Sore "down below"

[sorebelow]

For the last year, I keep getting sore red patches in the vulval area, they do not seem like blisters, more like raw patches, sometimes just one occasionally more. Not linked to periods and sometimes reoccur a week later, or several weeks later. They last for 2/3 days then disappear without a trace. They are definitely linked to rubbing as I like to cycle and this will bring them on but I have cycled for years without a problem, only this last year. Sometimes I get a unpleasant tingly feeling, sometimes general itchiness.
I went to doc who thought it was thrush, treated several times, no changed, so got swabbed and came back clear, no thrush, BV or any other infections. Went to hospital gyn clinic, doc didn't recognise my symptons, suggested using an aqueous cream and gave me a list of things to avoid such as
tight jeans, nylon underwear etc. It still continues and is affecting my quality of life. I hate saying to DH that I can't have sex because I have a sore fanny! I did get herpes through oral sex 15 years ago, never troubled since and doc said very unlikely to be this after so long a time.
Has anyone else had anything similar and can advise? I don't know what else to do.

I did have something very similar, and went back to GP a few times because nothing seemed to work.

Eventually doc diagnosed some type of infected excema (really!) and gave me a cream which was a mixture of steroid and anti - fungal which cleared it up.

Sorry, can't remember name of cream except it began witrh 'tri' or of exactly what the condition was called.

I know you don't want to hear this... But it does sound like herpes. Did the doc or the hospital test for it? Friction can lead to outbreaks like the ones you describe and they tend to happen more often when you're stressed.

If it is you can be prescribed suppressive antivirals which should stop these recurrent outbreaks. However, as I'm sure you know, the sores are highly infectious so you need to be very careful with DH until they're completely gone.

Sorry, I don't want to worry you - and I could be totally wrong - but I think it's worth having a specific test (if you haven't already), to put your mind at rest more than anything else.

I agree that it sounds like herpes - particularly given the "tingle" you feel. Suggest you get swabbed again (and bloods taken) at your local GUM clinic the next time you get this. If you are planning on getting pregnant, it's important to know if you do have it.

Thanks. Kammy, was it trimovate cream? I have now been given this - how long did you use it for before things improved - did you use it once a day?
Re herpes, I asked both docs this and both thought v unlikely as 15 yrs would be very unusual;as from a cold sore, would be type 2 which reoccurs much less often thatn genital type 1; and to have repeated outbreaks over a year would be v v unusual.
I am nowhere near a GUM but this thought had crossed my mind, simply cos they must see lots of different sore "bits"!
Anyone else with experience?

Yes, I think it was trimovate. I used small quantity twice a day. It took about 2-3 weeks to completely clear up.

Ask your doctor to think about lichen sclerosis; a commonly overlooked but nasty auto immune disease which can damage the vulva and clitoris. Better safe than sorry.

Where do you live?
If you can get to London an expert on Vulval stuff is Dr Wendy Reid. She works from the Royal Free but you can also see her privately.