Hello,
I am about to have a vulvar biopsy done today. My OB/gyn and my RE are both baffled by my symptoms. A new dermatologust saw me yesterday and said he thinks what's happening may be related to Herpes (HSV-1). I have had a battery of tests done to rule out infectious causes, and all have been negative, including HSV-2, cultures for yeast, bacteria, fungus, parasites, Strep-B, etc.
I have had these problems since June 2007. My symptoms are the following:
"Flare-ups" each month of redness, sometimes mild itching of the vulvar skin. A fissure recurs in the natural skin folds next to my clitoral area. Upon examination at the Gyn numerous times, my cervix has what she calls "erythmetous patches", as does my vaginal walls, and redness at the vaginal opening. I have also had fissures on the perineum.
Wet mount on more than one occassion has shown "elevated" white cells. In months past, this discharge has been quite profuse and thick.
My RE suggested that I take 4Life Transfer Factor, a natural supplement created from bovine collostrum and egg yolks that is meant to boost your own immune response. Since starting this regimen in mid-March of this year, my symptoms have dramatically been reduced, but not cured. I get less itching and the recurring fissure this month was more superficial and not as bothersome. The discharge I've come accustomed to over the past 10 months has improved as well.
The dermatologist said he does not think that I have Lichen Sclerosis. He said the biopsy is a great idea, but he believes that this is all related to Herpes type 1. He said even though I am negative for Herpes type 2, Herpes type 1 can cause genital symptoms at times, including fissures etc.
He recommended that I take Valtrex for a few months and see if my problems go away. He said I could then stop the meds to see if the problems return.
Any ideas on this? I almost hope that the biopsy reveals nothing, because I honestly would rather deal with Herpes -1 than Lichen Sclerosis! Would a biopsy reveal shedding Herpes-1 in the skin cells? Thanks for reading.