Vulva fissures / tearing

[Ratburglermcgee]

Hi, I am really hoping someone else has had this problem.

My outer vulva keeps tearing, leaving me with thin cuts that are very painful. It is like the skin is too thin. It tears so easily, eg if I just accidentally pull slightly too hard with some toilet paper, or sometimes I don't know how they happen.

Sometimes it is accompanied by general itching (no discharge) and sometimes not.

I have treated myself for thrush but no change. I have used an over the counter test which says I don't have BV or Trich. I don't seem to have any white or shiny patches that might indicate lichen sclerosis or similar.

I saw a GP 6 months ago who didn't examine me but said it was probably dermatitis (no itching at the time) and only use water to wash with and use olive oil as a moisturiser. This seems to have helped the itching a bit this time but still keep getting the tears.

This has been happening on and off for the last year or so since i had a baby. No idea why.

I live overseas and it is difficult and expensive to see a doctor so I was hoping someone might have some ideas I could try first.

Thanks... please help!

Hi OP, I’m not a medical professional but my guess is that your oestrogen levels might be low, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Low oestrogen can make the vulva skin fragile and thin. You could ask your doctor to let you try a topical oestrogen cream such as Vagifem or Overton for a few months and see if this helps.

That should say Ovestin, not Overton.

I have this and I'm convinced it's related to hormones as Minta says as it was almost always around the same time in my cycle.
Mine virtually stopped after I got pregnant, but has crept back just recently I might try the advice above.

Do you have any other odd, seemingly unrelated symptoms?

My DP is type 1 diabetic, she has this when her sugars haven't been well controlled for a while, and often had this before she was 'diagnosed' - they never tested for diabetes, just thrush, stis and other infections which aside from the occasional water infection came back clear.

D you have any diabetes symptoms? Unquenchable thirst? Increased need for for the toilet (especially in the night)? Constantly tired? Mood swings? Etc.

Many of these could easily be overlooked as post pregnancy issues

I would ask for a referral to a vulval dermatologist. They may want to do biopsies to properly exclude LS...

Thank you very much everyone. Very helpful replies. I had wondered whether it was hormonal, I have read it can be more common post-menopause and I am not menopausal but I was thinking that my hormones might be up the spout. My skin isn't great at the moment.

I will keep an eye out for other unrelated symptoms... I don't think I have diabetes but you're right, I could dismiss the signs.

I know I'm going to have to see a doctor at some point, sigh.