6 years no diagnosis, recently seen white patches that come and go, how likely is lichen sclerosus?

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For 5 years and 8 months I have had pain and itching of the vulva. I had only been with one guy (my first boyfriend), prior to experiencing this pain. He was abusive and we only had sex twice. But a few weeks after last having sex with him I developed abnormal yellow-green discharge with an odour which I never had before. I also developed an itchy vulva. The itch carried on and got worse. 3 months later, I developed cuts on my vulva, near my vagina. My vulva also burn and stung like hell. I had to be taken to the hospital. They tested for everything, including herpes, and it all came back negative. Another doctor told me it was just thrush, although I've had it before and it never burned nor stung nor was the itch anywhere near that bad. Anyway, doctor gave me a canestan pessary for thrush which I inserted but it made the inside of my vagina sting like hell so I had to go to the hospital again. They said everything looks normal bla bla bla. I've probably had about 4 episodes where my vulva randomly all of a sudden felt like it had been cut and alcohol poured all over it, however when I went to the hospital, they looked and said it all looks normal. The most they saw was redness, but most of the time they said it looks normal.

Anyway, fast forward to 5 years later (2021) and after swabbing myself, I test positive for gardnerella vaginalis (bv), despite attending gynaecology numerous times and them saying that I don't have bv, thrush, trichomoniasis, basically that everything is normal! I knew the discharge wasn't normal, it was too much, had a foul odour and I'd never had it before.

I get prescribed metronidazole and finally after 5 years and 8 months of continuous yellow-green discharge, there's now only clear and white discharge.

The pain even went away temporarily while on the metronidazole.

Anyway, now all I have is itching, irritation and a pin-prick like pain in my vulva and near my anus. The skin near my anus is sore, pink, tight and shiny.

Earlier this year, in January, I noticed that my perineum had a tear in it and it took ages to heal. I also noticed knife-like/paper-like cuts around my vulva and near my vagina. They weren't painful, I noticed them because I decided to check myself frequently. I booked an appointment for the next morning and they had healed already.

LICHEN SCLEROSUS LIKE SYMPTOMS: In March I noticed four distinct white patches of skin on my perineum and lower vulva. My entire perineum and lower vulva was wrinkly, shiny and the skin looked thin/fragile. I noticed the white patches again a few weeks later, although they were less distinct.

In April I used my camera and flash and noticed patches of white skin all around my anus and on my perineum. There was also pink skin.

A few days ago, I noticed the labia minora above my vagina was distinctly white and glistening. The skin looked see-through and pale white.

When I saw my doctor in late March ish, my skin had returned to normal. She told me it isn't lichen sclerosus because the white patches of skin would stay and upon examination she said everything looks normal, although she barely looked. She told me that you can tell if it's lichen sclerosus by mere observation and told me to try to stop being so anxious as that is probably the sole reason for the inflammation. She diagnosed me with vaginitis.

The white patches do seem to come and go though. Hence my doubt on whether it is lichen sclerosus.

It just seems so unfair that I have to wait until late June for my appointment when I've been suffering daily for 5 years and 8 months.

Plus, they might not even give me a biopsy and say everything is normal and I'll have to live with this constant pain.

The doctor referred me for a colposcopy recently for the yellow-green discharge I used to have, but I haven't had that in months so I'm not sure why. I don't get any pain inside my vagina or cervix. Unsurprisingly, the colposcopy was all normal. My bv has gone.

One side of my labia minora is also more fused compared to the other one. But it's only noticable when I mention it, as I barely noticed it before. So I'm worried the doctors might rule it out. It looks fused though because I often get wrinkly skin there.

Is there any other condition that causes constant pain, itching, pin prick pains, burning and these symptoms above?

I've been tested negative for stds so many times, I barley have sex due to a naturally low sex drive and I'm going insane trying to figure out what other condition apart from lichen sclerosus causes white patches, itching and pain, when the doctor has told me that I don't have lichen sclerosus.

At this point, I don't care what it is, I'd rather just know.

I AM keeping an open mind, but surely lichen sclerosus shouldn't just be ruled out simply because the white patches of skin seem to come and go? According to my doctor, it should be ruled out.

I might try and ring them up to ask if they have any earlier appointments available.

UPDATE: The white patch on my labia minora, above the vagina is still there so it hasn't gone from when I first noticed it a few days ago. It is glistens less now, but it's still pale. It's also hidden in the labia minora folds, which is why they probably missed it last time. It's still a large patch though.

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello Newgirlann,

    What you report sounds likes LS which can present just as you said with white patches, itching, tears, burning, and fused labia. It also sounds like you had a vaginal infection, possibly from that last partner.

    Yeast infections do have discharge as you know but from what you experienced, it sounds like you had more than yeast. Doctors, whether male or female, don't seem to know much about the outer skin problems. However, you do say that the metronizadole cleared up the discharge so maybe it was yeast. However the white patches, fusings, itching, and tearing issues sound more like LS. Has no one given you that biopsy or clobetasol?

  • Posted

    I would start taking photos to document it for the doctor. that's what I've had to do as my symptoms also come and go. I would also look into places that specialize in vulvar dermatology. good luck hun I hope you can get answers soon.

  • Posted

    Hi,

    Ive been having the exact same symptoms as you and keep googling for answers, coming up with Lichen Sclerosus each time. I went to the doctors and got diagnosed with anal fissure and prescribed with stool softners and ointment. I mentioned getting paper like cuts on the perineum because the skin was thin but the doctor pretty much ignored my point. Are you getting any fissures around the anus area? And do your cuts heal within a day or two then appear again when passing bowel movement?

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