Itchy vagina condition ruining sex life and worried about my marriage

[ncpostingabout]

I've had this on and off for years and years.

I was told it's recurring thrush but this week has been horrendous and I figured it just cannot still be thrush these years later.

So I googled and looks like it could be a rare condition called lichen sclerosus which causes pain burning and itching around genitals. Apparently a lifelong condition - I'm gutted.

Does anyone have this or anything similar? Please share experiences but it's really impacting sex life.

DH wants sex, I tell him it's painful but then he thinks if it's gentle it'll be ok and I end up feeling incredibly guilty.

Please I can do without LTB this is the real world and facing reality my sex life is affected like this is very upsetting - for both of us.

Any advice, not sure why I'm posting I guess for traffic to ask if anyone has similar experience or really how I should handle this from a relationship perspective.

Have you tried taking lactobacillus? Probiotics. Changed my life with similar symptoms.

@Rainbowdrops2021 I've never monitored it with my cycle but it defo isn't while in my period or very rarely anyway

I'm sorry to hear of your fertility issues op xx I would also like to point out that after having a baby your sex life might suffer for a while and how horrible would it be to be putting up with your sexpest husband then and trying to mind a newborn. I know the replies you are getting must be both frightening and upsetting but please listen when people are saying this isn't right. Id put the tcc-ing to one side at the moment and get yourself well and kick h to the kerb unless he cops on massively

My 6 year old DD has this(rare for children).

Just thought I'd share some info, she sees a dermatologist not a gynaecologist.

@IWishIWasABaller it's just the last comments I want these especially as I also feel it has impact on both of us.

I also just feel a bit broken with this, other auto immune stuff going on and the infertility. It's just really getting me down

I have LS
You need a biopsy to confirm but it certainly sounds like it. I have dermovate for mine and it clears it up very quickly, one or two days,
Best of luck to you

I'm sorry your husband uses you for his own gratification. He should listen to you and stop.

So I actually went to the doctors thinking I had recurrent thrush and was told I had LS. They referred me to a gynae who took one look and said it wasn’t, it was just dry skin. She recommended dermol 500 lotion to wash with and diprobase ointment externally and internally as needed. It genuinely cured the issue.

see your doctor.

P.s the doctor prescribed all sorts of strong creams for LS which made it worse.

Are you totally sure it isn't thrush? Treat your dh.

Can't you put some yoghurt on it?

I have read your posts but haven’t read all the replies so I may repeat some of what’s been said…

I have this and also early menopause, recurrent thrush, Addison’s, lupus, sjorgens, hypothyroidism and all sorts. The thing that has helped me is Ovestin oestrogen cream (which you can use even if you’re not in early menopause, it’s very soothing), Replens (this is non hormonal but you can get this prescribed or from Amazon or a pharmacy), HRT (again depends on you, I was 37 when I went into early menopause), Fluconazole 150mg capsule once a month, canestan internal cream pre loaded applicator - not the pessaries, they don’t dissolve properly if you have dryness and autoimmune issues. If you decide to get internal
oestrogen it’s Ovestin you want and not Vagifem as you want to be able to use the cream externally - this is what makes the difference.

I also think your dh is being completely unreasonable and immature. Imagine if he had horrendous piles, you know he’s in pain and yet you insist on sticking something up his arse? He would tell you to get to fuck - quite rightly so and you’d not expect or want to do that. He needs to understand you have medical conditions and it fucking hurts!!

We don’t have a lot of sex for similar reasons - maybe once every few months - but I am older than you and divorced once already and quite frankly I would rather be on my own than have anything put inside me that I didn’t want. It’s that simple for me. Hopefully with time you’ll feel that way too and tell your dh to stop being an abusive arsehole - because if he knows he’s hurting you and is still pestering you for sex it IS abuse.

And yes - if it is thrush you will be passing it back and forwards between you both unless you both treat it.

It could be both. Assume you've had repeated whole body treatments (high dose oral tablets) and creams/pessaries?

I've got this too. Started after I had my little one. Kept itching like mad then ended up with almost paper cuts inside my labia, only affects 1 side weirdly & the area between my vulva & bum. Went to the std clinic to rule out any stds on the advice of my Dr. The nurse there diagnosed LS straight away & the Dr there confirmed it.
I have to have a check up once a year. I use a steroid cream every now & then & vaseline on the cuts as a barrier. I've also just started to use a daily vaginal moisturer cream to soften my skin.
Sex wise, it feels tighter/ sometimes uncomfortable, apparently that's normal as your skin shrinks.
You have my sympathy, it's bloody awful when it flares up

I have it. Simple to treat. The doctor will prescribe a steroid cream which you use for a week to clear it and then if you have a flare up. Mine pops up occasionally but the cream zaps it. My skin splits during a flare up but it goes quickly. My husband wouldn't dream of expecting PIV sex at that point.

I developed a patch of localised eczema in my pubic area that was diagnosed as thrush for years! Every time they swabbed they found thrush... because there was always traces of thrush. But that wasn't what was causing the itching and burning.
But then one female GP in a women's clinic diagnosed it. They gave me a steroid ointment called Betnovate which stopped that incredible itch and I had a sort of nerve pain too that came with it. You need the prescription grade steroid ointment.
Hope this is your issue as it's easily treated with the right ointment.

I'm quoting myself because I've just read something else you said. I also have Graves disease.The thyroid stuff came first. I had radiation treatment to reset it. I was 53 then so no worry about any more babies. The LS came sometime after.

This may be TMI but when I was having a really bad flare up ( splitting skin, like peeing razor blades, blood on the loo roll and knickers ) I got on the bed and asked my husband to look at what was happening. Could you show your husband. Would that help him to understand how painful it is for you.

@AngelinaFibres why did you show him was he expecting sex or were you curious to what was happening?

I asked him if he has ever seen white patches he said no then I oooked and it was white so he doesn't even take things in properly or be honest

If I told him to look I'm not convinced he would - he would ask me why?

I have LS

its a bugger but I get a cream - dermovate- from the gp. A few applications clears it up and then I use it once a week to stop flare ups. Stings a bit but it works

PM if you want and I can share itchy fanny tips :)

@catgirl1976 😂 thank you

I have looked at it myself with a mirror. If it's really bad it makes putting the steroid cream in the right place much easier. I asked him if he would look at it so he would know how sore it was when it was flaring up. He would never expect or pressure me for sex, nor would he be unpleasant if I said it was sore and sex was not possible. Your husband doesnt sound very kind Op.

Can I also say a huge thank you to everyone that has shared private information about this horrible, horrible disease. It's truly fucking awful but also appreciate responses - please feel free to add as I'm still surprised and overwhelmed how many people have heard of it/had it.