I suffered for nearly 20 years with discharge, painful sensitivity and feelings of inadequacy because of my condition. Other gynecologists dismissed my symptoms. It got to the point I couldn't even consider having sex with my husband. Finally, a new gynecologist recommended Dr. Fowler. He was the first physician to take my problem seriously, and to actually know what was wrong with me and have a solution! It took a minimum of 6 months to really start to feel better, but after 20 years of misery, what is 6 months? I actually started feeling like a regular woman. I could enjoy sex again. I didn't have to constantly change my underwear or wear pads all day because I wasn't wet and sticky. I didn't tear constantly. I didn't itch uncontrollably. By the time I'd been on Dr. Fowler's regimen for a year, I could hardly believe I'd spent so much of my life in such misery. I am still on his regimen years later because it works! I can't thank him enough for giving me quality of life again. J. Tempe, AZ
Tag Archives: Chronic Vaginal Symptom Relief
-
Common Underlying Etiology of Vulvodynia, Urinary Frequency/Urgency, Discharge and Odor
Posted on August 15, 2018
Common Underlying Etiology of Vulvodynia, Urinary Frequency/Urgency, Discharge and OdorIf you are having burning, rawness, stinging or pain in the vaginal area, you are most likely suffering from vulvodynia. Consider the following patient:Vulvodynia is the most common condition that Fowler Gyn International treats. The treatment protocols are so successful that it has got women from coast to coast talking after many clients have had a number of unsuccessful treatments elsewhere. The underlying etiology that they share is an altered vaginal microflora. This represents a shift in bacterial milieu which are not contagious or infectious. Women with vulvodynia share the same underlying etiology as women with recurrent yeast or bacterial infections as well as those with chronic vaginal discharge, odor or sensation of urinary frequency and urgency. The reason the same underlying etiology can result in such varied symptoms is the innate propensity of the vestibular tissue in how it reacts to the irritant of altered vaginal microflora patterns. The vestibule is made of endoderm wedged in between ectodermal tissue on both sides. It’s the endoderm that gets sensitized. In vulvodynia it causes pain. In the case of chronic discharge or odor the vestibule is not getting sensitized and the symptoms are all attributed to the vaginal response of the altered vaginal microflora. If you are one of those women who have a combination of symptoms, such as burning but also discharge, or odor or itching, the common underlying etiology explains how that is possible.If you are suffering from vulvar itching with no apparent cause, visit Fowler Gyn International at fowlergyninternational.com or call 480-420-4001. The founding principal, board certified gynecologist Dr. Fowler has probably managed as many or more cases of women with LS than any provider in the country. Put this expertise to work for you! -
Do Common Hygienic Products Cause Vulvovaginal Symptoms?
Posted on April 19, 2016
Burning, rawness, and stinging pain at the vaginal opening is not a common malady but for those who develop this problem known as vulvodynia there is nothing more consuming. The burning can be relentless from the moment after stepping out of bed until falling back asleep at night. The only mild reprieve is to separate legs with an ice pack draped over the vulva. During the day its hard for these women to find a minute where they are not thinking about their vagina, something that tends to be so foreign for women without this problem.Focus on work, staying on task and concentrating can be difficult. Anything that touches the vulvar tissues can exacerbate the pain such as tight clothing, walking, sitting on soft cushions and exercise. Placing tampons and intercourse can be nearly impossible. Also any secretions such as perspiration or urination can exacerbate the pain.While all the above stimulants can be quite obvious to those with the condition, there is a group of other irritants that are not so obvious. These include those irritants in common products such soaps, detergent, lotions, body rinses, shampoo and conditioners. Consider the patient’s experience below who experienced a marked response to using neutral, hypoallergenic and hypocontactant products a recommended by Dr. Fowler of Fowler Gyn International in Phoenix Arizona:“I am delighted to report that after a very short time of using the products for sensitive genital skin recommended by Dr. Fowler, that alone eliminated 70% of my chronic vaginal pain, even before starting the vaginal treatment. Much of the burning and itching vanished, and, still more importantly, the constant onslaught of yeast, BV, and UTI's ceased. I could sit again quite comfortably, and I was no longer constantly "aware" of my vaginal pain. It's a simple, inexpensive, and easy to follow protocol -- and the results in my case were noticeable immediately. I began by using the soap, shaving cream, and ointment, and then added the vulvar washes. The last ingredient was quite essential to my progress. I'm currently 51, and I've had fifteen years of almost unremitting pain. During this time, I've been to more doctors than I can name here -- all with no results until I found the Fowler protocol. It's amazing to feel almost normal again. I had really lost hope. I hope women -- and their partners! - everywhere find Dr. Fowler. His approach is literally life-changing. M. Bloomington, Indiana.It was September in 1996 at Hotel Dino on the shore of Lake Majorie in Northern Italy when I spoke before the International Society of the Study of Vulvovavinal Disease. This is a society of the Worlds vulvovaginal experts at that time consisting of about 125 members. My talk was titled “Hypocontactant Products for Vulvodynia Patients.” No one at the society believed what I said even though I hailed from the famous Mayo Clinic. Now 20 years later, most experts recommend attention be paid to these irritants but few are very comprehensive about it. If you miss one, its like you have missed them all. The reason most experts still miss the mark is that only some cases of vulvodynia have a dominant irritant based etiology but its my opinion that all case have some component of topical irritant provocation. If you have vulvodynia and want to follow in the footsteps of thousands of women who have achieved successful results on Dr. Fowler’s protocols, contact Dr. Fowler at FowlerGynInternational.com or call the Phoenix offices at 480-420-4001. -
Feeling External Vaginal Itching, Irritation, & Dryness?
Posted on January 18, 2016
Some women suffer with irritation consisting of dryness, chafing and itching intermittently for years thinking that it’s a mild yeast infection or sensitivity to irritants in the products that touch the vulvar tissues when in fact it’s not. Instead an vulvar condition called Lichen Sclerosus can elude doctors during it’s early stages for years causing these symptoms. Changes in the skin start out as subtle wrinking, shinyness and stickyness of the skin. As it progresses, the tissues lying adjacent to each other such as the periclitoral tissues, the interlabial folds and the base of the vagina can fuse together causing linear fusion lines. If pulled apart these fused areas can crack open causing small paper-cut fissures which brings a new symptom of burning & stinging. Also the tissues surrounding the vaginal opening can turn slightly blanched-white. This can include the peri-anal area. The whitening can be splotchy or smooth with symmetric bilateral outlines. Many doctors including gynecologists can entirely overlook the early signs of the condition. Consider the plight of the patient below:
“I was diagnosed by Dr. Fowler 3 1/2 months ago with Lichen Sclerosis. I had seen 5-10 doctors trying to figure out how to help me with the symptoms I was having, and get a diagnosis. I was so frustrated and felt like nothing was going to help me relieve my symptoms. After seeing Dr. Fowler, he helped me know exactly what I needed to do to improve, and answers came! I started feeling better quickly and learned how to manage my symptoms feeling like I can lead a normal life again! Overall I'm 80% better at this point." J. Sahuarita, AZ
Even when general gynecologists make the correct diagnosis, commonly they prescribe superpotent corticosteriods on an intermittent basis. While suprapotent corticosteriods have their role, using them each time the condition flares is not the best way to effectively mamage the condition. Lichen Sclerosus belongs to the family of dermatoses. Other conditions in this diagnostic category which are better known include ezcema, psoriasis, and seborrhea or dandruff. These conditions are chronic meaning they cannot be cured so they must be managed on an on-going basis. Its best to get the condition suppressed then continue a maintainence cream to keep it in check. Another common mistake that even gynecologists make is that they tell patient that it requires a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. This could not be farther from the truth. The only time a biopsy is necessary is to exclude the possibility for precancer or cancerous transformation. Whenever there is thickening known as leukoplakia then this site warrants biopsy. To learn more about Lichen Sclerosus, contact Fowler Gyn International (FGI). They have developed effective treatment protocols for Lichen Sclerosus which is the result of years of clinical observation and research by the founder, board certified gynecologist, Dr. R. Stuart Fowler. Contact them at http://www.fowlergyninternational.com/contact-us to learn more.
-
New Hope to Women with Chronic Vaginal Symptoms
Posted on May 10, 2013
FowlerGynInternational.com (FGI) offers new hope to women suffering from vaginal symptoms that have not been adequately addresses or responded to prior treatments. There are tens on thousands of American women with recurrent or refractory vaginal symptoms actively searching for a solution their problem. FGI was organized in May of 2013 by R. Stuart Fowler M.D. to provide expert care to this group of women. Dr. Fowler is a board certified gynecologist who did his residency at the Mayo Clinic in RochesterMinnesota and then spent the next 20 years on staff at Mayo Clinic Arizona specializing in vulvovaginal disorders. He recognized a great opportunity to provide more women access to high quality vaginal healthcare by moving his services online. FGI offers services for the following:
- Chronic vaginal discharge and/or odor, itching, irritation
- Recurrent bacterial infections or yeast
- Burning pain &/or pain with intercourse at vaginal opening
- Vagina too tight/tearing, or the vagina to short
- Refractory vaginal dryness
- External genital skin sensitivity, irritation, or dryness
- Sensation of urinary urgency/frequency in the absence of bladder infection
- Recurrent bladder infections without a urologic source.
- Medical diagnoses include vulvovaginitis, recurrent BV, recurrent yeast, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, intriotal dyspareunia, and superficial dyspareunia, vaginal stenosis and vaginal foreshortening.
On the website, potential clients register and complete online medical questionnaires. Then the client receives a call from FGI to clarify the details of their vaginal problem. As part of the evaluation, if indicated, clients can receive the revolutionary Vaginal Fluid Analysis Test (VFA Test). This analysis identifies constituents in the vaginal secretions that indicate the state of vaginal health. The results help guide the type of treatment needed to correct any underlying altered vaginal micro-flora patterns. Special hygienic products are also recommended in certain conditions to prevent ongoing sensitization due to unsuspected chemicals in ordinary skincare products. Some client also requires vaginal dilators as part of their therapy. Attention to all aspects of each condition is warranted otherwise the symptoms persist.
FGI clients may register for Virtual Services where they get the best of both worlds- the vaginal health knowledge and expertise of FGI in Arizona delivered to the privacy and convenience of their home. The other option is to register for a traditional In-Office visit at their headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Either way, clients get advanced diagnostic techniques for their vaginal problem and an individualized treatment protocol tailored to their symptoms taken in context of their general medical history. This evaluation and treatment approach has already been used with success by thousands of women across the US. Check out the numerous motivating success stories from women treated with Dr. Fowler’s protocols under the button Testimonials. If you are ready for expert care, let FGI assist in the goal to resolve your vaginal problem!
4 Item(s)