Red, Burny, Lumpy-- HELP :(
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| Wed, 03-30-2005 - 11:37pm |
Hey everyone. I have a problem, and I'm not sure about what it is.
About a week and a half ago, I started to experience slight burning whenever I urinate. This happened after my boyfriend and I had sex. He used his fingers, and I figured that maybe his nails might have irritated me. And if not that, I figured it could have also been from shaving, since I DO shave my outer lips (and sometimes mistakenly go over the moist part of my vagina), and this has happened before (burning sensation after shaving b/c I accidentally shaved over the moist part. Whenever this happened in the past, the burning sensation would only last for a few days, and would always leave.
But this time, it didn't leave. The pain has gotten much worse since yesterday, to the point where if I walk a certain way or sit a certain way, and my panties rub against me, it hurts. So as I was saying . . . the pain's gotten much worse, so tonight I decided to take a look at myself in the mirror. Well, I noticed that on ONE side of my vagina, from the side fold of my clit and down to the bottom, I am swollen. I also noticed some lumpiness. I do not want to say bumps, b/c it's not like they're really raised a lot or anything. It just looks and feels lumpy. Not really red or anything, maybe a little more pinkish, but not very significant. I also noticed that a few of these lumps (there's about four) have like . . . tiny holes at the center of them, and it looks like my skin is open. Nothing is oozing from them or anything. Just looks like open skin, like something had chaffed me. Like someone used a cheese grater on me!
I've been w/ my b/f for 4 years now, we're monogamous, and I'm pretty sure he'd never cheat -- but as with anyone, you never know, right? I just had my annual pelvic exam/pap about . . . I don't know, maybe a few weeks ago? They said they'd call me if anything came back abnormal, and no one has called me. But then again, this has happened after my exam took place.
I do not think it's a yeast infection-- I'm not dry, and I don't have any sort of discharge. Everything is normal in that area.
ALSO, I don't know if this plays any role, but do you think it could be some sort of a side-effect of birth control? I just started taking Ortho Tricyclen-Lo for the first time about two weeks ago.
If this does not clear up by this weekend, I plan on calling my doctor to get this checked out. I just want opinions on whether this has happened to anyone before, and any ideas as to what this could POSSIBLY be (don't worry, I'm not looking for a diagnosis. Just some opinions).
Thanks,
J.

Hi J. Welcome!
I think I'd call my doctor now rather than wait until the weekend when s/he will be harder to reach. I haven't heard of hormonal contraceptives causing bumps but I suppose it's possible. Sometimes hormones can dry out vulvar tissue and cause it to thin and tear. Do the bumps with the open tops (probably where the burning is coming from when you urinate) look like infected ingrowns from shaving? Sorry I can't be of more help other than to suggest you see your doctor right away for a diagnosis and treatment. Let us know what your doctor says and how you're doing.
Good luck,
Jill