yet another thread about girl parts

[channlluv]

+1 to that.

Roxy

[Zen]

I'm proud of you being able to write everything out so clearly for us to understand and try to help you. I'm sure it must have been very hard for you, but I'm glad you were able to do that for yourself and get the help you needed.

That pretty much sums up the spirit of TE.
Go Team!
Go Moonfroggy!

[RolliePollie]

I have chafing issues in the same area you describe. It is definitely pretty embarassing to talk about it, so good for you for posting!

My chafing has only bled once, but many times it's been very raw and it is super duper painful! You also mentioned it was worse when you rode hills...I find this to be the case as well. I do think finding the right saddle is important, but I've tried many saddles and I still get chafing in the inner labia area. I think it's more about anatomy...for some reason, some of us get chafed in different places than other people. Maybe we have exceptionally thin skin there or something. Anyway, I have a couple of suggestions for you that have really helped me...

First off, like lph already posted, rotate between two or three pairs of shorts (or knickers). Even if they're the same brand, the chamois will be slightly different and you won't be rubbing the same parts raw over and over again. I have found some great deals on shorts at http://sierratradingpost.com

Secondly, use tons of chamois cream all over "down there." Some people say this creates a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, but I have not had any problems (knock on wood!). I use inexpensive baby lotion, like Baby Magic. I used to use AstroGlide, but it's expensive and it kind of disappears into your shorts after a while. I always carry extra lotion with me on the bike so I can re-apply it after potty stops.

I hope you are able to figure something out to help. You're not alone (for what it's worth!)

[zoom-zoom]

I've had a bit of bleeding in that region, too. I don't think I have the world's "daintiest" labial area and if I don't use plenty of chamois butter I get literally rubbed the wrong way. I'm hoping this is mostly an issue of the indoor trainer and that things will improve outdoors. If not I'll probably look at a different saddle (right now I have the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow).

[moonfroggy]

i am glad i posted. everyone here has been so kind and so helpful. i ordered a new pair of shorts and will get another pair next month (my birthday is next month!) i am sort of relieved that i am not a freak of nature and others have the same problem but would be better if no one had chaffing issues.

i will see doctor soon and get in for a bike fitting as soon as i can and use more chamois butter than i use now. i luckily never have problems with yeast or bacteria so hopefully i can use more of that stuff and have it prevent chaffing and stay yeast and bacteria free as well.

[lovesunflowers]

Thank you for having the courage to talk about this here!! I'm a big girl and have had enough issues trying to talk to the local bike shops about saddles and such and about this same issue. Its embarrassing and I don't want to give up on a sport I can actually do and love so much. I've never bled but boy oh boy, I've been in a lot of pain!! I appreciate reading I'm NOT the only one out there!!

[sundial]

i am sort of relieved that i am not a freak of nature....

You are NOT a freak of nature and I applaud your courage to step outside your comfort zone. You are in the company of wise ladies who will be happy to offer you encouragement.

[tiva]

I hope you found a solution. I had a lot of compression pain on my labia as well, and I found these things helped:
1. tilting my seat a tiny bit downward
2. a cut-out seat with large cut-outs
3. and most oddly, but most importantly, if I tuck things inside a bit, I don't get the pain. I don't know how to put this politely, but after using the restroom and washing my hands well, I fold the labia inside when I'm riding, and that helps a lot on the bike.

OK, until a moment ago, my husband was the only person on earth who knew I did this!

[MLR]

I am also glad that I am not alone. I thought this irritation may have been due to the fact that I was post menopausal. I have found that changing my saddle to a very narrow saddle helped as well as A & D ointment and chamois butter. The problem is not gone and it is really frustrating to have the problem reoccur.

[zoom-zoom]

I've had a bit of bleeding in that region, too. I don't think I have the world's "daintiest" labial area and if I don't use plenty of chamois butter I get literally rubbed the wrong way. I'm hoping this is mostly an issue of the indoor trainer and that things will improve outdoors. If not I'll probably look at a different saddle (right now I have the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow).

I need to update this...I have been on the Specialized Jett for a few months and it is a HUGE improvement. The previous saddle was too big/wide and too pear-shaped, so the cut-out was never where I needed it and I always had to push myself back on that saddle. I'm doing much better on a firmer, narrower, t-shaped saddle.

[navybeetle]

there is only one bike shop near me i will see if the guy at that shop can set me up in a trainer and watch. it means having to explain the problem and talk out loud about it which is really really um hard for me to do.

the dissociative stuff also comes with somewhat sever ptsd and is related to abuse as a child. talking about my body here is hard for me. talking out loud with my really nice female doctor whow as a midwife will be really hard and i will probably stutter a lot. trying to talk to the guy at the bike shop. he seems very nice but he is a guy. i may stutter to much to make any sense. other bike shops are over an hour away. the nearest bike shop just has one guy who works there he is really nice and helpful though.

Hang in there sister. Like you, I have had illnesses and bumps in the road that scared me into thinking that something I love to do could be taken away from me. I prayed my way through it and read stories about people overcoming physical/mental pain. I had a rough couple of years there. Two of my favorites were Krakauer's "Into the Void" (a great dvd too) and lance Armstrong's "It's not about the bike". Also, how about one of those saddles that have an empty space in the middle of the seat or one where you seem to just rest your butt on it? I am just getting back into biking after 20 years so I don't have any other suggestions. Hang tough but go to the doctor. I prefer a female when it comes to my nether regions :-)

[moonfroggy]

Hang in there sister. Like you, I have had illnesses and bumps in the road that scared me into thinking that something I love to do could be taken away from me. I prayed my way through it and read stories about people overcoming physical/mental pain. I had a rough couple of years there. Two of my favorites were Krakauer's "Into the Void" (a great dvd too) and lance Armstrong's "It's not about the bike". Also, how about one of those saddles that have an empty space in the middle of the seat or one where you seem to just rest your butt on it? I am just getting back into biking after 20 years so I don't have any other suggestions. Hang tough but go to the doctor. I prefer a female when it comes to my nether regions :-)

thanks this is sort of an old thread now. i guess i should post an update

i did finally see a doctor and that was all ok and i managed it. i stopped wearing the shorts that are now to big for me. if i wear shorts that fit i have no problem or almost no problem. since i got my new bike i notice when i spend a lot of time in the drops there is some chaffing i think i need to adjust the saddle some or maybe try a different saddle. anyhow i have had no bleeding and almost no chaffing and no more cysts.

[navybeetle]

Glad to hear you are working through it. I am sure I will have to as well :-)

[roadwrider]

Hi, I've been reading along and empathizing with all of you. I've been a road biker for, well... decades. I've had the boil/ingrown hair problem. I've had saddle issues. I've had numbness in my hands and toes (especially on my left side). I've had ill-fitting shorts and I've worked through the painful realization that my "new" bike was too big and I needed to invest in yet another. As for the boils, a Brazilian wax, loofa sponge, daily lotion and Chamoix Butt'r works like a charm for me. Granted, it may not be for everyone. I had severe tail bone pain a year ago that turned out to be a combination of poor saddle and bike fit. My old Terry seat was simply spreading my pelvis when I rode and it was ungodly painful to do anything on or off my beloved bike. I went with the Jett 143, although the smaller one may fit me as well. It's great (as moonfroggy can atest). I'm a minimalist, so the less pressure on any body parts the less opportunity for soreness. I'm tall, 5'9"+, but I have a very narrow pelvis and my hips tilt a full 3/4" down on my left side when I stand. That combined with a bike that was too big and poorly fit had me sliding around in the saddle and scooting forward when I rode, which pushed me off my sits bones and rested my weight on my girly-bits. OUCH. I kept having to reseat myself, which is not productive or efficient at all. My new bike is fit perfectly. The tech made sure to fit me from both sides to accommodate my hip issue and I've been back to tweak the peddle/cleet position and seat height so it feels good now with no numbness or chaffing. Lastly, I put customized bars on it that are narrower so my shoulders and elbows tuck in much better. In my experience, once a bike is dialed in where it belongs you'll know it's right when you feel like you're wearing it, not just riding it. Finally, Shebeest Triple-S shorts work great for me. I won't ride anything else. Last weekend I went 150 miles in two days averaging 18.7 mph with no issues. The team felt great and I'd do it again tomorrow if I could. Good luck ladies! I wish I could ride with all of you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Moonfroggy, do you have a friend who could come with you to the bike shop? I'm thinking having someone you're comfortable talking to could make the exchange easier, someone to fill in the gaps, make small talk, ask the little questions you may not think of etc., take the pressure off of you having to handle all the dialogue.

I was going to suggest this too. Especially if you can have a female friend come with you, just casual-like. She doesn't even have to bike, she can just come along and stand there while you talk to them, like you were both on your way somewhere together on some errand.

And rememebr, bike shop guys are constantly trying to solve saddle problems for men riders whose intimate parts are going numb, chafing, open sores, etc. This is not a new subject for them unless they just started working in a bike shop.

And yes going to the doctor is a good idea if you are bleeding!