Hi,
I have been suffering from L.S for a few months, and my vagina has been 'splitting' every time my husband and I have intercourse 😢 my gynae has referred me for a Fentons procedure, has anyone else had this done? And what is the recovery like? Very worried!!!!
DLB is right, don't rush in I have also heard that it is not always the cure. I am hoping that your post will bring forward someone who has had this treatment so we can get a first hand account of what it was like and how/if it worked. I have a suspicion thought that if it worked the women who have been successful won't be on here as they are no longer in need of the support. Research yourself on the internet. Keep us updated. Good luck x
Hi Hayley,
I had it done last year because of difficulty having intercourse and it was very successful for me. Over about a year my vaginal opening had got tighter I think due to scarring in the labia from splits which had healed but shrunk it. I wasn't able to have intercourse at all. It basically just widens the opening by a vertical cut which is then sutured horizontally as it were. Recovery was similar to after an episiotomy but not as bad as your tissues are not as swollen as after childbirth. I took about 4 days off work, day case, short anaesthetic. I would certainly recommend it, but it is important to know it is not a cure, you still have to keep using the Dermovate. It was important to me psychologically to get back to having sex, as at 55, I felt I was too young to be giving up. I am a GP with LS, and didn't really notice it happening as I have no itch, and with the menopause anyway, felt the sex difficulty was due to that, but only when I actually got a mirror to see myself did I realise there was something going on. I had the biopsy at the same time as the Fenton's , so the anaesthetic was helpful there as well.
Thank you Heather. Nice to hear back so quickly. I am really pleased it worked for you. I might consider it as I haven't been able to have intercourse for several years due to tightening and tearing. Will talk this one over with hubby and will research it more first though. Good to hear some good news on this site.
Thanks Hayley for bringing this up.
How are you minded now?
Best regards Marey
Thanks for your contribution Heather.
Good to know that GP's also do self exam! I anticipate you will be a great help for those needing a diagnosis as very few GPs are familiar with the condition...or do you think this is changing?
My own GP was great. During examination and after her determination...based on the white patches...she showed me the areas with her own hand mirror. I was already aware of LS, am a nurse, and had dismissed that conclusion whichmust have progressed quite quickly since I do self exam too, so was pretty shocked and disbelieving but she really helped me to get my head around it. I was very grateful to her. Am sure you will be of great help and assistance to your patients too.
I wish you all the best with the journey into your own recovery.
With very best wishes
Marey
Hiya
I had the fentons done and labial adhesions taken away just about 10 days ago... my gynae is a lead clinition in oncology and many othrr things he believes people wih vulval conditions like us should be cared for better than we are... my ls is thay severe at 21 that I had no architecture to my vagina the whole thing was flat.. clitoral hood gone.. urethra closing up.. outa labia they think went as a teen... totallly closed up.. n skin in all areas so tight...
After the op it was really quite painful.. but I didnt just have the fentons I had cuts either side of my vagina n round my clitoral hood too... the fentons part is still healing some.of it is still like raw bleeds sometimes too...
My gynae before the op came and he he is not sure this will work but they will give it a try anyway... which id rather have the truth than them say oh ul be fixed forever.... I knew it wudnt be a cure anyway but ive tried it and path ive taken to see if it will improve....
I have a big variety of specialists who I see I have two gynaes who work together one of them works togther with my dermotologist too who are amazing... I have a consultant aneathatist who manges my pain side if things because of the vulvadonia... I have a phsychologist... ive seen a psychosexual therapist... and tons more and still my ls seems to beat me...
My gynae told me afyer my fentons has healed to use dialators to try keep the opening open have used them.previously but have never worked...
Thanks h
Helen, I wish you the best possible outcome! Thanks for sharing here.
This is the perfect demonstration of just how wide the range of LS is, in severity, in age, in speed of damage. I'm afraid you're at the extreme end, dear Helen.
Hi Helen, We will all be thinking of you and hope that things finish healing well for you. How brave you have been to give it a go despite the no cure diagnosis. Keep your chin up xx
Hi all, thank you so much for all of your helpful replies, I have now seen another gynae and she is going to do a biopsy at the same time as the fentons to check the health of my cells?? Not sure as to why, I felt a bit rushed in the appointment to be honest! But I am now just waiting for my app to come through, I will of course let you all know how I get on, afterwards and keep you posted. Poor Helen, you are very brave and i wish you well xxx
hi
I've had two fentons procedures in the past. the first one worked well but after two years I started to have pain again so I had a second and more extensive procedure. the recovery time really wasnt too bad, I was only really in pain for the first few days after the operation and after that it didnt affect my day to day life at all. all totally healed within six to eight weeks! I would recommend it as it ended years and years of trying everything else and endless pain and problems
Hi Hayley , I have the Fenton's procedure two weeks ago. Having read this forum I now realise it is linked to my LS which was diagnosed about 10 months ago. the procedure was done with local aneasthetic and I would be lying if I said it was pain free, but am hopefull of a good outcome as intercourse had become impossible very quickly. I had two of my children by forceps delivery which had caused a lot of scare tissue in the area which didn't help I guess. I have an infection in the area at the moment, but having had the stitches out yesterday and being prescribed anti biotics I am feeling much better today. I will keep posting on here with my progress and will certainly go back to my Dr and discuss the link with the LS. good luck to everyone on this site and please keep posting good and bad news so we are all well informed as information from the professionals apears to be a little patchy. thanks and Happy 2015 x
Wishing you a speedy recovery Rosalind. Happy 2015 to all xx
Rosalind, you're one of a very few posters here who's had Fenton's procedure. I wish you good healing. If you've watched Dr. Goldstein's presentation (linked in the 'pinned' startup topic at the top of the list of discussions) you'll know he's optimistic that surgical opening of scarred vaginas will not re-scar as long as you use the prescribed ointment properly and permanently. We'll be very interested in the progress of this. There are so many levels and permutations of LS. I had an episiotomy and forceps with my first, but neither with the second (although the ob/gyn did ask me to 'stop screaming'
. My LS tear has always been along the episiotomy's line.
Happy New Year!
Hi Morrell. i can report the infection appears to be improving. i have a follow up appt with the nurse on Friday . i should add i always have issues with stitches as my body seems to reject them ,so i'm not surprised at the infection . i should also add i am 63 yrs old and not ready for the rocking chair yet !!!. i havent been prescribed any cream since the steriod for the LS that i finished the course of a month ago. is there something else i should be asking for?. a very happy new year to you and all who are on here.
Thanks Chrisy, and to you :-)
There's no finishing the course of the steroid for LS. Most of us get to twice a week, each application only a pea-sized blob. There's nothing to fear from 'skin-thinning', since that's what it's supposed to accomplish in LS skin, which, left to its own devices will build up a thick layer of dead cells (the white patches) which is fragile and prone to big cracks, tiny splits and yeast. Hanny's experience has been that antibiotics temporarily put LS into remission. Of course we can't be on them all the time! The Koebner effect is that any skin trauma can trigger a flare-up. Surgery would be high on the list of traumas. So, if I were you I'd be asking for a prescription for Clobetasol ointment (preferably not generic, ask for Dermovate). You might take the Godstein presentation to your doctor. He has such an unusual blend of gynecology and vulvar dermatology expertise.
Thanks Morrell, i will certainly take your advice. i will update with progress in the new year. have a great night tonight
YES I HAVE HAD 2 FENTONS OP S ALL GOOD BUT IT COULD NEED TO BE DONE LATER AGAIN BECAUSE SCARE TISSUSE CONTINUES TO GROW. I HAVE HAD LS 15YRS I AM NOW 55 AND AM LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR TO ANOTHER ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN HAVE INTERCOARSE
Hi there. My names Chelsea I dont know if any of you ladies still use this site but i thought id give it a try anyway. I'm 19 and have suffered with Vulvodynia for around 3 years now. On the 28th of January I am booked in for a Vestibulectomy, and a Modied fenton procedure due to having painful sex.
Theres just a few questions i am quite interested to ask by someones whos actually had the procedure...
I know they widen your vagina, After the surgery and the healing does your vagina hole look different or bigger? He is widening my vagina because it only opens when opened by myself. Other wise it is closed. How long did it take you to fully recover? How long could you not have sex?
If there is any infomation you think i should know then please feel free to tell me as i am 19 and this could change my life forever 
Thankyou!