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.

@AngelinaFibres he wouldn't look he would be immature a bit it and say he doesn't want to see that

@AngelinaFibres though I did just take a photo of it for my own knowledge and it looks truly awful down there - though I also don't really know what a vagina supposed to look like I have a feeling this is messed up!

Sorry OP I think your problem is your not very DH.

You can resolve the health issues with decent healthcare and some patience and it sounds like there are lots of things you can try.

You can't change your husband, although you can find a nicer one. If you don't have kids, I'd be considering my relationship too. Who makes their wife have sex that hurts them?

@lieselotte he doesn't MAKE me - but is not encouraging to not do it and If I say stop he will

Suggest that he gives himself a paper cut on his cock and sees how that feels/if he can imagine shagging with it.

My husband is 60 and nursed his late wife through terminal cancer so he isn't squeamish/ weird about anything. He just put on his head torch and had a good old look. His comment was " Bloody hell that looks sore". If it's 'faulty fanny' time in our house there is absolutely never any issue.

Maybe with a little drip of vinegar, some salt and a light dusting of joke shop itching powder for the full experience.

Please go to your gp. Get a proper check up. Mine turned out to be hormone/age related changes. I was given a pessary and a vaginal moisturiser. Sex life was never great but its better than it was.

Can't believe he wouldn't have a look? I thought men loved vaginas? He sounds like an uncaring twat, sorry OP.
I think I might have this.. I am constantly itching and burning and yes it puts me off sex as it's red raw a lot of the time.
I have psoriasis and a few small patches of vitiligo so that makes sense.. one of the patches is actually on my vulva and the hair is white too!
I use steroid cream which does help, I need to remember to use it.

@QueefQueen80s I have a few white hairs too didn't know that happens also

It never ceases to amaze me how utterly self centred men can be around sex. Sulking, demanding, pressurising, even when they know it hurts, it's frightening, it's unwanted. You're awaiting an actual biopsy, FFS, yet still it goes on. It's like there is a bit missing in the empathy department, but it's women who get ordered to be kind.

Lichen scelerosis is a very uncomfortable condition. The treatment is a steroid cream (dermovate or trimovate) which does make it more bearable but the skin can still tear easily so it can affect your sex life. Usually it just affects the vulva but it sometimes causes white parchment like patches on other areas of the skin.

Also it’s a dermatology issue, not gynaecological or hormonal

The only cure is strong steroid cream used twice daily during a flare up and then an emollient twice a day, E45, diprobase, doublebase or similar. No soap or showergel to the area, and just pat dry, no rubbing

Sorry you have this OP, there's a great group on FB, think it's called Lichens Slerosis in the UK.

I have it, you can have it and have a sec life, you just need to get it under control, use lots and lots of lube, there's a few that shouldn't irritate you, and wtop using anything other than emollient when you're washing. I use eumovate (clob) but not the cream steroid, the gel one, it's brilliant and has sorted me out so much.
I do get sore at times especially around my period, you need to see a gynecologist and start a treatment plan.

The sexual coercion and guilt tripping is a separate issue, my DH is wonderful about my condition and would go for months without if he knew I was having a flare.

The white hairs are on the vitiligo patch x

Ah ok. I had a similar situation where I thought I had ls but it was triggered by using tampax and pads.

@Thatweredeadtightoncheryl if my DH went longer than a few weeks it would end him being a silly fucking teenager and there's no encouragement so do example could say I feel bad about it and he wouldn't say - don't. It's almost like he thinks (but doesn't say) oh it's only a bit of pain you won't die.

Hi op. I had similar symptoms to you and I know it's debilitating. You need to ask the GP to refer you to gynaecology. I had to have repeat appointments for someone to take me seriously, I think I actually cried to the last one. Mine is due to hormones, so it used to get worse after ovulation until my period came. I was prescribed a hormonal cream, which along with a steroid cream did that trick and now I get very occasional flare ups but it goes away after one treatment of cream. I found lukewarm baths with some bicarb helped and also a cream on prescription called epimax.
A doctor misdiagnosed me with linchen so you really need to get referred to a specialist. I feel for you, it's mentally draining.

@CloseYourMouthLynn thank you today has been the worst I've had to stay in bed

@ncpostingabout I feel for you. A bicarb bath really does help so try that in the meantime perhaps. There is also a good cream called hydromol, it's like a barrier ointment and helps to keep the area soothed and protects against things like rough toilet paper. Im sorry your DH is not more sympathetic, it's a horrible thing to have and impacts on everything. Wishing you the best.

@CloseYourMouthLynn thank you so much x

I had this and it was caused by scented sanitary towels and toilet roll. I switched to Andrex gentle (the pink one) and switched to period pants and haven't had a flare up since. You have my sympathy, it's horrible