Should I feel this scared about my sexual health clinic appt?

[Helpmeflashmybits]

I have had an itch for what feels like years and it honestly has been!
I have tried sudo cream and vulva balm and nothing helps.

I have 2 small spots on labia which just seem to sit there, don't spread so unsure if genital warts.

The itch seems to be worse where the labia meets in the middle and sometimes takes me unaware even if out and about.

Recently had antibiotics and got thrush so did pessary and cream.

It's hard to get an appt in my area but I have been persistent as I can't carry on and I have one tomorrow. The thought of the unknown is worrying me.
I go for smears but I know what happens there so not as bad.

Have you been to sex clinic as an over 40 year old?

Anyone kindly got any words of wisdom?

It depends who staffs your sexual health clinic. In our area they are mainly staffed by nurses who mainly follow protocols and aren't trained in diagnosis particularly genital dermatoses. They may be able to exclude genital warts and could take swabs to exclude diagnoses but I'd have gone to my GP.
I wouldn't be anxious but I wouldn't have my expectations too high either.

That's intresting, I hadn't thought about going to gp. I kind of thought the clinic would be more specialist. Gp is an option after today though.

Thankyou

You've had this for years and haven't thought to see the GP even if you've been there for other stuff? I can't get my head round this at all.

GP appointment first and foremost. The small lumps may be cysts
Worth keeping your GU appointment though to exclude warts and get checked over

I disagree with PP- I work in GU and think you’ve gone to the right place! They can do testing, rule out warts, should have a senior clinician whether doctor or nurse to review your skin if needed and if all appears normal can always advise you go back to the GP with a ref to dermatology from there if needed.
GPs send people to GU for the most basic stuff you’d think they could manage so unless your GP has a special interest in genital dermatology I’m not sure it would be that helpful and they can offer less variety of testing.

And please please don’t worry! We see people of all ages, single or in relationships and genitals or all shapes and sizes and never ever judge or bat an eyelid. Just be honest about your symptoms.

I have been too embarrassed to mention it to the gp. Now I have found the courage to deal with it I hadn't thought of gp as first port of call.

Agree GU clinic is best place - they will have seen EVERYTHING and no need for self-consciousness.

Definitely GU clinic first! I went to my GP about a problem with my genital skin area (I knew it wasn't an STD) and it took 15 years! I'd given up. It was only a change of GP and the nurse questioning the state of my skin during a smear test that the new GP looked at it and said straight away "I'll refer you to a dermatologist" less than a week later I'd had an initial appointment and within 2 months I'd had an in-depth appointment.

Thankyou, I have been and they don't think it's std but sent off swabs and blood..

They said if all tests negative then I should ask GP to refer to dermatology. So glad I went at last. Busy place and no one batted an eye!

@Helpmeflashmybits glad you went and got it sorted (ish).

Me too!

GP always passes this sort of thing on to us as we are the experts in it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Another vote for the GU clinic . Obviously they are not all the same but I found them very kind, matter of fact and non judgemental. They also have the facilities to test for a whole range of conditions and can usually find a diagnosis quickly.

Don't be nervous, I think you will find you will get this sorted much quicker than going via your GP