VERY red, swollen labia minora immediately after intercourse

[edelweiss]

I am so baffled by my condition, which started a couple months ago. Was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis first. Then a yeast infection which was treated with Diflucan. My nurse practictioner told me to not have intercourse for about 10 days to allow the yeast to clear up. So, I waited the 10 days. Then, after intercourse, I would feel so uncomfortable - itchy, burny, just not right, but the most alarming thing was that my labia minora (especically one side) would turn bright red and swell up like a balloon. Very hard, and swollen and would take several hours for the swelling to subside. This only happens during sex - other than that, I have no symptoms, and no swelling. I went back to a different doctor thinking maybe the yeast infection hadn't cleared up - got another dose of Diflucan, lab results showed NO YEAST, and waited another 2 weeks before trying sex again.

Same thing. Swelled up literally like a balloon - bright red, hard labia, uncomforable feeling at the base of vaginal opening. I have no visible sores, only feel this after/during sex and chlamydia/gonorrhea test are negative. I have not changed partners, have not changed soaps, lubricants, sheets anything different.

Any ideas? I am going for a second opinion with an MD in a couple weeks - but in the meantime, I am freaking out.

[emilyrunnes]

A related discussion, Extreme swelling and discomfort of labia minora was started.

[lizzard241265]

I know your pain!! I to have the same problem and went to the doctor and found out I have strep b. Its a bacteria you have all the time just some girls it over rides your down stairs. There's nothing you can really do to get rid of it but there are somethings to help it. What I find helps for me is take acidophilous daily and rub with tea tree oil were the swelling occurs.

[i_am19]

A related discussion, swollen labia minora was started.

[Dworried420]

im pretty sure the post about Candida was correct, at least in my case. I eat nothing but sugars an carbs, i am the worst eater ever actually..i starve myself and then i eat the worst foods immaginable then starv myself again. I dont doubt that theres prob millions of bacteria in my body hah soo im going to the doctor ! I'm reallllly pissed cuz he should have figured this out, i have all the symptoms. I hope this is what i have so i can cure it finalllly. Good luck ladies if it wasnt for this forum i wouldnt feel so releaved.

[banana99]

the same thing happend to me twice!!! I've had 3 sexual partners but i only get swollen after having sex with one...the other 2 don't cause swelling. the swelling goes away in about 24 hours but its still really uncomfortable.  the frist time we hav sex i didi not swell but the following 2 times i did. we did not use a condom at anytime.  sometimes i think it might be due to a lack of lubrication but i'm not sure...it seemed pretty lubricated...we've never used protection so im not sure if that the issue...im afraid to have sex because of the pain and discomfort...what should i do???!!!???

[Beholdthediva9]

this just happened to me today and i was freaking out. i noticed something was wrong while we were in the shower, and then i checked it out and my right labia minora is huge! i can't walk or sit without some mild discomfort. i found i wasn't getting "wet" during the sex and we used spit first, (sorry if this is too graphic, i just want to cover all bases) but after we used a water based lube and it was fine, but when he touched down there i had to make him stop it was such a sharp pain. i'm at college so i can't get to my regular gyno, so i'm waiting for the swelling to go down but i'm freaking out that it will happen again.  is there anyone who it's only happened to once?

help! i want my natural lube back and non swollen labia!

[pattibaby]

Am 18yrs old and i have barely lost my virginity on the 7th of august and it had hurt lik hell but after the sex my vagina was veri swollen and i just thought it was beccause it was my first time experimentin sex but after a couple more times of sex it stil hurt while going and the swellin still occur so my partner and i thought i was allergic to the condoms so we stop using them but the swellin stil occurs after sex and i am veri soar dwn there, i also leak alot of clear liquid after sex and my partner and i are veri worried idk wat is goin on wit me and i dnt want to tel my mother because she would be veri disappointed in me and i jus dnt know wat to do AM SOOO SCARED!!!!! SOMEONE PLS HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!

[alicat458]

i had the same problem last week after having sex with my partner.  i was lucky enough to get into the dr the next day and he prescribed  hydrocortisone cream to put on and took some swabs as well.  This helped immensely and the swelling went down within the day.   we have had sex a number of times since but no repeats of the swelling yet.

[shaggii]

Hi guys,

I'm surprised to find that so many girls have this problem. I have been sexually active for years with several partners and this never happened till June (last month). I had sex with this guy. I was very wet and ready and it was all good. By the time i got home, i realized that my right vulva was swollen (about 2 times its natural size) and it was very painful too. I ignored it because i thought it was due to reason that he was very big down there. About a week after, i had sex with this same guy and behold, my right vulva was swollen again, but this time it was about 4 times its natural size. I freaked out! It was painful, uncomfortable and i couldnt work or sit normally. Since then i havent had sex. I'm so scared, i wish i know what is happening and how to manage it. Please help.

[breakable_glass]

CANDIDA: causes symptoms such as...
    * abdominal gas

    * headaches

    * migraines

    * excessive fatigue

    * cravings for alcohol

    * anxiety

    * vaginitis

    * rectal itching

    * cravings for sweets

    * inability to think clearly or concentrate

    * hyperactivity

    * mood swings

    * diarrhea

    * constipation

    * hyperactivity

    * itching

    * acne

    * eczema

    * depression

    * sinus inflammation

    * pre-menstrual syndrome

    * dizziness

    * poor memory

    * persistent cough

    * earaches

    * low sex drive

    * muscle weakness

    * irritability

    * learning difficulties

    * sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals

    * cognitive impairment

    * thrush

    * athlete's foot

    * sore throat

    * indigestion

    * acid reflux

    * chronic pain
Main point is vaginitis. Yeast infections (the most annoying of the symptoms)!!! reoccuring and many times cannot be picked up from pap smears.

I have many of the symptoms you all describe. The list above only really made sense after i found that I had Candida. How to cure you ask....very intensive diet and natural remedies! Go see a naturopathic doctor. They get down to the core of the problem=the digestive system. It will be pricey and VERY time consuming. I am at month 3 of no sugar, alcohol, and many other foods drinks are restricted. I am starting to feel alot better. still feeling some symptoms but they are subsiding. I have been dealing with this problem for about 1.5 years. All docs kept prescribing yeast medication, which never worked. GO SEE A NATUROPATH and STICK TO IT!

[robin0409]

so this has happened to me ALOT...
it started out about 2-3 months after i first had sex last year, then it kinda quit, and i stopped having sex, then i started dating my current boyfriend in december and we were fine until about feb/march(i feel like i started taking birth control around then... possibly something?). ever since that time, one side would swell up... then the other side kinda started up too... and on a few occasions, both of my labia minora AND the opening to my vagina swelled up. NOT FUN! i know that this current boyfriend didnt give me anything because he was a virgin, and i recently got my first pap which tested for a few things. nothing showed up. i havent talked to my doctor about this certain issue but i plan to.
UNTIL THEN, HERE ARE SOME THEORIES!!!

-VULVODYNIA... this sounds pretty close, but it says minimal swelling... and swelling doesnt seem to be that major of a symptom. but check it out. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vulvodynia/DS00159

-BARTHOLINS CYST (eh im kinda skeptical about it for myself), but hey bring it up to your doctor so they can check

-SEXY PANTIES... ladies, i know we like to look good but... our lady parts dont appreciate the leather, lacy, skin tight sexkitten stuff. ive heard that 100%cotton panties reduce the risk of bacteria and alot of infections. the cute things are good for special ocassion but for every day use go forr something simple with room to breathe

-SOAPS... after recently gettin my belly button pierced(and alot of researching on cleaning it) i dont know why in the world i ever bought the body wash with all the nasty added moisturizers, scents, dyes, chemicals, etc. those are so bad for our skin!!! LOW PH, ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS are very good to use, just plain bar stuff like Lever or (ive been using Safeguard) gets the job done without those nasty additives

-ROUGH SEX.. we all get a little crazy in bed and i know that my boyfriend and i have back to back sex... alot. and i think the girl just a little bit irritated after a while. lube helps, but make sure its WATERBASED. once again, all the bad additives.. also, rough sex can cause little tears in your area, which can lead to swelling and pain.

try out this website, it asks you everything and could possibly get some answers
http://www.diagnose-me.com/ta-qf-p4.html

my boyfriend has been in mexico for a month and we still have one more month to go, so im hoping to clear this issue up before he comes back because it definitly puts a damper on our would be amazing sex life...

[sleepytart]

Hello Ladies.

Have a developing story to share, bear with me: my boyfriend recently had a burning, swollen **** after sex and went to the clinic. They told him they thought it was his first herpes outbreak. (!!) We had already had unprotected sex, thinking we were both clean so... I'm going to the gyno on wednesday. I found out it is very hard to test for herpes if you have no outbreak -- you basically have to get a blood test done. I am really scared because that is a lifelong virus and right now there is no way for me to know if I am infected -- I have never had an outbreak! And his test results don't come back until next week.

After *protected* sex this morning, I had the same symptoms as everyone here for the very first time. Not to scare anyone, but HSV2 hasn't been mentioned at all in this forum. Many doctors treat it differently than other stds for some reason, and its easy to mistake some of the symptoms for just a yeast infection or something else... for those who have access to it, maybe its time to get a blood test done!

[buttercupbaby]

I have the same problem, but its not always straight after sex. its not a yeast infection but my right labia minora is swollen red and hard usually after sex


i dont know what is it but i have a short term treatment when it appears..

it was so painful and itchy that i used TCP. i have to warn you that it really hurts to start with for about 3 minutes. this is  because its swollen but dilute it with water a bit on cotton wool. and gently wipe the swollen place. dont over use the cotton wool because this can spead anything . change the cotton wool about 3 times.  if it hurts to much get a cotton wool pad with water and wipe this over.

it does hurt for about 3 minutes though.

thats the only think which has worked for me.

hope this helps.

[Jary08]

Ergh i feel your pain ladies. i have this problem...not so bad as some but ever since i got UTIs (which have stopped) ive had nothing but discomfort when having sex...its mainly my urethra but afterwards my vulval area burns and looks very red and a couple of times its swollen.


I saw a gynae but the symptoms wernt present so she couldnt help me at all. but i had a doc app on thursday (new gp) and she suggested an irritated vulva syndrome, and to stop using any soap on that area (i use femfresh cause it helped my itching during the uti problems) the burning isnt as bad after sex but its still there. i wont give up till i find out the problem tho! and my urethral problem too! its frustrating me to hell and now im at the point where i dont care what they do to me to find the solution, i just want answers so i can get better!

[teyo]

yep i consulted with my cousin who is a GP, apparently before i figured out my symptoms i gave her the wrong info so she diagnosed me with a yeast infection 2 days ago. i called her today and told her everything i've read and properly gave her my symptoms which were fever 2days ago, swollen right labia, pain when sitting and walking and she confirmed that i have a bartholin's cyst. she was also very pissed for causing her to misdiagnose me in the 1st place. she said i need a particular type of antibiotics which i cant remember right now and i need to see an OBGYN to have the cyst drained and flushed. she also said there is the possibility that it will recur. i hope not. i'm making an app't with an obgyn for tues cuz monday is a holiday.

i hope this helps the rest of u. u should read up on bartholin's cyst/abscess for urselves. may answer alot of ur questions.

[teyo]

my situation is slightly different. i'm in a long distance rel'p and hadnt had sex in over a yr. my bf is back and we had sex twice 2 days later my right labia is swollen, reddish purple and hurts alot. i'm waddling like a duck cuz it hurts to walk.

this happen the last time we saw each other but i think i got a small cut on my labia during penetration and it was swollen for days, it got infected then the abscess ruptured and drained out, i took some antibiotics then i was fine and having awesome sex.

this time around i see no cuts, no abscess, no lesions (thank god) jus a swollen right labia. i want it to go away soon, i cant take this much longer.

[LTCcmg7]

This currently....(about an hour ago) happened to me. My boyfriend and I were worried so he made me some ice in a wet towel and we read almost everyones entry. Glad to say that my swelling has already subsided a large portion. Of course it may do it again the next time I have sex but until then I am hopeful. Good Luck to everyone:)

[stoned3outa5luck7]

yes of course i have it to {otherwise id just be a freak reading all this **** for nothing}. this is about the third time its happened, i thought  it was just because i wasnt wet enough or something like that. NOW im worried about a whole mess of things that could be wrong. im 16 too and it ***** because women much older than me dont know whats wrong with them either. for me, i figured it could be the gland thing(makes sense), the allergy to my boy (hes a big time smoker and one of these posts related it to his semen), or the underwear (seems unlikely but i do wear victoria secret aside from boxers). im not too worried about it, i mean i am but apearantly stressing over it doesnt help cure us and at least it doesnt always happen.

i was really only looking for a short term fix: stop the swelling cause i cant walk and its pretty obvious why; but i ended up finding out alot thanks to these posts. i figure ill try ice or maybe ointment.

thanks ladies..and some dudes, means alot. hope someone can help us all out some day soon. till then, happy *******.

[emmo]

well its happened to me just now, and its happened a few times before.. over about 5 years it's maybe happened 4 times. it normally happens if ive had sex just after ive finished my period, and my theory is that it's just a bit more tender down there than normal and that's why it happens. i find the swelling is normally on one side more than another (not actually sure why, that seems a bit strange!)
i just go to to toilet with an ice cube after and sit there for about 15 minutes untill i feel better. if you do ice yourself make sure you dont put ice directly onto your skin, it's got to be covered with tissue or something or you might end up with it sticking to you (eek...haha)
i dont think its anything serious to be honest. but im no doctor
it does always seem to be just after my period's finished and if i'm "dryer" than normal. and the missionary position..
i certainly dont think it should stop anyone enjoying sex cause they're worrying so much about it.. that would probably stop you getting wet and increase the chance of it happening again
just my ideas here

[Breezyx33]

& right now i just like ' played ' with myself to see if it would happen and it did .. idk what to do i feel like crying because im so scared now .

[Breezyx33]

hey , uhm .. i feel really weird writing on this because ive never done this before but anyways. im so scared because this has only happened to me twice . i thought it was my one partner so me & him split up . but the first time it happened with him , my labias got really swollen , red & it hurt a little bit when i walked. it went away a few hours later. But then i just had sex last night with a different boy, and i wasnt getting ' wet ' or anything . and then right after we had sex thats how it got again. im really nervous like a few girls said because i wanna know if i have to live  with this the rest of my life or can this go away forever? & im only 16 , im so young. and im just freaked out. and i cant tell my mom because she will flip ? should i take me & a friend to a hospital or something ?

if somebody can write back to me , id appriciate it.
thanks x33

[DoraDear]

I am getting the exact same thing you are all describing... SWOLLEN LABIA pretty much right after sex, and it usually lasts upto 10 hours, which is all good if i have sex with my partner at night, but if we have sex in the morning or during the day, i am left with a swollen labia for the rest of the day.....

I have had a few sexual partners and the partner i am with now i was having sex with him for over a year before these symptoms just started out of no where.. and now for FOUR months i have had to deal with a swollen labia after sex... and even if i don't get swollen, i am worried i will be during sex... which takes the pleasure out of sex..

The only thing that i have found that helps is lube.... my OBGYN suggested Astroglide, although i have been using something else and have had ok results with not swelling..

My OBGYN who i just saw yesterday didn't really know what it was, she tested me for a yeast infection and i was totally fine, she suggested it could be an allergic reaction to soaps etc that my partner is using... so i am going to try showering before sex..... but then after reading this page... it would be weird to develop a allergic reaction to sperm after a year..... it would have happened from the beginning of our relationship right??

Also, when i have masturbated i have NOT had swelling.... which brings me back to an allergy... rather than a blockage of my gland..... but i think i need to do a few more trials on this first just to make sure... don't want to blame my partner for nothing..

I will update after playing with myself a few more times, as like i said, that would rule out the blockage... and maybe we all have an allergic reaction to our partners soap, laundry detergent or sperm??

[makarma]

I found that with a certain partner I was having the same symptoms everyone else described. This hasn't happened before with past partners and my current partner this doesn't happen with either. The difference with these partners is the one I had the problem with was an avid smoker and meat was the main part of his diet. Past and current partner/s are/were non-smoking vegans or didn't eat much meat. After research I found that the symptoms are similar to SEMEN ALLERGIES. There are different proteins in semen that you can have allergies to giving you these symptoms. Smoking and eating a lot of meat will have different proteins in the semen obviously and that is where my allergy comes from i believe. My current partner doesn't smoke and is vegan and I do not have this problem what so ever anymore. So talk to your partner about his diet if you are having this problem maybe for you it won't be smoking or eating a lot of meat but hopefully that can give some of you an answer.

here's a website with more information:
http://coolnurse.healthology.com/sexual-health/article1664.htm

[healthdummy]

ok im an idiot.... i forgot to paste the web address ....re: above

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/777112-overview