If you're sure it's not yeast, I recommend getting Estrace estrogen cream and applying it nightly. It will help to make the skin more supple and moist and less likely to tear.

don't Estrace estrogen creams thin the skin?

either way, I'm just doing perineal massages 2x a day with vitamin e. I'm helping to practice stretching the skin there. it's almost like I have a web of extra skin on the 6oclock position of my vaginal entrance. I've read about 2 people online who had the same problem, and they had minor surgery to snip away extra skin and it helped. so I dunno, we'll see.

anyway, I'm scheduled to get my period today, so I'm gonna hold off on going to my gyno until 1-2 weeks from now.
depending what she says this time, I may go get a 2nd opinion too.

cut has come back againnn.
march 7th it came back with just fingering.
I decided to wait again and do some vitamin E massaging around my perineal area.
last night I had sex, march 26th, with lube, and cut it open again. last night was the first time we did it without condoms, since I am now on birth control. so no irritants from condoms, and I now have glycerin-free lube. but apparently none of that helped with this at all.

it's been what, 5 months now? I've had 2-4 week gaps in between. it heals, but then reopens immediately.

I'm going to try to find a new doctor.

When you took the Diflucan pill for the yeast infection, did the doc also give you a cream to put on the affected area at the same time? And did you abstain from sex for at least one week during the time after you took the pill, applying the cream daily? For me, this was the only thing that totally knocked out my yeast infection and the accompanying cuts that I get with them. And my cuts hurt like a bitch, too... thin red lines on either side of the opening. I hate those things.

Anyway, I know it might not be a yeast infection, but I also think that the yeast infection pill by itself is not always good enough to do the job. So there's still a chance that this is your problem.

My appointment was around Feb 23. it was then I received 1 pill of dilfulcan, even though she thought I didn't have an infection. and 5 days worth of valtrex. no yeast creams. she thought my reoccuring cut was my herpes simplex 1. but I find it hard to believe that this same exact spot would just keep reopening since November (when I began having sex), especially after taking valtrex.

2 weeks after that appointment, March 7th, I was fingered, and the cut reopened. that was the first time since I took those meds, that I did anything sexual.

I abstained from penis/vagina sex about 1 month. last time I had sex before last night (march 26th), was around Febuary 12th I think. around there.

at this point, I still don't think I have a yeast infection. but I know those things can be tricky.

I'm very anxious to see what another doctor might say when they took a look at me. but I can't make an appointment for a little while.

the cut isn't painful. it's a bit sore to touch. but it doesnt burn or itch. and it's always the same spot. it's like, a mini episiotomy.

I wish I would be able to get contact info of this person! i would love to know if they have been cured, because it sounds like my same problem. :( :( :(

Emilyviolet,

I, too, have the dreaded 6'o'clock tear after sex and I also have HSV-1 in the nether regions. My outbreaks, which are rare, also happen in the pereneal area but they are quite different than the tears I have during sex.

HSV-1 outbreaks, for me, sting constantly, whereas a tear only stings during sex or urination.

My last boyfriend wasn't very large, but his penis really flared out at the base. He ripped me (accidentally) a few times but now I tear every time I have sex. I use plenty of lube, stretching, the whole works. I'm 43 but my hormones are fine so it's not premenopause for me.

If you have you figured out what sort of surgery can correct this, I'd sign up for it tomorrow.

eGirl

My girlfriend is suffering from something that sounds quite similar to many of your problems, so I've been trying to find out more about her symptoms in advance of her appointment with a specialist in a couple of month's time.

I'm definitely not a doctor, but one thing that keeps appearing in my research is Lichen Sclerosus. This disease is commonly mis-diagnosed as thrush so it can go untreated for a long time... and the longer it goes undiagnosed, the greater the chances of the cuts leading to scarring.

A diagnosis often requires a biopsy, but some of the articles say that an experienced skin specialist should be able to tell just by looking... so I decided to see if there were any images on google. Most of them are for quite extreme symptoms, and look a bit scary, but some of them show more minor symptoms so I thought it could be helpful if I send you the links. As someone said above, printing out this information and showing it to your doctor could help speed up diagnosis so I hope this information is useful to somebody.

• Information aimed at parents of children/adolescents with the disease (WARNING: graphic illustrations of female genitalia): http://www.naspag.org/patients/lichen.html

• Very comprehensive summary of symptoms and treatment: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info...us/default.asp

• A good article and collection of photos of the disease at various stages (WARNING: graphic photos of male and female genitalia) http://dermis.multimedica.de/dermisr...8/diagnose.htm

The best advice from all sources seems to be to abstain from penetrative sex (or at least, vaginal sex) until the condition is fully treated in order to avoid the tears which can lead to scaring and reducing the size of the vaginal opening. If you catch it early, it seems the steroids can be extremely effective. If scarring has occurred, it may be necessary to additionally use vaginal dilators (or surgery) before you can return to having sex as before.

my 6oclock cut keeps coming back. but I notice it doesn't bother me in most sexual positions. it only bothers me when my boyfriend is on top of me with my legs stretched to the side or other positions. if he's on top of me with my legs slightly bent at the knee, with my feet resting on the bed. then it's fine. all other positions: me on top, doggy style, etc. are fine.

so we can still have sex whenever we want. the cut still doesn't cause any itching or burning when I pee or anything. I just can't do it in positions that bother it. that's why I'm thinking I just have some abnormal extra skin in my perineal/6oclock position of vagina, that doesn't like being stretched in those positions.

I'm pretty sure mine isn't lichen. those diagrams aren't what I have. no bruising, no multiple cuts, etc. but from what other people have said in this thread, they should look into it.

I am desperate about my 6 o' clock tear :(

Today I went to get a second opinion, because the first I heard was "Yeah, I used to have another patient with the exact same problem... She kept calling me, complaining about it. She only stopped complaining when she switched boyfriends!" Need I comment on that? I almost cried right there.

For the past year and a half I have been in a relationship with a man I really, really love. But I think he has a wide penis. Don't you ever get that impression from your partner's penis? I even had my boyfriend measure his and it seems to be a tad above average in circumference: 5.1 inches at the widest point. But then again, a vagina can fit a baby, right? Well, not really, since it rips most of the times a woman gives birth. Right? Seriously, haven't any of you thought maybe it's because he's too wide? I saw one guy posting that he and his wife agree he's too big, but he didn't say if it was length-wise or girth-wise... and no one commented on his post.

Well, my second opinion told me to get tested for bacteria and go see him again in two weeks. So I'll post again then.

Also, I have just found this: http://forums.obgyn.net/womens-healt...9805/0596.html

I hope people refer back after posting. I'm wondering if everyone could respond to a couple of questions. 1 - how many of you have children? And how many of you have environmental/food allergies? I am so frustrated reading through, about how often, when doctors simply don't know the answer, they use teh standby yeast argument (i've been tested numerous times, and never had yeast show up). Or they prescribe a steroid to temporarily treat the area. I have been dealing with these paper-like cuts for years ... accompanied by sometimes unbearable itching ... and yes it definitely makes sex very uncomfortable. I feel that there has to be a link - either hormonally or with allergies. I have irregular periods, and always have. I am also allergic to many foods (starting a few years ago) - peaches, apples, plums, nectaries, sulphites ( i think), cherries ... i think that's it. Clearly western doctors aren't going to be of much help ... so we better start working together to find the commonalities. HOpe to hear from you all soon.

hi all,
I have been so frustrated ... i started having since a 3-4months ago with this guy i was dating (being i was a virgin prior)..and i discovered i had the "tear" when i visited the obgyn..cuz i kept bleeding during sex. She told me i had a tear...she gave me some estrogen cream..and said it will heal..just reframe from having sex for two weeks..which i did...EVERYTIME i have sex the tear comes back.. and heals and comes back...wat can I do ..i am so frustrated..I afraid to have sex now.. i tried lubracation...i was not on the pill...i checked i dont have stds...i feel like im at the end of my ropes here..can someone please help me...or answer my questions...all i feel is tat there is alot of frustration going on ..but NO answers to our problem...

I have found a cure for me- maybe for you?!
 

I was so depressed getting a fine cut due to tearing whenever I had sex, no matter how much lubricant or how slowly we went I could always feel it tearing. I was totally off sex and feeling very low that I couldn't do what was normal to everyone else. I went to the doctor and tried many things- the only thing that seemed to work on and off was an oestrogen cream applied to the area. This was giving me side-effects of terrible headaches so I stopped. After a whole year of trying this and that from different doctors I went and saw an awesome Natropath. She did a test that read my hormone levels and they were totally out of whack for near 10 years on the pill. She said that by looking at my tests she would have thought I was a menopausal women, I'm only in my mid- 20's! I have reluctantly gone off the pill and using condoms (my own decision) and she has given me all these natural tablets to regulate my hormones and to strengthen the skin at the tearing. It has been about a month and a half and I feel better than ever and I'm no longer breaking during sex! I am so happy that I'm back to normal again! Hopefully this acvice will be helpful for you also.

I just got it my doctor says it is lichen sclerosis. Caused by not enough female hormones usually happens around menopause but can happen other times hot to warm sitz baths help to generate blood and believe or not take hair dryer to dry when you get out to area to help heal also go to dr and ask for steroid cream to put on it to help heal good luck

:)Okay read this very carefully. I have found a cure for this problem with the vaginal tears. I seriously had this problem for a few years and went to different doctors to which they all said they had NO idea what it could be. Here it is.... and trust me on this it works because not only do I know why this happens but how to fix it. First off. It happens from Oral sex. Mouth to vagina. Spit to vagina. Any type of fluid from the mouth be it your own or your boyfriends/husband. There is so much bacteria in the mouth and the lip area and vagina area is VERY sensitive on a woman. Your spit or his spit (fluid ) from the mouth will cause tears and yeast infections.... sometimes extremely bad ones. Especially if the guy has bad teeth or gum disease or you have gum disease or any kind of food left in-between the teeth in your mouth, even if you cant see it, even if you think your teeth are perfectly clean. Its all bacteria and getting on your vagina which is causing this. I tried everything and was on yeast infection medications EVERY month until I found a cure to this. Have your man rinse his mouth out with mouth wash and you too if you lick your fingers and finger yourself or masturbate. Rinse with mouth wash before any kind of sexual activity whatsoever. I have even gone to the point where I now make him shower before having sex as well. But the mouth wash is the cure I promise you this. It worked for me! I don't get any more yeast infections and no more tears. Let me know how it all went for you girls~ Good Luck to you all :thumbsup:

Vaginal Tears
 

I am 58 years old and have suffered from Vaginal Tears on and off for many years. My G.P. isn't much help. You may have a point re the spit in your mouth. My partner sometimes uses his spit to lubricate me if there is no lube around and I also use mine to lube myself occasionally. However, I am not convinced that this is the problem with myself but I will definately stop doing that from now on and see if things improve. Many thanks to all on this forum. I too realise now that I am not the only female with this problem.

skinny
 

Are you thin? I'm a very lean person and have suffered from vaginal cracking for over 10 years. I saw several doctors & obs and went through a battery of tests to reveal nothing.

Until I met my husband. . .his sister had just gotten out of med school and he got down there and looked and described what was happening and she immediately said. . .vaginal cracking due to low estrogen. Estrogen is produced in the fat and it's a symptom of menopause. . .I hear. . .as I am only 35 and shouldn't be experiencing menopause. I always had issues with my progesterone levels and it shouldn't surprise me to have issues with estrogen as well. She said it was due to being thin and to use an estrogen cream (I use a natural wild yam cream).

Over the years I've learned to manage the splitting and have noticed patterns and here is what I have come up with:

1) If I'm not having sex I notice it's cyclic and and occurs about a week after ovluation, usually one crack and the same one every time. I keep the area clean and apply a bit of the yam cream.

2) If I'm having sex and using condoms the latex irratates it and I end up with several cracks in the same general area.

3) Yeast infections exacerbate it causing more splits as well, and causing alot of pain and discomfort. (Spermicide can cause UTIs and then if you have to use an antibiotic a yeast infection will follow. I treated monthly yeast infections--I would get from my husband--with boric acid for year, but it's pretty harsh. Oral use of acidiphilus on a daily basis eliminated the monthly yeast infections and if I get one I insert two tablets vaginally--one in the morning and one in the evening--and increase the oral dose to two a day until it's gone). Natural remedies take a little longer to get results, but they are generally better for your overall health.

4) I switched to cotton panties as synthetic fibers worsen the cracks.

5) I also switched to natural cotton pads without bleach, again, the synthetic fibers made it worse. Be sure to change them frequently.

6) The problem has never gone away and on occasion gets worse. It sucks, but I guess as long as I remain fit I'll have to deal with it. I just try to stay away from the things that aggravate it. If I do have a bad splitting issue I keep the area clean and dry and treat it like any wound & usually apply an ointment to the affected area.

Unfortunately I've only discovered management and am still seeking other solutions myself. . .so if anyone else has any ideas . . .please let me know. Thanks.

HAHAHAHA ... despite the somber tone in this thread I can;t help but wonder if TFP has beaten all scientific conferences out there and not yet cured the issue ...

How is this thread not yet in hall of fame?

It has been several months since I last posted on here and I still have not found a solution. My doctor has suggested making the entrance of my vagina slightly larger through a simple surgical procedure, as I told her my husband's (he is my husband now, the same guy from my previous post) penis is more on the thick side (5.5 to 6 inches around). This has seemed like the only solution for me for a long time now, but I have to admit it seems a bit drastic.

(From a male's perspective)

I know you have spent some time researching and trying different things. I know this gets frustrating. I would still keep surgery as a last resort. And I mean last.

What exactly does the surgery entail?