Gyne or Dermatologist?

[SoreNSad]

I’ve posted about my issues down below before (not some weird vag troll, promise!).

I’ve had problems with my vulva for months now; white heads, cysts, swelling, soreness. I’ve seen two GPs and two GUM clinic doctors too, and nobody has been able to accurately diagnose what is wrong with me. I’ve tried everything from Epsom salts to various antibiotics, and nothing has truly cured me (although leaving it alone with just a thorough water wash every day has helped a bit).

I joined a mutual assurance medical scheme six months ago and next month will be eligible to ask for further investigation once I’m referred by an NHS GP. My question is, should I ask to be referred to a dermatologist or a gynaecologist? My GP is honestly clueless about this and was the one who suggested I go to a GUM clinic as she was stumped, so I don’t think she’s going to know which specialist to send me to. It’s hard to get a referral from my surgery and I only have a finite amount of referral procedures available so don’t want to get this wrong. Any advice about what referral to request would be gratefully received!

TIA

I should say, it’s my inner labia, so clitoris etc where I’ve had the problems, not the outside part.

I'd go for dermatology. I don't know where you're based, but just as an example, Chelsea & Westminster hospital has a specialist genital dermatology clinic see here

You poor thing, that sounds miserable. I’d be inclined to say dermatologist as it sounds predominantly like skin symptoms and GU docs haven’t been able to find a cause. The dermatologist can always refer you on to gynae if they can’t help. Best of luck OP.

If you are in London asked to be referred to Guys and St Thomas’s where Fiona Lewis specialises in vulval dermatology. You can also see her privately.

Thanks very much for the replies. I’m not in London but will be referred to a private hospital in Gloucester via the scheme. I’ll chat to the GP about it and based on the replies I’ve received I’ll ask for dermatology first and hope they have a genital dermatologist there, they might have a list of specialists I can check out in advance.

Thanks for the well wishes… it’s honestly been a terrible year and I’ve had to upload various photos of my vulva to GPs before they’ll see me in person. So dehumanising and depressing! Really hoping it gets sorted next month.

Obviously you need to see a specialist for confirmation, but could it be something like lichen sclerosus? If so that would mean topical steroids are the treatment. I’m a sufferer, so if it is that I feel your pain, but it can be managed.

Thanks @Springchickpea, I have wondered if it’s LS, but I don’t have any shiny white patches and none of the four doctors I’ve seen have suggested it. One said I looked a bit red/darker, and then asked if that’s normal for me?! I said I wasn’t sure as I only started looking at my vag on a daily basis since it started feeling irritated. And that was that! So unhelpful.

I did wonder if it’s perimenopause related, I’m nearly 40 and have started having short, irregular periods, brain fog, insomnia etc. Maybe I can add miserable sore vag to the list of menopausal ailments 😖

I’ve never actually really seen mine, not regularly at least, but I do know that being red/raw is common for me. I assume there are patches as I do have a diagnosis; I think that was a dermatologist. The steroid works well for me, I rarely have to use it.