Diagnosed at 22 and many questions

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hello everyone,

I've been stalking this page for a few months since I randomly decided to Google some symptoms I've been having since I was 9. Everything kept leading me back to lichen sclerosis until I became convinced it's what I've had since childhood. After seeing the gynecologist a couple days ago she confirmed I had it but took a biopsy to confirm. She is very convinced so sent me a prescription for Clobetasol right away. She literally explained nothing about it, she just told me to put a thin film on my vulva which is a bit vague for me. I read others saying to rub it for 90 seconds but should that be everywhere that itches or just the white patches? Further, during my exam we decided to try a papsmear but the only successful thing to come of that was she successfully made it feel like my organs were being torn apart. I looked at the area last night and found that my vagina looks stretched out and it tore a little on the perineum. Has anyone else had this experience? A third question I have is about how can one approach a new partner with the diagnosis. I have never had sex before and I'm terrified of what my partner might say or think. I am young and inexperienced which makes me feel like my love life will end before it has even started. I have read others say this before in posts but this diagnosis really does make me feel hopeless.

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2 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Starling. Hope you're still here. Apparently Dr. did not use a small speculum but should have. That's happened to me as well. Rub the clobetasol on the white patches first and see what happens. You could call back and ask the Office if you haven't already. They should have explained it but often they don't seem to. I am sorry if you are in pain. I would hold off on the sex until you get the white patches and itching under control. Baking soda in water should help with the itching, coconut oil for skin repair or polysporin if you have a tear or any bleeding. Darn doctors. Let us know. Don't give up...

  • Edited

    Hello,

    I am also 22 years old with LS. I was diagnosed at 18 years old, and I was also having symptoms since a very young age. I have had a very rough relationship with coming to terms with LS. I often neglect my treatment and when I first met and started sleeping with my current partner I wasnt using my ointment. I think this was because I was anxious that he would be able to tell. For me, it does not cause me pain. It just has a very severe itch. So sex is not painful. I have been more worried however, with oral sex. And still to this day I do not let my partner perform oral sex on me. When the time was right I was able to comfortably tell my partner about my LS. However, I am too embarrassed about it to just tell anyone. So far, my previous sexual partners did not notice anything wrong with me which gave me confidence and today, the LS does not affect my sex life.

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