D.S. Age 31
My husband and I had enjoyed a very healthy sex life for the first four years we had been dating. After that time and up until very recently, a period of five years, I was experiencing very painful sex. Apprehension and dread replaced the anticipation and excitement I normally felt towards sex. I began avoiding sexual situations and encounters with my husband as much as possible. My desire had totally gone, and I could have lived without sex forever, even pap smears were incredibly painful and unbearable. We stopped having a sexual relationship entirely. After 18 or so months, we began visiting counsellors, doctors and other health professionals. They all agreed I had episodes of thrush, I sometimes did and didn’t have vaginismus depending on the doctor, and I...
E.C. Age 26
When I was 18 yrs old , I developed a reoccurring irritation of the vagina accompanied by an itch, rawness, discomfort and burning sensation, after spending several months on antibiotics. I experienced these symptoms on a daily basis and found that I was unable to use tampons. My local GP told me it was just a case of thrush (Candida). After seeing many GP’s, specialists (both gynecologists, and dermatologists) trying many different medications, medical procedures and even a laparoscopy. I was diagnosed with having a Chronic case of thrush and a hypersensitivity around the opening of the vagina. Although the medications helped to reduce the symptoms of the candida, it did not get rid of it fully and the hypersensitivity still remained. In fact as time went on, I...
T.R. Age 27
I have suffered from vulvar pain for the past six years. I put up with the pain (only during intercourse) and basically accepted that it was just me. Maybe I was too small or something. I decided to get a check up a couple of years ago just to make sure there wasn’t anything wrong that could be fixed with some tablets or something. Since then I have seen a GP, then was referred to a gynaecologist, then a Sexual Therapist, then a specialist and finally the Vulvar Pain Clinic. I am into my second month of treatment using the Biofeedback Therapy and am finally making some progress. The tension in my muscles have significantly decreased and the doctor is confident that by my wedding date which is in six months that I should see a dramatic improvement....
S.M. Age 27
I have been seeing Mr Jantos for several months now in relation to various problems which were causing great difficulty in my sexual relationship with my partner who I live with. I am a 27 years of age and have been sexually active for three years, only being with the one partner. I cannot remember every having sexual intercourse without feeling great discomfort in my pelvic area. I was experiencing sharp piercing pains on insertion and after intercourse experiencing burning sensations, an inflamed vagina and throbbing for periods of 15 minutes to half and hour after sexual activity. The degree of pain and duration varied from time to time. After two years of this problem my partner and I consulted our local GP who fortunately was familiar with what she thought I...
C.H. Age 24
Pain for me began around two and a half years ago and it was only a year ago that I was diagnosed with Vulvodynia. I ignored it for a while thinking it was related to thrush infections which I seemed to get regularly. At one point my partner and my doctor both suggested that the pain could be psychological and that I had lost interest in sex. The latter became true. Just the thought of having intercourse would be extremely stressful for me. I had 24-hour pain. I could not wear trousers, particularly jeans for any length of time. I stopped using tampons altogether and I definitely stopped having intercourse. I kept going back to my doctor with more infections and explained the continual pain. The pain was so uncomfortable it could sometimes distract me from...