Q:Vag pain, pads and cycling shorts

[iamawarrior]

So ladies, here we go.
I recently bought cycling shorts with pads in them. I know that you aren't supposed to wear underwear with them for circulation purposes, so I didn't. But then my vaginal discharge got all over the lining of shorts. So this time, I decided to lay a pad over the lining so that the discharge wouldn't eventually discolor the lining, as it would with underwear, plus i'm just coming of my period, so I thought it would be wise. But, i just rode for hours and my vagina hurts like hell! particularly my vagninal lips. I dont know what to do! I never want to feel this burning, sore discomfort again.
Has this happened to any of ya'll? Should I just ride sans-pad and risk discoloration and/or blood? Tips? What do I do? Tell me your ways!
thanks,
--recently converted spandex biker

[kiwi girl]

Should I just ride sans-pad and risk discoloration and/or blood? Tips? What do I do? Tell me your ways!
thanks,
--recently converted spandex biker

that's what I do - most chamois actually rinse out pretty well anyway

[Dianyla]

If I've got light discharge I just don't worry about it, it always rinses out. For spotting and menstrual flow, I wear my MoonCup or DivaCup.

[iamawarrior]

Yay! thanks for all the advice... I will definitely not wear a pad next time. Woooo!

[Geonz]

Anybody else who's going to see the coloring of my chamois lining ... welp, just better be able to deal with whatever colors are there. I don't sit and meditate on them myself...

[Eden]

Anybody else who's going to see the coloring of my chamois lining ... welp, just better be able to deal with whatever colors are there. I don't sit and meditate on them myself...

The chamios in my new shorts (Hincapie) is red - the boyz version is blue. I think its the first one that I've had that wasn't white.

[maillotpois]

The chamios in my new shorts (Hincapie) is red - the boyz version is blue. I think its the first one that I've had that wasn't white.

My Pearl Izumi 3D is a greenish and all my Castellis have been red. Assos is orange. My Shebeest pedal pushers are blue.

[Blueberry]

Most of mine are kind of a tan color - and if you do get discharge, just soak in cold h2o when you get home.

I had the burning problem and my doc finally diagnosed an *external* yeast infection. Not vaginal - just on the skin near the lips. Really odd. It had been giving me fits for months. I always shower immediately after riding, dry well, etc. Apparently it was just something my body couldn't quite get rid of alone. A week of an ointment and (knock on wood) problem resolved.

If you still get burning without the extra pad, could be a saddle or shorts problem, but I'd try a cycling specific lube first (e.g. chamois butt'r).

good luck!

[Nanci]

You can get some pretty major burning down there (feels like peeing razor blades) if you stop to pee when you are out on the bike and don't get everything absolutely wiped perfectly dry. Leftover urine can _really_ burn. It goes away a few hours after you are off the bike, though, and for sure by the next day. Drip drying is a _bad_ idea when cycling.

Nanci

[cornia]

i just wrote on this very subject thinking i was alone! have you found any more solutions that have worked for you, thanx

[Starfish]

I'm just smiling at how different we all are, and also how great these forums are that we can have all these kinds of discussions and get our own information needs met.

I cannot even really imagine, truth be told, caring one tiny iota if my chamois is stained in any way, as long as whatever stained it has been more or less washed away before my next ride.

Also, all my chamois are grey...never seen white ones!

[mimitabby]

Chamois butter works! especially for those of us over 45 I really recommend!!

mimi

[ACG]

I used to always wear underwear, not anymore. I have several differrent brands of short, they all wash very well. Sometimes I get numb and that is when I raise myself up above the seat maybe for 20 seconds, once this is done a few times the numbness goes away. Try everything, somthing has gotta work. Make sure your seat it adjusted properly too!

[nc23]

I'm a guy and came across this forum while searching for my own underwear questions.

First question - my wife doesn't have dedicated "period" underwear, so all of her underwear gets spotty. I'd like to suggest she retire some of her old underear to this special duty and not stain new underwear. Any suggestions on how I can do this discretely?

Second, where does the policy of not wearing underwear with bike shorts come from? Word of mouth? Both of us have been wearing underwear with bike shorts for years. It isn't ideal, but I'm not sure that no underwear is ideal either.

Thanks for the help.

[Tuckervill]

Buy her some new undies and suggest she save them for the off-days. It's ultimately her choice, of course.

I think the thing about no underwear with bike shorts comes from experience with chafing. I don't have any experience with chafing, because I just don't ride long enough distances, but I think it could happen. I don't wear undies under my bike shorts, though. If it doesn't happen to you, I guess you should consider yourself fortunate!

Karen