my vagina hurts?

Question

It's really sensitive. Moving hurts, my underwear touching it hurts. It's just really red and raw. I think it's a side effect of a yeast infection?

I know that one of my medications has yeast infections as a side effect, so that might explain it. I've had them pretty much constantly since starting the medication four years ago. The medication is for Bipolar Disorder and it's the only one I've found that actually works for me, so stopping it isn't really an option.

Is there some way I can treat these yeast infections without going to see an OB/GYN? I'm really scared of anyone putting *anything* 'up there' and I don't want to go. I also don't want to try the treatments where you stick the pill thing 'up there', either. I won't even use a tampon and I haven't had sex before because it scares me.
Is there an oral yeast infection treatment I could use?

Four years of discomfort and annoyance is about as much as I can take. :-/

Answer 1

you can get cannesten pessaries, creams and oral tablets. im in UK so not sure if they will have same name where you are but there will be tablets you can take. Go to your local chemists and ask the pharmacist there for advice.

Answer 2

Yes, the redness and rawness can be symptoms of a yeast infection. I know you are not comfortable with the idea of seeing a doctor about this but the only way to find out for sure if it is a yeast infection is to see your doctor (it can be a primary care physician if they are comfortable with it).

As for the medications, the reason that a lot of doctors use the medication that goes in the vagina is because it makes it easier to get to the source but you can make the request that you would prefer an oral yeast medication instead if they recommend the creams. For oral meds they can either give you Diflucan or Nystatin but they are only available by prescription.

Answer 3

I'm no doctor... but it sounds to me like you may have a different problem. The redness and pain may be from a yeast infection but I'm pretty sure yeast infections are very itchy. I saw a news show about a woman who was terrified of sex. Like how you said you were scared. I'm pretty sure this was more of a psychological disorder for the woman but she said she felt no pleasure in intercourse and had no sexual desire whatsoever. She was in pain every time she tried to have sex because she disliked the thought of it so much.