Narrowing vagina & Lichen sclerosus help

[amnidyaa]

Hi all

I just wanted to share my journey incase it helped anyone....

March 2022 I started experiencing terrible itching at night all around the labia which I just couldn't help scratching. At this time I didn't really have sex due to being sore from the itching/scratching.

A month or 2 later I went for a smear test, I'm 38 so I've had many of these. But as soon as the speculum was inserted it felt like my insides were ripping apart. A few week later I tried having sex but it was like there was a block where my husband just couldn't get his penis in at all. Went to the g.p who said its vaginismus and Im just tensing up because Im scared, she did an exam where she inserted a finger and said she could feel me clamping up. I then went to a gynecologist for an endometrial ablation for unrelated issues and while I was there explained what happened and she said I just need to relax and breathe etc. No other help or resources offered.

Fast forward a year and a half to early August 2023. I have tried the g.p again in this time but keep getting fobbed off with "vaginismus" and being told I can try counselling even though I insisted its a physical issue not a mental one. I am still unable to have have sex and my labia keeps getting cuts. I went back to the g.p and insisted on another referral to a different gynecologist.

I attended my gynecologist appointment at the end of August and the gynecologist gave me my first thorough exam and diagnosed Lichen Sclerosus and told me that my vagina has indeed narrowed due to the condition. I was prescribed dermovate to use for 3 months and was recommended dilator treatment. I started dilating with femmax dialators but found they were difficult to insert due to the blunt tip so switched to amielle comfort dilators.

I have been following this treatment for a month and it has changed my life. The itching and cuts have disappeared. And I am able to have pain free sex for the first time in 1.5 years.

I just wanted to share because I was fobbed off so many times until I found a gynecologist who actually cared enough to listen. He did agree that there was secondary vaginismus but he said the clamping down was due to the pain of insertion because of the soreness, cuts and narrowed vagina.

Again I just wanted to share incase it helps even 1 person. And anyone struggling with dilatora should definitely look at amielle comfort dilators.

Thank you! Can i ask how you are getting on now? Im 7 months pregnant and just anxious about it turning sinister again, the anxietys back

i have just stumbled across this post and I feel like it’s describing some of my symptoms. I have had itching for about 18months and had tried all sorts of went to the drs etc and got prescribed cream last year which didn’t help. I thought I was destined for a life of this stinging/itching. Eventually I went back as had been in tears with it and got prescribed trimovate which was a steroid and anti fungal, touch wood it seems to have cleared up. However I haven’t noticed white patches or narrowing I don’t think, but currently single so sex isn’t regular. How did you go about being diagnosed?

Gp and then referral for a biopsy via gynae

I was the same, GP referred to gynecologist. Because my white patches were visible he was able to diagnose without a biopsy but he did say that sometimes they can't see clear obvious signs such as white patches, so in that case they take a biopsy.

Have just come across your thread while searching for info on LS and ablation or Mirena.
I have suspected LS, though no firm diagnosis as could also be menopause. No white patches ever seen by gynae or derm, a combination of steroid and vagifem cleared symptoms of itching and uti like feeling that I had for about 2 years. I’ve been symptom free for over 18 months until the last few weeks. I’m beginning to think I likely have both LS and GSM.
My added complication is constant bleeding due to perimenopause and Covid. I’ve bled most days for over a year and have been offered ablation or Mirena. I was going to go with the coil as less invasive, but am now wondering if the hormones might have a negative impact on the LS/GSM symptoms and maybe I should just go for the ablation.
OP, how was the ablation for you? In general terms, and more specifically did it have any impact on your LS? Thanks.

Hi

The ablation was for an unrelated issue, it was due to periods being very long and heavy causing flooding and anaemia due to blood loss. I did find that since my ablation I had less irritation/itching from not having to wear pads/tampons for weeks on end as the periods reduced in volume and duration.

Thanks for updating. My possible ablation is for the same. Not having to wear pads every day would definitely help my irritation (and save me £££!)