lichen sclerosus re hormones

Hallo Ladygaga!

You are not the first lady to say that when they stopped taking HRT after a number of years they got LS. this does seem to point to a hormonal connection to LS but this has not been scientifically proven!!

I take Vagifem which is estrogen only and find it helps the vulval tissue. Taking the estrogen hormone this way insures that the hormone is absorbed into the area where I need it.

You did not say how your LS was diagnosed - clinically or biopsy).

I think a lot of the consulttants come across as being abrupt because they simply do not have the knowledge to answer our questions. This has been my experience. Have you been to a dermotologist or a gynaecologist. I found the dermotologist to be better informed on the subject.

You should not feel uncomfortable asking questions but as you have discovered we have to educate ourselves and learn from each other.

Many reasons have been given for getting LS amongst them hormonal or auto-immune (the body attacks itself because it sees itself as a foreign object>

You are lucky that you do not suffer from severe symptoms but keep using your dermovate as a steroid - your aqueus as a wash - and I find an ointment PALADIN very good for soothing the affected area. You can get this ointment from **** Chin up

Bran

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I was diagnosed by biopsy, but my GP had a good idea as to what it was when she had a look. Everyone always said being on HRT was good for you, haha, if only we had known this might have happened because of it....... sometimes....... do we need a scientific answer ? our own experiences should count for something. I have not seen anyone other than my consultant, and have not been asked or told anything other than ... you have lichen sclerosus...........and more or less told it's okay it's not cancer. Keep using the cream...............Still have to look on the bright side, suppose there are worse things to get...........aren't there ? 8)

Lady gaga

Are you suggesting that when you came off HRT you got LS??

Other women regret having stopped HRT because when they stopped their hormon levels dropped and LS was the result. Had they remained on the HRT they may not have got LS

Hi there...there are different views about this problem..Apparently some researchers say that re-introducing hormones will not make any difference and certainly will not get rid of LS...Its more likely to be the shock to your system after hormonal changes have occured, rather than the loss of a particular hormone. Shock and neurosis can cause shingles etc., and this is probably the same thing... As it is an auto-immune condition our bodies act in a completely irresponsible way and fight when they think our systems are in trouble, so possible the fact that a large part of our makeup has been taken away eg the hormones , the shock has charged the immune system into reacting....If it was due to hormones themselves the age group would only be post menopausal or younger hysterctomy ladies, as it is, children get LS and people from their teens also and Men, remember.......I think it is the auto-immune rather than the hormones their selves that are the problem. I have found that almost all of the ladies we have read or talked to are auto-immune...

Are you are prone to, or have had other auto-immune condtions ....

eg.,Asthma,exzema,psoriasis,thyroid,endometriosis,arthritis,ibs,crones,utricaria etc., Its an on going problem and loads of questions need to be answered to satisfy us...They are not there yet..........xx

Hi just wanted to add to your debate I have never had hrt or taken the pill (last time with this was 26 years ago )so dont think it can now count was told in january this year that I had this LS all though I feel the problem was their for about 3 years before. I have suffered with allergies all my life and had to have a double knee replacement when I was 50 as I had arthritus really bad due in my mind to two many hep b injection for my work I was unable to make the antibodies so my gp surgery kept giving me this really proved to be a waste of time I also get now really bad cold sores that last forever and no potions or anti virus creams can stop any one else whith this problem

Hi

I stopped taking HRT and for about 3 years after still suffered with bad night sweats, eventually they eased off, but even now very occassionally get one. I have never been a poorly person, no allergies, only to penicillin, but nothing else, maybe a connection who knows? my GP did say it could be due to the menopause, but no one seems to have a precise answer as to why we get this. We all seem to have different problems associated with this. I was born with a twisted rib cage and pelvis and never suffered any problems, but recently I have noticed that my body has to work harder to cope with the distortion, ( I have to say that this is hereditary, although I have been the worst affected, and the only female) could my body be fighting the effects of this ?

Hi Lady gaga, Its hard to say whether your body is fighting the distortion with immune problems, anything is possible. I never had Exzema or IBS until i had LSwhich i have had now over 2 1/2 years. I had utricaria pygmentosa (Thats an auto-immune skin complaint), for 25years and it had left brown spot marks on my legs and chest and upper arms which when rubbed would raise hives on each mark - horrible they were, but since the LS arrived the spots have gone and the medics told me they never would!! :shock: . So what does one believe..... My Mom had rhumatoid arthritis and thyroid but my arthritis is the nobbly joint hereditory one and osteo, not rhumatoid... I get so confused with it all. Took me over 4years to stop sweating after hrt was taken away after 13 years ...Ok now though......Its like ,with auto-immune ,you have a condition, and then your body gets fed up with it after a time and goes on to something else...My liver function was up the creek for a few years now since the LS its almost right...So...you never know girls, one day you may not have LS anymore (no cure at present) but at what cost with the next thing fed up......Mal

Hi

someone mentioned shingles being due to neurosis. could you explain please. I suffer from shingles but thought it to be the result of the stress of ls. any cure or special tonic i should take.

Shingles is usually caused by all sorts of different traumas and stresses and nervous problems.... It depends on the individual...The stress and upset and shock of your LS diagnosis could have triggered. x