Labia Minora Shrinking!!
Posted , 26 users are following.
Hi Ladies
I have never used clob and have managed my itching, soreness and lesions with natural things. Olive oil or coconut oil to keep things moist and a little dab of tea tree directly onto the itch which for me is at the top of my left labia majora just on the inside edge. This is where my white patches are plus a few slightly raised what I think must be hair follicle spots. ( waiting for a dermatologist ref to come through re this). What is concerning me is that in the last couple of months my labia Minora has noticeably shrunk and my clit has also shrunk! I have no fusing and can still have sex with no pain. ( long may this continue). Does clob prevent shrinkage or will it happen regardless. I was diagnosed 2 years ago. Maybe I've been lucky up to now and LS is starting to enforce her true colours on me now. I don't want to use clob but if this is a preventative measure then perhaps I should. I don't have any LS symptoms other than shrinkage at present other than on my labia majora. I am 55yrs so maybe this could also be atrophy from menopause? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank ladies.
1 like, 134 replies
sue162 Nettie62
Posted
you sound the the same as me. Do you use the clob as maintenance product? I was told to as it does ease soreness and heals any lesions. I haven’t used it for a few weeks but do if I get sore, post meno the oestrogen is gone from the minora which when we are younger is very rich in oestrogen. Mine have gone flat both sides there are no ridges now like a kerb melting into the road, I was very scared it happened even with clob but the clinic reassured me a lot of this is meno related. I use Yes moisturiser which is good for atrophy as well. Are you on oestrogen cream in your privates at all? I haven’t used it though as I was worried of side affects. The clob did make my whiteness go back to pink. The clinic said that some ladies minora goes back to as if we were girls again as if before starting puberty. I didn’t know our lady bits change with age though, how naive was I. X
Nancy_K_B sue162
Posted
hey Sue that's cool thanks for sharing -... and no not naive... we were never Taught it! I was jsut mentionin g this in another post. geesh what I'm learning n our sisterhood forum!
karen23320 Nettie62
Posted
karen23320 Nettie62
Posted
Guppy007 Nettie62
Edited
Hi Nettie, it appears that shrinkage is part and parcel of Lichen Sclerous, in much the same way as the white plaques of skin. I think when you are first diagnosed with LS it doesn't happen immediately, but I do think over time (like for me 5 years) after diagnosis is when the disease starts to take your labia minora..of course this is all speculation on my part and maybe I should start a new thread asking that very question.
So, in answer to your question, No, I don't believe the Clob stops shrinkage and what you are experiencing is the natural progression of LS. I believe Clob is invaluable for certain vaginal problems, like the white plaques of skin which often disappear after using the Clob and for clitoral pain...but other than that it can cause more problems..just my view of course.
I like Sue's comment
"Mine have gone flat both sides there are no ridges now like a kerb melting into the road,"
this is very true.
sue162 Guppy007
Posted
karen23320 Guppy007
Posted
Hi Guppy/ I sincerely hope that you are wrong when you say labial shrinkage and fusing are “ part and parcel” of the disease and we just hv to resign ourselves to it! I am 33 days diagnosed and I want to educate myself as much as possible and be as aggressive as possible in treating this disease. I am only 47 and hv alot of years ahead and alot more sex to hv to throw in the towel. 🙄🙄
Guppy007 karen23320
Posted
Hi Karen, I do believe that for many of us that fusing/shrinkage and then the loss of Labia Minora occurs as it is the natural progression of the disease. However, I have a feeling that this happens when you're older, perhaps even after the menopause... naturally this will not happen to everyone, we are all different and LS effects us all differently, but it cannot be denied that it is happening to many of the posters on the site...perhaps we are all in the older bracket (I'm 56)
In any case, none of this will have any bearing on whether you can have sex or not, it doesn't stop you from being able to continue to have sex. One can still have sex without their Labia Minora, and remember some women are born without their Labia Minora and they do fine.
Nancy_K_B Guppy007
Posted
what a wonderful reply and explanation, Guppy! Thanks so much. ANOTHER great education about our own bodies I'm reading tonight... I had no idea some girls are born without a labia minora etc
Bridge_of_Sighs Guppy007
Posted
I've got my 'kerbs' back! it's taken two years and the progress is so very slow it's hard to believe anything is actually happening, but it is, it really is! At the same time, my labia are only at the top bit, there's none on the bottom half of my vagina opening, and they don't seem to be returning, or getting any bigger again, but I'm happy with my kerbs - it's a positive change.
Things I've done; FOOD - drastically cut sugar, eat mostly a wide variety of seasonal fresh food and veg - not prepared food, only sourdough bread - I agree with Guppy that gluten isn't automatically a culprit unless you are coeliac, it's the rubbish that goes into commercial bread that makes it bad for you, not th3e actual gluten per.se. I still enjoy a couple of glasses of wine a week and firmly believe that you have to enjoy life too, it's stressful enough without taking out the small pleasures too. PERSONAL CARE - a diluted borax spray and an application of oil after every toilet visit. (avoccado, jojoba or olive with a changing variety of essential oils in), dilate two or three times a week. HOLIDAYS - I'm always better after holidays, even camping ones with facilities that mean I don't get as much care done as at home. That means stress has gotta be a huge factor doesn't it? So enjoy life and reduce stress wherever you can...
lynn_78641 Bridge_of_Sighs
Posted
Nancy_K_B lynn_78641
Edited
HI Lynn... through context I discovered that kerbs is the british spelling of american curb. Grin and someone mentioned that they had lost their labia minora that created a curb at the edge of hte vagina... we gotta give it to our creative sisters' languaging!
Nancy_K_B Bridge_of_Sighs
Posted
Bridge of Sighs - THANKS so much for sharing. I might have to take up wine.. organic, once a week or something... I've thought for many years that I was "allergic" to alcohol.. but someone mentioned in thee recent past to me that my body might only have issue with the preservatives and fungicides etc in most wines...
Guppy007 Bridge_of_Sighs
Posted
Hi, glad to hear you have your 'kerbs' back lol!. I think with hard work and diligence it is doable but in the cases where there are no seams and what you are seeing is a total reabsorption of your labia minora into your Vagina, then in those cases, I doubt its gonna work...but who really knows. To avoid this its important to take a look at your Vjay at least weekly because it is when your not looking that the fusion seems to occur.
I make my own bread because I agree with you that the stuff they are putting in bread is making people sick...its a pain but I at least know what I am eating.
I am drinking wine too...the odd glass is important to me.
Bridge_of_Sighs Guppy007
Posted
Hi Guppy
On the right side I had a very slight seam, on the left side there was nothing, just smooth skin. The left kerb is actually more defined than the other one now. Also I had partial closure of the vagina, with fusing from about halfway up the opening right up to my clitoris. The skin there was so smooth and regular that I actually didn't know if it should be open or look like that. (I'd put so many family blocks on the computer for the kids that I couldn't call up images of normal labia, and I'd forgotten the password lol!). There was nothing at all to suggest there should be any opening. Now I have quite a deep, red seam going up from the top of the opening to my clitoris, and it is getting more defined. I still have to dilate 2 or 3 times a week to keep everything open, but it IS changing.
I use a very dilute spray, one pinch in 100ml of water after every toilet visit. I see others are using a much thicker paste. I might try that when I have a few days at home in case it goes wrong. I'm quite sensitive though, two pinches will make me sore, so I'm a bit nervous. maybe I won't, but it's hard not to be impatient isn't it?
In the UK dilators can be prescribed by your GP, I rang the company to order some, about £50, and they told me to get them prescribed. The band I've got are Amielle from Owen Mumford. But I've just googled them and loads of different ones came up. I'm sure you can get them on Amazon, you can get anything on Amazon...
No sign of returning labia, but happy with my small improvements.
Guppy007 Bridge_of_Sighs
Posted
I think I am going to give it a go...some of you may remember that I am basically happy to leave things as they are..I know I am different in my indifference, but I think I will try the borax and see if it makes any inroads. What put me off is the fact that I have MCS and I can hardly tolerate anything. But still, I may be okay with it and it is obviously better to have your labia minora than not.
It sounds like you have had a rough time of it with partial vaginal closure as well..so I am glad you are improving. With regard to dilators, I have some which I bought on Amazon, but I hate using them, even though I know how important it is.
Have a great weekend.
Bridge_of_Sighs Guppy007
Posted
Yeah, I hate using them too, but I've now got to the biggest one and it was worth it. (Because I'm worth it...!) I find that if I put them all the way in or hang about with them in there I get a UTI, but a quick in and out is fine and keeps me open. Also 2 or three times a week, 30 secs and it's done. I just have to remember...