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Original poster

genitourinary syndrome? So uncomfortable

32 replies

sunshinespringtime · 09/05/2025 22:38

Hi - I am hoping to get some advice as feeling quite low about this.

I am 43, periods still regular. There is a bit of a back story sorry.

In 2021 I woke one morning to a pinching feeling down below - not right inside but around the outside somewhere. It was hard to describe and locate. I was convinced my Copper IUD/Coil had moved. It hadn’t and I subsequently got it removed. I then started to experience an urge to pee more and a little pressure. It didn’t hurt to pee but I felt a bit of burning around my urethra and just down in that area generally. I also had little sensations around my urethra.

I got antibiotics from the pharmacy the following day. They started to help but didn’t take it away. By the third day on them I still felt rubbish and I had lower back pain. So I went to the GP - they checked my urine and said there were signs of infection and prescribed me 3 days of a different antibiotic (Macrobid?)

After the first dose I began to feel so much better - it was wonderful. I finished the course but felt that I was still a bit burny down below at times and still had little niggles around my kidney area.

I submitted three urine samples - one was sent to the lab. All came back clear yet I was still so uncomfortable so my GP agreed to trying a 10 day course of antibiotics treating the symptoms.

At times I ached all around the outside of my whole region down there. And also burning too. Urge to pee was more than usual but not horrendous and varied. At times my whole bottom area ached too - I wondered if that was from the way I was holding myself as I was so so tense, and it improved when I relaxed.

Fast forward a month or so and I then found a little cyst down near my vagina. It burst in the bath and my symptoms literally disappeared. I continued to use Canesten for a couple of on the advice of my GP who examined me and could see thrush. At the time I said to her that I sometimes felt my insides were coming out - she examined me for a prolapse and wasn’t concerned.

In 2022 I experienced similar - then a little cyst appeared, burst and again symptoms went away.

The odd wee niggle since then that hasn’t come to much.

Fast forward to now - it’s back with a vengeance. EVERYTHING I described above. One sided pinching, a slight urge to pee more (this isn’t consistent), aching, burning. I think it’s all outside. I tried a three day course of antibiotics for a UTI and it improved my symptoms but now they are back.

It is often ok when I waken but gets worse as the day progresses and I am more active.

It is really getting me down and making me so incredibly anxious.

I’ve seen a practice nurse who examined me internally and externally and said everything looks fine. She’s swabbed me and everything came back fine. Urine was fine too.

I sometimes feel it’s my vagina, sometimes vulva, sometimes clitoris, sometimes urethra. Sometimes feel like everything is falling out - same as 2021.

This is really getting me down. I am wondering if these are genitourinary symptoms associated with hormonal changes? It’s been 5 weeks and it’s awful. Got better during my period though was still a bit burny. Came back with a vengeance this week - is it a coincidence I was ovulating?

So many questions sorry!

OP posts:
101trees · 22/06/2025 08:03

cloudyblueglass · 22/06/2025 07:56

I’ve got this - mine has started recently and I have a bladder prolapse and uterine prolapse. I have days where I can’t function. I’d be asking for a referral.

This is so true, you really ought to be checked out by a gynae.

It's pretty hard to accept there's not a physiological issue until someone qualified to say so says there isn't one.

But all your symptoms are exactly. And I mean exactly, like every last detail (except the mild prolapse) are the same as mine.

JKRismyPatronus · 22/06/2025 08:50

101trees · 22/06/2025 07:59

I think it's probably the anxiety that's making it return.

Pelvic floor tension is really linked with anxiety because you hold your muscles more tightly when you feel tense, tensing your muscles makes them hurt. Like clamping your jaw shut when you are angry or scared makes your jaw hurt. It's the same thing.

My pelvic floor tension was caused by a 2nd degree tear I had after my daughter was born. It hurt, so I tensed my muscles, which is your body's reaction to try and protect yourself from pain.

But the tear healed and the pain remained. It was me tensing my muscles which was causing the pain, not the tear.

You're tense, expecting the pain to come back - so it does. Pain is a complex neurological issue, your body remembers previous pain pathways and overreacts to small perceived threats. Instead of thinking, ouch that's a bit sore and then moving on with your day, you think- oh my god, it's starting again, its not gone, there's something really wrong, I need to find out what it is and fix it. You give it loads of attention in your brain and it feeds the whole thing.

Your nervous system is a whole system, nerves send messages up your spinal column to be processed by your brain and the system decides how much significance to give this perceived injury. Your brain is on high alert, it perceives it to be a huge injury and threat, so it tells you it really really hurts because that's it's way of getting your attention.

I think the anti anxiety meds are a good idea. Sounds a bit like you're continuously on high alert. What helped me was recognising that yes it hurts now, but that's a temporary flare up, and the less space I give it in my head, the quicker it will go away. Eventually it occurred less and less and at a lower and lower intensity.

On a practical note - the happy baby is a really great stretch for pelvic floor tension, just spending some time focusing on deep breathing in that stretch and relaxing the muscles will help in a flare up. Sometimes it helps to tense them as much as possible (just for a second), then focus on really letting them go as much as possible, like they're melting. Try it with your bicep or something easy to identify first. But then when you are done, move on with your day, put it out of your head. Be busy.

The pain has gone away before, it will go away again, this is just temporary. x

Thank you for this.

I have been to the GP lots of times with pain. I am on systemic and topical HRT but the last 18 months the pain has ramped up.

I had a 4th degree tear with my last DC, 16 years ago. My bladder stopped working also and I had to have a catheter for 4 weeks. My wound got infected and broke down, it was a really horrible time.

I have had a really stressful 18 months and have been really anxious. GP won't give me anti anxiety medication due to the stomach issues I have. Your post has given me hope.

Original poster
sunshinespringtime · 22/06/2025 20:16

101trees · 22/06/2025 07:59

I think it's probably the anxiety that's making it return.

Pelvic floor tension is really linked with anxiety because you hold your muscles more tightly when you feel tense, tensing your muscles makes them hurt. Like clamping your jaw shut when you are angry or scared makes your jaw hurt. It's the same thing.

My pelvic floor tension was caused by a 2nd degree tear I had after my daughter was born. It hurt, so I tensed my muscles, which is your body's reaction to try and protect yourself from pain.

But the tear healed and the pain remained. It was me tensing my muscles which was causing the pain, not the tear.

You're tense, expecting the pain to come back - so it does. Pain is a complex neurological issue, your body remembers previous pain pathways and overreacts to small perceived threats. Instead of thinking, ouch that's a bit sore and then moving on with your day, you think- oh my god, it's starting again, its not gone, there's something really wrong, I need to find out what it is and fix it. You give it loads of attention in your brain and it feeds the whole thing.

Your nervous system is a whole system, nerves send messages up your spinal column to be processed by your brain and the system decides how much significance to give this perceived injury. Your brain is on high alert, it perceives it to be a huge injury and threat, so it tells you it really really hurts because that's it's way of getting your attention.

I think the anti anxiety meds are a good idea. Sounds a bit like you're continuously on high alert. What helped me was recognising that yes it hurts now, but that's a temporary flare up, and the less space I give it in my head, the quicker it will go away. Eventually it occurred less and less and at a lower and lower intensity.

On a practical note - the happy baby is a really great stretch for pelvic floor tension, just spending some time focusing on deep breathing in that stretch and relaxing the muscles will help in a flare up. Sometimes it helps to tense them as much as possible (just for a second), then focus on really letting them go as much as possible, like they're melting. Try it with your bicep or something easy to identify first. But then when you are done, move on with your day, put it out of your head. Be busy.

The pain has gone away before, it will go away again, this is just temporary. x

Thanks of this. My anxiety really has taken over completely sadly.

started the meds and of course this is giving me side effects which is making my anxiety worse!! Jeez it’s not easy being a women is it

OP posts:
101trees · 23/06/2025 07:07

Oh that's terrible. Have you seen a urogynae ? Or a pain management clinic?

The information in my post came from a hospital pain management session run by specialist nurses which I went to. I was referred to pain management through urogynaecology. It did take a very long time (2.5 years) to get there, but it did really help to understand.

You can request a referral to specialists via your GP. In my area, a hospital consultant has to refer you to a pain management clinic, but it sounds like it could really help you. They are teams of doctors, nurses, physios and psychologists. You can also self refer for CBT or other therapy. Anxiety plays a big role in chronic pain.

www.cuh.nhs.uk/clinics/pain-clinic/

Original poster
sunshinespringtime · 25/06/2025 12:53

101trees · 23/06/2025 07:07

Oh that's terrible. Have you seen a urogynae ? Or a pain management clinic?

The information in my post came from a hospital pain management session run by specialist nurses which I went to. I was referred to pain management through urogynaecology. It did take a very long time (2.5 years) to get there, but it did really help to understand.

You can request a referral to specialists via your GP. In my area, a hospital consultant has to refer you to a pain management clinic, but it sounds like it could really help you. They are teams of doctors, nurses, physios and psychologists. You can also self refer for CBT or other therapy. Anxiety plays a big role in chronic pain.

www.cuh.nhs.uk/clinics/pain-clinic/

My new issue is I have symptoms of a UTI - I literally constantly need to pee. I’ve felt this on and off but it escalated Sunday in to Monday. Saw a GP yesterday who said there is trace blood and protein in my urine and been sent off for testing.

Started antibiotics last night but they haven’t helped at all yet. Not sure if it’s too soon to tell if they will? Started just before 6pm, took another before bed. Didn’t sleep at all as needed the toilet ALL NIGHT. No reprieve at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
sunshinespringtime · 25/06/2025 12:54

And no I haven’t seen anyone other than my GP multiple times - and even then it’s different ones each time.

Im so fed up. The urinary symptoms are hellish.

OP posts:
Messycoo · 25/06/2025 13:16

I would say you are perhaps perimenopausal and maybe time to consider HRT ?
Lack of oestrogen is known to bring on infections as your oestrogen level fluctuates.
I had many similar symptoms, especially itching and pain outer labia and pinching sensation internally.
i Recommend a book I read, which is amazing and really informative regarding the changes to our Virginias as we age.
The Book is ‘Me and my Menopausal Virgina’ By Jill Lewis .
It’s a real education and written by someone who is not medical and had to find research for herself and it is a best seller !!
I can’t recommend it enough, very easy to read and understand. It’s to the point and has funny points, that we as women can relate too .

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