I am 31 years old, have 4 children and am pregnant 28 weeks with another. I have had this problem for around 6 years. I have considered and tested for everything from allergies to sensitivity to onions... you can't imagine where I've gone with this.
I have itching, stinging, and small cuts like paper cuts, which you can't see, but that sting with wetness (like water, soap, lotions, pee). I also have flesh colored bumps that come and go. All of this runs along the top inside area of the labia majora and just barely down the clitoral hood. Occasionally I also experience the stinging near the bottom of the opening, more on the perinneum area, but no bumps there. I have been tested for the obvious herpes, but to no avail. I have had blood work and swabbing done. My doctor feels it is lichen sclerosus, because she sees what she called "cigarette paper" skin, meaning it is very thin in that area. I have requested a biopsy, which is pending, because I want to be sure. I know I have the one sign of it, but there are so many others which I don't have.
I have considered; yeast, allergies, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis (both of which I have in minor forms elsewhere), friction, underwear issues, sex, infections, STDs, urine acidity, TP irritation, you name it... I even had a theory because they seem to worsen when I eat onions... don't know what that's about.
I have seen numerous (over 400) posts with these same sort of symptoms, and no one seems to have a diagnosis! What the heck is going on here?
I have no STD, no allergy, no perfumes or dyes, no lotions, nothing that should be causing this. Up until now, I would have the "boo boos" as I call them, for a couple of days and they would subside. I usually avoid sexual things during that time, as friction doesn't seem to help. Now, they are here to stay! I cannot get them to go away or even improve. Older tactics of mine have not been working.. it's like they're getting smarter! I have found the following useful in the past:
yeast treatments (they sometimes go away for weeks at a time after this, but not always)
avoiding sex or friction to the area
avoiding soaps and lotions
applying diaper creams (desitin seems to flare it up!)
A&D (useful for the itch)
hydrocortisone (suggested by doc.. helps with itching, seems to improve a LITTLE bit, still no cure though)
Union Salve (fixes dang near everything else on the face of the planet)
more washing/less washing
more moisture/less moisture
yogurt (acidophilus, eating and applying)
vaginal cleansing solutions/wipes/itch cream
etc....
The list goes on. To me this seems like a rampant yeast problem. I don't get as far as a discharge, but the itching near the vaginal opening is always my first clue and I usually treat right away, commonly with tricanozole (sp?) prescription, as I tend to be pregnant a lot, which can lead to yeast issues.
I know I have at least two immune disorders, including psoriasis and hypothyroidism, so the idea of such a thing is not ridiculous to me (lichen sclerosus is immune related), although I have a negative ANA (testing for connective tissue and other immune diseases). So, I am in the dark.
I pride myself on the ability to find out what my own problems are and cure them myself. Most often I tell the doctor what I have and they concur. I am left feeling totally stumped here, which frightens me the most.
I smoke cigarettes and have not used anything hormonal (BC pills, etc.) for many years. I do not have chronic problems with dryness or moisture.
Most recently I also discovered a new thing.. two little tiny bumps on the inside of my labia majora near the vaginal opening. They are tiny and I mean small.. one is slightly hard and the other is not, they are virtually symetrically located. They have since improved, but have been hanging around for a couple of weeks, one of them a little tender. There is nothing in them, seemingly, and they have no head, nor are they really visible, as they are flesh colored. I do not shave. This is a first for me. I don't know if they are related or not.
Now... I have been having a little trouble with sex. I have had some internal "swelling" or something, making entry difficult, even with a finger (sorry so personal). My partner notices it also, and I am slightly tender with deeper insertion during intercourse. Sure, I can possibly attribute this to pregnancy, but I can't be sure with all this other jazz. I swear I feel like posting caution tape and declaring my vagina to be condemned.
I would really like to know if there is anyone who has the EXACT same symptoms as I do. I have seen lots of bits and pieces, but no one with the whole same story. I know we're all different, but for heaven's sake.. with 400+ posts of similar symptoms, has NO ONE found out what the heck is happening to us girls?
Pleaseeeeee, please, if you are medically inclined, suffering this same issue, or having any success with a treatment of some kind, please let me know. I NEED a diagnosis. I don't want to kiss my sex life, comfort and vaginal health and structure good bye!!!! Thanks so much.