It's NOT Vaginal Thrush

Have you ever heard of lichen sclerosus?

Because I definitely had not. My road with uterine prolapse and other gynaecology issues has definitely taught me a lot, information I wish I was educated on much earlier in my life. I was shocked by how many women messaged me saying they had experienced recurrent thrush yet were just prescribed Canesten repeatedly without any further investigation. Unfortunately, lichen sclerosus is often mistaken and misdiagnosed as vaginal thrush and I am a prime example of this case.

I previously wrote a blog about my experience with recurrent UTI's and thrush, the extreme pain and discomfort it has caused me for roughly the last six months. I had been to the doctor numerous times and after multiple swabs, my doctor concluded that I have recurrent thrush and decided to put me on a course of oral fluconazole which I would take weekly for six months. Yet, I was so adamant that it wasn't thrush, as I have had thrush before and the symptoms I was experiencing were different and a lot more painful. Each time I masturbated or had sex a few days later I would get a stabbing feeling almost as if my vagina was on fire, or I would develop cuts and tears on my vulva, symptoms I never experienced with thrush. Sometimes it was so painful I found it hard to exercise or sleep. Could this really be all due to thrush? Reluctantly I started the course of fluconazole. Yet after about a month, it was still doing nothing for me and my symptoms were just as bad as ever. Fortunately, I had a gynaecology appointment coming up at the hospital regarding my prolapse and so I was looking forward to raising my concerns about my recurrent symptoms and the fact the medicine had not helped. However, the appointment was a great disappointment and she just told me to continue taking the medication.

However, there was a glimpse of hope. Alongside all my gynaecology appointments I had been attending (by attending I mean on zoom) sexual therapy appointments. These sessions were primarily for me to explore personal and relational issues, including the anxiety I experience with sexual intercourse. Ever since I started having sex it has always been really painful, mainly during initial penetration. The doctors believe this is because I tense up on anticipation of intercourse, as I know it will be painful which consequently makes penetration even more painful. Yet, although these sessions were useful I wasn't actually having that much or even any intercourse at that time. The thought of even touching myself was far from appealing. I mean it is pretty hard to feel any sex drive when you know if you have sex or even masturbate a few days later you will be in intense pain. So the therapist suggested that I went and saw a specialist about my symptoms as she thought I could be resistant to the thrush medication. She consequently booked me an appointment with a specialist gynaecologist who also specialises in psychosexual medicine at a sexual health clinic.

So a few weeks after the gynaecology appointment, I had an appointment specifically about my recurrent thrush. The gynaecologist was extremely useful and on initial observation of my vagina, she noted that this was not in fact thrush. She diagnosed me with a skin condition called lichen sclerosus. Lichen schlerosus is a "chronic inflammatory skin condition which can affect any part of the skin, but it most often affects the genital skin (vulva)", the cause of it is not currently understood. Consequently, she sent me away with steroid cream that I would apply to the affected area for the next three months. I walked out that appointment so relieved. Although I was a bit anxious about this new diagnosis I was so happy they had finally got to the bottom of my pain and I felt some validation that I had not experienced with the thrush diagnosis. As soon as I got home I began to google this condition (admittingly something she advised me not to do) and I related to most if not all the symptoms. Painful sex YES

Persistent burning YES

Persistent itching YES

Cuts/tears YES, YES AND YES

Painful urination YES

White patches YES

After 6 months of constant pain I had finally been diagnosed with something that WAS NOT thrush, and someone had taken the time to really understand my symptoms and the cause of my pain. I started the steroid cream ASAP and am so relieved to write that it has really helped. Is this the correct diagnosis and have my symptoms been finally cured, well time will only tell.

I am not saying that if you have recurring thrush you definitely have lichen sclerosus, what I am saying is that there may be something more underlying and further investigations may be needed. It is important that if you believe your symptoms are still persisting despite being prescribed Canesten that you raise this with your doctor or gynaecologist, you know yourself best. That is why it is so important to keep going back to the doctor if you feel something isn't quite right. Lichen sclerosus is another condition like prolapse I had no idea about. It is about time we were taught more about our bodies and conditions like prolapse and lichen sclerosus.

Lichen Sclerosus UK awareness instagram page is a page dedicated to raising awareness of this condition, and is an amazing resource to learn more about lichen sclerosus

https://www.bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.ashx?id=291&itemtype=document - great document to learn more about Lichen Sclerosus