Something else? Ask Aunt Vadge – bottom left of your screen!Aunt Vadge: painful sex that has resulted in a tear and brown discharge
A tear at the vaginal opening after painful sex usually heals in a week – the red flags to watch, and how to prevent it.
Aunt Vadge: my vagina seems to be too tight – what can I do?
Feeling too tight is usually arousal and tension rather than size – how relaxation and arousal help, and when to seek care.
Aunt Vadge: posterior fourchette tearing after sex – why is this happening?
Recurrent fourchette tears can come from the pill, herpes or skin conditions - why oestrogen may help, and getting properly examined.
Aunt Vadge: pain after putting two tampons in
A spare tampon can't cause lasting damage - why pain that returns every period needs proper investigation.
Removing vaginal pain or numbness from cycling
Cycling - long-distance or at the gym - can cause your vulva to become irritated, inflamed, numb, or painful.
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis is a painful bladder condition with no known cause, whereby the bladder becomes inflamed and painful. There are a variety of treatments available, but no total cure.
Aunt Vadge: my vulva hurts randomly
A vulva that aches on random dates can be referred nerve pain - why an osteopath helps, and keeping a symptom diary.
Aunt Vadge: Pain with sex and peeing after a UTI
Ongoing pain with sex and peeing a year after a bad UTI can be scar tissue - which specialists to see, plus reflexology at home.
Aunt Vadge: If I use two fingers or a carrot, it hurts – do I still have my hymen?
Pain when you use two fingers isn't always your hymen. Arousal, a vaginal septum or other variations can be behind it, and when to see a doctor.
Aunt Vadge: back and abdominal pain, bloating, gas, after first-time sex
Bloating, gas and back pain after first-time sex is usually gut or muscle, not something serious – here's how to sort it, and the signs to get checked.
MRKH syndrome
MRKH syndrome is a congenital abnormality, whereby the uterus, top part of the vagina, and cervix do not exist or are very small. Ovaries are usually normal, since the ovaries run off a different system.
Aunt Vadge: am I just too tight to have sex?
Tearing at the bottom of the vagina during early sex is rarely about being 'too tight' – it's usually friction, dryness, condoms or a nearby cyst.
Aunt Vadge: fingering used to feel good, but now it hurts and burns
Fingering used to feel good but now hurts and burns? Could be arousal and cycle changes, or thrush, dryness or irritation. When to get it checked.
Vulvovaginal-gingival lichen planus (or syndrome) (VVG-LP)
Vulvovaginal-gingival syndrome (or vulvovaginal-gingival lichen planus) is a rare variety of lichen planus affecting both the mouth and the vulva/vagina.
Vulvovaginal lichen planus (LP)
There are several different types of lichen planus, a lichenoid condition that can affect the vulva and the mouth. Lichen planus can affect keratinisation of the skin on any part of the body, causing thickening and hardening of skin.
Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC)
Contact dermatitis of the vulva can result in what's known as lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), which is itchy, thickened skin. Removing the offending irritant is the best way to solve LSC, but additional creams or soothing ointments can be used.
Clinical trials: is vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (vestibulodynia) caused by the pill? STUDY NOW CLOSED
Clinical trial seeking participants on VVS and the pill STUDY NOW CLOSED
Aunt Vadge: why can’t I go deeper?
Why you might feel too tight to go deep, what's really going on, and gentle ways to make penetration comfortable.
Transverse and longitudinal vaginal septum abnormalities
Transverse and longitudinal vaginal septa create a blockage horizontally or vertically in the middle of the vaginal canal.
Perineoplasty
The perineoplasty procedure is used to either tighten, loosen or cosmetically augment the perineal area between the anus and the vaginal opening.