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

If it is lichen sclerosis, you need a diagnosis from a gynaecologist or a dermatologist and the NHS waiting lists are horrendous - a couple of years in some areas. In any case, if you can afford it I would highly recommend going for an initial private consultation as you can be seen in a week or so. They can they prescribe Dermovate, an ultra potent steroid, and a regime for life which will calm things down, and lots of emollients such as Cetraben. Your NHS GP can supply these.

It sounds just like the start of my Lichen sclerosis.
I tried canestan, anusol and bought lidocaine from the pharmacy before I was finally seen by a gp who examined me, ordered bloods etc and diagnosed LS. Clobetasol & Trimovate worked, along with only washing bits with Dermol.
Mine has cleared up, no flare for a few years (🤞🤞🤞) and I think it was to do with menopause/stress.
Sanitary pad in the freezer, or flannel will help get you through until Monday. Unless you are running a fever etc and can't manage the pain (totally understandable) in which case get yourself seen earlier.
Can i suggest you write what you want to say/ask down before seeing the Dr.
Good Luck 💐

GPs vary so such in their knowledge of LS, OP. The previous poster and I were lucky and had GPs who recognised LS and its potential seriousness- mine referred me to Gynae.

Other GPs can be a lot less on the ball and the implications of untreated LS can be very serious. I would reiterate that if you don't feel a treatment is working, or if the waiting lists are just too long, a one-off private vulval dermatologist consultation is well worth it if you can at all afford it.

Sorry, just to add to my last comment which sounded a bit doom laden: if it is LS and diagnosed early it's treatable with Demovate/Clobetasol and emollients, and most women live with it easily enough.

OP, absolutely DON’T use Anusol as one poster suggested: it ‘tightens’ the skin and will hurt like hell.
Hope it gets cleared up quickly for you.

I think it might be hormonal, the dryness, which has possibly resulted in the skin splitting and an infection.

I think you need to have the infection sorted as a priority, then the dryness but also the lack of periods. This could be the cause of your symptoms.

I really hope you can get this sorted! Just as an aside, my hormones were really wacky from about 16-27 ish. I was on the pill for contraception (though before I regularly missed periods for months) and for PCOS diagnosis. It all just sorted itself out tbh. The last couple of scans I've had have shown no cysts and I've had 2 children with no problem conceiving. If you do get a diagnosis relating to your hormones, just don't worry too much is what I'm saying! There can be a lot of scare stories out there.

Thank you so much everyone. I’ve read every comment and am extremely grateful for the help. It was awful during the night but better today- I can almost guarantee it’ll look fine by the time I get seen tomorrow! I’ve taken pictures of it when it was bad so I can show them because the severity is coming and going. A sanitary pad in the freezer has made a massive difference too. Thanks again everyone I’ll make sure to update when I know what’s going on. Xx

Good luck tomorrow OP, hope you get some answers 💐

and with regards to come of the comments about low estrogen- I actually had a blood test about a year ago for my hormones and it showed very very little estrogen (among a few other things) but I was told that was normal in some girls! I wonder if it’s all related and that’s caused it.

I can’t remember the exact figure for my estrogen level but I’m sure it was something in the single digits (not sure if that would be right or if I’m misremembering it, I just remember it was very low)

My first point of call would be your local GUM/sexual health clinic. You can usually just ring to book, and they often offer appointnents outside of office hours. I'm not implying you have a sexual disease, but they are experts in these areas. It sounds very much like infection from trauma (damage). As you're not in a sexual relationship the likelihood is this is something you've done to yourself either with your nails/fingers (especially false nails) or with a toy?
Do you suffer with anxiety? I ask because sometimes people do weird stuff when they're asleep if they're stressed. I grind my teeth, talk and have sleep walked. I've woken up with my hands between my legs. If you suspect this, wear PJs or undies for a bit.

I hope the GP goes well tomorrow. I'd not put any creams etc on it for now.

When I had an abscess down below, I was advised to take a salt bath twice a day for two weeks, to help it heal. (It was also got me tested and diagnosed for T2 diabetes.)

To be fair posters have advised @helpmepleaseahh to go to a clinic for 12 days. She hasn't so guess doesn't wish to.

All the best

To be fair, she has said that she tried but they can’t see her

I always assume these threads being made by perverted men that get aroused by other women mentioning the word clitoris and vagina...

Because Honest to god
Even if this was a real situation: you'd go to see a doctor not make a mumsnet thread 🤐

Hi, hope all goes well tomorrow. Don't be embarrassed, I have a friend who is a GP and she once told me she sees on average 5 vaginas a day and 2 anuses!

It’s a sad state of affairs when a women can’t ask for advice on a women’s forum which is specifically for stuff like this! And so what if I used the word clitoris? Why are you making that such a big thing? It’s a body part like an arm or leg, not sure how else I’m supposed to explain it.

To be fair I’ve already explained I can’t- there aren’t any I can go to in my Healy board and the others won’t see patients out with their own healthboard

Haha that definitely makes me feel a lot better actually! I just keep telling myself it’s just another body part at the end of the day although it’s still so embarrassing for some reason!

thank you so much for the good wishes (and everyone else who commented) x

Mumtoabeast,do the antihistamines help with an LS flare up,I don't get itching,it's just soreness,pain.

@helpmepleaseahh Your estrogen should be in the hundreds, but your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone should be under 30)

If your GP poo-poos the idea of low estrogen, please see a gynaecologist.

I don't know your finances and maybe your parents could help out or you could put it on a credit card, but an appt is around £250-£300 (usually for an hour ) and they can prescribe treatment back on the NHS, especially if it's just creams you need.

NHS waits for non urgent things like this can be months or years.

All the best OP, and please ignore a lot of this advice! They have no idea what your condition is without seeing so. I’m sure it will be very treatable and all will be ok ☺️

Ffs, do you not realise that it can be weeks before you can see a doctor these days?

@SparklyBlackKitten @FatCatBum
Thats sadly correct I was diagnosed with LS just 2 months ago but when I rang for the appointment because my symptoms weren't an emergency I had to wait 3 weeks.