Please help - unknown vaginal infection - very worried!
lilac_281 posted:
Thanks in advance for any help anyone could give. I am a 30 year old female and I have been battling an unknown infection in this area since March 2012. I have seen numerous doctors and gynecologists who are all baffled and don't know what is causing it.
My problems started when I became sexually active again after about seven years of not having sex. Had sex before when I was 21/22 (though never on a regular basis) without any problems. Have had problems with UTIs in the past but they were always resolved quickly with antibiotics. After having sex a few times with a new guy I was in a relationship with, I felt like I had a severe UTI. Symptoms included urinary frequency, burning in urethra, urge to go but nothing came out, etc. I went to the doctor and they prescribed Bactrim, which didn't work, tried Cipro next which didn't work, then tried Macrobid which did not work. After a week of these symptoms, I also started to have symptoms that felt like I was "swollen" all the time (similar to how I feel when I was aroused). Urine culture came back negative for bacteria so they took me off the antibiotics. Did tests for everything (chlymadia, gonnarhea, BV, yeast) which all came back negative. They also did an ultrasound which showed everything normal in my ovaries and uterus area. The symptoms suddenly disappeared overnight after about a week and a half of this with no explanation.
Relationship with the first guy ended as he didn't want to deal with the medical problems, and I was fine for six weeks while I was not having sex. I started dating someone else at this point and noticed something was wrong as every time we had sex it was excrutiatingly painful for me, when I have never had a problem with painful sex before.
A week after we had sex for the first time, I developed symptoms that felt like a UTI. I went to the doctor who took a urine sample, which came back negative for bacteria but extremely high for white blood cells. Doctor prescribed Macrobid which didn't seem to work. After 3 days, they switched me to Cipro which seemed to work as after 3 days my symptoms went away and white blood cell count returned to normal.
My problems started when I became sexually active again after about seven years of not having sex. Had sex before when I was 21/22 (though never on a regular basis) without any problems. Have had problems with UTIs in the past but they were always resolved quickly with antibiotics. After having sex a few times with a new guy I was in a relationship with, I felt like I had a severe UTI. Symptoms included urinary frequency, burning in urethra, urge to go but nothing came out, etc. I went to the doctor and they prescribed Bactrim, which didn't work, tried Cipro next which didn't work, then tried Macrobid which did not work. After a week of these symptoms, I also started to have symptoms that felt like I was "swollen" all the time (similar to how I feel when I was aroused). Urine culture came back negative for bacteria so they took me off the antibiotics. Did tests for everything (chlymadia, gonnarhea, BV, yeast) which all came back negative. They also did an ultrasound which showed everything normal in my ovaries and uterus area. The symptoms suddenly disappeared overnight after about a week and a half of this with no explanation.
Relationship with the first guy ended as he didn't want to deal with the medical problems, and I was fine for six weeks while I was not having sex. I started dating someone else at this point and noticed something was wrong as every time we had sex it was excrutiatingly painful for me, when I have never had a problem with painful sex before.
A week after we had sex for the first time, I developed symptoms that felt like a UTI. I went to the doctor who took a urine sample, which came back negative for bacteria but extremely high for white blood cells. Doctor prescribed Macrobid which didn't seem to work. After 3 days, they switched me to Cipro which seemed to work as after 3 days my symptoms went away and white blood cell count returned to normal.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Please help - unknown vaginal infection - very worried!Thanks in advance for any help anyone could give. I am a 30 year old female and I have been battling an unknown infection in this area since March 2012. I have seen numerous doctors and gynecologists who are all baffled and don't know what is causing it.<br /> <br />My problems started when I became sexually active again after about seven years of not having sex. Had sex before when I was 21/22 (though never on a regular basis) without any problems. Have had problems with UTIs in the past but they were always resolved quickly with antibiotics. After having sex a few times with a new guy I was in a relationship with, I felt like I had a severe UTI. Symptoms included urinary frequency, burning in urethra, urge to go but nothing came out, etc. I went to the doctor and they prescribed Bactrim, which didn't work, tried Cipro next which didn't work, then tried Macrobid which did not work. After a week of these symptoms, I also started to have symptoms that felt like I was "swollen" all the time (similar to how I feel when I was aroused). Urine culture came back negative for bacteria so they took me off the antibiotics. Did tests for everything (chlymadia, gonnarhea, BV, yeast) which all came back negative. They also did an ultrasound which showed everything normal in my ovaries and uterus area. The symptoms suddenly disappeared overnight after about a week and a half of this with no explanation. <br /><br />Relationship with the first guy ended as he didn't want to deal with the medical problems, and I was fine for six weeks while I was not having sex. I started dating someone else at this point and noticed something was wrong as every time we had sex it was excrutiatingly painful for me, when I have never had a problem with painful sex before. <br />A week after we had sex for the first time, I developed symptoms that felt like a UTI. I went to the doctor who took a urine sample, which came back negative for bacteria but extremely high for white blood cells. Doctor prescribed Macrobid which didn't seem to work. After 3 days, they switched me to Cipro which seemed to work as after 3 days my symptoms went away and white blood cell count returned to normal.
lilac_281 responded:
Had sex with the new boyfriend again and a week later developed what felt like a severe UTI, with the main symptom being intense burning/stinging in the urethra/vulva region. Again, urine sample was negative for bacteria, but extremely high for white blood cells. Doctor put me on a month of Cipro. Cipro seemed to work for the first day, as I felt much better the following day. A few days later, had sex with the boyfriend again and symptoms returned with a vengeance. The main symptom was again an intense burning/stinging in the urethra and vulva area. Doctor switched me to Suprax which did nothing.
Finally another doctor performed a vaginal exam on me and said that my cervix was inflamed with yellow mucous and diagnosed me with cervicitis. This doctor seemed convinced that I must have an STD because he said that was the only way to get cervicitis and prescribed me 7 days of doxycycline. Tests came back negative for STDs and doctor said he was "baffled" as the only way to get cervicitis was through STDs.
After this, for about six weeks, I had excrutiating pain in the urethra/vulva region (did not have sex during this time). Consistently tested negative for any bacteria in the urine but high for white blood cells. Vagina area was extremely red, raw and inflamed the entire time. Was also tested again for BV/yeast and came back negative. My symptoms were:
1) Intense burning/stinging in urethra/vulva region (most common)
2) Itchiness and irritation
3) Swollen (almost like an aroused feeling)
4) A tingling feeling in the urethra, similar to a UTI which made me feel like I had to go to the bathroom all the time (would usually get this after urinating)
The symptoms would come and go randomly, switching from one to the other but never letting up. The pain would differ from day to day, sometimes being so excrutiating I could not get out of bed, other days being manageable.
My symptoms went away after six weeks. Around that time the relationship with the second guy ended as he also did not want to deal with the medical problems. Since then I have not had sex. I still have a lingering soreness/irritation which pops up from time to time but not anywhere near as painful as it was during those six weeks. However, I am afraid to ever have sex again as that seems to trigger whatever this infection is.
I am afraid that I caught an STD that is unknown to doctors at this time as all the problems seemed to start with the first guy, and the constant presence of high white blood cells seems to indicate an infection. The first guy told me later on that he had had over 80 previous partners and had never used a condom with any of them, so although I made him get tested before we had sex without a condom, I'm now thinking the odds are high that he is infected with something unknown considering his past. Are there any STDs that are unknown to doctors at this time? If not, what else could be causing all these symptoms?
Finally another doctor performed a vaginal exam on me and said that my cervix was inflamed with yellow mucous and diagnosed me with cervicitis. This doctor seemed convinced that I must have an STD because he said that was the only way to get cervicitis and prescribed me 7 days of doxycycline. Tests came back negative for STDs and doctor said he was "baffled" as the only way to get cervicitis was through STDs.
After this, for about six weeks, I had excrutiating pain in the urethra/vulva region (did not have sex during this time). Consistently tested negative for any bacteria in the urine but high for white blood cells. Vagina area was extremely red, raw and inflamed the entire time. Was also tested again for BV/yeast and came back negative. My symptoms were:
1) Intense burning/stinging in urethra/vulva region (most common)
2) Itchiness and irritation
3) Swollen (almost like an aroused feeling)
4) A tingling feeling in the urethra, similar to a UTI which made me feel like I had to go to the bathroom all the time (would usually get this after urinating)
The symptoms would come and go randomly, switching from one to the other but never letting up. The pain would differ from day to day, sometimes being so excrutiating I could not get out of bed, other days being manageable.
My symptoms went away after six weeks. Around that time the relationship with the second guy ended as he also did not want to deal with the medical problems. Since then I have not had sex. I still have a lingering soreness/irritation which pops up from time to time but not anywhere near as painful as it was during those six weeks. However, I am afraid to ever have sex again as that seems to trigger whatever this infection is.
I am afraid that I caught an STD that is unknown to doctors at this time as all the problems seemed to start with the first guy, and the constant presence of high white blood cells seems to indicate an infection. The first guy told me later on that he had had over 80 previous partners and had never used a condom with any of them, so although I made him get tested before we had sex without a condom, I'm now thinking the odds are high that he is infected with something unknown considering his past. Are there any STDs that are unknown to doctors at this time? If not, what else could be causing all these symptoms?
Report This| Share this:Please help - unknown vaginal infection - very worried!Had sex with the new boyfriend again and a week later developed what felt like a severe UTI, with the main symptom being intense burning/stinging in the urethra/vulva region. Again, urine sample was negative for bacteria, but extremely high for white blood cells. Doctor put me on a month of Cipro. Cipro seemed to work for the first day, as I felt much better the following day. A few days later, had sex with the boyfriend again and symptoms returned with a vengeance. The main symptom was again an intense burning/stinging in the urethra and vulva area. Doctor switched me to Suprax which did nothing. <br /><br />Finally another doctor performed a vaginal exam on me and said that my cervix was inflamed with yellow mucous and diagnosed me with cervicitis. This doctor seemed convinced that I must have an STD because he said that was the only way to get cervicitis and prescribed me 7 days of doxycycline. Tests came back negative for STDs and doctor said he was "baffled" as the only way to get cervicitis was through STDs. <br />After this, for about six weeks, I had excrutiating pain in the urethra/vulva region (did not have sex during this time). Consistently tested negative for any bacteria in the urine but high for white blood cells. Vagina area was extremely red, raw and inflamed the entire time. Was also tested again for BV/yeast and came back negative. My symptoms were: <br /><br />1) Intense burning/stinging in urethra/vulva region (most common) <br />2) Itchiness and irritation <br />3) Swollen (almost like an aroused feeling) <br />4) A tingling feeling in the urethra, similar to a UTI which made me feel like I had to go to the bathroom all the time (would usually get this after urinating) <br /><br />The symptoms would come and go randomly, switching from one to the other but never letting up. The pain would differ from day to day, sometimes being so excrutiating I could not get out of bed, other days being manageable. <br /><br /> <br />My symptoms went away after six weeks. Around that time the relationship with the second guy ended as he also did not want to deal with the medical problems. Since then I have not had sex. I still have a lingering soreness/irritation which pops up from time to time but not anywhere near as painful as it was during those six weeks. However, I am afraid to ever have sex again as that seems to trigger whatever this infection is. <br /><br />I am afraid that I caught an STD that is unknown to doctors at this time as all the problems seemed to start with the first guy, and the constant presence of high white blood cells seems to indicate an infection. The first guy told me later on that he had had over 80 previous partners and had never used a condom with any of them, so although I made him get tested before we had sex without a condom, I'm now thinking the odds are high that he is infected with something unknown considering his past. Are there any STDs that are unknown to doctors at this time? If not, what else could be causing all these symptoms?
Featuring Experts
Jane Harrison-Hohner, RN, RNP, is a nurse practitioner and has been a practicing women's health care specialist for 15 years. She was on the facul...More
Helpful Tips
birth control pills and gelatin-like clots
I started taking birth control pills because I had an ovarian cyst that made periods painful. Now when I'm on my periods, I will go to the ... More
Was this Helpful?
34
of
73 found this helpful
Helpful Resources
Expert Blog
Below the Belt: Women's Health - Jane Harrison-Hohner, RN, RNP
From HPV to irregular periods to PMS to fibroids, Jane Harrison-Hohner, RN, is here to share her knowledge and insight...Read More
Related News
Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Other Women's Health Information
More Related Communities
The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
About WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy Site Map Careers Contact Us
First Aid WebMD Magazine WebMD Health Record WebMD Mobile Newsletters Dictionary Physician Directory
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.