

I have a lovely partner and never produce so much as a drop of wetness for him, despite him being very attractive to me. It's so dry it almost hurts.
It makes me so sad as I spent years in an abusive relationship and now I have a lovely DP but can't function properly like every other woman. I feel so unfeminine. Yes we can use lube but there's no spontenaity, he can't touch me out of the blue...

It really started in my mid 30's. I've had every test under the sun and all is well hormonally. I'm not menopausal or even perimenopausal so they tell me. I don't have any diseases. (Although when I was with the previous partner, he cheated and I did get a dose of BV which I was oblivious to for a few months before going to the Doctors and getting antibiotics.That was years ago, could that have done something? I don't have PID.)

I've had full bloods done. I'm not short of any vitamin/mineral etc

A year or two back I got really into supplements. I started taking starflower oil, evening primrose oil for the first half of the month as recomended and flaxseed oil, vitamin e oil, folic acid, the bloody works. Pineapple juice, grapefruit juice and all i got was an empty purse.

Sorry for the moan and if there's anyone out there in the same boat or with any similar experiences or even advice I would really appreciate it very much.
I have given up but this is sort of a last ditch attempt. Surely it can't just be me?

Are you on any kind of oral contraceptive? They can cause dryness. The other thing it could be is vaginismus. If you think it could be the latter you would need a referral to a pyscho sexual counsellor. Your GP could refer you but if you prefer not to go to your GP, then you could get referred either through your family planning clinic or sexual health clinic.

thank you for the reply...

No not on any contraception at all.

vaginismus? That's interesting ......I can't use tampons etc, have a terrible time having smears.....

I didn't know vaginismus could cause dryness?

Well it can be related. Its just a guess, I used to work in a sexual health clinic (I'm not a clinician) so have come across cases before where women didn't know what was wrong and that's what its turned out to be. Have you a family planning clinic near you with a sympathetic female doctor you could try?

Lots of info on vaginismus on the internet. Most women don't know they've got it. Your previous abusive relationship is almost certainly a factor. Its definitely treatable but you need to find someone good to help.

Your local sexual health clinic may have someone based there that you could be referred to . There are usually quite long waits for treatment as a pyscho sexual counsellor usually will have a large caseload. But it will be worth the wait if it helps.

Thanks I looked at vaginismus there but it doesn't seem to fit..

I've been to the sexual health clinic till I'm blue in the face. They were worse than useless unfortunately. Their attitude seemed to be; well all our tests say you're fine. So there's 'no problem' as far as they are concerned.

I see from the Internet that vaginal dryness is supposed to be a common problem but I feel like I'm the only one. I know it's a stupid thing to be so sad about when I've got my health otherwise but it does get to me.

Have you ever tried Replens? Its a long lasting vaginal moisturizer which I think you can get in Boots chemist. Best of luck.

Even though you are not menopausal, a sympathetic dr might prescribe topical oestrogen cream which is given to women post menopause- or sometimes even whenbreast fedding.

have you seen a gyane or just your GP?

Well all sexual health clinics are open access so you can go to one in a different town/city whatever until you find one that suits. Or a family planning clinic? As cabbageroses suggests an oestrogren cream might help. I think you should keep pushing either with your GP or keep trying other clinics until you find some help. Don't just put up with it! Good luck.

you might be turning menopausal which might not yet show up in your periods but you can develop atrophic vaginitis as a result of hormone imbalance. this causes dryness ,pain on sexual intercourse.

vagifem pessaries on prescription a really good.

Thank you for the replies. Yes I've tried replens. It didn't go far I'm afraid. I'd insert a tubeful which was supposed to last a couple of days and I'd be bone dry hours later. I ended up giving it up as a bad job because it's just too expensive.

Thanks Cabbageroses. I might try that. Would it bring back the natural fluid I wonder!?

Yes, been to gynae. FSH and day 21 levels all good. No thyroid problems, bloods all great. I've been to family planning clinic. No joy.

thanks alypaly....I nearly wish they would agree I'm menopausal but they won't and there seems to be no help. As far as they are concerned there's 'no problem' -Ive been like this for easily 5 years :-/

So it's not normal to be bone dry then at this age?

It could be psychosexual, although I'm certainly no expert! I do know, however, that my abusive relationship left me with sexual problems for years, physically as well as mentally.

Well he was emotionally/financially and sometimes physically abusive but not sexually, there was very little going on sexually in that relationship and these problems developed after...

My instincts tell me it's something physical but I don't know what. Everything is normal except I'm just dry

I tried replens but was allergic to it had a very severe reaction. So the Dr suggested sylk it is a lubricant use before intercourse, it does the job. It is natural and is made from kiwi fruit.

OP- you should push yr dr to let you try either Ovestin cream or Vagifem pessaries- both oestrogen.

They cannot do any harm, as you still have oestrogen in yr system as you are not yet menopausal.

You use the cream every day for 10 days then once a week or as needed. They should bring back your normal levels of lubrication.

TBH I am shocked no one has suggested this or allowed you to try it.

Are you dry all the time? if so, are you not uncomfortable?

Thank you cabbageroses, I am going to go and ask for that.

Well, the Docs don't seem to take me very seriously. Last year I felt I was going through the menopause. Terrible pmt, breast pain 2 weeks out of the month, sometimes terrible abdominal mid month pains, terrible PMT, dryness etc

They did unltrasounds on my fallopians and ovaries for abdominal pain looking for cysts. Nothing there they said.
Then a mamogram and ultrasound (which showed my breasts were riddled with tiny cysts at that time) That was all last year.
So that was that as far as they are concerned. Thyroid, hormone, bloods everything clear. I felt I'd pushed enough and as everything was clear I must be a hypochondriac. Also it was costing me a fortune. Docs not free where I am.

I am dry all the time. It is uncomfortable, my vagina sticks together but I am used to it. But it does get me down.

I will go back to the GP, thank you for your help.

Good luck- don't give up.

No one should be ignoring you in this state. it's criminal.

soon, I hope, you will have a ovely moist down below area! :)

report back!