Please can someone help

[MedicalAdviceNeeded]

DH and I had a very stressful time and chose not to have sex for a while. Was only 4-6 weeks without and we aren't very active generally. First time of doing it for the next few days I was burning and had a fishy smelling odour. On returning home saw ooh doctor and he diagnosed something beginning with t. Gave me antibiotics. Results back three days later - negative for everything . I took the antibiotics as I had started them and nurse said wouldn't hurt to finish the packet.

Nurse said after being under huge stress it was my body's way of reacting and I had developed an allergy to my husband. Advised to use condoms. This we have but still the same. Burning days later and bad odour. Spoke to pharmacist, she recommended condoms and ky jelly. Apart from the fact using these two things is horrible I am still having the same reaction. Has even happened after solo orgasm but I'm not sure if delayed reaction from sex.

We can't work out if it takes longer for the burning/odour to come back if just condoms or those with the jelly though obviously I am wishing I had made a note.

I'm feeling so fed up. Our personal life has been blighted for a very long time and now that things are sorted and we are in a position to enjoy it, I'm allergic to him.

Please can anyone help?

I'm wondering if I heard her wrong as can't find any information on line. She said there is nothing medical showing and this is backed up by three courses of antibiotics which haven't helped.

I presume you have done a pregnancy test?

That's a bit left field! No because DH has had the snip and I've had regular periods.

How about this? (Hugs)

Also says can be caused by low oestrogen - are you in that age bracket where you're levels could be falling?

Sorry, Chip, I can't see that very well (bad eyesight). Could you please give me a link so I can try and make it bigger? I'm early 40's.

I rang the surgery to ask if a nurse could ring me. I told the receptionist I needed to check the spelling of the diagnosis as I couldn't find any information on it. She didn't offer to look at the doctors notes for me. Normally they want all the info, try to tell you you're not ill enough for a doctor and act like they know everything. Nurse didn't ring back.

It's about vulvovaginitis.

Might be worth asking for hormone levels to be checked? I was on hrt from early 40s.

That does fit. I have had three lots of antibiotics though and they haven't cleared up. I don't know what to do. For the last four weeks or more I've not been allowed alcohol or sex. Had numerous diagnosis and medicines and now another one today from the GP. If it is something that can be treated why didn't the doctor give me anything ?

I think she must have meant something else and she clearly thought it was psychological hence the referral for talking therapy.

Psychological issues don't normally make your vag burn and smell fishy! Stil you're being ref to gynae too- he'll sort you out

It's a bit worrying that no one can smell the fishiness which makes me wonder if there is an element of it being in your mind.

As someone else has said, being low in oestrogen can cause burning and in some women it causes a very watery discharge. It's called vaginal atrophy. The treatment is simple- oestrogen cream inserted for 2 weeks then once a week after that.

You certainly need to stop putting anything in there that's perfumed or anti bacterial as this will cause the good bacteria and the ph balance to be all over the place- and you will feel sore.

Stop putting anything there except cool water from the shower and don't over wash.

Wear cotton underwear and no tight trousers or tights.

Being a bit imaginative, there is nothing stuck up there is there? eg a tampon, a bit of a sex toy...whatever???

Bare facts are

No sex for a few weeks due to stressful time
Traumatic event
First sex in 4-6 ish weeks
Within days fishy smell, discharge, burning
Went and came back
Swab, antibiotics started, results clear
Used condoms - no change
Used condoms and ky jelly - no change
Used nothing - no change

New diagnosis of BV and PID but no tests
Two antibiotics started
No sex for the next 4 weeks (four weeks is tmw)

DH tested. All negative.

Me to gum clinic - no to BV and PID but doctor said could have been because I finished antibiotics two days before. Nurse said sample did not smell.

Doctor yesterday.

Weirdly, burning while at the doctors (internal was normal) but by teat time nothing and none yet today.

When we do have sex I am not dry. No chance of a tampon or anything else stuck plus I've had three swabs/intervals done. Been using just water for the last three showers. Currently wearing knickers and woolly tights as all my jeans are too tight (I'm fat) so thought a dress would be a good call but no way can I go without tights, but will see what cotton pants I have. I think the only cotton ones are my granny period pants.

TBH if you have been using something other than water in the shower - on your bits- then you could have something like irritated skin.
Re. no tights- yes, wear woolly one! Some women cut a small opening in the gusset to let the air get in! Get rid of all polyester knickers and wear ones that are at least 95% cotton. M&S do packs of all cotton (100%) for something like £5 for 5 pairs.

Going 4-6 weeks without sex is far from unusual! I can't diagnose you but know plenty of friends who have gone without sex for months or even years and who haven't had these issues when they've become active again, so the sex thing might be a red herring.

I still think you ought to have your oestrogen levels tested and there is no harm at all in being prescribed some oestrogen cream- it won't harm you.

More about VA here- and remember it's a spectrum- this article discusses 'worst case' whereas in your early 40s you might just be starting to get it. You don't have to be dry to have VA- in fact some women have more discharge.

www.medscape.org/viewarticle/561934

I've used shower gel, different ones, for years. Why would it suddenly react now? .

We have gone months without sex before, up to 11 months is possible when pregnant.

I will look at the link now, thank you.

You can become allergic to or have a reaction to anything at any time- previous non-allergic reaction is not relevant.

I haven't time to read all your thread again but assume you have been tested for thrush? It doesn't always show up with a discharge, the discharge can be watery and not curdy, and it is made much worse by sex.

If you have not been tested or even have, might be worth trying again with some treatments.

All the ABs you have had are enough to cause thrush in anyone!

The first swab was tested for about five things including thrush. Doctor confirmed on Tuesday I don't have it but gave me a tablet just in case.

Later sex didn't make the situation worse and there's been none for a month so I'm pretty confident I don't have thrush.

have you taken the tablet? You've had a lot of ABs since the first test.

I took it once home.

Today has been weird. No burning. I'm going commando as alone and just have prickly feelings every now and then but no burning.

BV can take two lots of ABs and I was given another one for the PID.

The first test was clear for everything but I still had the symptoms. I guess I will see what happens if I'm ever brave enough to have sex again.

Hi again.

Does anyone know how long it takes for a gynaecologist appointment to come through please?

I felt like the burning had stopped and I was just feeling a bit prickly down below. No odour. Then last night and this morning there was a bit of blood when I wiped and now I'm burning and prickly again. Had been wearing cotton pants and no liners. I could just cry with the frustration of not knowing what was going on and feeling like no one, except you lovely people who are trying to help, cares. This has been going on for nearly three months.

Sorry you are worried again.

I don't think anyone can tell you how long to see someone on the NHS- could be several weeks for something non-urgent.

Are you able to pay for a private appt?

Have you said how old you are?

Burning, odd symptoms like these and spotting etc sound indicative of hormone troubles- you could be peri menopausal. Has your Gp tested your FSH level?

Have just seen your post saying you are early 40s. Honestly, can't diagnose you, but all these odd symptoms can be peri menopause. If your GP is willing to help, ask for some vaginal oestrogen cream. It won't harm you and if you use it for a few weeks you might get some relief.

A few months ago I was tested for being in the early menopause and I wasn't.

The GP offered a moisturiser for down below to ease the burning but said as I wasn't dry it was probably not necessary. It's just the not knowing what is going on.

I think I'll have a look on Boots' website to see if I can just buy it. Thank you.

Thanks again for the suggestion, PollyPerky. DH has gone out to get me some vagisil.

IME (from forums) most Gps know nothing about menopause. many don't even know how to test FSH levels: I see a consultant and so do some of my friends. They were told that 2 blood tests are needed for FSH levels- one on day 2-3 of a cycle and one after day 14. Most GPs offer 1 random test then say 'you aren't peri meno'.

You don't have to actually exhibit really obvious signs of vaginal atrophy to have it. It's a spectrum. A woman of 40-ish can still have it but her vagina will not be as dry as a woman in her 70s.

Burning, itching, soreness and vague symptoms are classic VA during peri.

Nothing you can buy over the counter will replace oestrogen and with all the issues you have had, please avoid things like Vagisil. No one should have to use this product! If you have an itch then you need proper diagnosis and proper treatment. If you don't already know, products like Vagisil can make it all worse by creating more reactions.

ps- if it's not clear from my post above, you can't buy anything with oestrogen in over the counter. prescription only.

This tells you how FSH is tested.

www.daisynetwork.org.uk/about-poi/signs-and-symptoms/