Sorry for lovely subject but, papercut-like tears around vagina?

[judydoes]

I get them from time to time, over xmas I noticed a pain when wiping myself and did the lovely squatting over a mirror thing and there's what looks like a papercut.

What causes these? I had a lot of tests done 'down there' recently for an unrelated reason (hormonal) was told no 'diseases' , healthy cervix...and a couple of close friends I've asked and my Mum, have said It's just rubbing on knickers, fingernail when wiping oneself... Is that right?

[augustusglupe]

Well yes, I had this a year or so ago after I'd had a Hysteroscopy. I ended up wearing a sanitary towel for about 2 weeks, thought nothing of it, but then ended up with the paper cut tears. Think your mum and friends are right and it's caused by rubbing and maybe dryness. Mine settled down, I used some canesten cream and it soon went away.

[magimedi]

judy - I have no idea how old you are but if you are 45+ it could be vaginal atrophy. Put those words & my name into advanced search & I have quite a few posts about it.

If you are younger, I'm not sure but I'd think about going to see your GP & having a swab done to rule out any infection, which can cause dryness, which can lead to tears.

Hope it clears up asap - nothing worse than an upset fanjo.

[FuckyNellItsChristmas]

I was going to suggest va too. I know from experience!

[FuckyNellItsChristmas]

Although I was 41

[MinnieM1]

Eeek poor you sounds terribly painful!
Has your GP ruled out STI's? Sorry just checking, if so it could just be a hormonal imbalance which is making you too dry, I actually have the opposite which means I am slightly wet all the time and produce excessive discharge (sorry far TMI) and I'm currently going down the route of trying different contraception to try to rectify it (the implant made it worse, we're trying different pills now)
Good luck and keep on at the GP until something's sorted!

[Anabundanceof]

I had this and finally worked out I was allergic to the perfume on panty liners which I thought would help. Got rid of them and it went within 3 days

[Senigallia]

Have you been checked for HPV and HSV 1 and 2 (herpes)? These can cause very 'neat' type cuts sometimes.

[sanquhar]

I used to get this too. in my case I think it was a mix of thrush that wouldn't go and dryness as I would scratch like mad or do that surreptitious cross legged rubbing if out in public which would tear me up all over my vulva, it was awful!

I fixed it by buying 3 canestan pessaries and blitzed the thrush over a week and I use KY jelly to stop the dryness. Haven't had a tear for months now.

[judydoes]

Thank you all for replying. I haven't been checked for HPV (last smear was fine though), however I do have HS1 (type 1, the milder one).

I caught it from DH. We'd been together two years when I caught it, he'd not thought about coldsores, he has had them since birth (passed on from his Mother).

Grrr. To be honest, although I am still somewhat upset at having it , I live with it now. I felt like topping myself when I found out , I was very unreasonably upset and angry. But with healthy diet and exercise I have controlled it and have only ever had 2 outbreaks in 2 years. So, it could also be causing this, could it?

I have had a LOT of thrush recently. I have been on antibiotics recently and they always make me ill in some capacity. I was on them for an infected birthmark on my head. I've just stopped taking them , so I guess they could be causing thrush-and you think thrush could cause irritated skin and consequently, these cuts, san? I really, really would rather not go back to the gyno. It stresses me out a lot going there-I don't suppose anybody loves it, but I have been there a fair few times recently and just the thought of going again isn't pleasant.

Thing is I have had this BEFORE I caught HS1. And I am not dry, I actually am 'wetter' than average really-I went to the Gyno worried about discharge about a year ago and was told nothing wrong at all. I believed as it didn't smell or anything, wasn't unpleasant just wet.

I'm only early thirties.

I hate discussing things like this and feel awful, but at the same time I want to because I stress so much and It's so reassuring to know that women will reply honestly and without airs and graces. Sometimes, owning a vagina feels more trouble than It's worth.

If it is HS1 causing it, does anybody know how exactly that works? It doesn't feel like an outbreak-nothing like it. Is it just the body's defences kicking in or the fact that it irritates from the inside or some such thing?

Thanks again. Posting wasn't something I really wanted to do, you've all been very pleasant and helpful.

[mineofuselessinformation]

It's worth having a think about lichen sclerosis too.

[sanquhar]

i think it was mostly the dryness that caused the cuts as bits would rub together and without the protective moistness, just tear.

sorting the thrush out helped massively as i wasn't scratching myself raw but i think using lube has helped the most.

[judydoes]

Thanks sanquhar.

IT's a bit better today but, if the moisture persists and things don't go back to normal once the AntiBiotics will be well out of my system, or I get any more 'cuts' I will go back to the doctor.

Thanks everyone, glad I can ask impartial people without embarrassment :)

[Cocolepew]

It could actually be because you are wetter. I can be damp due to continence issues , and I would feel sorer when that happens .

[judydoes]

Maybe, cocole! Does this happen to you? I have that issue slightly myself too.


I guess it irritates the skin.

[Cocolepew]

I haven't had a look so I don't know what it looks like but it can feel irritated and sore.

[Icyblue]

Paper cuts can be caused by Lichen Sclerosus. Most doctors diagnosed thrush when in fact it could be LC as they are not familiar with this condition.

[butterfly86]

I was going to say lichen sclerosis I had these tiny cuts and it was unbearably painful it went on for a couple of years before it was diagnosed it was really awful sex was a no go most of the time luckily my dh is very understanding! I am very prone to thrush too and they said it was a vicious circle the thrush would make the little cuts worse but then the cuts were an ideal breeding ground for thrush. I eventually learnt what made things worse so now I can only wash with epaderm no soap at all and have to use surcare washing powder it really irritates it if I use normal powder. I was prescribed a steroid cream for when it was really bad, I've not had a flare up for a good few years but funnily enough I am now, I've gone back on the pill after 3 years and the thrush has started again :(

[BumWad]

I have had this too, it was because of lots of sex and moisture from it - was in my late 20s. Try airing the region.

[judydoes]

Isn't the LS what causes white spots that're sore and itchy? I've not had that. I'm only in my early thirties, too.

I've stopped wearing tight trousers and have switched to baggy pjs for in the house, I will look at some better washing powder for skin.

I'm not having any sex at the moment to be honest!We're both knackered and I've been away for xmas. I WISH it was that!

[butterfly86]

No Ls is the tiny cuts and then the skin is left fragile and sort of shiny white scar tissue it can be itchy though. Im only late twenties and it started late teens I've always been incredibly sensitive though.

[GothMummy]

I have been suffering with this issue for about a year but my GP has referred me to dermatology to see if its Lichen Sclerosus. But from my perpective its sanitary towels and knickers rubbing that cause dryness and soreness. Im 37 by the way.

[OneStepCloser]

Thats interesting butterfly, your age, DD 20 is waiting to see a gynecologist, she should get an appointment in the next week. She has complained for some time now about cuts and appears to be very sensitive in that area. She has seen the GP who looked and said her vagina/cervix? is very red and sore so wanted to her to have a smear (which of course they cant do because of her age). She has an awful lot of discharge and has found sex very painful.

Ive been going out of my mind with worry as shes been tested for all the usual, but this may be it, possibly. It seems from reading on here that young woman can suffer as well? Shes had antibiotic creams and pessary and it didnt help much, does that sound familiar with anybody?

[GothMummy]

OneStep - it used to be that you had your first smear test a year after you first had sex, I had my first one at 18. And though the guidance now is that they are done over 25, they can do them if it is clinically indicated.

[butterfly86]

onestep I was given my first smear at 18 because I was having so much trouble so they can do it I had a raw patch on my cervix known as an ectropian but it was nothing to worry about and probably hormonal, I had a smear in september this year and it had gone but I had been off the pill 3 years by then and just had a baby in June. Sex used to leave me so sore I could barely walk it was horrendous, I had months of antibiotics etc when the gp didn't have a clue what it was, eventually after seeing a gynaecologist and months of trying different creams they got it under control I also had to use a pessary every week to totally get the thrush under control. I also eventually learned what irritated me, washing powder etc. Hope your daughter gets sorted soon.