Skin/tissue inside vagina turned pale/white - help please!

[MoisturiseYourMoose]

I’m currently trapped in a never-ending series of health problems south of my waist. This one is about my vagina. If anyone has any experience of the same thing, please let me know!

Went to see my urogyno for a bladder instillation yesterday and mentioned that since a cystoscopy in November and subsequent antibiotics for UTIs I’ve had a yeast infection that just doesn’t seem to fully resolve.

I’ve also started tearing during sex and becoming generally sore from sex. I’ve done various Canestan pessary courses, fluconazole, MultiGyn Flora, used Yes VM a couple of times as things felt ‘rough’ inside, I’ve used Actigel in between as once I had a fishy smell immediately after sex (went straight away with the gel).

GP swab was apparently negative for Yeast (not possible) and the GUM clinic one the next day was positive (and they said they could see candida under the microscope). BV tests negative.

Anyway, back to my appointment. He put me on a 7 day course of fluconazole but when he examined me, he said the tissue(?) inside looked white and shrivelled like fingers in a bath. I mentioned the tearing and said the Canestan HC had helped that a bit. He told me to use that but no other creams and he’d have a look next week when I go for my next instillation.

He said it was almost ‘eczema-ish’. I didn’t think much of it but now I’m confused as to how the external HC cream can help the weirdness inside!

I came home and got out a mirror and torch and am honestly freaking out. The smooth pink skin that I can see has turned white and spongy, there are ‘raw’ patches just inside but also there are ragged scraps of skin where there definitely didn’t used to be. (I’m also a bit freaked out that the tearing at the back has healed open inside of together.)

Every Google search is coming up with vulva changes like LS and dermatitis but this is fully inside as well. It doesn’t seem like LS.

Does this resonate with anyone?

Yes, I had VIN 3 and had surgery to remove it in 2014. It was treated very promptly.

https://thedrlouisenewsonpodcast.podbean.com/e/gaslighting-of-genitourinary-symptoms-of-the-menopause/

40 isn’t too young for vaginal atrophy - this is a good podcast that explains more about it

Sounds like you need Vagifem pessaries. I've been on them for nearly 2 weeks for chronic uti's & incontinence & I'm like a new woman, only had a couple of accidents in total instead of 6 or 7 a day. They are tiny, only the size of a tiny tablet & stick to your vaginal wall before dissolving. I was constantly sore before & felt raw if I went for a wee, that has all gone now.

Sorry you're going through this op

I had severe thrush and ended up having iitraconzole course with break and repeated.

I didn't feel like it had gone but GP said it had and it was just irritation I tried two creams and one of them solved it t

Lotroderm and trimovate. Onactu thing th trimovate worked its potent steroid, antifiungal and antibioti

This was about 15 years ago when we could access services.

Fingers crossed.

I mean the urogyno who saw it on Friday is a professor and one of the best in the country so I’m a flummoxed.

But let’s hope the man tomorrow will know the answer and my urogyno will then pick up the tests, etc so I can get it addressed on my insurance. I just want the steroid cream to get started if it’s LS!

Nope. I guess it could be genital psoriasis but I just don’t think so. And I don’t have it elsewhere.

I will ask for this next Friday rather than with the other man (I’m paying out of pocket for the Monday man.)

So pleased you caught it early and got sorted.

I’m a bit frightened by this as my ‘patch’ is the entire vestibule. I’ll ask about it though.

I have insurance but, much as that’s great and I’m grateful, some issues still take an age to get anywhere with.

I have been wondering whether my story is something like yours. I definitely don’t think my vagina likes canestan any more/right now.

It does sound like LS to me. Took me years of being told it was just thrush before being diagnosed.

I have Dermovate cream to keep it under control when it starts up and I wash with epaderm cream. I can't get soap or anything perfumed near my vulva or it sets it off. So no bubble baths ever. When it's really sore I rinse with water after a week each time rather than wiping and you can use the epaderm cream to moisturise too. I'm getting it more frequently now I'm getting older (44) so I might ask for some oestrogen gel/pessaries.

It could also be VIN but no personal experience of that.

Interestingly I also read an article saying that low oestrogen was a major cause of UTIs and that oestrogen pessaries could prevent many of the elderly ladies hospitalised with them each year.

I had both LS and eczema. What is VIN? Gynae prescribed antibacterial wash, which made things 100% worse..I now only use Epiderm for washing vulval area, and 4/6 times a day to moisturise...I do it every time I go to the toilet otherwise I forget! Went through the menopause at 42.

It's ok have Googled VIN, you can also get Lichen planus,of the vulval and surrounding areas

I have something, steroid creams helped but not allowed now. The incontinence is getting me down. I don't know if that's connected to the issue. I couldn't even use the canestan pessary because it was so painful.

OP I'm so sorry you're going through this. I just wanted to say that I can't use the canestan pessaries, I seem to be allergic to them and they cause massive irritation and soreness. I would only take the oral tablet for thrush.

I hope you get some answers

Yes, it was a gynaecologist that specialised in dermatology that told me the thrush creams and moisturisers aggravated it, but as it's often misdiagnosed as chronic thrush they are often prescribed by mistake. She said the oral thrush tablets were fine to take if thrush was also being treated.

Other advice was wash with only water, wash after going toilet (particularly if having a flare), pat to dry don't wipe, wash underwear in non-bio, and wear plain white cotton underwear. Fine to use a gentle fragrance free lubricant for sex, wash after and use the betnovate straight after.

Ok so I’m doing all this apart from the white cotton underwear (I have black though). And I can’t always rinse/wash after peeing - I have IC and pee a lot so often have to go in a train station or whatever.

Fingers crossed that whatever it is, it’s diagnosed soon and I can get it under control!

I had a large horseshoe shaped area removed, much of inner labia, ' entrance' and perineum. Specialist surgeon ( and direct line to dedicated nurse ). He removed diseased area, repaired and preserved beautifully. Designer vagina.

Do mention VIN to hopefully get that ruled out. I was amazed how few people had heard of it. I had CIN removed years ago, same thing, different area. Do let us know how you get on and hope its an easy fix.

Thank you. I will definitely provide an update as soon as I have one. 🙂

Glad you had a great surgeon!

Hope you get it sorted quickly 🤞

For washing after peeing in tricky places - small travel size squeezy bottle of water in handbag. Squirt directly on or onto toilet paper, and refill after.

Small bottle of water,pour over, only dab dry with tissue..I was also told,if your skin is 'that' sensitive, white cotton pants, even dye on ",old" ones will irritate. Non bio washing liquid,no fabric conditioner.

OP I know we are well intentioned here but please don't get diagnosed on the Internet and see a good gynaecologist befire trying any of the nultiple meds recommended by others. Lits of heavy duty stuff!

I feel lucky I had mine seen at the nhs sexual health place. Don't dr google it as the online pictures are chilling! There's a great book: the vagina bible, which I heartily recommend, if you want to get informed.

If you're in the UK, NHS services should be easily able to diagnose LS, for example.

At 40, some local oestrogen cream seems an obvious thing to try. Although a lot of urologists and gynaes seem to be behind on how effective it can be. Ovestin, use liberally every day at first. You can get it privately from online pharmacies if you answer a few questions, as it's extremely low risk.

(Obviously while pursuing a full diagnosis.)

Yep. I bought some and started using it on the outside and opening yesterday. Can’t hurt and doesn’t irritate there. 🙂

Excellent, use daily and liberally, at least for now. Hope you get some further answers soon.