Vaginal Fissures

[mindboggled]

I wanted to start this forum up again since our other one got closed. We were all wondering what is causin our vaginal fissures or cuts. They are like paper cuts and are very painful. I have recently gotten a biopsy done and I don't get the results back til AUgust 1st. Just wanted to keep this going so we can all try and help eachother.

[bbc]

My posting on 7/21/05 (from the old forum)........Well, I have to say that I was extremely relieved after reading this forum. I had never had vaginal tearing or fissures until about a month ago, and I ignored them. They went away and came back worse about 2 weeks later. I had been cleaning them with peroxide (OUCH!) and putting bacetracin ointment on them to try to heal them, which slightly worked. I was trying to write it off as the toilet paper, etc! But then I became more and more worried, and began to research it and that's when I came across this website. After reading everything I decided to go see my OBGYN. He of course tested me for Herpes, and even though I had read everything that you have all been through, and knowing that none of your tests had come back positive, I was still nervous. He also tested me for a yeast infection. Well, right there on the spot he said I had a horrible yeast infection and wrote me a prescription for 2 Diflucan pills. I was to take one (they stay in your system for 3 days) and then repeat 3 days later. He also gave me a prescription for a topical cream. I took the first pill, and applied the cream. The itching became 100 times worse. I kept putting on the cream until the itching became unbearable (2 days), and then I took my second Diflucan pill after three days. A few days later I got the results of my Herpes test and I am happy to say that it came back negative. And the best news is that my fissures are completely gone. I've had no signs of them reappearing. Back to normal and very happy!! Just thought I'd share my story to hopefully help someone else out. Good luck girls!!

For those of you that were looking for a common link between all of us:

I am 28
Serious Boyfriend
Sexually Active (not more than 2 times a week)
Desk Job
Work out
Have 1 cat (4 years old)
Live in somewhat humid climate

[bbc]

I just posted my old comments above so that I could let you all know that the fissures (tears) have still not come back!  It has been over 2 weeks so I'm hoping that I am through with all of this.  I truly think that the yeast infection was causing the fissures, and my OBGYN told me that was his explanation for them as well.  I would recommend asking your OBGYN to test for yeast.  The Diflucan pills (2 doses) took care of everything.

Good luck to all of you.  I hope that your situation is as simply cured as mine was.

[Ellie B]

Mindboggled...have you gotten the results from your biopsy yet?  Thanks!

[mindboggled]

Yes, I have and the news wasn't as good as she led me to believe. They just said it was irritated skin...and my reaction was NO S*@t. She just gave me a different cream to apply. She said that when I go back in September if I still have the fissure problem then she is going to send me to a dermatologist. I was so upset for the whole day and so far it has effected my whole week. I thought they were going to find out what it was and give me a magic pill to get rid of it. Instead I get an answer that I already knew and told to switch creams. This is so frustrating. ANd it is not caused from yeast infections. I've been on a candidia free diet since October and every test I get back is negative for yeast and bacteria. So it isn't that for sure!! Yes these fissures do go away but after about two weeks they seem to reappear with absoultly no explanation.
Are you all on birthcontrol. I thought that may be the cause?? I take Kariva. I also work out 2-3 times a week. Maybe the sweat has something to do with it. Do you all work out and sweat alot too??

[wiley bird]

I have had fissures for about 10yrs. I even had them surgically removed and yet they returned:( I have just started on a steroidal cream. Pain is better but I am to wait a month before return visit. Has anyone had luck with this treatment?

[mindboggled]

I was wondering what you meant by surgically removed..

[Mari27]

I was just thinking that my bc might be causing this excessive dryness, tears and pain. I'm so glad you mentioned that - I have my Dr. appointment tomorrow afternoon. What bc were you on? I'm taking Yasmin. Nighttime is unbearable - I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in three days. This has happened once before a few months ago, but it wasn't this bad. My Dr. tested me for yeast but I came up negative. He prescribed me with Nystatin cream - I can't use it now because I have open tears and it burns when I do. I am seeing a different doctor tomorrow - hopefully she will provide me with some answers and not just shove a prescription in my face. I will keep you all updated...

[roar23]

The tears completely went away for me when i stopped the birth control pill... apparently the pill threw my hormones out of wack and caused me to produce too much yeast (eventhough paps came back negative for yeast) it's wierd but you should try it... after two months of being off the pill i'm pain and irritation free... (whatever works right?)

[jrrs]

Another person too relieved to find this thread.  Been telling my OB/GYN for a few months that I've been getting fissures more and more frequently.  Never got them before this year.  Wondering if it could be caused from a) taking a daily allergy decongestant (zyrtec D) that might cause vag drying.  Also started taking BC pills about a year ago (yasmin) which can affect hormones that also slightly raise yeast levels - and cause drying.  I've been using lubricant, but I'm wondering if even that is irritating me more.

Sunday got such sever inner fissures that I can hardly walk.  Going to the bathroom brings tears to my eyes.  I am getting some relief from Neosporin with pain killer.

[CefbC]

I've been dealing with vaginal fissures for 4 years now.  I'm thrilled to find this thread and know that I'm not alone.  No doctor seems to know what the problem is ...nor do they seem to concerned.  I've tried Diflucan pills, I've had a biopsie (it was negative), I've had an ultrasound (nothing unusual for found), I've been tested for every kind of VD (all negative), I was tested to see if I was diabetic (I'm not),  I was even told that it might be ecoli attacking and eating the skin and put on anti-biotics that had no effect (except to give me a yeast infection).  And everytime I have been cultured for yeast, it has been negative.  

The good news is that until last week, I was fissure free for 7 months.  The only thing I've found to clear up an outbreak is Terazol cream.  It's a prescription cream that is used to treat a yeast infection...but it attacks a strain of yeast that most other creams don't.

The other thing I've done that seems to help is that I've stopped drinking soda and eating or drinking anything with lots of sugar in it.  I've also stopped eating out .  I don't take birth control.  I did for about 6 months when this problem first started...it was supposed to control my hormone levels and stop the itching....it didn't work.

I seem to have outbreaks when my stress level is high.  
Do you all have high stress jobs?

Is there something we all have in common that could be causing our problem?

I'm 29, married, and live in Los Angeles.

[kim1962]

Hello, I too have occurrences of the small paper-cut like outbreaks.  I have had them for the past 15 years.  I was mis-diagnosed with herpes in 1990 and only found out today that my blood does not test positive for the herpes 2 virus.  According to my doctor this means I have never been exposed to the virus.  You can only imagine my shock to learn that for 15 years I have lived with the belief that I had herpes.  To make matters worse I have been taking daily doses of Valtrex for the past 6 years in an attempt to suppress what I thought were herpes outbreaks.  Of course, the suppresseive therapy was not helping and in the meantime I have been pounding my liver unneccessarily with this drug.  

This discovery came about when I went in for my yearly exam and apologized to my doctor that I was having a herpes outbreak.  Upon examining me he told me that I was not having a herpes outbreak.  After much discussion and him showing me some pictures it became clear that perhaps herpes was not what I was experiencing.  The doctor did a culture on the open lession and a blood test to confirm the herpes anti-body presence.  Both were negative.  And, yes, I would like to hunt down the doctor who mis-diagnosed me 15 years ago and give him a piece of my mind.

Anyway, I believe stress is definitely a huge part of what brings these outbreaks on (whatever they are).  I can count on having an outbreak at least once a month and ALWAYS right before I start my period.  I have IBS which can cause a lot of straining when attempting to use the bathroom.  I haven't had a yeast infection in at least 20 years.  I am in my early 40's, don't have pets, have been on birth control pills 24 years.  

Sorry this is so long but I just found this web site today and am still in shock in learning that I don't have herpes and do have some very strange unexplained skin condition.  We MUST get to the bottom of this!  Best wishes to all - k

[Mari27]

I went to the doctor today. She too thought my bc was causing the dryness leading to the cuts. She also believes I have a slight yeast infection, because of the itching, and prescribed me Terazol cream to alleviate that symptom. Once the itching ceases, she recommended I apply topical estrogen to seal the wounds. I asked her if I should move to a different bc, one with a lower hormone dosage and she said quite the contrary, that she would actually recommend a higher dosage. I then asked if she recommended any other form of bc and she suggested I try the bc ring. The ring has a low dosage of hormone, similar to Yasmin, but with the estrogen being locally dispensed to the area I need it most, she thinks that my issue of dryness will be resolved. Apparently the ring has been said to actually help prevent infections. Hopefully this will help. I have a follow-up appointment in six weeks. I will keep you all updated, unless of course I have another incident!

[JessH]

Hi - I am so glad I found this forum. I have been suffering with just one reoccurring tear in my vagina for over a year now. I first noticed it after I switched BC to Yasmin. I went to see the doc and she told me to come off the pill for a few months and prescribed estrogen cream. My tear is not so bad in my everyday activities but is painfully hindering my sex life with my husband. It is so hard to not find a solution and I am heading back to the doctor tommorrow so will let you know if anything else can be done. I find it very disconcerting as my sex drive has practically disappeared knowing that it will more than likely be painful and tear again. My husband is very understanding but I want to be back to normal now! It is mentally very upsetting :(

[JessH]

Hi. Ok, so I just got back from the Gyno and we think we finally found a solution. Many years ago I was treated for Warts with acid and she noticed that scar tissue had formed causing a thin barrier of skin betweei=en the vagina and anus. She said that she has seen this before in women that have given birth and developed scar tissue after. She cut the skin and stitched it to the sides in order for it not to grow back. In 3 weeks I will go back to see her so fingers crossed. I will keep you updated.

[1979woman]

Not to repeat all the posts before mine - but - I TOO AM SO GLAD to have found I am not the only one with this. My first Ob/Gyn didn't believe me and I didn't have any at the time to show her, I was just asking about it. I've only seen my new Ob/Gyn once and that's because I wanted to switch bc pills. The side effects were worse on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo than I've had on any other -- so she switched me to Yasmin and just said that I was dry and should use KY during sex. Yeah, well, I already do that. She rushed me out. BUT this time I'm printing this out and making an appointment to talk about this and we'll take the time! Now that I know it isn't just me. I rarely get a yeast infection, but just started to feel one come on a few days ago and took the homeopathic AZO pills - I never got the yeast infection, but did get the cuts (it is a few days before my period) but worse this time. (My gut feeling from reading all these other stories and my personal conditions tells me it has to do with some kind of yeast bacteria and the birth control pill affecting hormones - but what do we do about it!) Whenever I treat myself better: less stress, lots of water, take my vitamins, exercise, I get them fewer and further between - but I haven't had a time like that in a while. :)
For the history that we are compiling here:
I am 26
I usually get the "paper cuts" a few days before my period.
I rarely get yeast infections
I've been on the pill for 10 years
-first TriNorinyl (sp?)
- then Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo
- now Yasmin
serious monogamous boyfriend of 6 years
negative for herpes
I have cats, but I've also not had cats and gotten them - don't think related
live in NYC, have stressful but typical office job
wear cute cotton breathable underwear - stopped wearing the thongs - made it worse!
love yoga and pilates

I'm so happy to have found this forum and hope we can keep this up til we figure this out! And hopefully that's sooner than later.

[exploringtraveler]

I am glad to find a group with a similar health issue. This is only my second cut/tear but after reading all of the comments on this new thread and the old one, I see the common denominator for most if not all and my own.

*All women have experienced some sort of itching related to the cut, typically just before.
*Most have experienced it just before or after menstruating (and sex)
*Most have thought it was herpes, most tested negative
*Many have also had a yeast infection of some kind that comes along with it
*Most have said they have had high stress within their life when these turn up

In my experience, all of the above have been true with the first and now my second (and I hope my last) tear or cut.

Many have tried to change it through diet and other prescription drugs. I will probably treat the possible yeast infection, (no testing for me) and then if I get another post here. Here is a question that I haven

[kim1962]

No, I have never used KY.  Also, I haven't had a yeast infection in many years.

[CefbC]

To: exploringtraveler -
I'm wondering if your using the KY to treat the tears or if you think the KY may have given you the tears?  

[Tiny76]

HI There,
I've also been suffering from tears for a year now, and am thinking it is the birth control pill - I am on Alesse. Is anyone else? I think I will try going off of it bec/ I am absolutely devastated with the pain these cuts cause me when urinating, during sex, etc

Keep me posted if there are success stoires of no more tears after going OFF The pill!
-Madison

[mindboggled]

I really don't think these are caused by yeast. Everytime I go to the Gyn with the cuts she tests me for bacterial and yeast infections and both are negative. Always!! I have found that They tend to get worse the closer my period comes and after my period there is a week of no cuts/fissures.
I was fine all week until I decided to go to the beach so I shaved and my labia got irritated and then cuts formed in the folds. Do any of yall shave?? I am starting to think maybe its the birth control pill. Madison let us know how that goes!! Good luck.

[nothappy]

Hi ladies,
I recently found this thread and am too experiencing the same paper cut like fissures.  I as well am getting them right before my period starts and have been able to heal them with a 2% cortisone cream that was originally prescribed for a spider bite.  I usually only get one above the clitoral hood (sometimes a smaller one at the same time in the same area) and have also tested negative for everything.  When mine originally started years back, (I am 43 with 2 grown girls, a very happy marriage and a clean freak!) I thought it could have been caused by wearing panty liners.  I thought it made sense at the time because of where my cuts were.  The top of the panty liner sits right at that spot and sometimes "creases" or "folds".  I assumed that the plastic on the back and edge of the liner was cutting into me.  Stopped wearing them so often and found the episodes stopped for a while.  Now they have been back on and off since May.  I am not on birth control (husband had vasectomy) and and not noticing any dryness - yet!!!  No yeast infections and the usual stress of raising two girls. Never have one when I go to the doctor but if it's still there after my period ends, I will get an appointment and get it checked. I was told a while back that it could be an allergic reaction to scented panty liners and pads so I started using unscented.   Just wanted to throw the panty liner or pad idea out there and the cortisone cream for relief.  It heals and stops the itch, at least for me.
Good luck to you all.

[mindboggled]

I don't wear pantyliners but I also have alot of stress. It is definitly good to know that it's not the birth control. Does anyone else have eczema anywhere on your body??

[nothappy]

Nope, no excema.  Also, just another suggestion.  Get some Johnson's liquid baby soap and wash with that when you have the cuts.  It does not sting like regular soap and still gets you clean.  Smells good too!!  I used to use all the Summers Eve personal wash products, but they are so expensive and Johnson's is really mild.

[mindboggled]

Well if it's not eczema then what could it be?? Do you guys get a wierd discharge when they appear. I normally do not have anysort of discharge but I can usually tell when these fissures are coming becuase I have this milky white sticky discharge. My gyn tested it and said it was normal well when I go back I know now for sure that this is not normal. It is like it occurs within 7-10 days before my period and then after my period I have at least a good week of no fissures...any one else experience this same thing??