Hi everyone,
Im 31 and have 2 children. After my second was born, 2.5 years ago I noticed my labia had turned white. It was a shock , but I assumed it was an iron deiciency thing. Also since then I have been itching and burning a lot. I always assumed it was thrush and have gotten through a lot of canesten, but it never seems to go. Sometimes, and now actually, I get big sores.
I googled symtoms a few nights ago and was shocked by the results. I saw my doctor on friday about a separate issue and mentioned it to her. She was horrified that @id left it for so long and thought it was a sign of anaemia. I have an appointment with her next week to look at it, but am hoping anyone may be able to tell me if the symptoms sound like theirs. If it is LS how do they diagnose it? thanks
Gwyneth, you need to see a gynaecologist or a dermatologist ASAP. Many GPs don't know enough about LS to diagnose it. You want to make sure those sores aren't bad cells and you want to get started on the tiny bits of ultra-potent topical steroid ointment we're all on. Please watch Dr. Goldstein's presentation. He's a gynaecologist who happens to specialize in vulval disease and he has a lot of helpful advice about how to make the standard treatment as effective as possible.
When you say 'sores' do you mean red raw areas or more like boils?
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/dr-goldstein-lecture-271556
Hi, I went to my Gynocologist for my diagnosis. As mentioned, doctors arent really that well informed with this particular disease, so you need to go to the right place to save time, and money actually!. For diagnoiss of LS they will normally want to do a small biopsy, although I dont always think that is always absolutely necessary, every case is different. I would not want to wait another week, I think you need treatment asap for those sores.
Hi Gyneth where are you In the UK ? If so i would speak to the GP tomorrow or the practice nurse - ask for a specialist appointment - if one is MONTHS away as is often the case these days - phone your local hospital and ask the day and time of the clinic for vulval / gynae/ dermatalogy clinics- whihc one you think would meet your need - check it out on line re your local specialists. Speak to the consultants secretary and ask for an urgent appointment, If you can afford the £100+/- consultation fee you may get seen even faster. Do you have other symptoms? itching/ soreness/bleeding?
DO NOT SCRATCH
cool your vulva with cool / cold water pads, it will help a bit
dont let urine- or other body fluids - get on to your skin and use a barrier ointment this weekend- vaseline emulsifying ointment for the chemist - go to the Chemist and talk to the QUALIFIED pharmacist and ask what you can put on to relieve the symptoms while waiting for the appointment
Check the various threads on this site and- no soaps tight clothes lots of water to drink and reduce your stress and sugar levels!
We are concerned for you not because you are in any danger but because the sooner you can get treated the better your recovery. IF you DO have LS then the faster you will get some relief when you get the potent steroids- If you dont have LS and it is something else then worry is removed
Take care and try not to get stressed out
Well done for looking at your undercarriage - that was very sensible
Sue
Hi, thank you for replying. The sores look like red raw areas - possibly from scratching? or knickers rubbing? (hopefully) Theres no way its an STD or anything.
Hi thanks for replying, my appointment is on tuesady. do u think i shoulkd get an urgent one monday instead then?
Hi Sue, thanks for replying. Yes i am in England. I will see what my GP says and then follow your advice to try to get specialist appointment. It is very itchy/sore and hard not to scratch.
Hi, No I dont think one day is going to make a difference..just so you know there is also another condition from the same family called Vaginal Lichen Planus, which usually differenciates itself with red sores that are found within either side of the labia..they are very similar, but either way no doubt she will treat you with the same steroid cream anyways.
Well, red and raw is often what happens with LS.
Oh, Gwyneth, you can't scratch. Very bad.
I havent had the red and raw.....only that white patchy lacework look, so your right of course, it could be either, I think thats why they like to do biopsys.. I wonder if the treatment differs at all, I would think it would be the same...
IF you MUST scratch then scratch your arm or your leg thinking you ARE giving The Itch a lot of relief, If you REALLY believe it will work - then it will - and it can help
Do you have any fusing- sometimes the labia looks as if it is stuck to the opposing skin surface, or sometimes the labia is hot and swollen- not necessarily caused by scratching but the condition.
Go commando if your pants are rubbing Dont wear skinny jeans jeggings tights or ANY tight trousers - long skirts are so much easier - but i find wearing a petticoat a must cos sometimes the unlined skirt can get caught up in an unbecomming fashion and it is SO inelegant trying to loosen the skirt with dignity!
Good luck- fingers crossed you have some thing else that isnt a life long condiditon, but can be sorted fairly swiftly
sue
Most gynaecologists and dermatologists can diagnose LS just by seeing it, but some do a biopsy, for instance if you've been using over-the-counter hydrocortisone the surface might look pretty good – the symptoms are masked.
Hi,
My story is a lot like yours. I was 31 and just had my second child. I started with lots itching around anus and thought bad hemroids. Then the vulva itching thought it was yeast. After eight months I had an irritated spot that was painful. Finally had a look and th whole vulva was white and I had a blister on the clitoris. I freaked of course and searched medical books. Thats when I found LS and just knew I had it. Took several drs to finally get a diagnosis from derm. Althougg I never got a biopsy til 11 years later to confirm it.
I strongly urge you to ask for a biopsy. Im learning there are many disorders of the vulva. It does sound like LS but could be something else.
If you are prescribed clobetasol or dermovate, ask for the ointment it works better and faster.
For now you can try vasaline, unrefined coconut oil to ease Itching and soreness.
I wish you luck.
Shari
Hi everyone, thanks for your comments. Bad news is its almost definately lichen sclerosus. Not planus as Guppy 007 suggested because oof the changes to the colour and texture of my labia. 
My doctor is very sure, she had referred me to the specialist and requested 'fast access'. She said she wants them to see me asap and also that i shouldnt put any cream on because she doesnt want it to mask my symptoms. Make sense, but i dont want my condition to worsen.
You won't get significantly worse in the time it takes to get 'fast access'. It's good you know what it is. That already knocks the stress down a peg. No?
That is unfortunate, but really once you have got it under control you will be fine..remember that whilst you will always have this condition, it comes and goes, meaning that once you have it under control you might not have another flare up for months. The key is to treat it immediately and then always keep up with the maintenance.
I just want to add that I believe Candida is linked to this condition, so I would be careful not to eat too many sweet things, which can cause Candida and this in turn can cause a flare up of L. Schlerosus in my opinion.
Thank you. Yes that makes sense, I am a cocacola addict and have always suffered with thrush
Hi Sha, thanks for sharing. What has it been like for you having it at this age?
For the most part it hasn't been too bad. Ive used the clobetasol off and on over the course of 11 years. It has helped a lot to keep it from progressing to much. I don't have to much fusing. My inner labia is gone but everything else has been good up until the age of 40. I started getting more ffrequent episodes of bruising and small tears. Ive learned recently with a new gyn that it's very important to use the clobetasol twice daily for two weeks at a time during these episodes and even when I just have white patches. Very important to keep up on treatment. I don't have sex until tears are healed and use good lubrication to keep friction minimal. I recently found out that my case it's pretty bad for my age. But I know it would have been much worse if I had not been treating it. I did go through long episodes of no symptoms but it does recur . I hope you get it under control soon, you can have a normal life if you keep up on it.