VVS and Mirena IUD

[pididdle.livejournal.com]

Some back story....
A while ago I posted regarding pain during sex and since then I have been told that I have vulvar vestibulitis. As a treatment, I was given a topical cream to apply, however after about a month using that I discontinued use because I felt it wasn't working. At my next doctors appointment the nurse said that it looked like I had a mild case of BV so I had treatment for that as well...I don't go back to the doctor until november so I can't be sure that it's completely gone. This past saturday I started physical therapy for my pelvic floor muscles with a urogynecologist...I'm hoping that will provide some results. I was talking with the physical therapist regarding the supposed connection between HBC and various vagina-related issues such as vvs, vulvodynia and others and she enforced the fact that studies seem to allude to the connection, but never anything specifically conclusive.

I stopped taking HBC about a month ago to test for myself if my symptoms would change. I was on LoEstrin 24. So far, I haven't really had the opportunity to find out if there is any less pain during intercourse. I've been contemplating and IUD for a while and I'm leaning much more towards the Mirena than the Paraguard because I know I would not be happy with my decision if it resulted in heavier, more painful periods.

Anyway, I guess that the main question I wanted to ask was whether or not anyone here with vvs, vulvodynia, etc. has gotten the Mirena IUC after being diagnosed and whether or not it helped, hindered, or nothing changed with their symptoms. I'm wondering if the hormones in the Mirena are low enough to not cause a problem and I'm just trying to get a feeling of what I could potentially expect...or perhaps change my mind and go with a copper IUD.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks!

Comments

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I don't know about Mirena and VVS etc.

But I do have a copper IUD. I thought the periods wouldn't be a big deal, because my periods were never all that heavy or crampy before. But for me, it did turn out to be a big deal. My periods are VERY heavy and VERY painful.

I chose the copper over Mirena because I was trying to see what impacts HBC was having on my depression. So in that sense, I still think it was a good choice for me. But I sort of blew off the seriousness of the heavier/painful period side effect...I wish I'd been more prepared for what that would mean for me.

Of course, YMMV. A lot of women don't have problems like I have.

Good luck with whatever you choose! :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/__onthebound/]

i have VVS & a mirena but haven't really seen a difference

[laurensellscorn.livejournal.com]

For my own curiousity, what topical did they have you using? I'm having decent success with lidocaine, though it didn't do a damn thing before my vestibulectomy.

I noticed I felt tons better off birth control, but unfortunately, I was then diagnosed with endo and put on menstrual suppression for awhile. I can't wait to get off it. I used FAM for awhile, and I found my pain was next to nil during fertile days.. it seemed like everything just opened up and wanted sex! It was nothing less than amazing. It took about two cycles for my libido and lubrication to get back up and my pain to decrease.

I personally think that if hormones are the problem, it's either all or nothing. I felt the best I have in years using non-hormonal birth control. :)

[pididdle.livejournal.com]

I believe the topical I was prescribed is called gabapentin. I also think that lidocaine is the next step in treatment if I choose to go that way. For some reason my doc didn't want to prescribe to me right off the bat.

I'm glad to hear that things are going better for you.

[solestria.livejournal.com]

Have you considered using capsaicin cream? It hurts like hell, but it's made a HUGE improvement in my condition and in that of a friend who also has VVS. I'd highly recommend seeing a good vulvar pain specialist if you haven't already. What sort of cream were you using?

Also, I'd recommend checking out [Unknown site tag] if you haven't already.

[solestria.livejournal.com]

That's vvs_community.

[pididdle.livejournal.com]

I was prescribed gabapentin (not entirely sure how to spell it). Is the capsaicin cream a prescription also?

I've been going to a Vulvar Clinic at a Women and Infants hospital near me and so far they've been really helpful. Much better than the gynos I went that told me that they could see nothing wrong so they didn't know how to explain my pain. I've also just started physical therapy, so I'm hoping that provides some results.

[solestria.livejournal.com]

Huh, I didn't know they used that as a topical; probably an awful lot fewer side effects than oral administration. (A Google search informs me that gabapentin is a generic of Neurontin, which helps to block nerve transmissions and has some seriously nasty side effects, at least with oral administration.)

Capsaicin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin) is the active ingredient in hot peppers. It's available by prescription; you can get creams OTC, but they're made for arthritis and usually contain vulvar irritants. MIne was compounded for me by a mail-order pharmacy after my doctor called in the script. It burns like hell (I sit on ice when I use it), but it helps tremendously, and after four years, I'm finally having pain-free sex again.

I hope PT helps; it's shown to be one of the most useful things for VVS. And I'm sorry you've had to deal with bad gynos.

[pigtailedgirl.livejournal.com]

Your icon is cute. I like Moose.