Tear...a little graphic

[Catrin]

I seem to have a little torn tissue inside my girly bits I KNOW it isn't from doing the human pretzel as someone else on this board worded it...

The only culprit I can think of is the my current saddle without a cutout (SI Diva). After my 56 mile ride Saturday my girly bits were sore and swollen for a few days - but could the saddle have actually caused tearing just inside?

My new saddle (SI Lady Gel Flow) is being installed tomorrow. Am still planning on a long ride this Saturday - and testing things tomorrow with the new saddle. The cutout should mean there won't be a repeat if this is indeed the case.

I am just wondering if this was even possible to be the cause, it is very odd.

[Crankin]

It could be...
It might be from the repetitive motion on your parts, and the 56 mile ride was the thing that sent the situation over the edge. Get your new saddle quickly!
I had a similar situation, a few years ago now, where I scheduled my annual exam a little early because of this type of situation. My doctor was really puzzled by the "lesion," as she called it, but after talking with her, I knew right away it was from my saddle. I was in constant pain and didn't know any better. While I still am sensitive in this area, especially when it's hot out, changing to my saddle pretty much cured the situation.
Ouch.

[Catrin]

It could be...
It might be from the repetitive motion on your parts, and the 56 mile ride was the thing that sent the situation over the edge. Get your new saddle quickly!
I had a similar situation, a few years ago now, where I scheduled my annual exam a little early because of this type of situation. My doctor was really puzzled by the "lesion," as she called it, but after talking with her, I knew right away it was from my saddle. I was in constant pain and didn't know any better. While I still am sensitive in this area, especially when it's hot out, changing to my saddle pretty much cured the situation.
Ouch.

Thanks - I just wanted to see if this was even possible that this was the cause. The new saddle comes today The smaller cutout on the SI Lady should work for me better than the SI Diva - and I obviously have to have a cutout. I understand that lower estrogen levels causes our soft tissues there to become more fragile - this is likely the other part of the equation...

[Crankin]

That definitely was part of the equation for me when I went to my doctor. It was cured with an E-string.
I started riding about a year before I was in menopause (which happened fairly young). So, between the added mileage, switching from a mountain bike to a road bike, the wrong saddle, and lack of estrogen, it was a disaster waiting to happen.

[OakLeaf]

Ow.

I'm definitely having menopause issues too, but (so far) it hasn't affected my cycling.

I guess if it were me I'd use a dab of internal lubricant before a ride. I've been on that quest for a while anyway and man, there is so little out there that's actually safe to put where they want you to put it!

I'm really impressed with Aloe Life products. As safe as anything out there, long lasting and very slippery.

[Catrin]

Ow.

I'm definitely having menopause issues too, but (so far) it hasn't affected my cycling.

I guess if it were me I'd use a dab of internal lubricant before a ride. I've been on that quest for a while anyway and man, there is so little out there that's actually safe to put where they want you to put it!

I'm really impressed with Aloe Life products. As safe as anything out there, long lasting and very slippery.

Mine was surgical - and they took everyone, including ovaries and cervix. So my body gets no estrogen, basically. I will look into the Aloe Life products, thanks!

[Catrin]

That definitely was part of the equation for me when I went to my doctor. It was cured with an E-string.
I started riding about a year before I was in menopause (which happened fairly young). So, between the added mileage, switching from a mountain bike to a road bike, the wrong saddle, and lack of estrogen, it was a disaster waiting to happen.

E-string? Seems to me I've heard of that here before.

The new saddle has already made a world of difference for my soft tissue - am VERY happy with the new saddle. Would have tried the Terry Butterfly next, but it doesn't look like I will need to go that way. Considering how much better I am feeling, it seems next to certain that the Diva saddle was at least aggravating the problem.

[Crankin]

Yes, I have mentioned it and others have asked about it. It's a ring, like the ones that are used for birth control, that releases just 2 mg of estrogen over a 3 month period. Apparently it's just enough to thicken up the thinning parts, without putting you at risk for stuff, like the patch or pills do. Of course, if I had any risk factors for breast cancer, I might not have done it, but the thinning tissues were seriously interfering with riding and other, ah, activities. My doctor said that she has had patients who have been approved to use it after cancer surgery (by their oncologists), so for me, it was not a hard decision to make.