Please help, wtf is wrong with my vagina ??

[helpmepleaseahh]

Please help me, I’m extremely worried about this.

I’m not a troll, MN can verify I’ve posted before

I’ve got a female problem and I’m so embarrassed and upset about it. I told my mum and she’s never heard of it and said I should go to the doctors (I will when I’m home from uni on Thursday) I’m just so worried about this and I don’t know what it could be. I’ll try and use the correct terminology rather than slang words to make it easier to understand

recently I’ve had a lot of discomfort- like a really strong burning itch. It’s not so much Vaginally it was more towards the clitoral hood. I never scratched it but it’s just felt really uncomfortable and there was a strong smell. I went to the pharmacy who recommended thrush treatment so I did that. No change whatsoever. I tried different things and nothing helped. We also treated for bv in case it was that but again, no help. I hadn’t shaved so I couldn’t get a 100% complete view of the area but it didn’t look particularly bad.

until I shaved last night and realised exactly what the problem is. I’ve got like a tear/split in the skin, probably about an inch and a half in size, running vertically up the clitoral hood. It’s AGONY and walking and stretching my legs opens it. The skin has torn completely open and there’s a strong smell and that horrible burning itch feeling which obviously I’m ignoring but I’ve never seen anything like this before and I’m worried sick

it doesn’t look like thrush or BV at least from what I’ve seen with pictures of them.

I’ve never had sex so it can’t be an std unless I’ve got it from a public toilet or a swimming pool, not sure if that’s even possible?

basically I’m just worried sick about what this could be and if I’ve got some kind of horrible bug down there or what is going on. I’m going to go to the doctor (absolutely dreading that too as I don’t want to have to show them but obviously it’s necessary) but does anyone have any idea what this could be and will they be able to fix it?

Thanks very much in advance. I’ve been worried sick about it all night

I'd go and get some sudocrem from the pharmacy and also make an appointment with the dr in case it's infected.

With a bad smell I'd go get it check in case you have a cut that has got infected. You may have just injured yourself. Healing cuts can itch.

There are some skin conditions you can get in the area that itch, but that's less likely if you're young. Your doctor will be familiar with these too.

Don't panic. It doesn't sound like anything scary but something that should be checked out.

Yeah my mum is going to make an appointment today for me for when I get back from uni on Thursday. I went to the pharmacy last night and spoke privately to the pharmacist about the tear and she had no idea what it could be especially as the BV and thrush treatment hasn’t worked. Just so worried in the meantime about why this has happened and wtf is going on 😭

Skin around that area is thin and sensitive, some people are prone to spilts in the skin too. Vaginal dryness can be unspeakably uncomfortable/painful and is common, sometimes can be down to hormones. Speak with your gp, it might be as simple as using a form of intimate moisturiser.

Wash twice a day down there and slather in sudocrem. See how it is after a week. Sudocrem has antiseptic properties in it

Ouch. Firstly, sorry to hear that, I think only a doctor can tell you exactly what’s going on and how to treat it.

Secondly, I don’t think this belongs in AIBU, of course you’re not being unreasonable. Should have posted in health section.

Thirdly, it sounds like a cut, could it be from shaving previously, or some sort of injury? It’s really hard to know! I’d suggest only loose cotton underwear that you change frequently. Only cleanse with warm water, no soaps or fragranced products. Since it’s on the vulva, rather than an internal discharge from the vagina, I wouldn’t use BV or thrush medication, until you get a proper diagnosis.

Finally, hope you get well soon!

Don't worry doesn't sound like anything other than what it is - cut on your clitoral hood. With the smell it may have gotten infected which is making it itchy, just book a GP appointment to make sure you don't need antibiotics

And, no you won't have caught an std from anything other than another person.

Skip the GP and go to your local GUM clinic. It's literally their area and they will be able to help you a lot quicker than a GP can.

Ouch! Firstly don’t panic, we’ve all had odd things down there - I had a whitehead and it HURT like crazy and I was in tears thinking it was something awful. This occurred just before I had my coil fitted and I burst into tears when the doctor was inserting it and begged her to check what it was, it was just a spot and I felt like a right loopy one!

Do you have any underlying health conditions or anything, things like diabetes can play havoc with healing and if you scratched yourself while asleep you may not have realised what you’ve done. Cut your nails short and wear cotton granny pants to bed.

Are you going through stress or recently had antibiotics? If so they could have messed up
your system and made things a tad out of balance and funky down there. The jury is out on these but taking a broad spectrum probiotic might help get things back in balance.

Treat the area down there with care, wash with water only and dry it well - use cotton pads you can use once and bin, no cross infection risk.

Make sure you’re eating a healthy varried diet, plenty of proteins and veggies to help your body repair itself. Avoid too much fruit as sugar can be a trigger for yeast infections.

And as you’re planning to do, see the doctor.

It might be as simple as needing a hydrocortisone cream or different thrush cream brand. Don't panic xx

Ouch. Poor you!

I'd suggest straight to GP to have a look. With it being smelly it sounds infected, you may need antibiotics.

I've just seen that you are at Uni. Def sudocrem until you can get to the GP.

^This

Sounds like you have a wound which is having trouble healing and possibly infected. Do not put any products on the area. Clean with tap water.

Go to the gum clinic rather than gp. You may need antibiotics. Make sure you tell them that you have never had penetrating sex as they may attempt to use appliances to get a closer look that could hurt you. Suggestion to have your mum at the appointment if you consent and you can say decline anything they offer you such as internal examinations etc.

They may suggest stitches. If this is something, you need to read up on your options before consenting. Your clitoral hood is full of nerve endings and some stitching can cause more issues in the future (read up on fgm). You can say no and then come back the next day.

You may need to look into what the root cause is after getting treatment.

Another vote for the GUM clinic OP! And try not to worry - it sounds easily treatable. Not pleasant though - poor you!

Get it checked - are there white patches? It could be lichen sclerosis, in which case you need strong topical steroids. Definitely get it checked out though, as there could be an infection there.

The GUM will be able to help but don't cancel your gp appt until you know you can be seen sooner there. Several GUMs have closed in the last few years and since the pandemic a lot are no longer walk in.

Don't panic though op, it sounds like an infected cut and in that area it will be terribly painful.

Don't use soap products down there, keep it clean by rinsing and bathing in salt water. Use boiled water, dissolve some salt and leave to cool so that you don't burn yourself.

Pick up some sterile gauze from the pharmacy. You can also buy sterile saline pods too if you find it easier to use them.

Try to keep the area cool and dry. Dab, don't rub. Go commando at home in a skirt. Avoid jeans which will probably not be very comfy and keep to soft cotton underwear.

You cam take otc painkillers too to help with the pain.

Phone your GP practice and tell the receptionist you'd like to see a woman nurse or doctor about a feminine problem.

Definitely don't use tap water unless it's been boiled and cooled first.

Oh and specifically non-fluffy gauze.

Sounds nasty. It could be some form of fungal infection? I know DH has had “jock itch”, which is a fungal infection from not getting changed from sweaty running clothes for a while. Could it be similar, as in you went to the gym/for a run/whatever and stayed in your clothes for a long time?

I agree with the others, due to the smell it sounds like a cut that has gotten infected. I've cut my vulva by merely giving myself a quick scratch.

I'd give it a wash with water, pat it dry with something that is clean (cotton pad?) and put some Sudocrem on it. Consider making an appointment with the GUM clinic, too, before Thursday so you're not sitting around in pain until then.

Make sure you are being very gentle down there, use only the softest toilet paper or cotton wool. Sudacream and make sure you are hydrated, plenty of water. Use non-bio washing power and sanitary for sensitive skin. You may just be allergic to some products.

I am much older than you but down there is a balancing act. I find if I drink too much or, I wipe too hard or if I use bio soap power I have issues.

Sounds like something has got infected. Go and see the doctor.

Another one saying you should go see your gp definitely.

Also, be conscious of what underwear you are wearing. Make sure they're not too tight and go for softer material like cotton

Sounds like you scratched it from when it was itchy you might have scratched it at night. Keep your nails very short and filed down.