Can anyone advise if this is Lichen Sclerosus / Planus? Or genital Herpes? Please help!
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hello,
Would anyone be able to provide their thoughts on the attached photographs please? I have been itching like mad daily for around 8 years now. I have had numerous STI tests carried out. All were negative apart from a blood test for HSV-1. As I have had severe itchiness, my doctor put me on acyclovir tablets and cream. This made 0 difference to my symptoms and he is now of the view that HSV-1 is not what is causing my discomfort. It has now been put down to 'vulvodynia' which I am unwilling to accept as I have no pain, just extreme itchiness!
I have carried out some research and note that Lichen Sclerosis/Planus can cause severe itchiness down below and I wondered if this is possibly what I have. Some photographs I have found seem to be extreme cases and I don't know if I possibly have a mild version of it? You will see from the 3rd photograph that there are fissures on my labia minora.
I have always lived in hope that I would get this fixed and find some sort of relief, but I am now reaching the end of my tether and do not know what else to do. I can't even walk from one end of the room to the other without extreme itchy discomfort. I feel that I have 0 quality of life. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Sorry for the ramble and thanks in advance!
0 likes, 5 replies
user69535
Posted
Can anyone help at all please? I would appreciate it so much!
beverly52803 user69535
Posted
69535,
I have just stumbled back on to this site. I don't know if old posts are still accessible, but there are hundreds of posts, some w/photos if you can find them. I can't recognize LS in photos as I see nothing unusual on my own body although my GYN can sometimes see miniscule white areas. When I was first diagnosed I had very faint white lines that went away after using a steroid ointment. I am in the US where we can go to a GYN Dr. GPs are clueless about this disease. To suffer for 8 years sounds like the dark ages to me. You HAVE to see a GYN Dr and preferably one who deals with skin issues.
I am post menopausal and was first diagnosed with atrophic vaginitis. I have been put on estrogen cream as well as Triamcinalone steroid ointment. Many women use Clobetasol but that was too strong for me to use consistently. I have never had an outer itch. More of a pulling or burning and for a period I had a buzzing feeling (said to be active LS). There is a myriad of symptoms. Some have splitting as you do. If it is LS you can control it with medication. Hope you get to see a specialist soon. Good luck.
kayja123 user69535
Posted
hello!
the fissures are very common with LS which seem to replicate mine ( mine are by the vaginal entrance).
it is worth mentioning that for years i was under the impression that i had HSV1 (from visual examination but negative test results). and now 5 years along the line i have been diagnosed with LS. so there is a huge possibility like me you have been misdiagnosed.
im hoping to book in for a biopsy to fully confirm what i have but it might be worth documenting your experience and visiting a gaenacologist. or visiting sexual health clinic in the mean time and getting you some steroid ointment to ease swelling and itching.
i hope your symptoms ease up soon.
user69535 kayja123
Posted
thank you for your reply, that was really helpful. are your symptoms pain or itching? i find the itching relentless and cant get it to stop! have you found any treatment that has worked for you?
user69535
Posted
these are two other photos of my inner labia minora. i dont know if anyone can see all the little cuts/redness/whiteness... these are the parts that are causing me irritation.