Hello,
I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. I don't really know where else to come to talk about this. The previous thread on this is from over two years ago and not similar to my situation, so please don't direct me elsewhere without reading.
Right so here's the issue; I have large labia and have ever since I can remember. From the age of about 12 they started causing discomfort up until now, age 24, where it's outright painful every single day. This is from them catching in clothing (even loose), and sex is severely affected as they swell up and the pain gets even worse. I usually have to spend at least 15 minutes in the shower after sex running cool water on them to get the swelling to start to go down and the pain to ease. I've been with my boyfriend for 6 years and we now have sex once a month at most. He's very understanding but as you can imagine, not his ideal sex life. I physically can't go out the house sometimes because wearing underwear (loose) is too painful after they have caught in clothes and literally friction burnt my vag.
I've just seen a gynaecologist who told me that the pain is caused by excess skin and confirmed they are on the larger side. She then said that labiaplasty is the only way to relieve the pain, but in 7 years she's only managed to get funding on the NHS once for a labiaplasty. The times she had patients turned down were for cosmetic. Mine obviously isn't cosmetic. My boyfriend thinks they're great, but more importantly, I take no issue with their appearance. She gave me the impression that because I haven't been back and forth to the GP about it, I'll be honest I was far too embarrassed until the age of 23 to talk to a doctor about it, she thinks the funding panel will class my case as not severe enough for surgery. This is obviously ridiculous and she didn't hold back in expressing this, but ultimately the decision lies with them.
Has anyone had any experience, recently, of applying or appealing for NHS funding for this?
I was told it will be months before I get a decision and if they say no, private insurance doesn't cover it, so it would be out of pocket. Which is not doable for us.
I'm feeling pretty depressed about the prospect of being in pain for the rest of my life.
Thanks for reading
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Women's health
Labiaplasty on the NHS
7 replies
NarcolepticOuchMouse · 05/07/2018 17:21
OP posts:
Sarahjconnor ·
06/07/2018 08:37
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