painful hoo-ha needs help

I think the subject says it all. But, girls- I went on a 35 mile ride this past week end (with 8 miles of moderate to steep hills:eek: ) and the soft tissue on my unmentionables aka hoo-ha, as I like to call her, was killing me. i thought for sure that I was going to give myself a bladder infection but I circumvented it with herbs. I couldn't walk right for 2 days. So besides over doing it, I think I may need a new saddle that supports my butt bones better so not as much pressure on the goods. Any suggestions on saddle? and, yes, I made sure that the angle is good and even slightly tilted down (too much tilt and I'll have problems with my upper back)

Saddles are like jeans, no one saddle is best for everyone. I am new to all this as well, but the saddle was the first thing I tackled. I hear great things about the Terry saddles, there are several different ones. I lucked out and tried this really inexpensive Forte saddle. It was only $30 so I figured if it didn't work, no biggy. I have had it for 2 years and love it. Most places are pretty good about returns when it comes to saddles. Look for some that have a cut out in the middle. It puts the pressure on the sitz bones and pelvic girdle instead of the soft tissue. Try a few out. Good luck.

Jen L

Please visit the Favorite Saddles thread! (Somewhere in the middle, on the forum home page.)

I find shorts with too much padding gives me the same problem.

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I hear great things about the Terry saddles, there are several different ones.

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I know there's a whole thread about saddles somewhere, but I just wanted to weigh in on Terrys... I have a Terry Gellisimo I bought last summer and it's incredibly comfy. I'd consider myself a big girl and this seat works out pretty well for me.

Also, I would suggest that you get measured for a saddle. When the specialized group came to town talking about wsd's they had they also had a a seat measurer. If you have the chance sit on one of them and that should help guide you to the right size.
I also ride a terry and I have gotten a ton of use out of it. Unfortunately it's busting at the seams (for over 4,000 miles, not too shabby). I even put the same saddle on my commuter b/c I like it so much.
Good luck finding a saddle and get that soreness gone!
PS Butt cream/butter/lube works real well. If your not using it for the long rides, try it out. There are different kinds so look around.

I just bought a specialized Dolce road bike which came with the BG specialized saddle. I have had no complaints from the saddle which is very unusual for a saddle that comes with the bike.

I was having bad hoo-ha issues as well...I got a new Terry Butterfly saddle and tried Chamois Butt'r. But still, on rides with lots of hills, I was in pretty severe pain for a couple days afterwards. I felt like I was really injuring myself. Chamois Butt'r seems to be irritating to my skin (isn't that weird?) and I am afraid to put it in the actual hoo-ha region because the last thing I need is more irritation when I'm trying to prevent irritation in the first place! So I tried two other things that I felt safe basically smearing everywhere: A&D ointment and Vagisil cream. The A&D ointment completely stopped any hoo-ha injuries but it's super messy and greasy and smelly. You can't wash it out of your shorts. The Vagisil cream is WONDERFUL! I know it's safe to put "down there" because that's where you're supposed to put it. I use a ton of it...way more than you'd ever think to use. At first I was thinking it might end up being really expensive, but if you get the generic brand, it's not bad. And Chamois Butt'r isn't cheap anyway. Oh, and I also seem to have more problems if my shorts have too much padding. The thinner the padding, the better everything feels.

So that's my two cents...maybe try a new saddle and use A TON of Vagisil.

I do best with a thinnish chamois; and a saddle with no cutout, no padding, thin nose, wide "flare" in back, and T shaped top rather than pear shaped. (abrupt transition from sitting area to nose.)

Mine's a Brooks B67, and I want to get a Brooks B68 (same thing, just without springs) so each of my bikes has a Brooks.

Once you find the saddle of your dreams it might be a good idea to buy a spare. Or two!!:D

I went through a handful of saddles over the last few years, going back to an old standby Terry saddle in between each. The Terry gave me the least trouble, but even it didn't totally relieve the bruised feeling I always ended up with after a long ride. This year I had a very thorough bike fitting that included raising my stem and handlebars. Voila! By balancing my weight more evenly between the bars, pedals and saddle, I now sit more naturally on my sit bones. I've had no hoo-ha pain since :D

Sometimes the problem is the saddle, other times it's how you're positioned on the saddle. Be open to experimenting with your bike fit and see if that makes a difference.

Sara,
I use just simple fragrance-free handcream/skin lotion. Even cheaper than Vagisil! The one i like is VaselineIntensiveCare skin lotion, fragrance free.
Washes out great too. Keeps my girly bits from chafing when on the bike for hours.
Like you, I would NOT want greasy ointment stuff embedded in my chamois! :eek:

Lisa - I'll try the Vaseline Intensive Care. Thanks! My saddle seems to pretty much take care of the bruised feeling, but, as graphic as this may be, keeping "those" parts well lubricated seems to be the key for me. Grinding into the saddle does not feel good if things can't slide around easily. Geez, I can't believe I just typed that. :eek: But...I'm just being honest here and I don't think anyone likes days of discomfort after a long ride!

I can relate, sister! :D :rolleyes: :cool:

I do recommend the fragrance-free cream though- to keep things comfy for hours you need to put on a fairly generous amount, and I don't think you really want clouds of cucumber/melon/vanilla/lavender scent billowing up from down there! :eek: :rolleyes: :cool: :D
Thinner/cheaper hand lotions don't work well because they evaporate too quickly and get quickly absorbed by the chamois.

P.S. the subject line of this thread cracks me up.
....What's all the brouhaha over the hoo-ha? :D

Tea Tree Oil Cream. Kid you not.

SouthernBelle made me slather a massive amount all over my No No Good and Plenty after a 52 miler, and it was bliss!

Vitamin World online sells it cheap, and they have soap, too!

I think it's a combination of a long work day and the glass of wine I am consuming but I re-read "Painful hoo-ha needs help" and I swear it sounds like a dating advertisement :D

Then again I am still giggling over No No Good and Plenty. Now THAT sounds like a band!

I like Bodyglide! I actually bought some Assos cream (thinking I was moving up in the world), but Bodyglide really seems to work better for me -- it lasts longer (Assos seemed to disappear -- or at least lose its slip -- on longer rides), is way less messy to apply, and doesn't feel slimy or goopy or wet on my chamois (I put lube on my chamois rather than on my skin). And is cheaper.

As for saddles I think it's interesting how different people are. Cutouts leave me bruised and chafed (I fall into them, putting lots of weight on the area on the area around the perimeter of the cutout). My Arione, which one might think would cause uncomfortable pressure over a long ride, has proven to be quite comfortable even though I'm in a pretty aggressive position on my bike that naturally puts a little more weight on soft tissue. No more bruising and chafing. Trying to sit "lighter" on the saddle (supporting more weight with my legs) has helped too.

Besides the saddle issue, you might want to get fit/measured to make sure you don't have a leg length discrepency. When I got my new bike last year, the new geometry started giving me severe "hoo-ha" issues. I had been riding the same saddle for 3 years, with no problems. After a lot of painful rides for almost the whole season, and buying 2 different saddles, I went back to the lbs and found out the leg discrepency was causing the pain on one side. I don't know why he didn't pick this up before, since I had a 2 hour computer/laser fitting, but he was upset I didn't come back right away. The lbs owner built a shim to go under my cleat and when I rode home the pain was gone.
I use butt'r liberally. Body Glide feels sticky to me. Rides with a lot of climbing still irritate me a bit, but it's under control. Some of my issues were related to menopause and I got that solved, too with a visit to the gyno. I settled on a Terry Firefly for my road bike. I have the cheap Serfa saddle on my commuter/erand bike (I ride my road bike to commute to work) and my mtb. I never ride more than 10 miles on those, so as long as there's a cut out, I'm OK.

I'm using a combination of Queen Helene's Cocoa Butter Creme and Chamois Butt'r and putting it on my shorts a few hours ahead of time so it can soak in. Then I put some on myself just before the ride. So far it's worked out pretty well, but sometimes on a hot or really long ride, I have to reapply. Good Luck finding your right combination of creme and saddle. :rolleyes:

I thank you all and my hoo-ha thanks you all. I'm going to try the creams and get a meauring for a saddle. I also moved the saddle forward a bit (not enough to throw off my knees over my feet) so that I'm sitting on the wider part of the saddle...I will let you know. What a great forum! I didn't want to:p ask this to my LBS since they're all guys...

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Originally Posted by teigyr

Then again I am still giggling over No No Good and Plenty. Now THAT sounds like a band!

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A friend of mine in high school named it for me. I used to call it the No No Cha Cha, but James proclaimed, "More the No No Good and Plenty!"
It stuck.

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Originally Posted by lacyliz

I think the subject says it all. But, girls- I went on a 35 mile ride this past week end (with 8 miles of moderate to steep hills:eek: ) and the soft tissue on my unmentionables aka hoo-ha, as I like to call her....

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I like to call it my "twinkie"

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I like to call it my "twinkie"

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Which, of course, makes me think cream filling.
Bahahahahahahahaha.

Is there a point when you have everything adjusted perfectly that you can't feel that you riding with a chunk of leather with metal bars between your legs? I can't seem to adjust right no matter how hard I try.

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Originally Posted by madscot13

Is there a point when you have everything adjusted perfectly that you can't feel that you riding with a chunk of leather with metal bars between your legs? I can't seem to adjust right no matter how hard I try.

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take the box off your head.

you ARE riding on a chunk of leather with metal bars between your legs.
what would you like it to feel like?

heaven... or does that sound like I am into S and M?

Here's a blog entry on this very subject that I found amusing and informative: Adventures in Hooville

The ice pack down the shorts thing, I can definitely relate to.:o I had to do that a few times before I found my current saddle. Ouch! And "Leather Labia" sounds like she needs some serious lube.:rolleyes: :D :p

:D

I rode the Calif Aids Ride in 2000. I have a picture of one of our rest stops in Santa Barbara - a cyclist is standing on her head with her legs open (almost doing splits upside down) with a big bag of ice resting between them!!! If I ever hook up my scanner again, I should put it in digital format. It's priceless!

And leather labia sounds like yet another band. Either that or some super villain or hero.

Hi Ladies!

I really don't have much to say about this, except: Stay mindful of any allergies/sensitivities to the materials of the chamois! Hooo-ha!:eek:

I refer to the problem by that old sailing term-- fire in the hole. Mine is pretty well solved with a new saddle-- a specialized, chamois butter and estrogen cream, but then I'm 54. A younger woman wouldn't have to go the hormone route. I am going to try vaseline intensive care as well.

Assos specifically states that its product is not recommended for use down in the sensitive area. Chamois Butter and Friction Zone would be better choices as the ingredients should be less prone to irritate.

Vaseline is a petroleum-based product. Petrolatum should not be used down in that area either. It is impervious to air, so it encourages infectious growth, particularly as the temperatures start to heat up. It is also known to break down some of the materials used in chamois & in shorts.

Older riders probably have different issues than younger riders. For those of us who have gone through, or are going through menopause, the problem tends to be loss of lubricating ability. Estrogen creams make a lot of sense to try to restore the natural lubrication process. Younger riders should not be plagued by this and would be better advised to look to either the shorts (improper fit, incompatible chamois) or the saddle as the likely culprit of their discomfort.

This is gonna sound crazy, but i've got something that works well if you're in a fix for some sort of skin lubricant...

Astroglide!

I'm pretty sure any type of "personal lubricant" would work, especially because they aren't petroleum based like a lot of lotions (petroleum based things break down latex in comdoms, and will do the same thing to your chamois over time). It stays on forever, and it's slippery as, well, astroglide...

Edit- I've found that astroglide stays slippry longer than KY in "non-bike" situations, so I'm guessing that it would carry over to cycling use as well :)

And there is "O My" and "Jo Systems H2O". Won't break down your latex, your silicone, or your lycra!

I bought some Astroglide today and I can't wait to try it out (I mean on a bike ride).

Why do they have to put the section with the Astroglide and other related products in such conspicous locations in stores? Good grief...after I picked the Astroglide up off the shelf, I looked up and the pharmacist was staring at me, as were two people in line. All 3 actually made eye contact with me. I'm sure I turned a bright shade of beet red as I turned quickly and got the heck out of there!

I've read several posts in this thread that say younger women shouldn't have the "lubrication" problem...but I'm 32 and I've gotta say that on the bike, I definitely have this issue. I wonder if it's due to BCP's. Anyway, all the suggestions here are great and I'm hoping Astroglide is the solution. I just hope I don't slip right off my saddle...

:o

if I try that, I think I will get DH to buy it. Either that or have a few drinks before I go to the store!

Awww, come on.
Step right up and buy the biggest bottle they have!
Ask the pharmacist if they sell it by the case!
Let 'em think you have a very active life ;)

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Originally Posted by zencentury

Awww, come on.
Step right up and buy the biggest bottle they have!
Ask the pharmacist if they sell it by the case!
Let 'em think you have a very active life ;)

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OMG, could you do this for me? I could never do that! :eek: But imagining it is absolutely HILARIOUS! :D

I was already wondering if they have big jugs of this stuff at CostCo or Sam's Club. Of course, you'd probably get some funny looks in the check-out line with your gallon jug of "personal lubricant"!!!

Just a quick follow-up....

Astroglide ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got back from a 23 mile ride and all's well in the nether regions. :p

Thanks for the laugh.............things I thought only I did ,others do also. I use Vasingel,and estrogen creme ...My Brooks B17 seems to be OK. Knotted ,(I know you said not to worry about not indenting) it ,but over "500" miles on it??? I think I may need to move it up just a bit so my butt is on the wider part.

I'm gonna get some Astroglide. To use on my bike. Yeah, that's right. That's really why I'm buying it.

:o :D

So, it can't really be a hijack, since we're talking about the "what will people think" aspect of this problem, which means I can tell this one here...

Chatting with my 23 yo daughter this morning (during lunch, actually) and talking about how DH was grumbling during our ride this morning, cuz I wasn't riding fast enough to suit him. Then we talked about the REASONs I was riding too slowly for DH. Told her I was really sore this morning, and she got all "I don't want to know about that" -- no, honey, from riding my bike, not THAT!

KIDS!

Karen in Boise