Vaginal itching...

[Eeyor]

I'm 39 and have been suffering with vaginal itching on and off for 6 months now, and it's driving me mad. There is no noticable smell or discharge but the inside of my vaginal lips are really pale, almost white.. I've had the usual swabs at the docs and all come back clear. Been giving a steroid cream which settles it but never clears it. Been with my husband for 16 years now so no fears there. Also my periods are more irregular with spotting in between. Had a smear last week that came back negative. Not the easiest thing to go to the docs with. I'm at my wits end. Please help..

[AskEveTeam]

Hi there,

It’s good that you have a doctor on the case and that the smear/cervical screening was clear.

We should suggest that you go back to your GP to report that the steroid cream isn't working and ask for a referral to a dermatologist or gynaecologist with expertise in vulval skin conditions.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to get in touch with our gynae cancer nurse on [e-mail]

Best Wishes,

The Ask Eve Team

[Eeyor in reply to AskEveTeam]

Thanks for that. Been back to my doctor and now been referred to gynae. Thanks for your help 😊

[clareB43 in reply to Eeyor]

Could be a condition called lichen sclerosus, are you using the steroid twice a day for a month and then every other day ?

[Eeyor in reply to clareB43]

Hi there. Thanks for the reply. Yeah was using twice daily, but it never properly relieved it. Was reading up on lichen sclerosis. I thought is sounded similar which worried me xx

[clareB43 in reply to Eeyor]

Make sure the dermatologist your referred to does a biopsy of any areas that the steroid isn’t improving.

Try a antihistamine as will help with itching.

[Eeyor in reply to clareB43]

Will do. Thank you 😊

[Eeyor in reply to clareB43]

Hi. Thought I'd give an update on my situation. Went to gynae appointment, and straight away he said it was lichen schlerosis, i tried to tell him about my irregular periods but he had already made his mind up what it was. Because the steroid cream was relieving the symptoms he said it was definitely lichen (even though it never fully gets rid of it. My other issue is my dad has skin cancer which was removed, but then hes been diagnosed with sarcoma which i never told the gynae as it happend just after. Is it something i need to let them know, or do i wait til i see him again in a years time?