Unhappy vagina - terrified

[tinkertots]

Hi, I'll start by saying I suffer massively with health anxiety and also slight OCD. I worry about negative outcomes from the topic of this if I post it, but I'm trying to get on top of my anxieties and this is a way of doing it - plus, if I helps anyone else in a similar situation, then great!

I'm 32 and have been on the depo for the last 2 years - pills don't agree with me. The last few months I've had migraines, bouts of low mood and terrible vaginal dryness.

2 weeks ago I had slight stinging when going to the toilet, and was quite sore below. Went for a urine dip test and it was negative for water infection, was recommended cystitis sachets, took them and slight improvement.

Few days later stinging returned, and now I go between being fine, to bouts of itchiness and soreness, and I feel like I can pinpoint a patch of soreness. Had a look with a mirror last night and found a small dark brown/black patch on the inside of my labia which I've never noticed before - it's never been mentioned during smears or during IVF. I googled and frightened myself to death so got an appointment with the GP this morning.

He had a look and said he could see some redness and a small ulcer and that there's a condition called lichen sclerosis which they associate with, and which could also be the reason behind my pain and other symptoms including dryness. He also explained about the depo and side effects of that being low mood, dryness and brittle bones. He said the brown/black patch doesn't look like cancer but has put me on the two week wait referral just to be checked out to rule out anything sinister before he can look at any treatment options, but said he wanted to stress that to him, it didn't look like it, but as it has just appeared he wanted a gynae to take a look.

I came out and cried my eyes out - we have 2 small children. When I mentioned to my dh he said that he's seen the patch and it's been there about 10 years! This did make me feel slightly better - I don't examine myself down there and don't look, so if it has been there all this time, then I'm hoping that's a good thing.

Does anyone have an advice or similar experiences? Would really welcome them

We all get issues down below sometimes. It's a fragile ecosystem down there! Get some Canesten and see if that soothes it. The pessiary works wonders when I'm dry and itchy.

Your doctor says it doesn't look cancerous. So I'd believe him.

I had a 2 week wait for a polyp (in my mouth though) and they just removed and biopsies and it was 100% fine. They said it was nothing which is likely the same for you.

Vulvas can have all sorts of marks, tears, freckles, moles and ulcers. You're getting it checked. So there's nothing more you can do. Try to relax.

I was on Depo years ago and reacted similar. Dryness to the point it was impossible to have sex.Insane itching.. I remember it was once so bad I had to go to an emergency doctors appointment because I had what looked like burst blood blisters.. couldn't even wear knickers it was so swollen down there. To put your mind at rest I also thought I had some horrific disease. It took around 3 months for the Depo to wear off and stop having side effects, I had a coil fitted with no issues and then DH had a vasectomy last year.
As for the patch on your labia if your DH is it's been their for years I wouldn't worry. Mine have definitely changed (smaller& darker) over the years, I think it's normal.

@TheWayoftheLeaf thank you so much for your reply, I'm pleased your polyp turned out to be nothing serious

You're right - I should trust my GP and remember that it's all different down there, I never even thought of it being possible to have freckles etc down there!

@Elizadoloads your reaction to the depo sounds awful I'm so pleased you swapped to other birth control I bet you feel a million times better on it. Thank you for your reply, dh is adamant it's been there a long time so I'm trying to remember that

I actually got a call today with a cancellation for tomorrow morning, so fingers crossed everything goes OK! Will update

Just an update: saw the gynaecologist this morning who said she thinks everything looks completely normal. The stinging when urinating has stopped and she said it's likely that any infection has just ran its course. The mark she said looked normal but for my peace of mind did a biopsy, she will ring me in 2 weeks and I'll get a letter with the results but as I was leaving she said she wanted to tell me again that she didn't think it was anything at all to worry about - I feel loads better! I feel even better when I get the letter but I'm pleased with her comments

I too found a brownish mark quite recently which concerned me, but no other symptoms at all. I assumed it was just hormonal changes maybe (I’m probably a bit peri menopausal!). But then I couldn’t remember the last time I looked at myself closely with a hand mirror!!

Good luck for your biopsy results, fingers crossed. Sounds like you’ve got a good doctor.

Thank you very much I said the same, I can't remember the last time i took a look to see what it actually looked like!