Friday, July 30, 2010

Wine Makes My Lady Parts Whine

Has anyone else ever experienced this problem?  I'm not a big drinker; I don't really like it that much.  But when I do have wine or a mixed drink (can't say about beer cause I think it's gross so I never drink it), my vagina starts to burn.  Just a few sips and a minute or two and that's all it takes for my vagina to start burning with small amounts of alcohol.  My husband says it must by psychosomatic because how could a sip of wine affect me just a few seconds after I've swallowed it?  And I sort of agree, because how could a sip of wine get through my system that quickly?

But then we went to Italy.  I had 1-2 glasses of wine almost every night with dinner and it did not make my vagina burn.  You might think that that supports the psychosomatic theory because maybe being in a different place made me not think about it so much.  But then that last night we were in Italy I had a couple sips of wine and there it was!  The burning!  So now I'm not so sure it's just all in my head.  But I can't figure it out.  There must be some ingredient in some wines and not in others that makes my vagina burn.  It's not a cheap/expensive thing because we always drink cheap wine, here and in Italy.  And it's not an Italian wine thing because I've had wine in America that was imported from Italy.  I've had French, Italian, Chilean, Californian, etc. and they all have that effect.  Why did all the wines in Italy not make it burn, except for the last one?

Does anyone have a clue about this?  So weird.

29 comments:

K said...

When I drink alcoholic beverages, within a short period of time, my vagina feels swollen. I don't know if this is normal for everyone else or not.

Anonymous said...

I have noticed that when I drink Iced Tea that my burning gets way worse! I read an article that said that berries and leafy things can make the burning worse. I am not sure if that is why the wine is bothering you though. Does it seem to burn worse with a particular color of wine?

Sarah said...

Interesting about the iced tea. Iced tea does not have that effect on me. It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm drinking red or white wine - they both cause burning. And I eat berries all the time (particularly grapes) and I don't think they are causing burning. It's an interesting thought though.

Anonymous said...

Have any of your doctors put you on any anti depressants or anti seisure meds that are supposed to help treat nerve pain?

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain:( I suffer from the same thing! If you ever need someone to talk to, you are more than welcome to email me!! Your story sounds sooo much like mine!!
My email is jaene.jones@gmail.com

P said...

Doesn't wine in the US have an ingredient or is treated differently for consumption than elsewhere in the world? I could be making that up, though. Is it sulfates?

Geez, I'm sounding uneducated. But I feel like I've heard there's something different about wine sold in the US. Anyone??

Pearl

Sarah said...

I am on an anti-anxiety medicine but nothing for anti-depressants or nerve problems.

And Pearl, that's what I was thinking too. But I know about as much as you do about the American wine industry!

Husband said...

A quick search yielded this http://news.reseau-concept.net/images/oiv_uk/Client/2007_PO_OIV-UE-US-CH.pdf There are a lot of things the US can put in wine that other areas don't.... with both sulfate and phosphates making the list. I'm not a familiar with the other items.

For the owner of the blog, I'm assuming that Dr G told you your issue was caused by using B.C., if that is the case how long were you on it? I'm just wondering how many years you are trying to reverse to get a feel for the timeline of my wife's recovery as well. It may not have anything to do with years to reverse but I'm analytical and like to factor things like that in.

Thanks,

Sarah said...

Husband,

Thank you for that article - I haven't read it yet, but will soon. I was on BC for about 7 years on and off (more on than off). Every now and then I'd stop taking it because I'd think, well, I'm not having sex anyway, so what's the point? But then I'd get a renewed motivation and think, okay, I'm gonna do it, and get back on - of course I've had sex maybe 10 times in the last 7 years so it really was not worth it. Hope that answers your question.

Husband said...

Thanks for the information that does help a lot. It looks like we have a fair number of years to reverse beyond where you are at. My wife has been on them for 16 years on and off, mostly on. She started very young due to messed up cycles. I'm sorry to hear the 10 times in the last 7 years. We were able to stay at the once a month level through most of this, but that is only due to a combination of a my wife having a very very high pain threshold, amitriptyline (antidepresent that is also used for pain management, it slows the nerve conduction or something like that, very low dosage 10-50mg), good old lidocaine, extra strength tylenol, and more slippery stuff (the only lube that doesn't burn when she puts it on), and lastly a libido that puts mine to shame. The last of which has greatly decreased in the last few years just due to the now 10 years she has been dealing with this.

At this point I do again want to thank you for creating and keeping up your blog. We had been debating going to Dr G but had dismissed him as yet just another Dr that wouldn't have any idea what to do to fix it. Since we are in the midwest, we figured what is the point of spending the money to travel to see him just to be put through a ton of tests and told nothing seems to be wrong it must be in your head... It was a combination of our insurance stopping their coverage of the current treatment we were doing (nerve blocks) and your blog that made us decide it was worth taking a shot at seeing Dr G. And while we haven't seen any significant changes yet other than the moisture that is back at the level it was when I met my wife when she was 18, we are hopeful and optimistic. So thank you again.

Sarah said...

Thank you so much for your kind words. It really helps me to know that I can actually help other people as I learn more and more about, well, about my vagina!

I wish you the best of luck if you choose to go see Dr. Goldstein. Remember, he's blunt, but also supportive and understanding.

Sarah said...

My last comment makes no sense. I know you already went to see Dr G! I guess I get confused between my different commentors. What I should have said is that I hope your decision to see Dr. G. was a very worthwhile one. :)

Slaon said...

I know I'm a little late in commenting on this, but I just wanted to say drinking wine affects my V, too! I thought I was imagining it because- like you, it happened very quickly (like after a few sips) of drinking the wine. So weird.

Sarah said...

It sounds like this happens to a lot of people. Well at least I'm not crazy!

Mickey said...

I was just talking about this with a friend today and decided to finally Google it and found my way to your blog post and I feel so much better knowing I'm not alone. LOL! I'm assuming it's nothing big to worry about, but I wish I knew what the heck it was.

Anonymous said...

Wow!...I had just poured myself a glass of white wine 10 mins ago and after a few sips, that burning sensation down there appeared. So I decided to google this to see if other people actually experienced this or if something was really wrong with me! Am glad I found this page. The same burning sensation happens when I drink most alcoholic beverages, but it disappears after a while. I have always wondered why...and my quick answer was that I am not much of a drinker, so maybe my body was just reacting to that. Am glad that am not crazy! :)

Anonymous said...

I am drinking a glass of wine right now and the same thing happens to me! I decided to google and found your blog. I am a nursing major, so I've drawn my own conclusions, but wanted to see if there was a concrete answer. I think it is because the vagina has a semi-permeable membrane, which allows for us to "get wet" when aroused. I think that alcohol has this same effect on some of us! It happens to me after only a sip or two! It is not pain or discomfort, just tingling. If you have pain, talk to a Doctor.

Anonymous said...

I don't get a burning or tingling but I do notice wine makes me wet down there whether I feel sexually aroused or not. I was googling to see if it was normal and came to this page

Anonymous said...

Found your blog through google. I have the same thing. I don't drink often, but when I do, I get the weird tingling. (Not really a burning) I'm not on any meds, not even birth control. So I don't think it's caused by a medication.

Unknown said...

I have actually asked my Dr. about this because I have suffered from thrush and yeast my whole life and I thought it could be related, and it happens whenever some women and men consume alcohol. It only takes seconds for the alcohol to hit your blood stream and it dilates your blood vessels which gives you that warm swollen feeling. It is believed to be a genetic trait, just like blue eyes or curly hair. It will often go away with continued drinking or when drinking water because your body compensates and since it isn't a real threat it your brain will ignore the feeling. Nothing to worry about :)

Quiana said...

Wow im so glad I decided to google this. I have had since I had my first drink around the age of 17. Im not a big drinker I might have a drink every couple of months. When I do I always get a sensation that is not a burning sensation and it only goes away with masturbation or if my husband performs oral sex. I experience this feeling wether I drink a mixed drink wine or straight liquer. Im not on any meds but I do have an iud but I got the sensations before I was on birth control

Anonymous said...

I have the same experience but I get itchy. After the first glass and continued on to the next day I itch.

This is only with Red wine.

I am on antidepressants that help with nerve damage as well as BCP continuously and flexiril muscle relaxants

Anonymous said...

I don't know what you all yapping about but when I drink any kibd of wine...I juet enjoy a good fuck session..
I just get horny like a bull

Anonymous said...

Wow i get this too!!! Im dont drink often either... As soon as ive taken a few sips same feeling, burning type like i have a water infection and so on. I hate it!! So glad im not alone but would love a proper explanation....

Anonymous said...

I've had this burning pain for years. it doesn't always happen, but wine & liquor trigger it. what is this??

Shane said...

It happened to me too, last night , mu husband and i went out. We ordered tequila sunrise and after a glass or two, i felt that tingling, as if it was throbbing or pulsing, i dnt know how to describe it exactly, but it was like that for few minutes, then gone..

That was my first time to drink tequila, not a drinker, not on any medications or whatsoever..

Anonymous said...

Well, I am 67 years old and this tingling problem after drinking just one little sip of wine just started. I never used to have this problem and thought maybe it had to do with age, but apparently not. The tingling begins within a couple minutes after I drink wine; thank goodness it only lasts for about 10 minutes.

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear I'm not alone or crazy. Within second to a minute I get itching I can't ignore and have to run to a bathroom. It's so bad. It happens with any type of alcohol but more with beer. I just drank a line commands with rum and it happened so decided to Google it for the first time. I have had yeast issues in the past but this is ridiculous. It's urgent bit painful cause it feels like a pinching sensation inside that hurts and my vulva begins to sweat an discharge for a lack of better words.I usually insert a boric acid pill I make at home and it subsides. If I don't take care of it sometimes it develops into a full yeast infection but most of the time it goes away with an 1 or so.

Anonymous said...

Hi all, I found this blog after doing a search to see if anyone else suffered the same thing. I have burning coupled with an itch and tearing of the skin :( I can feel the effects pretty much straight away, it's like my vagina just dries up, horrible sensation..I'm not a huge fan of alcohol at all but I had just ONE glass of red wine last night and low and behold there it was almost straight away....One tip I've discovered to soothe the discomfort is natural yougurt on a tampon..good luck getting to the... bottom..of it everyone!