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Could this be Lichen Sclerosus or Lichen Planus?

Posted , 11 users are following.

newkeds
newkeds

Anyone who has experience with these please let me know if it sounds like I might have one or the other. I'm a 22 year old virgin and have been dealing with chronic vulvar itching and pain since I was 10. The problems started with one fairly small bump on my left labia minora at 10 years old, and gradually that side has shrunk over the years and part appears to have been absorbed into the skin around it. What's left is thicker and shriveled feeling. My right labia minora doesn't appear to have shrunk much but is very thin and sticks easily to the skin around it now when it didn't used to. My entire vulva area is either bright red or dark purple in some areas like it's bruised and always in pain, with a very raw feeling. I don't have any actual white patches of skin, but my perineum is really thin feeling, easily tears, and a light grey color. I've never had any sexual contact whatsoever, but have tried using a vibrator myself and the pain can be unbearable sometimes and other times just very uncomfortable after pushing past the entrance. I had my first pap test last week and it was some of the worst pain I've ever experienced and I'm still having slightly bloody, yellowish discharge. They tested me for Vaginitis (which was negative) and did the HPV test with the pap smear and I'm supposed to get my results tomorrow, but waiting for the results is killing me. Does this sound like it could be Lichen Sclerosus or Lichen Planus? Any ideas if it's not? Thanks for the help everyone.

1 like, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • justine89448
    justine89448 newkeds

    Posted

    Hi sorry your inso much pain. The only way to tell is by biopsy. However I can tell you my symptoms and I have litchen scloroses LS, I don't have any white patches I often feel a crawling or tingling sensation that passes from front to back, I get itching. I can become inflamed and it can look red/purple. I can look like I have carpet burns or paper cuts. My labia minoria has shrunk, I'm losing the fatty part of my labia magoria. I also get fissures around my anus.

    I hope this helps and you get a diagnoses so you can start the correct treatment. I had to tell my gynie do you think it could be Ls can I have a biopsy.

    • newkeds
      newkeds justine89448

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply! I wasn't sure it was possible to have it without white patches because that's what all the pictures online always show. I plan to make another appointment and ask for a biopsy for LS when they call with my pap test results. Thanks again!
  • lynne1945
    lynne1945 newkeds

    Posted

    I'm so sorry for your pain. And ,that you are suffering at such a young age.

    I have to say that to me it sounds like Lichen Planus. But really the only way to find out for sure is to see a specialist in vulval dermatology who will tell you at first glance. I say LP as I have it and certainly have the red raw patches and the purple bruise like look. And the disappearing and shrunk inner labia. No white patches and no itch either which is indicative of LS usually. 

    But whatever it is I hope you get some answers soon. In all these 12 years you have been suffering you have had no diagnosis? That's pretty awful. 

    I wouldn't put too much faith in biopsies I'm sorry. I had two six months apart and the results X 2  came back with LS which is wrong. My specialist told me it's possible to find Lichen in the biopsy but not what type, and assumptions are made sometimes by inexperienced medical people who then pass on the news that you have LS. LIchen Planus is rarely seen or maybe people just put up with it and don't present to doctors. So doctors just don't see it a lot.

    Same steroid treatment is used in both types anyway but there are different symptoms to watch out for with the different kinds. 

    Good luck to you.

    • newkeds
      newkeds lynne1945

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your response! I'm glad to hear from someone who has Lichen Planus since that's what I was sort of leaning towards with my own research, but wasn't sure. I was curious about the biopsy actually so thank you, and good to know that the steroid treatment is the same for LS and LP. Thanks!
  • Chrisy
    Chrisy newkeds

    Posted

    If you do get results positive with HPV you could still have Lichen Sclerosus or Plants. Don't be afraid to ask for a biopsy to settle your fears.

    • Chrisy
      Chrisy

      Posted

      Planus sorry

    • newkeds
      newkeds Chrisy

      Posted

      Thanks! I think I will because I'm still not sure what else could cause my labia minora to shrink/disappear.
  • annieflipflop
    annieflipflop newkeds

    Posted

    So sorry you're having these problems at such a young age.

    I have Lichen Planus of the vulva and the reason this was diagnosed (without a biopsy) was that it has never caused shrinkage. I have reddish purple itchy patches towards the inside of the vagina, no white patches. I also have LP in my mouth, although this is not so bad.

    Hope you feel better soon.

  • Queenee
    Queenee newkeds

    Posted

    Hi, from your description of "fusing skin, soreness, vaginal distress etc" - it does sound like LS BUT unless you ask your Dr. Or GYN for a biopsy then it cannot be confirmed.
    • newkeds
      newkeds Queenee

      Posted

      Thank you for your opinion! I'm definitely asking for a biopsy at my next appointment, which I'm planning to schedule today. I just wanted some info first because my Doctor doesn't seem to be considering this.
    • Queenee
      Queenee newkeds

      Posted

      regarding the remarks from Sheila & Sandra, I have had biopsies, mainly because LS in these areas can turn cancerous.  I had one area that became like something I could put my finger into - it was so sore.  The biopsy was done by a specialist at a hospital - very very painful and took 2 weeks to even feel better - but thank God it was not cancerous.   Good luck to you and never leave anything to guesses.  Definite confirmations are the best.  Better to have pain now that worse stuff later. 
    • Queenee
      Queenee newkeds

      Posted

      Forgot to add I have no white patches.  So you even by not having

      those it doesn't mean you dont have LS.

    • sandra01720
      sandra01720 Queenee

      Posted

      Absolutely have a biopsy done if there's any concern about abnormal cells that could be cancerous.
  • sheila49099
    sheila49099 newkeds

    Posted

    Hi,  Sounds to me like you have LS from itching to bruising to shrinkage .

    All classic sysmptoms.   wouldn't be too quick to have a biopsy. that is painful

    and adds scar tissue which you don't want.  A good doctor can tell by sight 

    alone. Keep yourself well lubricated at ll times ( use coconut oil) it will keep the 

    stickiness at bay and helps to reduce itching .  Also use whatever steroid cream 

    your doctor gives you. Keep us informed as to your progress.

    • sandra01720
      sandra01720 sheila49099

      Posted

      I second those thoughts on biopsy. I didn't have one and don't regret that. My Gyno confirmed my suspicion of LS with a visual examination. I had LS for many years I believe before I had the white patches.
    • sandra01720
      sandra01720

      Posted

      Research Koebner phenomenon to understand the effects trauma to skin can have.
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