? 4 the ladies.. Vaginal Tears
 

Last summer my wife was getting cuts or tears on her vagina, the inner folds. They were like paper cuts. We are both STD free. Her gyno had no answer. She would get a tear (cut) during intercourse and sometimes when she wiped herself after urinating. (at least these are the times when she noticed she had them) They are small like paper cuts. We started using plenty of lube but the cuts still occurred. After awhile she didn't get them anymore. Well, summer is back and she is getting them again. Has anyone had this happen to them? Please help!!!! It puts a big damper on our sex life, not to forget the discomfort she feels. Thank you in advance!

A simple question: do you use your fingers for stimulation and how long are your finger nails?

No fingers at all.

hmmm, doing a stretch here (especially since you've consulted a gynocologist), it could be diet related.

Does your wife take/get enough vitamins? I know that the vaginal/nasal membranes are more likely to tear when the person has a Vitamin C difficiency.

Just my best guess.

Good luck.

Thanks. I'll try to see if she'll use the witch hazel and ointment. Does your wife know what causes it? We thought it might have something to do with swimsuits, chlorine, sweating down there since it seems to happen in the summer. My wife wears a thin pad all year.

sounds like her skin in there's getting dehydrated and cracking. I've been there, it's NOT a pleasant sensation. You may be right, my suggestion would be to try forgoing the pad for a bit, that's usually when I have problems. dry thorougly after swimming and wash well afterwards, change panties daily... let's see... if she's a thong-girl, maybe switch to some fuller panties to get the crotch to push in a bit less? That's my thoughts. good luck, and if you can't get any good solution, maybe a 2nd opinion at another gyno?

something thats a long shot but..
i get winter dry skin on my hands and it can get really bad. if her skin is extra sensative its possible that its something like that. vitamins and OTC allergy medicine. just a thought

Lubrication is key. You can use lotion down there too!! It is skin just like anywhere else and can get cracked and dry. I wouldn't worry about an STD this is a pretty common occurance.

You say you use plenty of lube so hopefully that's true. I don't know what's causing it, but I think cheerios gave good advice. Air circulation is key to a happy clean vag. Have her switch to light tampons instead of pads for a few months and wear looser breathable (like cotton, not silk) underwear. It could be too sweaty or too dehydrated. See if that changes anything.

A Theory: The lack of air because of the pad could create something similar to diaper rash... Here is a description of one kind of diaper rash that sounds similar to her situation: "- Redness and chafing where friction is greatest but not in the skin folds (chafing dermatitis)." http://rxinsider.com/monographs/diaper_rash.htm Maybe if the gyno doesn't know a dermatologist will?


Causes of diaper rash: (emphasis mine)
Diaper rash is most commonly caused by the constant wetting and drying of the skin along with repetitive exposure to a variety of irritating substances._ Once the naturally dry barrier of a baby’s skin has been irritated it becomes red, warm, rough and can lead to a variety of infections._ The most common irritants are urine, stool, bacteria from urine and stool, ammonia - which is formed by the baby’s stool breaking down the chemicals in urine, detergents, perfumes, plastics and dyes from single use disposable diapers, pre-moistened baby wipes, soaps and reactions to creams._ The term “diaper rash” describes several different kinds of skin conditions in the diaper area._ Below is a list of the different types of diaper rash and what they usually look like.
http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/diaper-rash.htm

Lube makes things slick.. it doesn't give them moisture for prolonged periods of time.

my father is a doctor and he thinks maybe it could be diet, stress or allergy related, or all three. Introducing vitamin oitments into that region is not a good idea, it promotes bacterial infections. Introduce ginger and garlic into your daily meals (small amounts) and if you have no qualms about the taste, use some star anise in your cooking every now and again. ginger and garlic help fight bacterial infections and have some antiviral properties, along with improving tissue regeneration. Star anise improves blood circulation, which might be a problem. Tears and cracks might be occuring because the tissue is degrading because it may not be getting enough fresh blood into the area.

WOW!!! I can't believe how knowledgeable many of you are. Thanks so much. Will do some research on all the tings you have suggested. I'll let you know our choice and tell you how she made out!!! Thanks again!!!!!!!!!

I know it doesn't. My point is that if there isn't enough lube, friction can cause tears whether or not the vagina is moisturized. I had sex with this one guy who thought you could just insert the penis into the vagina with zero foreplay and zero lube. He ripped me because he tried to force it in without any sort of liquids down there. (Grr.) I have a scar now because of this guy because he didn't check to see if I was "ready." I kept trying to explain to him how I needed lube if he wasn't going to do anything to uh "prep" me and he still didn't get it. He would keep pumping away after all the lube had worn off and I would have to stop him and explain to him time after time that it just doesn't work without fluids. I got many tears from this guy. Omg it was a nightmare.

Anyways, I figured that if he said he was using lube when it was needed, then he's probably smart enough to know when it needs lube or not. So it's probably not tearing because the guy thinks he can just force anything into a dry vagina.

Believe you me, I wanted to. I was trying to be "patient" with his inability to grasp certain essential concepts to sex. Ironically, he claimed I hadn't given the relationship a chance. I don't think he realized how much I put up with him in such a small amount of time.

Diet and stress can cause skin issues. At times during the year, (tax time? hahahaha) my skin on my arms also becomes rather thin. My personal physician is also a very close friend from high school advised me to watch my changes in eating habits during times of stress, and warned to stay away from external steroids like hydrocortizone. A triple antibiotic ointment or for a "holistic" approach vitamin e oil will help. and for heaven's sake, don't get too rough with it when it's like that.

hi folks!

This is my first ever posting in a forum of any sort!! :)

I have been reading up on the vaginal tearing myself as I am experiencing those same symptoms myself.
from my research it seems the reasons for vaginal tearing could be the following:
1. yeast infec. (these are usually severe)
2. tampons (my gyn says, if one uses tampons of higher absorbancy than reqd..then it might lead to tearing/discomfort)
3. thongs..nylons...xtra small (i.e wrong size) ..
4. OB tampons: these particular tampons have a tendency to cause extra stretching...leading to tearing.. Unfortunately for me this the brand that has suited me the most and I have to give it up as this seems to be the cause of my problem :(
I am sure there are more reasons that could cause viginal tearing..like diet, vit deficiency..

my question: how do i get over the symptoms?

I have stopped using OB tamps, I do take frequent vit tablets (not regular tho).
It is extremely painful to have sex...esp when i have to pee right after..almost unbearable. i use lubrication (baby oil, KY liq)..while having sex and inbetween to prevent dryness that wod lead to tearing.

Any help is highly appreciated!

I'm assuming you don't mean inside the vagina itself since you stated "the inner folds" ;). Do you happen to shave? It could be your stubble rubbing up against her during intercourse. I've had that problem before. It's not very pleasant.

Damn. This is an old topic.

no its not due to shaving for sure. For me the paper cut like wound appears in the "outer fold" . Anatomically speaking it is at the "lower commisure"/ where lateral parts of the vagina meet (junction).

Any remedies?

There is a condition called lichen sclerosis that's primary symptom is vaginal or vulval tearing. Does the skin appear thin or papery-white? Is the skin ichy or dry? Most gyn's don't know the condition, but it is more common than you might think, occurring most often in post-menopausal women.

Have her ask her gyn about lichen sclerosis and see if he/she or another dr. can diagnose it. The first type of treatment is topical steroids.

Fissures are often a result of yeast infection. I posted a thread last March (can't be bothered to find it now, but you can look for "fissures" if you want) when I had the same problem. Sex hurt and I had several "paper-cut"-like tears down there (fissures). Raeanna helped me out w/this one, so let's see if she'll post here. :)

i dont think its any infection. coz there are no abnormal discharges...no itching..no irritation. other than sting of the cut itself when it reopens..esp when i open legs wide apart for exercising/sex.
why isnt it healing? cuts this thin heal everywhere else so quickly...:(

This may have been mentioned, but it sounds a LOT like a yeast infection. Gynos don't always seem to catch those.
I had the exact same thing happening, and I had to get checked by two people before they caught it.
The yeast infection can actually degerate the tissue to some extent, making it easy to tear. I had NO OTHER SYMPTOMS of a yeast infection, but once I got treated, no more cuts.

ok...i am going to get an appointment with another gyno now!!
thanx...

I 've been having vaginal tears but they seem to go away for days. My boyfriend is asking me for answers that i don't have. he thinks i'm cheating on him because we had sex yesterday and everything was fine, but today when we were being intimate he went down and notice the vaginal tearings and since they were not there yesterday he thinks I'm cheating. How can I do to prove to him that was happening to me is not because I'm cheating on him :confused:

I don't mean to sound inconsiderate or assholish or anything, but he doesn't sound like the greatest of boyfriends if he sees that and instead of asking if you're ok, assumes that you're cheating. I would think that you saying that you weren't cheating would dispell any thoughts of the sort. Or for that matter, if he is trusting, why did it even come to his mind in the first place?

Edit: sorry, just noticed that this doesn't really answer your question, its just the first thing that came to my mind.

It seems to me you have a very worried boyfriend. I think it would be easy to get mad at him for his unfounded fears but that wouldn't solve anything. The thing is, if he's worried about it, he'll be thinking about and looking for signs that you might be cheating on him. And he'll probably find what he's looking for if this goes on long enough (by which I mean some insignificant anecdotal evidence similar to this vaginal tear thing). If you know you love him, tell him so, and that he has to trust you for your relationship to work. I don't know what else you can do- it's his problem, and as much as you want to help him, he has to figure it out on his own. Only thing to do is support him, and give him no reason to doubt.

If you think it might be a yeast infection, and they certainly can have no effects but still cause problems, then just treat it over the counter. Anytime I take antibiotics I use yeast infection med just in case for a few days. Could try rubbing vitamin E also. Helps make the skin more elastic so doesn't tear as easy, plus feels gooooood.

bleeding/tears
 

hi, i'm experiencing a similar problem. i don't have sex very often as my boyfriend and i don't live together and i only recently lost my virginity.(we don't use lubes and sex isn't tht painful) i 've had sex on 3 occasions and after the first 2 times i had bruising and slight swelling (which feels like blisters). i was wondering if this happens to anybody else.

my second dilemma is tht i recently took the morning after pill. since then i have been ill and don't know if it is the pill tht is responsible. it has made my urine rather acidic and tht is how i noticed tht i have cuts on the flaps of my vagina.

if anybody knows a way i can get it to stop hurting, please inform me.

thankyou for reading, please write if u know something that might help.

a_lil_bit_worried

Lubrication.... If some of you ladies are experiencing vaginal tears during sex then you should have your men go much more gently and consider using some lube to smoothen things out.

There are several possibilities.

1. Yeast infection. Yes I'm sure she went to the Gyno but perhaps you/she only asked if it was an STD, not exactly what it was. A good Dr would look for all possibilities but some Dr's might not.
I have encountered the fissures when related to a yeast infection along with other complaints.

2. Bacterial Vaginosis. "Vaginosis" is simply inflammation in the vagina and the irritation can often be seen on the labia. It's simple to care for and not usually looked for by Dr's because it's so common and usually symptomless. If this is the case I would recommend the 3 day vaginal cream since the 1 day is more potent and can be more irritation and the 7 day can seem long to deal with it. Vaginosis can often occur alongside a Yeast infection. Symptoms range from mild itching to a burning sensation and there is usually a discharge that is of a creamy yellow or white, and a cottage cheese texture. If there is a fishy odor then you can be fairly certain that it's BV since Yeast doesn't have a fishy odor.

3. Simple wetness problems. I have gone through phases where I wore liners constantly because of discharge. It caused me more trouble than it helped. I found out later that it was only compounding a problem I already had. Normal feminine wetness is not usually enough, except when aroused, to wet panties sufficiently to require liners. If she's wearing liners constantly I would suspect that she has excess discharge. That is often a result of either of the above problems. If she were to switch to all cotton panties with no liners and perhaps even change them frequently. As was mentioned by another here, she could avoid thongs (which btw tend to result in BV more often as well) and wear simple cotton panties. She could just stock up on some inexpensive ones and not worry about staining them.

4. Stay away from scented products, especially scented tampons and body powders with talc in them. Mexana I think is one of the powders with only cornstarch in it. Read the ingredients. Even some powders that boast having cornstarch will also have talc in them as well. This can irritate the sensitive skin down there. If you can't find any powders that do not have talc in them you can use baking soda. I have done it and it is cooling and soft. It also helps if you have an acidic pH that would contribute to yeast or BV.

5. I find I have less trouble with irritation down there when I sleep naked or without panties. It takes a little getting used to but I have fewer yeast infections when I do.

I have tried Vagisil to help with irritation down there and find that it actually burns and irritates me. One cream that I have found that is very helpful in healing any kind of 'diaper rash' or irritation and at least giving temporary relief is Vagi*Gard. It has an antiseptic Benzalkonium Cloride and a numbing agent Benzocaine 5% that relieves the itching and tenderness quickly. It also has Aloe and Vitamin E and seems to help things heal quite quickly.

Good Luck

I am having a problem with my gf
 

We are having intercourse quite a bit and well she and i both agree i am too big and latley we have noticed she has been torn around the area where i would enter and i was wondering what to do can somebody help

Well I have finally found out I am not alone. this has recently happened to me---tears, papercut like tears on my vagina and I was looking for answers. It seems to go away and then recurr.
One large clue is that this did happen after I took antibiotics for a terrible cold. I got symptoms of a yeast infection and the cuts appeared. Even though I seem to be better they keep coming back.
I have always been very sexually healthy and married to the same person for 20+ years. I am probably post-menopausal and I wonder if this is a complication of the vaginal lining thinning with age.
I have no problem with getting older, in fact before this sex has never been better, I just hope this goes away permantly.
I hope this may have helped someone as equally perplexed as I was until I saw this forum.
I feel I am not alone and not a victim of some rare bizarre condition.... : )

so glad to hear that there are others with this problem. For the past 2 years, I've been going through this tearing/fissures. But at the same time, seeing my gyn and now a specialist because I was diagosed with Lichen Schlrosis. Now they have decided that it is not LS after several biopsies!!! I do have bacterial vaginosis, which I just finished meds for and now the tearing is back. I do use lubs during sex, but the tearing seems to happen a few days after sex or around the time of my period. I think maybe using tampons? I do wear thongs which I probably shouldn't. I think I will stop to see if that helps. But all the ointments/steroid cream etc., does not help the itching, burning, tearing etc. Anyone know of any other treatments, cause at this point, i'm ready to have everything removed if I could! I have two children, both were born via ceasarian. I also have herpes (long ago from a shitty cheating boyfriend) so I have ahd vag issues for a long time. Thank heavens for patient husbands, because mine is!

help!!!

Do you use soap when you wash? That can also irritate and dry out mucous membranes. Try only using water to wash, or if you really feel the need to use a cleaning agent use something very gentle like Cetaphil (it's meant for people who are allergic to soaps).

I actually have changed all the "soap" products that I use, since seeing the specialist. I use Cetaphil, Tide Free laundry soap, Natura dryer cloths in the dryer and use vaseline after going to the bathroom, still the constant burning and itching and tearing is there! not sure what to try next.....

i have a question about this, i found this site from searching on google, and read this entire post, and it seems to sort of fit my problem

i have a tear under my vagina, between that and my anus. it is about a half inch long, somewhat like a papercut. it is also on one of the lips (? i dont really know how to phrase it...), it is in a perfectly straight line. i was wondering if maybe my thong could have caused it, i wear them every day, and occasionally it gets stuck way up there.. i am also in karate, and when kicking high, it stretches and tightens up. i thikn that is the cause of the tear. do i need to see a doctor about it or just wear something other than thongs until it heals? any idea on how long that might take? i dont really feel it until i go to the restroom and wipe - it feels like the paper is rubbing it raw or tearing off a type of scab of sorts. i would just "dab" or something, but i have another problem - i seem to be leaking a mucusy fluid, is this just my regular monthly leakage, or something else? any comments would be very helpful, i plan to read up on other things on this site, thanks so much :)

Sounds like a good reason to visit your ob/gyn to me.

in response to "lilfle"....I would definetly go see your gyn. But first, I would stop wearing the thongs, that's what I had to do! I hate regular undies, but I think it helps a bit. I am also having a problem with a strange mucous and am seeing my specialist tomorrow. My BV is back and the tears are not going away no matter what I do. So, my suggestion to you is toss the thongs, use some vaseline after the bathroom and go see the gyn about the mucous, especially if it has an odor or is coloured. Godd luck! I know what a pain this can all be!!!

Same thing is happening to me as mentioned by spartan3538
"We are having intercourse quite a bit and well she and i both agree i am too big and latley we have noticed she has been torn around the area where i would enter and i was wondering what to do can somebody help"

i am starting to think the problem is that he is too large, but we have been together a while now and this didnt happen in the beginning. I think it happened once and has never healed properly, even though we have taken "time off" to let it heal. Im not sure what else to do to help heal it. Does anyone else think Vitamin E oil would work down there?

Can i ask if these episodes only last a couple of days to a week and then goes away? as mine do. i have had this about 3 times ow in about 6 months.

i have very similar symptoms with tears/cuts around the outside of my vagina and it hurts like hell to apply pressure and stings when i go to the bathroom and is generally uncomfortable.

I have seen 2 differnt doctors, one at a medical centre the other at a womens helth clinic in sydney and both tested me for herpes and gave me antibiotics just incase. Both times it came back positive and there are no blisters just these tears.

This recent epidsode i went back to both doctors and both tested me again even though one said it was highly unlikely it owuld come back positive, she also wants me to have a blood test.

Neither have been able to suggest anything except for paw paw ointment which doesnt help that much - really only to keep it lubricated.

I dont want to have to go back through this again and not have any answers. Is it best to see a gyno for this sort of thing? Im not sure if its lichen sclerosus, it may even be vulvodynia?

Any help would be appreciated as this is the only thing ive crome across which has been helpful!

Ive been doing research on this the past few days and the reoccuring things ive seen are vitamin E oil and sweet almond oil. massage it on the tear 2 times a day and its worked for these women. so i guess im off to the drug store...

Hi, I've been researching on the net because my doctor who is also a gyno after 3 visits thought she had cured me, but obviously has not. I've had repeated thrush for about 6 years,which makes sex very painful. So I don't hve much sex. When I finally went back to the Dr, She said it was not thrush, but a skin irritation, and prescribed antibiotics and an ointment called LPC in BOZ ointment. This did help the symptoms a lot but I still get the tearing many of you have spoken about. It only tears right al the bottom of the vagina, 6 o'clock. This happens almost straight away when having sex. It is really painful and takes 2-3 days to heal. I've had STD checks and am fine. It makes me not want to have sex because it's no fun. Sometimes I bleed from the cut. When I first saw my Dr, the cut was one centimetre long and she had no idea what it was from. I'm going to try vitamin E oil as suggested by the last poster and will report its results.
West

confused and in pain
 

i read the previous posts and i dont really know if my problem is the same or not...
this has started happening only AFTER the birth of our son.
everytime my hubby and i have sex i get this horrible tear (red scratches) where my vaginal area ends and my recutm starts.
it happens everytime after sex. that and then theres severe burrning. i always make sure i wash up immideately after intercourse. also my husband and i have never had sex before marriage.
so im wondering where the problem is. is this a common issue or serious enuff for me to go to a gyno.
this is making sex totally difficult and painful.
would appreciate any insight...
ps: i didnt get a single stitch at delivery either.

hi, I've been in a relationship for 4 years and now we are recently married.
I never had problems with sex until I started with those pills that you take every day to prevent pregnancy.

Since then I slowly started to have nausea and I was getting more sensitive down there. And then I started to get those paper cuts and they HURT I coulnt have sex anymore and I even started to get scared of it.

I went to 2 differnt gynos and one said it was baterial and I took the medication and they went away but a week after they came back.

So I went to another one and she gave me a treatment for my and my husband. And again, it got better only for a week and then it came back....

I ask if it was the pills she said no. She said it could be stress and lack of vitamins, maybe the diet. or a combination of all. Still they were there.

So about 2 weeks ago I stopped taking those pills to try on my own and see if they could be the reason and so far is working. Is funny how doctors cant figure it out. I guess is very different depending on the case.

I"m happy know I can enjoy sex with my husband again and I hope they dont came back otherwise Im just lost on what the cause is and how to fix it so it NEVER comes back.

oh my god, I thought I was the only one in the world with this painful tear in my vagina. It is exactly the same type of tear just like many people here describe. A small tear right at the opening of the vaginal just where the sphinter of the anus starts and only tear after intercourse. I also just recently experience even a little burning sensation after intercourse. It's not a yeast infection or uti b/c it doesn't hurt when I urinate. This is so complicated. I went to see my gyno about the problem and she said she's not sure what it is. She said I had a little yeast infection at that particular time, and I did. She gave me some meds for the yeast and the burning stops but the tear in my vagina keeps coming back every so many months. My husband is very sexually active and wants to have sex all the time. I use to be very sexually active but since the tear, I'm afraid sometime to have intercourse with my husband b/c I fear that I might get tear again. The tear is so small, but very very painful. What should I do? I've tried everything, from doing yoga to stretch myself, take daily vitamins, used vaginal oinment, wear big granny underwear, etc. What should I do? My gyno is not really helping because she can't find out the exact cause of it. The only thing I've tried recently is using neosporin on the cut. I find it heals the cut a little faster, but then again, it comes back like a bad nightmare. I;m 32 and never had a problem like this. I've been with my husband for 13 years and we are free from std. Therefore, I don't know what the problem is. Please someone, anyone help me. Any advice or suggestion/comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Thank Goodness
 

I am sooooooo happy to have found this forum via Google. I have been having the same issue for the 7 months. The bottom of my vagina, where the 2 lips meet, is constantly tearing right at the start of sex. It's a fairly deep cut, and is about 2cm long. Also, I know I have been dryer than normal lately. This stress of wondering and worrying has also not helped!!!

I have been with my fiance for almost 4 years, we have both been faithful to each other, and when this started, we both went to the STD clinic to get everything checked out, as there were some small white bumps here and there (but they really aren't bothersome) -- I was tested for herpes and warts and everything came back negative. I even went to a doctor for a second opinion and more tests -- everything is still negative. (no changes since when we first went for the initial "new relationship" STD tests over 3.5 yrs ago). My man also was negative for everything. They are sure my bumps are normal, kinda like a blocked pores.

I have to wait until OCTOBER to see an expert on all this, and, since I've been waiting since April I am really starting to lose my mind. This is taking such an incredible toll on my self esteem, I have literally no sex drive becuase it hurts sooo much. We're getting married in March and I'm really hoping that this will be resolved by then. Thank god my man is so patient with this! He just wants me to be ok.

For the burning/dry sensation i feel, i was using a Hydrocortisone cream -- after reading this forum, I am going to stop. Because, if its the cause of my thinning skin... I've also been on Marvelon for several years. Are Birth Control pills really a cause of vaginal tearing?
We use lubricant also, and it doesn't help. My mans "little man" isn't small, but its definately not super huge either. Also, this didn't happen for the first 3 years we were intimate with each other.

One thing that helps soothe the area is to take a warm bath with nothing in it but a handful of baking soda.

I guess what I needed was reassurance that I'm not the only person in the world with this... and I need to know... why is this happening in the first place????

I have this problem too. I am going to the dermatologist, but in the meantime I am using homeopathic Calendula cream. It is a known skin healer. Also in the UK, Lichen Sclerosis is being successfully treated wtih light therapy: UVA treatments. A full spectrum light bulb or sunlight in small small doses may be of extreme help. I will not take the steroidal creams as they weaken the immune system, which is overall the reason PERHAPS for this condition.

Our immune systems are attacked from many sources:
Stress, pollution, toxins in our food, hormones in our foods, birth control if you take it, etc. I am menopausal, so the added stress, even though normal, is the shift and lessening in the hormones. My stress level is extreme as I am getting married, moving and starting a new job. Once I made the decision to do all three at the same time, out of necessity, this condition came on. Intercourse is next to impossible due to the shrinking of the vaginal opening as the skin changes and tightens. I have read that there are dialators that may help if the skin does not open enough.
I do not believe there is just one cause for this. I also have Candida, a systemic yeast condition, which originates in the intestinal tract from antibiotic use as a child, and the other list above...most people have it and stress, poor diet and sweets can cause enormous flare ups, which include depression, foggy thinking and lack of body awareness and confusion etc. as well as a craving for more sweets like a real junkie....

I wonder if anyone can help me. I have always suffered with vaginal dryness, no matter how much foreplay before sex i never get wet i've been to the doctors and they didnt seem interested and said it was all in my head, thats problem 1. Problem 2 I have recently started getting cuts on the lips of my vagina and have a large one from my vagina to my anus. These constantly itch especially when i go to bed, they sometimes bleed and when i go to the toilet when i wee it goes into these cuts and stings like hell its very irritating.

I'm currently not sexually active with anyone and havent had sex for a couple of months and im a lesbian. I mention this because a lot of you seem to think it is sex related and i get it without sex so i dont think that has anything to do with the problem apart from increase irritation. Does anyone know what this is?

To make matters even worse i also have piles which i cant get rid of despite injections..... could this be related?

So basically im not having much luck down there, im very hygenic tho

I've read all the postings and no one seems to have an exact answer. Can anyone help?

same problem
 

Ok so I am having the same problem with a tear at the bottom of my vagina that happens at the beginning of sex. I've been to the doctor once and she basically agreed that there was a tear, told me I had a little bit of an infection, and gave me some cream. She told me it would heal within a few weeks. It did seem to heal, but it tore again the next time I had sex. I haven't been back to the doctor again. This has been ongoing now for several months.

I noticed several of you mentioned diet as an issue. What exactly should change about my diet to help this out? Also has anybody who has posted with this problem have had any luck with any remedies? It's nice to know I am not alone with this problem, but it would also be nice to find something to solve it.

Update
 

Hi girls,
I've found my problem has eased a little, but not totally. I'm strongly considering getting off the pill since reading some people's posts. When my thrush (or whatever it is) seems to appear, I use a mild antifungal cream for a few days and after that goes, I can almost have sex comfortably.

My boy and I try to get in a position where his penis doesn't put pressure at the back of my vagina, but rather the front. It does not tear there, and actually feels kind of nice and different.

I've found that heaps of foreplay and lube helps, but after about 15-20 mins of sex, it starts rubbing and hurting and I get small tears. It stings when I pee, but is usually not noticeable the next day, although I'm too scared to have sex again for a few days.

I've found my self esteem very low because of this, especially since my gyno has no idea about it. When I see a specialist, hopefully soon, I'm taking this whole forum thread as evidence!

Also, a friend told me that if you suffer from thrush too long, it changes the nerves in your vagina, and instead of feeling pleasure, it turns into pain. I'll have to check this idea out though. It may be misleading.

I'm glad I'm not alone. I hope you all find the cure.
xx west

Also, see this forum. It mentions similar problems, but seemingly more complicted.
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/23652/

My wife pinpointed the problem as one of her bathing suits. She has no idea what caused it, but whenever she wore that particular suit, she would have a burning sensation when I entered her. It would be a slight tear. They would always heal in a few days. She hasn't had a tear since she threw the suit out. Good luck to the others experiencing this problem. My heart goes out to you.

Right I have been to the doctors and she has told me it is a skin related problem, which i know is obvious to us. She says that it is a yeast infection in the skin and has given me some canisten cream to use. I have used this for a week and the tears have now gone. I will wait and see if they come back. She explained to me that if you are constantly cleaning yourself down there you are likely to cause a yeast infection as you are washing away the bacteria which fights against yeast infections. Im hoping this works now, she has also suggested taking a urine sample into the doctors and asking them to test it for diabetes as yeast infections can be triggered by sugar levels. To be honest im not convinced yet so i will see how i get on.

I noticed someone mentioned about changing your diet. I have changed my diet now to less fatty foods and things with high fibre content as well as fruits and veg, its a stab in the dark so i will see what happens.

I am having a similar problems. I am noticing small paper like cuts on varios areas of my vagina. The ones i notice the most are, one at the opening of my hole, first noticed painfully during sex. And the second is about my clit. The one above my clit turned more into a sore, circular in shape and began getting a little flaky about two days ago. The opening of my vagina is also a bit red. I seem to have a little bit of discharge, whiteish, to me it looks like mucus ro goo or something, not cottage cheese.. doesnt really have a smell. And only come in tiny doses about every other day. There is slight itching, nothing untolerable. I have a doctors appt. in three days, but i would like a little peace of mind.. i am terriefied, it could be an STD.. any thoughts please? thanks =)

I have had my results back and it is not thrush funnily enough, and the tears have come back it seems to happen around the same time my period comes if anyone has any more info let us know.

This sounds like something the doctors know nothing about and have yet to diagnose as they seem to have no knowledge about it whatsoever.... what it is and what causes it. HELP!!!!

ME tooo
 

ok.. i have almost the same problems here. my ex fiance was on the larger side and i'm a small person. i wasn't a virgin when i was with him.. but i think since he was on the larger side.. i got these tears at the bottom of my vagina.... between the anus and the opening of the vagina.. it's ONLy after sex! it's driving me crazy. i want to have sex w/ my boyfriend now.. but it hurts.. i've tried lube.. and i don't think it's the use of the condom.. i get a little red and iritated.. and i have these tears. i called a nurse and told her my situation and asked if she thought it was a big problem, or what i could do to fix it. she didn't really help much. she told me it wasn't a big problem and just to use lube more. which i have done. but i'll try it more..and i guess sometimes we are a little rough though. but she didn't give me any other advice on how to fix this problem i want to not hurt during and right after sex! no discharge. or smell just these dumb tears! does vitamin e oil really help? or this other cream people are talking about? heeellpppp

It could be that your skin is thinning and drying:) . All your skin. Not just down there. You need to keep yourself lubricated. There are products for that.

i have a simular problem as /VIKING1064/
 

I long time ago when i was havinf sex with a boyfriend ..it was rough and i was on top his penis came out and slamed into me...cuting me on both sides of me! Ever since this i have been getting cuts and tears.No doctor can sya what it is or where it came from. I fell like they ignore the situation ad find something else thats wrong with me!!! I can't have sex.Im in pain ALL the time It hurts to pee. Hurts to wipe, or have any contact down there what so ever!:confused:

I MISS SEX SO MUCH!!!

surgery
 

I too have this problem with one recurrent tear in the 6 o'clock position. I have tried everything- stopped the pill, lots of lube , treated for yeast and bacterial infection. Now surgery is being mentioned. Has anyone else done this or been recommended this? The problem has been going on for more than 1 1/2 yrs so i'm willing to try as I no longer believe it will be cured any other way.

crack in folds of skin between vag and anus
 

I have been to the doctor many times this year, both my physician and gyno and now I'm going to see a specialist. I have dry, itchy skin around my vagina and anus... especially in the folds of skin and my crack. It doesn't seem to go away even when I abstain from sex. I've tried A&D Diaper Rash ointment, Aquafor, and Gold Bond Powder. I heard it's a good idea to get a lot of air circulation, so I quit wearing thongs and only wear cotton underwear now. I also quit using Tide and now use a hypoallergenic detergent. I've had herpes in the past, several years ago, but have no herpetic lesions, only dry, cracked, irritated skin! I also tested negative for herpes and Bechet's disease.

Here is my advice to all of you: Definately visit a gyno, but be proactive also and do your own research first! You might also want to get a biopsy. Here are some things this could be:

Candida (yeast infection)
Lichen schlerosis
Urinary tract infection
Vulvular vestibulitis
Lichen planus
Herpes or other STD
Trichomoniasis
Trichophyton
Bacterial Vaginosis
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Syndrome
Auto-immune deficiency

The best of luck to everyone!

My experience
 

Hi everyone,

I know how frustrating these symptoms can be! I have had very similar vaginal issues to those posted here. I had sustained them for over a year. I had tried to find answers at my gyno and I even checked this site amongst other websites searching for any information before I found the conclusive reason for my condition.

I had small vaginal tears that came and went. My vaginal skin seemed thin, sometimes even appearing shiny. It often felt extremely dry. It also was consistently red and irritated. Sex was painful and could make my symptoms worse. I had a large “tear” in the crease of my buttocks, above my anus. All the areas would occasionally even slough off skin, like dead skin rubs off.

I tried the following based on information I got from a variety of sources:

1) Got tested for STD’s - I was negative for everything, except for HPV, of which shouldn’t cause any of these types of symptoms.

2) Used no soaps, wore cotton underwear only, wore loose clothing, washed gently, etc.

3) Natural Progesterone “wild yam” ointment – to strengthen skin (in case it was hormone related, which can happen in older women after menopause, but I’m 30, so that seems unlikely and I had hormone tests that indicated I was fairly balanced)

4) Prescription yeast infection pills and both non & prescription anti-fungal creams – in case it was yeast related. The creams tended to make my whole vaginal area burn even more. However, yeast can cause cuts, but I was negative. Be sure to ask your doctor for a yeast culture before they give you creams, etc. that may be useless or may irritate you more.

5) A steroid/anti-fungal cream mixture. - This was successful in relieving my symptoms, but didn’t seem like a long-term cure.

I tried to find hope in all these, and sometimes I thought something had worked, but my symptoms always returned. I wanted to know what I had!

I think it is important to not only communicate with your gyno, but also SEE A DERMATOLOGIST! And I don’t mean any dermatologist; ask for one that specializes in genital diseases. Mine specialized in STD’s, Genital Disease, and General Dermatology. The reason is that a general dermatologist may not be able to successfully evaluate you. I went a general dermatologist that had no idea and gave me the usual creams. Luckily, she had a fellow doctor that she knew might know more. She sent me to the doctor that eventually was able to diagnose me.

He advised the following tests to narrow it down:

1) Take Diflucan (a pill to clear yeast infections) - He had me take a dosage 3 times longer and stronger than usual to be certain. If it is successful, one should see a significant difference in a day or so. I saw no change.

2) Do a patch test. This was a 2-day test you wear on your back that can determine if you have a contact dermatitis. This means you could be allergic to something from your exterior environment. They test you for ~150 different possibilities (e.g. ingredients in toilet paper, laundry detergents, etc.) He even said that you could have an allergy that shows up in different areas than the area of contact. Example, you can touch something with your hand and get a reaction on your foot. I was allergic to a few things, but nothing that would cause my symptoms.

3) Get a biopsy, Of course this does not seem like a pleasant alternative, yet it was successful in determining the cause of my symptoms. The procedure was not nearly as dreadful as I anticipated. They take a tiny amount of skin for testing. I easily healed in a few days with no major discomfort or pain.

SUCCESS!

The test results revealed that I had very early stages of Lichen Sclerosis. The biopsy may reveal other conditions as well. This came as a surprise as most information I read on Lichen Sclerosis usually show the extreme symptoms and usually applies it to elderly women. I learned that Lichen Sclerosis can occur in young women, men and even children. It is an autoimmune disease. It is not contagious, can occur at any time, and the early symptoms can be exactly like mine. Many gyno’s are not aware of the early symptoms. Please note that itchiness was only occasionally a symptom for me, yet itchiness can be a common symptom, often making people think it is yeast.

Lichen Sclerosis can be scary; it can yield very devastating results if diagnosis does not happen early. There is no cure, but symptoms can disappear with treatment (a prescription steroid cream cleared everything up – I may have to use it occasionally to relieve any future symptoms). There is a good chance that it will not progress if kept in check. I’m back to normal, sex is comfortable (as always, be sure to use lubrication if you are irritated) and I’m happy that I at least know what I’m dealing with. Believe me, I know how frustrating it is to have symptoms and not know how to make them better.
Always ask doctors to perform tests for symptoms so you have conclusive results - yea or nay - so you are not searching in the dark, unable to determine if something worked for you for the right reason.

As far as birth control pills (they seem to cause so many issues!):
I had started taking birth control pills at the time my symptoms started (LS may be linked to fluctuations in hormones amongst a few other things), However, my condition had even continued a year later after I had stopped taking them.

I apologize that this is such a lengthy post. I just hope something in it could be an option in searching for an answer when there is so much good and bad advise out there.

Hi, i've been reading your posts about vaginal fissues and paper-cut like slits, i've been experiencing the same thing for a year now. They keep coming and going but mostly appear a few days before my period. i know this is not sexually related (i've been celibate for more than a year now) One interesting fact to note is that with me this only started happening when i began taking birth controll pills (Diane35 i am taking the pill to melt ovarian cysts)...hmmm...i really think the pill has a huge part in contributing to the slits/tears...

I have the same issue and finally have diagnosis!
 

Hey guys,

I have the same issue. i've been with my fiance for 4 years (husband to be in 2.5 months) and I all of a sudden started tearing (the lower part of the vagina closest to the anus) earlier this year. Its happened repeatedly since then. Other symptoms:

- minor bleeding after intercourse
- vaginal dryness
- burny sensation when you urinate or after a long love making session
- tearing at the base during intercourse
- also, some tearing along the folds of the labia minora
- some redness

I've had several appts and he has diagnosed me with vulvodynia -- with vaginal atrophy. (I am 100% STD/STI free, and do not have any infections)I've got to get a biopsy to confirm, but my gyno says its a chronic, long term skin disease that you have to get under control and keep under wraps. Otherwise, your vulvular and vaginal tissues degenerate and lose size and shape. I guess I've already lost size... I'm only 25 so I'm getting this under wraps now. I've been prescribed Tacrolimus 0.3% (topical), which, as an injection is normally used for patients as an anti-rejection drug when they get an organ implant. There is a ton of papers praising the drug when used topically for these types of things. My doc has used it on his patients with this condition for the last 3 years with excellent results.

Other Things To help:

- Use Surgilube or KY Jelly during sex -- don't use those fancy love shop lubricants they have extra chemicals in there that could harm you
- DON"T use any corticosteriod creams. It will thin your sensitive skin even more and will accelerate your condition.
- Use a gentle detergent such as Ivory Zero on your panties, and rinse twice, hang dry if possible or use in a dryer without any softener or bounce sheets.
- Don't use soap down there. You really don't need it. If you want to wash your bum, do so, but rinse it off well and don't let the soap touch your vaginal area. I have a removable shower head and its a godsend. Just keep the water lukewarm and give it a good rinse.
- If you are feeling very irritated, try a lukewarm bath with a small handful of baking soda. Aveeno is pretty good too.

I hope this helps anyone with this issue. When I found out my diagnosis I bawled my eyes out. But, on the bright side, though its not curable it is controllable. Take care of yourselves ladies!

-Shauna

glad i found this forum!
 

wow, just found this forum through a google search & it's such a relief to see that i'm not the only one with these problems!

i've had a lot of sexual health problems in the past 3 years - which this year got so bad that having sex made me bleed so much that i often wondered if i'd come on my period.

after seeing a total of 4 doctors in the past year & numerous tests (std, smears) i have been diagnosed with poly cystic ovaries & severe thrush, my symptoms by the being:

-period pain like cramps constantly
-vaginal soreness (felt bruised)
-bleeding during sex or foreplay
-small cuts
-discharge
-pmt like mood swings but constantly


i came off the pill 4 months ago & this has really improved some of my symptoms and i am being treated through a low GI diet which has made me feel alot better.. but despite numerous thrush treatments (creams, pessarys & oral pill) the thrush won't go away.

i too am getting these small cuts on my vagina after sex / foreplay & my doctor doesn't know whats causing them - after reading some of these posts im wondering if its a skin condition?

anyway.. i just wanted to vent that - it's nice to know there are other girls out there who probably feel as frustrated & miserable as me right now! i'm so fed up with it all..

Wow, I'm not alone! I have never posted to a forum before, so I hope I'm doing this right.

I have been experiencing much of same things for ~2 1/2 years now. My husband and I have been married for 4 1/2 years and together for 10. Initially I was seen by my Gyn and she was convinced that it was Herpes and that it is not uncommon for HSV1(oral herpes) to migrate to the genital region. However, I have had multiple recurrences despite high dose valtrex(antiviral treatment) for a year and a half!! I have recently been referred to an infection specialist who is not convinced that it is herpes and I'm so confused.

Our sex life is very different--I always had a great appetite for sex and now am just very apprehensive. I have the tears/lesions in the same region most of you mention: the lower region just outside of the vaginal opening. We have used lubrication, antiviral meds, neosporin, and most recently condoms.

What's interesting is that this began one year after I stopped taking birth control pills and at the very time we began to start a family. Sadly we have not become pregnant and have also seen a fertility specialist during this time--also no information, just unexplained infertility. I'm sure a big part of the infertility is the inability to have sex when we want/need to!!

I have never had problems with yeast infections, but I will try the over the counter med because I'm really willing to try anything at this point. All of the STD testing is negative as well!!

Thank you all for your input as I now don't feel so isolated. My husband and the doctors are the only ones I discuss this with and I have been a bit of a mess dealing with it all--and still unsure if it is herpes or not!!!:confused:

When I first read the name of this thread I thought it meant tears, like that you cry...wow I am completely retarded...seriously...

I too have been having a similar problem. I have a chronic tear at the base of my vagina. My boyfriend's penis is quite large, and I didn't have this problem before, so I thought it might be him. Sex has been painful with him basically since we've been together (a little over a year) but I have only been bleeding for the past few months. We have tried taking breaks from intercourse so it will heal but to no avail. I don't use lube, but I am usually pretty wet before we begin. I guess maybe not enough? I find it especially bad when we have sex in the doggie-style position. We just had sex tonight and there was pain upon entry and I bled. On closer examination I notice that there is a tear about 1 cm in length at the bottom of my vagina - only it isn't a continuation of the vaginal slit - it's more like a little wound right underneath the opening. When I pull it apart, it widens almost like a little hole. I'd noticed this before, but it seems to be bigger now - almost like it hasn't healed, and is getting worse. I wonder if I should go to the doctor? From the posts here it seems as though there isn't much a doctor can do. I am on the birth control pill and have been for 10 years. I exercise and eat pretty well. I wonder too if perhaps the skin around my vagina is getting thinner and that's why it's susceptible to tears? I notice too that my anus often tears when I use the bathroom (I am not constipated). And I am also unable to have anal sex with my boyfriend because it has torn and bled the few times we've gently tried to put anything in. Anyway I haven't experienced any other symptoms: no discharge, itching or welling etc. Should I bother with a doctor?

vagina tears
 

I have been having the same problems.. At first my vagina started itching at night and i stupidly itched it..it felt real good to itch it too...but it was NOT worth it . I have one slit like cut on each fold and one maybe, more on the bottom near the bum...My boyfriend and I then had sex the next night it hurt, but my vag was itching so much some of it felt good..(i know it sounds crazy but just trying to give all the details)....Then the next day the cuts hurt so much when i was using the bathroom..Then we tried having sex the next night but i had to stop in the middle..Now i'm having my period and can't even use tampons, because it hurts to even touch it. Now i'm just trying to find something to heal it or make it feel better....I will never itch that damn thing again...I know it could be a multitude of problems...The itching was the problem..Perhaps dry skin or vaginitis...But this forum and all of the others who have posted have made me feel so much better that i'm not alone..

I really thought I was the only one with this problem.
And "Oh my god, its annoying".
I have been having a reoccuring slit on the lower part of my vagina for a couple of years now. It has destroyed the spark and have now thought of giving it a name, as its like the third wheel in our relationship.
I am so glad to hear im not alone but also feel so sorry for all you girls out there who have the same problem.
I think for me though it has made a difference when i relax and not think about it (like when i drink, I never have this problem).
Even watching porn or fantasizing has helped but of course as soon as I freeze up and think its going to hurt....it happens.
I have tried to speak to doctors, mum, sister and friends but none of them can relate.
Dont worry girls.....we will win against this and have a life full of pleasure...not pain!!!!!

I was browsing google to try to find something about the effects of toilet paper and I ran across this forum. Although I'm not dealing with the same issues (ie cuts on the vagina) I do have similar vulvar problems. I have interstitial cystitis that is a deterioration of the bladder lining and pelvic floor muscle tension which means my muscles are so tight that they are causing my pelvic area a lot of burning and pain, which could affect ones sex life. It makes me feel like I have a bladder infection all the time, but without any actual infection. Feels very similar to a yeast infection. If you are feeling like you have repeated yeast or bladder infections but have negative results I would recommend that you get tested for these two things. I would also recommend that you go to a Urogynecologist instead of a plain gynecologist because they specialize in not only the vaginal area but the urethra, bladder and bowel areas as well. If your gynecologist doesn't know what is wrong, ask her to refer you to someone who does. They should be proactive in trying to help you find out what is wrong.

I have read most of the replies and I think I will go to a dermatologist and get tested for some of the recommended. I have recently been feeling better after almost a full year of burning non-stop. But the past few days I have been burning again. I realized that I switched toilet paper brands and that might be the culprit. Does anyone know of a toilet paper that is very gentle and without any chemicals?

One more word of advice. If you are having trouble having sex mentally (ie, scared, loss of sex drive, etc) I would seriously recommend going to a sex therapist. I haven't been able to have sex with my fiance for about 6 months now because I've been so scared of it hurting, but I've recently started going to a therapist and I feel that my drive is coming back again.

Hi all, I just want to chime in on this thread and encourage everyone with any of the symptoms mentioned to consult one or a million doctors until they get a definitive answer. This thread is actually how I first found TFP, and since then I've been diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus. My symptoms probably started a long time ago, but weren't persistent and severe until more recently. I have/had flaking skin, severe itching, the infamous 6 o'clock tear that everyone's talking about, rectal itching and bleeding (yum!), skin thickening/color changing in spots. I was (in retrospect, stupidly) afraid to go to the doctor at first, fearing bad STD news or something, but I'm only sorry I waited as long as I did. My doctors are amazing, and biopsy punched me before I could count to three. The biopsy wasn't pleasant, but was worth its weight in gold for the diagnosis. They've shuffled me right off to an expert who wrote a book about this stuff, and I'm about to start treatment. My nurse also has LS, and told me of her mother's symptoms that went misdiagnosed ad untreated for years, until she was diagnosed with vulvar cancer. That risk does exist for the affected skin if this disease doesn't get nipped in the bud, so this is my public service announcement begging everyone to seek out answers and not settle with the discomfort and pain.

I'm beginning to hear murmurs of LS everywhere, and I'm really beginning to wonder just how widespread this is. When the nurse gave me the results over the phone, she said this was the third diagnosed case in their office this week. From what I'd read, I was under the impression that this is a rare thing that shows up in post-menopausal women. Well, it seems to be everywhere and I'm only 26, so...

This Might Help
 

Thanks so much for this forum – I’ve been having similar problems for several years and the information and ideas here have really helped! I have had a recurring problem with a deep tear at the 6 o’clock position, and tiny vulvar tears began to develop recently. My husband was distraught that our romance was causing me pain. We are STD free, and otherwise in good health.

I have found something that works for me – somebody please try this, and write back to this forum to let us know if it works for you too!

I’m in my mid 40s and have put on a few pounds over the years- not fat, but enough to have a bit of fat/flab on my hips – And I have figured out that the way that I sit affects the vaginal tearing. I think that when I sit, my hips spread out more now, stretching and thinning out the delicate tissue, and causing the skin to be weakened and more easily torn during intercourse.

This fix involves relieving stress on the skin in your daily activities. It's similar to Kegel exercises – pinch your bottom together as you sit down, so that your cheeks are closer together. Be aware of how stretched the vaginal/anal skin is when you are sitting – readjust your hips and bottom if the skin is pulled tight, so that it’s under no strain. Especially watch the way that you sit on the toilet – that’s when I notice the stretched skin the most. Straining to poop may also over-stretch the skin. For a few weeks, we also tried positions where I was sure not to stretch the skin during intercourse.

The vulvar tears are gone, the deep tear is healing and no longer painful, and we’re both much happier now.

Try this for a few weeks and see if it helps!

Wow. I spent the whole day upset (and in pain) thinking I was the only one. Last night the sex got a little rough and I was dry. My boyfriend jammed the top of his penis on my labia and caused 3 deep tears that bled a lot. This morning I tried to urinate, but almost blacked out from the pain. I went to the doctors thinking I could get something to make it feel better so atleast I could go to the bathroom but the Dr. only made things worse. She suggested that it could be herpes and took tests and gave me valtrex and ointment. I described to her how it happened and how I doubted it was herpes, but she insisted on treating it as if it were. I've always gotten little paper cuts on my labia during sex due to the friction, but this time my boyfriend really did a number on me. I'm wondering how long this will take to heal, and if anyone who has had this happen to them have gotten back positive results for herpes. Its really freaking me out and I only get the results back in 10 days so I'll probably go insane by the end of the week...Someone please help!

P.S. For anyone who has the pain during urination due to these tears, my doctor suggested sitting in a tub of warm water and urinating in there...and I could tell you it really helps!

She maybe allergic to those pads. Especially if they are sented.

--
 

--

I don't mean to be insensitive about your particular situation, but TELL HIM. It isn't fair to him, and if the situation were reversed, I'm quite confident that you would want to know you're having sex with someone who has herpes.

Ack! No! You tell him! You've bypassed "normal", honey. This is one of those situations where you have to be clear about your history. From your post it sounds like you're taking better care of yourself, which is great, and will help reduce your chance of an outbreak. Nothing is going to be 100% perfect--especially if you can't tell you're having an outbreak. Take your meds, take care of yourself, and take care of your relationship by telling him what's going on.

reading your replies spells out how irresponsible i was not to tell him.. like i said, i just wanted to be normal - i've had alot of issues with sex over the years other than those i've mentioned & i suppose i selfishly put my needs first in this case.

anyway, i've called it off with the guy.

Yeah, I'm just going to add to the tell him list. You can still give him herpes even if you aren't having an outbreak and even if you're on meds and that fact alone is why I think he needs to know.

I'm sorry you're in that situation though, especially if you thought you were being careful. Hopefully you can learn from your experience and improve your life.

On the subject of the OP, I am told I have vulvodynia but I don't believe it. I don't have any of the symptoms you guys list so I am still working on figure in that out.

aromatherapy to help
 

Hi all, I found this forum because I was searching for info for these symptoms. I have the irritation and the tears after sex and I thought it was yeast for a while, then I thought it was just dryness . . . now I'm not really sure. BUT, I have been able to make it more manageable, by doing sitz baths with lavendar and flower waters. I read in a book about aromatherapy for lovers that dryness is cured by using jojoba oil for short term relief, and sitz baths with 10 drops each of clary sage and geranium. So, I found floral waters of clary sage and geranium, and I add in some drops of lavendar to heal and soothe, and this makes the pain bearable. Also heals the cuts pretty quickly. I also use a salve made of olive oil, comfrey and wild yam at night because that also helps w/dryness and cuts.

I'm glad I was able to find this site because it is nice to know I'm not the only person dealing with this and that there is hope. If you want to try those remedies, I recommend looking at moon maid botanicals for the salve and mountain rose herbs for the floral waters.

Good luck!

Hi Everyone!
Its really really interesting to read all of these posts and see that we seem to have more idea as to what is going on than gynos and GPs!
I started having sex in January and after about 1.5 months I developed the infamous 6 o'clock tear, but more like a split rather than the "paper cut" that some of you have described. Since the end of feb I have used vit e oil quite a bit and paw paw. Interestingly I'm also on Diane35/Brenda/Juliette (they're all the same) a couple of questions:
[B]Do people really think the contraceptive pill could cause these skin/dryness issues?
How does a yeast infection cause this?
Yeast is also in the pill right?
How many vitamines would one need to take?

NOTE - I also eat all organic and often take Cranberry tablets (for UTI) I also take Vit C on and off.

Thanks Everyone - We need a forum where you can ask Qs to a gyno too!

Anya

Hello,
Note - I take cranberry to prevent UTI I dont have one.

Also, my "split" is almost like the skin splitting as if there is too much skin?! then it heals over 3days and then as soon as I have intercourse again the "split/gash" happens again. Its odd. You'd think the body would get used to the new action (sex) thats happenin?!
I have NO - itching, redness, soreness, tenderness just this odd 'split' it opens like a wound so there is a little blood. its odd it only happens when he enters - its only mu entrance, nothing inside. then once hes in it all feels fine, but when he initially enters its like "ow,ow ow" then fine. ODD!!!!

Thanks for reading everyone, its great to have something like this.

Ta Anya

It amazes me that so many women are experiencing this problem and not one Dr. has heard of this before.

I am in the same boat as well. I am 34, married, monagamous relationship. I had a baby by C-section 2 years ago and the tearing is in the same place. 6o'clock position. The tearing started 7 months after I had the baby. I've been tested and biopsied and nothing. I've used several creams, the last one is Esterace. The Dr. and I thought the increased estrogen would strenghten the area. It didn't work. I changed bc pills..now on Femcom and still the same issue. I am thinking I should stop the pill all together.

I am in Norhtern VA, does anyone know of a good Dr or Specilaist?

As with many of you, it is good to know I am not alone!
Here’s my story… I am a 49 yr old woman; married for 15 years w/ no other partners for at least 18 years; and two children from this marriage - both C-sections. My husband has had no other partners either in that long – I know because I would kick his ‘rear with a Capitol A’ if he did! But, truly he is a wonderful husband and very supportive. I have never been diagnosed with genitals herpes. I am currently over-weight by approx 35 lbs but, hello, I am pre-menopause, and I have not always been over-weight. I do get vaginal cuts. I don’t know for how long, off and on, but I estimate I have gotten them over the past 10 years. My best guess is stress brings them on – of course, isn’t stressing the leading cause of all unexplained ailments?? Although I will say I don’t always feel stressed when this occurs. Occurrences are not regular and usually occur before my period.

I experience a heat in the vaginal area, and dryness that, I believe, creates the “paper cuts” in the folds or the vagina area and above the clitoris area. If left “untreated” yeast will form-white pastey stuff. I have been to my GYN for the pain and burning, and she has prescribed a cream for a yeast infection. The cream burns for a prolonged period and hurts like ‘H E double hockey sticks’! I do not recommend the cream personally. What I have found to help the best, by self trial and error, is to spray Solarcaine to the area. I know that probably sounds bad and it will burn for a brief period, ten seconds. But then it will ‘numb’ or ‘cool’ the area. It is a temporary relief but is effective until the cuts go away. It may take a week to ten days for the cuts to disappear – same as if you use the cream. You may also want to apply Vasoline or a K-Y gel to keep the area lubricated. Wear a mini-pad so you don’t get any on your undies. What does it say on a tampon box, resume normal activity? Except, sorry guys, sex will be uncomfortable until the cuts disappear. I think this is just something you need to make yourself the most comfortable until it passes. It seems to me it needs to run its own course.

As an additional note, when I describe the ‘heat’ in the vaginal area, I am talking about an internal heat. I want to say it is related to my blood type. Approx. 9 years ago, I experienced what is called Sweets Syndrome. If you ‘google’ this, it will totally gross you out. I did not have an extreme case. What happened is, I developed tiny blisters on my arms and legs, along with a low grade fever. I thought they were spider bites and went to the dermatologist. He took a biopsy and diagnosed it as a case of Sweets Syndrome. FYI, This is named from a man with the last name of Sweets, and not related to eating too much sugar. The dermatologist prescribed steroids which eventually made them disappear – after two doses. Sweets is very, very painful. Note, this did not affect the vaginal area. They also ran a blood test because Sweets can be a precursor to Leukemia. It is written somewhere that within a year or so of the first outbreak of Sweets, the patient will develop Leukemia. I am telling you right now, I never developed Leukemia. I did experience Sweets two other times over the course of approx. 3 years. The doctor said it is not known what causes it. He prescribes steroids and they go away.

So back to the vaginal cuts, I get them. I do not know if the cuts are at all related to the blood or the Sweets. I am currently very stressed about finances so I will use that as an excuse for my current occurrence. If yeast forms, I wipe it clean and spray with the Solarcaine. Since yeast requires a dry area for healing, I do not use a lubricant then. But, I can usually feel it coming on with the cuts and catch it before any yeast develops now. Good Luck!

:shakehead:

tears
 

Hello, I am so glad I found this site hopefully it will help. My story is I have been having sex with my boyfriend for about 3 years and now with in the past 7 months i have been getting small tears along the out side of my folds and near the connecting skin. I went to my yearly gyno since i was 17 then and still didnt have a car nor the guts to ever say anything to anyone except my boyfriend. well she told me it was a yeast infection and confirmed it with a strip of paper that turned a color, but i still had no other signs of an yeast infection so i put off using the cream she gave me. my boyfriend and i are very active and it takes me a while to get ready and certain things irritate me so it takes too long. We have tried lube but it seems to sting the inside of me and the tears. At first the tears were small but now 7 months later they are so long almost 1 1/2 inches! :sad: We use lube and i finally got the yeast infection pill and still i have this huge cut. Even when i wipe it opens back up and is a pain. It starts to get like a thin scab over it that turns the whole area like a chalkly white, then the scab will come off so easy when in the shower or wiping that it doesn't heal. I have a bad diet i am sure since i eat mostly sweet things; and i guess i need help on the actual tears and how to cook meals that are good for me. Please someone if you have any remidies that will help with out me going and finding a gyno (since planed parenthood only takes under 18) it would be much appreciated.
Thanks for reading.

I just found this forum on google myself... I must say I'm at the end of my rope and very frustrated.

I have been doing research on this vaginal tear, papercut, fissure thing for months now and I'm no closer to figuring it out than I was before.

As far as I know, my problems started back in April and they are not related to sexual activity at all. I get papercuts on my labia. Sometimes on the lip itself (on the inside) and sometimes at the base of where the labia meet. Back in April I was getting them pretty frequently... when I notice them, the seem to heal in a matter of days. I have been to many doctors and they basically think I'm nuts. Usually the first reaction out of a doctor when I go in is AH YOU HAVE HERPES. I've been tested for herpes on a number of occassions and I in fact do not have it. My STD tests are all negative as well. The second thing they tell me is that I have a Yeast infection...that always comes back negative. The third thing they tell me is its bacterial... that's not it either.

I had been on NuvaRing for almost 2 years or so but they keep telling me that the ring would not cause this problem... I seem to think it does. I went off it for a couple months and I seemed to stop getting them (its hard to know because the only way I know they are there usually is if I'm constantly inspecting my vagina with my hands). I just put my ring back in a week or so ago and low and behold I have another one where my labia meets.

I have been to many forums and have heard anything from crohn's disease to Licien Sclerosis ... but I'm soooooo frustrated and irritated its not even funny. I also seem to have just really sensitive skin down there... I shaved myself a few weeks ago and promptly after the hair started growing back I broke out in like razor burn or something. Underwear also irritates my skin... I get rashes where the elastic is touching my skin sometimes.

I am an overweight woman and my legs rub together... I'm wondering if this has something to do with my vaginal health? I seem to sweat a lot.

I called an OB today to make an appointment to have someone look at it but was basically laughed at and they told me to go to the ER. Should I go to the ER for something like this? Won't they laugh me out of there too?

I really dunno what to do and find I'm starting to get depressed because I can't figure out what's wrong with me. Do I have some wierd disease...do I have cancer?

EDIT: I had a biopsy done and after all that she says its dermatitis. An allergic reaction.... makes no sense.

Worth a try..... indeed
 

I have been miserable with this condition for quite sometime and I wanted to share with other ladies what has finally worked for me. I take 1000 mg. of Ester-C every day along with 3- omega 3 fish oil capsules and last but not least I drink a large 18 oz. glass of water w/ 1 tablespoon of psyllium seed husk, (rather than metamucil or others that have added sugar or the sugar-free junk added) That combo has healed me up within a month and 1/2. The combination of ester-C for skin as well as the fish oil and the psyllium husk to give your body a break down there during the healing process for softer smaller stools to allow the healing process to take over. Also I dabbed on some vitamin E oil every time I used the bathroom to soothe the sore spot while it healed. It's really worth a try, I have very thin skin and it still allowed me to heal very nicely and inexpensively as well. I hope this helps someone out there like it did me.

Wow I thought I was the only one with the issue. Recently I started to have these tiny slits on the sides and on the top skin. There is also slits in the middle skin connecting to the anus. It is very itchy.When I pee it burns (of course the acid in urine and the open skin). This usually happens before my period and during. There is no smell or abnormal discharge. I am not having any sexual activity since my BF is off to Iraq. When we did have sex the last time a few months ago there was a great burning pain when I peed after and sometimes it would hurt when he would put it in. It was probably because of the lack of lubrication or I don't know. I never had issues like these. However, now this issue has occurred and I don't have any idea how to deal with it. I stopped using soap because that was torture. I sleep naked sometimes and it eases the burn the next morning. I stopped itching and it helps a great deal even though it is very tempting. I also soak in water (thats what my doctor prescribed). This is the second time this is happening and I don't want to deal with this anymore. I also should add I got the Depo shot. After my period finally normalized this happens. I don't want to tell my BF just yet since he doesn't come home for awhile and until I find out what it actually is. I practice monogamy and got tested. I'm going to get tested again and hopefully the gyno can help me out. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas please do respond, it would be greatly appreciated.

That sounds exactly like a yeast infection, at least the ones that I get. Have you been tested for yeast?

I am so glad I found this website, because even though no one seems quite sure about what is causing this, at least its somewhere to talk about it. There seem to be loads of situations where these these vaginal tears occur. The thing is, I'm pretty sure I can diagnose mine. I had sex for the first time last night and although I enjoyed it I guess i was probably a little tense and my guy was quite big. I only really noticed the cuts this evening- the six o'clock and some tears on my vaginal lips- when it hurt loads when I peed so I had to check it out. So i know it seems obvious in my case but I'm still worried that the problem is indicative of something greater and I'm worried this is going to happen every time I have sex from now on. I'm just wondering whether the same condition can link people who have been having sex for years fine and then suddenly have this problem, and people like me. This has really got me down and has kind of ruined what was otherwise a great night. I'm just wondering whether I should go see a doctor now about but they all seem to be pretty useless. If anyone was in a similar situation to myself, i would really appreciate hearing how it progressed afterwards.

first off, thank you all for this thread! i'm still working on reading it all.

oh that so sounds like me!

i'm almost 31 and until about 6 weeks ago, i'd never had a yeast infection. for that i did the same "Gee, i'd better itch that" followed by an "oh, @#$* that hurt!" and finally went to one of my ob/gyns (i have 3 - my gyn, my reproductive endocrinologist who took out a huge uterine fibroid i had about 5 weeks ago, and just my regular gyn - i've been seeing the repro endo for surgery follow ups). she told me it was a yeast infection and gave me one of the seven day prescriptions, which i took. then she told me i had a secondary infection and gave me metronidazole pills (i think that was them) but they actually made me throw up so she switched me to a metronidazole insertable gel.

about 2 weeks later she did tests when i had my surgery and she told me i still had that secondary infection, so i took the 3 remaining doses i had (i had originally received 10 but was told to take 7).

about 5 days ago i tore a little again at the 12 o'clock position, and there was some sexual activity (a horribly stupid idea in retrospect). the next day, the tear was bigger and i noticed i actually had a scab over it. not thinking, i squatted in the shower and ripped the scab off in doing so.

reading this forum, i realized that i was pretty certain i had another yeast infection so i got an over the counter 3 day product. 2 days in, the pain is less, but i'm itching more (perhaps cause the pain doesn't override the itching anymore) and i can actually feel that there are some raised areas right inside the labia. (i just realized i feel really weird writing all this on a forum!!) in any case, if i don't see more improvement tomorrow, i'm going back to a gyn.

but thank you so much for this thread and i will keep reading in hopes of more info!

eta: it's all a lil better today, but there's redness over the cut area that feels firmer than the rest and i actually feel some pressure when i walk. i'm trying to get a hold of a different gyno today - i was on hold for the other one for 30 minutes yesterday.

Help
 

Hi Ladies,

I can't tell you how happy I am to find this right now I am almost in tears...I have been looking on the internet for information about this and haven't really found anything...

Well I don't lubricate very well (I am also on the pill) so without lubrication I get very dry during intercourse. My boyfriend is very well endowed and I am really tiny and about a month ago after sex when I went to the bathroom I felt stinging..I looked down and there was a tiny paper cut (very shallow also only in the uppermost layer of the skin) slit in the delicate tissue near the vaginal opening (not in the 6 o clock more like the the 7) it only was tender if I touched it or if pee passed over it when i urinated but there was no general tenderness or pain I got an appointment with at the local clinic 2 days later and it was already healed so she couldnt take a culture...

The reason I am writing is because I am very confused...the Nurses and a Gyn I talked to there said that it is possible to tear after intercourse but when I saw the NP at the clinic she said it doesn't just tear like that but then went on later to say it was possible...She told me that it could either be a yeast infection or Herpes 1 (she said it definately wasnt herpes 2 even though I am pretty sure you cant tell the difference between the two by just looking at it)

So she told me to use lube and gave me yeast infection cream just in case Since using the lube I have been good but this weekend I didn't have it on me and again I got a tiny tiny tear around the same area... That was Saturday night and by Monday night it was healed...i told my doctor what happened with the NP and he pretty much thinks she is crazy and thinks it is highly unlikely that it is herpes ...I ended up getting a blood test and get my results tomorrow for herpes 1 and 2 ...I am so scared because I know that most people who have herpes don't know it and I hope I am not one of those people...

Does anyone else tear in that area I see a lot of you said in the 6 o clock between the vagina and the anus but mine is more to the side near the opening of the vagina ...

Sorry for the long post hopefully I will find a doctor who will be able to figure this all out!!! Thanks ladies :)

just as an update, it turns out I have herpes, and I read that (from herpes.com) -

yea i just got tested and it came back positive but the results were mixed for type 1 and type 2 so i dont know which one i have so im waiting on my results for the type specific test ....the waiting is the worst part :(

So I got my HSV type specific test results back today and I am negative for HSV-2 :) I was really worried because since my results were mixed I didnt know if I could have both HSV-1 and 2 (since most people who have type 2 don't know it) ...I have gotten cold sores so I know that I would be positive for HSV-1 but my doctor thinks the tear was from sex like i thought it was if it ever happens again I will get a culture done on it but my doctor says it is highly unlikely that I would have HSV1 in the genital region because of having a history of cold sores but I am relieved its good to not have that on my mind anymore as a possibility...i hope you ladies are all doing well and I hope u have a happy and healthy (and tear free ;) ) holidays!

Vaginal Tears
 

Hello everyone =)

Tonight I did a Google search about this topic and found this website. I am just so relieved that there is actually a place that I can just come out and talk/ask about pretty much anything.

That being said... My dilemma is very similar to most of yours. I have been reading through all of these replies and getting myself educated on a few things. But, I still have a few questions.

Recently, I have been having sex with a guy that I have been seeing for a few weeks now. He's on the rather...large side...Every time we have sex it killlllllsss afterwards and a little bit during. We haven't had sex for 2 days now and today I realized the little area in between is irritated and torn...even bleeding a little. We do use lube...maybe not enough? I'd been with a guy that was a lot bigger and the same thing happened, but not this bad.

At first I thought maybe it was because we used a certain brand of condoms that I have had bad luck with in the past. But even without condoms it hurts. It's only itchy in the most irritated spot so I don't think it's a yeast infection.
I did see that someone suggested vitamin E...in which form should I try it? I've never had to go out and buy vitamins in any way other than pill form.

Any other suggestions are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!!

I also had/have a vaginal cut in the 6 o clock position. I guess you can also call it the perineum, because it extends outward a bit. it's like a slit, and red. never burns or itches. just.. hurts. I can't stick items in there, and sore to touch.

I first started having sex in october, and noticed it in November. it hurt to have sex, so I looked in the mirror to see what it was.

I think it first occurred because it was around the first time I was having sex, AND my boyfriend used condoms with spermacide. back then I didn't read about what nasty things spermacide can do to your vagina. I also noticed I have dryness issues down there, and my body in general, so that didn't help the situation. I also had a yeast infection. treated it. but that situation may have made the skin crappy too.

also in november, I had an outbreak and was diagnosed with genital herpes 1. when the gyno looked at my outbreak, she said there was a lesion in the same spot where I am having the reoccurring cut. I don't know which happened first though: the cut, or the lesion.

so from november-january, the cut kept reoccurring. there was even a time I didnt have sex for a month, and it came back again. I decided that fixing my dryness problem was a MUST.


the past 2 weeks I have been taking (all things listed here are daily):
- multivitamin
- extra B vitamins + C
- vitamin E
- omega 3 and 6 fish oil capsules
- Biotin 5000 mcg
- probiotic acidophilus
- eating better & drinking more water
- pop vitamin E capsules and apply the oil to the vaginal cut area, gently massaging it (I apply it 1x morning, 1x evening, and then if I've had sex I usually apply it after as well. I may start skipping the morning application, to avoid getting any infections).
- not using any soap or perfumes or anything near vagina.
- avoid taking long hot shower so vaginal area doesn't come in contact with hot water for long periods of time.
- NO spermacide condoms. plain condoms.
- I use a water-based Vagisil lubricant during sex.
- I also go to bed in just loose sweatpants, no underwear- so the area can breathe.

and FINALLY we've been able to have sex 3 times in 7 days. it seems like the cut reopens just a tiny bit. but definitely better than what it used to be like before. it doesn't look as big or red as before. maybe I should wait longer before having sex next time so I can give this old cut more time to heal and make even more progress.

update.. cut keeps coming back. about 2-3 weeks ago I went to my gyno. she suggested I take valtrex for 5 days since I do have genital herpes 1. I took it and refrained from any sexual contact.

last night my boyfriend fingered me, and the 6oclock position cut has reopened.

I read few peoples experience online saying the same thing happened to them, and they got minor surgery to repair the area of skin- cut away a little part of excess skin. it makes sense. maybe I should try to do perineal massages daily with vitamin E. I should be getting my period in 4-5 days, so I can't make a gyno appointment yet. I'll wait til the end of March, so she can inspect the cut when it's "healed."

this is so frustrating.

Reading your posts here, I don't see any mention of getting treatment for a yeast infection. Have you tried that yet?? For me, vaginal cuts are ONLY about yeast infections... once the infection has been treated, the cuts heal and go away. But that's me.

I did take dilfucan and valtrex.

and there are not multiple cuts.
it's just the same 1 that reopens with fingering or penis.
I know yeast infections can weaken the skin, but my gyno did not think I had one, but I took the pill anyway.
she recommended lube too, but I used to use that and cuts still reoccurred. last night I did not use lube though, so I am sure that didn't help. but for me, it seems like it doesn't matter.

I'm gonna stick to a strict pernieal massage routine with vitamin E, take my vitamins, drink more water, maybe get a dilator and try to stretch the skin. since it's been occuring since November, I'm sure extra scar skin has been forming.. and that obviously doesn't help the cause.

I really just want someone to snip that little extra piece of skin anyway where the tear forms. its like almost a web-like extra flap that tears when its stretched when something is inserted.