Vaginal infection (unknown cause)

I am 30 years old, and I have been with the same (faithful) partner for many years now. My last gynecological exam was about two months ago, and everything seemed perfectly fine; my Pap smear only showed some bacteria that my doctor mentioned are quite common among almost all women and don't require specific treatment. Those bacteria have shown up on every Pap smear I've ever had, yet I’ve never actually experienced any issues. Less than a year ago, I had those standard four vaginal swabs done—negative for HPV, negative for chlamydia and mycoplasma, but positive for bacteria.

That was just the background, but here is the actual problem:

Exactly one week ago, I noticed some itching in my external genital area. That itching started getting more intense, and after two or three days, it turned into a stinging sensation, and even becomes painful to the touch. I thought it would just pass on its own, so I tried to soothe the discomfort with some St. John's Wort oil, but it didn't help at all.

Everything is red and inflamed; the labia minora are swollen, and the entire area from the vaginal opening up to the clitoris is uncomfortable. Yesterday, while wiping, I actually noticed a tiny speck of blood. For the last couple of days, I've been rinsing frequently with chamomile tea. Now, some small "grooves" have appeared that look like little sores, and the mucous membrane seems to be peeling. The discharge is a bit heavier and has a stronger odor, though it doesn't look particularly brownish.

My gynecologist is currently away on vacation, and my primary care physician won't prescribe anything until I can be seen by a specialist. Is there any reason to be deeply concerned? Could this just be a "typical" vaginal infection, or could it potentially be an STI? Am I waiting too long if I wait until Monday? What should I do in the meantime?

I would really appreciate it if someone could respond. Thank you.

..it’s possible you’re dealing with a yeast infection....for that, you can just head over to a CVS or Walgreens and pick up some Canesten vaginal suppositories or cream...

Are those little ridges looking more like tiny blisters? If they’re turning into actual sores, it could potentially be herpes—not a certainty, but definitely a possibility... You should probably head over to the ER at Mayo Clinic or just hit up an urgent care center nearby so someone can take a look at you.

The scratches don't feel like blisters at all; it's more like I've gone and given myself those tiny little paper cuts. 🤷

It’s possible those little marks are just from scratching... or perhaps it could be a yeast infection..

Amy Hughes82 said:The lesions aren't really like blisters; it feels more like those tiny paper cuts you get...🤷

As has already been pointed out in the previous replies, we are looking at Candida, which means it’s a fungal issue...

I wanted to say thanks again for all the responses. Things finally started looking up yesterday, and honestly, today I feel like everything is pretty much back to normal. Thanks once more for the help.

I could really use some advice! 🙄

I’ve been dealing with some pretty intense itching down there—my skin feels super irritated and things just feel "messy" while I'm resting... ugh, it's driving me crazy 😠
I am currently taking Clavocin for a sore throat, though I haven't had any sexual contact lately—plus, I've been sleeping with the windows wide open... Should I head to the doctor, or do you think this might be something serious???
Hopefully not...

driftingpilot52, I'm pretty sure open windows have zero to do with your itching.

Since you're on Clavocin, it's most likely a yeast infection—super common side effect of antibiotics.

Of course, could be something else too. Either way, you should probably just go see a gynecologist.

I feel like I might be posting this in the wrong thread—honestly, I’m pretty sure about what I’m looking for, but I just can't seem to find a section specifically for "products." Can anyone tell me if Gynofit products actually do anything for vaginal infections??

About ten months ago, I first started feeling this itching—nothing crazy at first, just an annoyance I didn't bother much with. Eventually, I decided to pick up some Canesten cream and followed the instructions, applying it two or three times a day. I stuck with it for nearly two months, but honestly? It hasn't done squat for the pain during sex, and those blisters are still right there :/ The itching finally stopped, sure, but the rest remains. I’ve been scouring various forums lately and noticed everyone swearing by garlic as a remedy. So, naturally, I thought I’d give it a shot. But here’s the weird part: when I applied the garlic, I didn't feel any stinging at all. That actually worried me, because every single person online mentions feeling a sharp sting :/ I tried it for three nights, and while the itching is finally gone, the blisters haven't budged one inch. 😢Then I tried applying the garlic externally, and *that* was when I felt a pretty intense stinging sensation. It subsided after about ten minutes and then nothing happened. I kept it on for roughly three hours, but once I washed it off, the blisters were still there—actually, it feels like there might be even more now... Does anyone have any advice? Maybe I missed a step or did something wrong? I am honestly at my wit's end. 😢

It really could be anything at this point... we’re talking about everything from syphilis (which is notorious for causing those types of sores or ulcerations) to various different dermatological issues. Honestly, the best move is to head straight to a doctor—specifically a gynecologist, if you can!

zvijezdica123, I moved your post to... This thread..

Does anyone here have experience with being prescribed specific vaginal suppositories? My doctor recently gave me a private prescription for some soft ones that cost $43, which is quite a jump from the standard ones I was given a year ago that were covered by insurance. She didn't bother explaining the difference or mentioning that this would be such an expensive shift in my treatment plan. These expensive ones are round and have this intense yellow-orange color, and honestly, they are much more difficult to use than the regular ones that seem designed with a much more practical shape in mind.

dustyscout8 said:Does anyone here know why doctors would recommend specific vaginal suppositories over others? My doctor gave me a private prescription for some soft ones that cost $43... whereas about a year ago, she prescribed standard ones that were covered by insurance. What could possibly be the difference? Why would these be so much more expensive? She didn't really explain anything to me, nor did she mention they’d be such a hit to my wallet... These pricey ones are round and have this intense yellow (almost orange) color... plus, they feel a bit harder to use than the regular ones that seem to have a more ergonomic shape..

Based on your description, I suspect you might be talking about Polygynax. It’s essentially a combination of an antifungal and an antibiotic. Those aren't typically covered by insurance, so you end up paying the full retail price out of pocket.

Either the Mayo Clinic, though neither option is even remotely affordable $43. 🤔

To be honest, I was convinced the cause was something else—like, how should I put this, maybe some kind of irritation from using various household objects or tools during intimacy..
Once I found out she’d been using Canesten cream, I thought, "Well, that explains it..." though looking back now, I might have been totally off base..

Hey ladies... I could really use some advice here.

So, about a month ago, I went to my OBGYN and she told me I had a yeast infection. She basically said just go grab some vaginal suppositories and use one every night for seven nights. The thing is, she didn't actually specify *which* ones... and then life happened. I ended up being stuck in the hospital until last week, and I also had my period come through in the middle of all that chaos, so I finally decided it was time to deal with this mess. To be honest, I'm pretty sure I caught this thing after I started seeing this new guy... I've been dealing with this white, cottage cheese-looking discharge and a really unpleasant smell. I went to a few local pharmacies, but the women working there were totally stumped because my doctor wasn't specific enough about what I actually need.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this? What should I even be looking for? My doctor just gave me this vague "seven nights of suppositories" instruction, but zero guidance on the actual brand or type. And do I need to tell my boyfriend he needs treatment too? How does that even work? If you guys have any recommendations—and if you could let me know roughly how much they cost at places like CVS or Walgreens—I would really appreciate it. Thanks a million.

Hi ladies.
For three days now, I’ve been dealing with this constant itching, stinging, and burning sensation.
It’s painful to the touch—really uncomfortable—and everything feels swollen. There’s also this small, round bump at the vaginal opening... could those be the blisters I've read about?
The discomfort isn't internal; it's strictly on the outside.
Is this an infection?? I already tried applying some Johnson & Johnson cream.
Also, I read somewhere that these things can be side effects from antibiotics?? I started taking United Nations Security Council on Tuesday—could that be the culprit? Should I stop taking them??
Could an infection be the reason my period is missing? I'm nearly two weeks late.😲😢
Help me out.