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

In my area if you ring 111 out of hours they can book you into an out of hours GP appointment. Is that something you can look into?

I'm concerned it sounds infected, especially with the itching and bleeding. Do you have a temperature at all?

I'd guess lichen sclerosis.

And just because you haven't had sex, doesn't mean you are a boring uni student. There are plenty of people who wait until they're older and settled before having sexual relationships. I was married before I had sex!

this 👍

As a PP mentioned it could be Inverse psoriasis which is treated really quickly with a stronger steroid cream than hydrocortisone.

Remember to mention to the GP that you have psoriasis & check out some photos online to see what it looks like.

I have lichen, it's bloody awful.
I tear along one side of my inner lip in the same place everytime, almost like a papercut. It's especially itchy at night.
I had it diagnosed at a gum clinic as I thought it was an std to start with.
I take antihistamines every day & a drowsy 1 at night, I use a steroid cream 2 x a week to keep on top of any flare ups & a moisturiser to use daily that I always forget to use 🤦🏻‍♀️
Vaseline will ease the itching until you get to see a Dr. Good luck!

I have LS- it was undiagnosed as thrush as a while, it was incredibly painful, hurts when I went to the toilet and was very itchy. If your appointment isn’t for a while, see if you can get some cetraben cream from a chemist. Basically put some on everytime you have been to the loo by wiping it on with a tissue. It should help the itching and burning.

when you go to the docs, make sure they actually look - if it is this i got told I had thrush a few times and it did not go away. It wasn’t until I went for a smear that the nurse practitioner spotted it.

It sounds like you may Vaginal Atrophy which is a dryness in the are. More common in menopause but not unheard of in younger women. It can be helped tremendously by using localised estrogen. In the meantime you can use coconut oil or hydromol to ease the symptoms. When mine is bad I get micro cuts all around the area of my clit, and anus. It’s very uncomfortable so you have my sympathy. I would also mention it to the GP as they might not consider it at this point.

best of luck today

Oh and also get some anusol or vagisan cream they are local anaesthetic which can temporarily relieve the area.

Sounds like it's likely a skin condition (as you have a history of skin disease) if that area if itchy and continues to be sore. See GP get it swabbed. Likely need something with a mod potency steroid in it and a review in a couple of weeks.

Antibiotics from the GP and only wear 100% cotton knickers and skirts for a while, and a nightie in bed so the cut can air and heal. Only wear 100% cotton knickers all the time anyway!

111 and see if they can get you an OOH appt. It's more than just vaginal dryness or thrush. You mentioned anal fissures too. You need to get someone to look at the whole area.

Gosh that sounds awful. I really hope you get it sorted. Really feel for you

Also, do not be embarrassed at all. The docs have seen it all.

It could also be lichen sclerosus - this can cause spilts and sores in the skin and intensive itching. Moisturise (I know it sounds odd) each day and a steroid cream can make a huge difference.
You will need to see a GP though in order to get a diagnosis.

Sounds awful. Sorry you're suffering so much. Your GP should have given you an emergency appointment. You shouldn't have been left in pain and discomfort for so long.

Hope you get some answers tomorrow

With your recent updates It really sounds like LS. Fissures around your bottom and the areas of skin affected are exactly LS. Can be triggered (not caused) by stress and uni is stressful.

It's very treatable if you get the right medication but most GPs don't see enough cases to be knowledgable. It's often mistaken and treated as thrush.

You need quite a robust and swift treatment to halt it. You can't cure it if it is LS, but to halt it's progress and get the skin back to a good condition.

If you don't have success with the GP try the GUM clinic if you can. They see much more.

Ultimately you probably need to push for a referral to a vulval health clinic. Some counties don't have one but you can be sent to the nearest.

You are armed now with knowledge, this makes a difference. It will get resolved.

. I have extremely irregular periods although the doctor isn’t concerned as they’ve never really been regular so it’s not a sudden change, but I’m wondering if it’s related to this dryness and the skin splits? Or maybe not and I’m just joining dots that don’t need to be joined!

@helpmepleaseahh It could be low estrogen. Another poster mentioned that upthread but it usually only occurs when women are going through the menopause. These symptoms are classic genital atrophy but can occur in younger women too.

You say you have irregular periods- how irregular? Are you missing several in a row? Does your mum have a history of early menopause? Or period/ fertility issues?

Please ask your GP for a referral to a gynaecologist as (IMO) you should be tested for possible early menopause (it can happen to 1:1000 women under 30) and you need a full hormonal profile from a consultant and an examination.

https://www.daisynetwork.org/about-poi/what-is-poi/

https://www.daisynetwork.org/about-poi/signs-and-symptoms/

And yes, it could be LS but both conditions need assessing. Insist your GP refers you to a specialist and if your parents can fork out for a private app that will be much faster (usually within 2 weeks compared to 6+ months on the NHS.)

I'm sorry you've been suffering for so long. Glad you're seeing the GP tomorrow.

Your latest post makes me think of something my friend has (can't remember the name of it but will be back soon after a Google!)

And no, don't worry, you definitely haven't caught an STI from kissing!

As a long term sufferer,of LS, vulval and peri anal dermatitis,no sudocreme it burns. I had multiple phone nurse appointments last year and this, emergency 2 weeks pathway,at one point. The vulva area was ulcerated,I was crying with the pain, sitting on the sofa,legs open in a dressing gown. After a year of hell,I saw a private dermatologist. Now epaderm to wash and moisturise every couple of hours.,no flannel,no bath,shower area,dry with hairdryer. Wet the toilet paper, before use. Boring white cotton pants,no PJ's, tight trousers/shorts,pantie liners. Steroid cream twice a week for ever. I can't use any bath or shower products anywhere on my body. I wash my hair over the bath,so nothing runs down. It still took 3 months to get under control,and various other scripts, dermal wash burnt,as did the cream prescribed by gynae construction. Vaginal atrophy is shrinkage, not dry skin. Come back and let us know results.

Sorry haven't read the full thread so apologies if repeating info...

It could be vulvitis / vulvar dermatitis - basically dermatitis which can be anywhere around your bits. Usually caused by an allergic reaction.

Try changing your washing powder to something for sensitive skins and same with shower gel and see if that helps...in the meantime some Sudocreme will give a bit of relief and make everything less dry.

Do you use sanitary towels? I always used them and then started having a horrible reaction to whatever perfumed shit they put in them now...

All of the above worth thinking of first...

The condition my friend has is lichen sclerosis so worth looking that up and seeing if similar.

This is a good article with different ideas of what it might be

www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/irritated-vulva

Ignore my sudocreme advice given the previous post!

Vaginal atrophy is shrinkage, not dry skin. @Nannyfannybanny

It's all sorts of things not just shrinkage. It's dry skin that cracks and bleeds (inside and outside), itching, soreness, burning, painful tetchy bladder, and a lot more.

The term VA is now being changed to GUS (genito urinary syndrome) as it includes not just the vagina.

If its unbearable get some Emla cream from the chemist's? It's lidocaine so will numb it. This is NOT medical advice, it's what I'd do.