I am glad that Lichen Sclerosis is getting some visibility as a result of patients sharing their comments and what works or doesn’t work for them. I began having LS as a teenager and any gynaecologist that I saw kept treating me for a yeast infection over the years. In my 30s it got worse and it seemed that no doctor was aware of LS, causes or treatment, not even dermatologists. Finally a smart dermatologist who headed up the largest teaching hospital in the city diagnosed me with LS. At that point I learned that LS is a dermatology condition and not an STD. I was always puzzled as to how I could have contracted an STD. This is a good reason that if a person doesn’t get answers from gynaecologists they should make an appointment with a dermatologist. As a minimum discuss the possibility of LS with your gynaecologist.
In my 30s with yet to be diagnosed LS I felt like a leper. I was in pain, I was consequently depressed and had difficulty going to work or leading any kind of a life. Stress exacerbated my condition, family didn’t understand, some suggested that I might have AIDS. This was at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic when little was known about it. My husband was supportive and that helped a lot. However my situation was not anything you would want to experience. There are many women out there with LS, who remain undiagnosed. My heart goes out to you, I know what you are going through. Take heart, control and freedom from pain is possible. Keep seeking answers and keep talking about LS, the more publicity for this condition, the more likely that physicians are aware of it and make the correct diagnosis or referrals.