Fear of internal vaginal examination

[AngelikaB]

My 25-year old daughter has an extreme fear of internal vaginal examination. Recently she has developed thrush and what seems to be psoriasis in the vaginal area and badly needs a proper examination. She tried taking a valium before her appointment but still had a panic attack so that a satisfactory examination could not take place. Does anyone know of a central London psychotherapist who specialises in this particular phobia? Also, does anyone know a private gynaecologist with experience in this problem and how to deal with it?

A psychologist offering cbt would be able to help with this phobia. Cbt is very effective at overcoming specific phobias.

There's a special clinic in London but I csnt remember the name just now. Will Google for you when I get a minute.

I know it sounds extreme as well but has her GP offered anaesthesia or sedation? The last examination I had in hospital - a scan , swabs and full bimanual - I was sedated on morphine and so slept most of the way through it and after. It helped as I wasn't so upset/tense.

Sympathies with your daughter, I have a phobia after traumatic surgery when I was 19. Normally my GP does any examinations, smears etc - there's a note on my file explaining where possible she is to handle it, as I trust her and she knows what to expect. But I've always been told a short general anaesthetic or sedation in hospital is possible for more complex examinations to make life easier.

If she talks to her go and gets a referral to a dermatologist (she'll be seen by vulva specialist) they may be happy to treat if she shows images. They would not do internals. She prob needs a steroid cream. For what it's worth i am terrified of internal exams.

I have had psychology which did help a bit - was also told to try to desensitize by looking at myself in a mirror, writing about how I felt or something like that and using graded dilators to cope with the sensations. GP actually told me to go to Ann Summers and talk to them , I found their staff very kind and understanding . What they offered was far nicer than the hard plastic nhs dilators so if they do suggest that I would say to her to go 'shopping' for something that's more pleasant to use and kinder to her body .

Is she using topical corticosteroids for the psoriasis? If so, that may have caused the thrush or made it worse.
Whilst the thrush should be properly diagnosed first if she hasn't had it before I would have thought that in this situation it might be a good idea to try the treatment to see if it works whether or not she has an examination. Did she actually get as far as the appointment so she could discuss with her GP whether she could have treatment without the vaginal examination?

She has been given a topical corticosteroid cream, but quite frankly conventional medicine doesn't seem to be very effective with psoriasis. She was also given 1 tablet for her thrush (not sure what it is) and again thrush is probably better dealt with by dietary and lifestyle measures.
The real problem is overcoming this fear or examination because everyone needs regular check-ups and this will also become a real problem if one day she becomes pregnant (which down the line is her desire).

I was asking if she was using a topical corticosteroid cream because I thought that could make the thrush worse if she wasn't receiving treatment for that concurrently. If she is, no problem.
I disagree that the thrush will be better dealt with by dietary and lifestyle measures. If she has been given treatment for it then hopefully it will work.

I would very much appreciate the name of the clinic