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 would put money on it being Lichen Sclerosis. Have you googled this and compared your symptoms? It’s more common than you think and sometimes it’s mistaken for thrush. It is an autoimmune condition that can start suddenly for no reason. I know talking from experience. If it is you’ll be given advice from the Dr and steroids to bring it under control. The awful itching is the worst! I take an antihistamine at night.

Really not appropriate. She has a GP appointment for tomorrow

@Toddlerteaplease she's in pain and desperate.

it sounds like you have really been through it. Do make sure you tell the doctor how long it has been going on, how you haven't managed to get an appointment (I probably would have insisted on an emergency one but they boat has sailed). Don't be fobbed off and do ensure you aren't too embarrassed to say exactly how painful etc it has been.

Good luck tomorrow and hopefully there will be a successful remedy soon.

Go to a and E and get it seen to today - it’s a Sunday morning so will be quiet

To help with the itching, lie on your bed and try very cold cloths on the area eg muslins that have been in the fridge. Also, lie on your bed, naked from the waist down and 'air' the sore area (lock your bedroom door so that you can relax). I wouldn't use any cream or soap etc, just wash with cool water alone (a gentle blast from the shower head rather than using a washing/rubbing motion). Definitely see a GP asap. This all sounds so painful for you but it will get sorted out. You are young, sound sensible, good luck and let us know how you get on.

It's a disgrace you have had to wait so long for a doctor's appointment. How awful for you, sweetheart.
I'm sure you will feel so much better after you have seen the doctor and got a treatment plan. Try not to be too embarrassed (though I understand) It will be a common female problem once diagnosed and you will be able to get appropriate treatment.

Hi there, I have had this problem in the past. I was using Simple Soap to wash my bits and, basically, it made me so dry the skin down there split and became infected. It was so sore. A trip to the doctors saw me being given an antibiotic cream which worked a treat. Hope you get this sorted OP.

OP - i totally get the panic. Don't worry, you will heal and it will be ok.

I agree about the strong possibility of lichen sclerosis. Whatever it is, I think it is a skin condition (perhaps related to your other skin condition, or perhaps unrelated and you are just inclined to get skin things, some people do) that you probably need to treat carefully and consistently with something that the sexual health clinic or a doctor or dermatologist can recommend, and because you haven't been aware of the need to do this (exams etc, I get it) you now have some kind of cracks in the skin which are infected which is causing the smell.
So a doctor can help you clear up the infection in the first instance. Make them take a swab. Don't let them guess it is "probably" either fungal or bacteriological. Don't treat it till there is a result. then take the targeted treatment prescribed for whatever the bug is. If you take anti bs for something fungal you will make it worse. You don't want to upset your delicate balance with random scatter gun treatments.
Secondly, I am guessing your actual condition is going to need a specific cream or ointment too and I think it may well be a steroid. But that's a guess.
Tell the dr, every dr, every time, you have never had sex.
Tell the dr you suspect lichen sclerosis. It may not be on their radar.
Don't be fobbed off. They will say aqueous cream, don't use soap, be careful of scented washing powder etc - yes yes yes you know all that, don't let them send you away and "try" all that first, you have been through that stage, now to the actual swab and the treatment.
Good luck. you will be fine. I think you may be run down right now after being busy and you need help to get this under control - it may be that you will need to be careful for the rest of your life as future stressful or busy times may cause a flare up, but if you have the treatment to hand you will never get as sore as this again.

Dryness down there generally you say, plus psoriasis?
Could it be Sjogren's syndrome? (Hope I've spelled that right) - dry eyes, mouth and ladybits?

I agree it sounds like lichen sclerosis, once you get the right treatment for it then it should improve a lot /clear up.

I have Lichen Sclerosous and it can be very painful. Also resolves quickly with the right treatment though

Did you request a female doctor for your GP appointment OP?

You poor love, I feel so sorry for you. This has been going on for ages.

Do you have any walk in centres or GP Hubs near you? I know you have a GP appointment tomorrow, but that’s still an awfully long time to wait when you’re in so much pain and discomfort. If you have a walk in or hub then I’d go today.

Skip GP and go straight to the GUM clinic - they are the experts

sorry you are going through this - are you using soap or a cloth or something to help wash down there? I suspect you have dried out down there and accidentally scratched in the night when this started and maybe broke the skin with a nail and it got infected.
Is the toilet paper you are using cheap and rough?
Also sex toys which have not been cleaned properly can carry bacteria.
when you see the doctor ask to have your hormones checked too as very unusual to be dry down there at your age.
I wonder if you have a skin problem and maybe have an infected cut - have you tried using nappy cream which is more than just a barrier - something with antibacterial priorities to help heal infections and some you can get some with something in it to help pain. Nappy creams are designed for down there so are ok to use - ask the pharmacist.
I would also ask the pharmacist or the women who had tears from childbirth if they were given an antibacterial or antibiotic cream to use so you know what ro ask the doctor if you can try it.

This sounds really random, but if you are very dry coconut oil can help down there. I was recommended this by a gynaecologist when I had some other issues, and it helped withed with the friction burn type feeling.

This is a very good skin website referred to me by a great Portland skin dermatologist. I’ve linked to lichen sclerosus but there are lots of other skin conditions listed I think they are meant to have one of the largest photo databases
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/lichen-sclerosus

I had something very similar when I was also a very boring uni student! I had awful dryness and an itching/burning feeling. After many trips to the dr, I finally found out it was a form of eczema and it improved almost immediately with hydrocortisone gel. You mentioned having irregular periods…I was the same, and it turned out I also had an underactive thyroid which I believe was causing the skin problems, irregular periods, and also recurrent utis, so might be worth getting your levels checked!

Not the same, but after giving birth I tore my clitoris down one side, up to the hood and it was incredibly painful. My health visitor told me to sit in a warm bath with tcp in the water, and then put antiseptic cream on it. This did work, to a degree. But it did end up getting infected and I had to go on antibiotics which cleared it up within days. Your itching and discharge makes me think yours is now infected so I'd be looking at getting an emergency appointment somewhere.

No idea how it's happened though. Hope you're feeling a bit better today.

Given you have psoriasis which is an auto-immune condition it wouldn't be surprising if you have another such as Sjorgen's or hypothyroidism. Once you have one, it increases the risk for others.

There are creams for vaginal dryness that contain oestrogen generally given during/around the menopause, but, I think, prescription only.

It sounds horrid, hope it gets sorted tomorrow.

I would second asking to have your thyroid checked - your body could be attacking your thyroid creating dryness it’s more common in females.

Nothing really to add, other than to say good luck at the gp tomorrow. I’m sure he/she will be able to help and advise.
what a horrible experience for you 😞

This can happen if you get thrush. The skin can go into small cuts.

Either thrush or lichen sclerosis. If it is lichen, it is very possible your GP will not recognise it or know how to treat it. So please, if symptoms persist, go see as gyno or derm who specialises in vulva issues.

I have lichen sclerosis, feel free to message me if you have questions. Good luck!