I was told at age 19 that I had Lichen Sclerosis. I was referred to the local GUM clinic by my stupid GP. I had never had sex and it was the worst place she could have sent me
![Sad :(](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/sad.gif)
My symptoms were pain and a build up of what I can only describe as White Stuff which, when I squeezed the area around my clit, would seep out. The pain would then subside.
The "doctor" at the GUM clinic thought at first I had some kind of genital warts (!!) and tried to freeze them off. The pain was excrutiating. I had to be held down by an assistant despite the fact that apparently I had been given twice the normal dose of anaesthetic.
I was then given this explanation of LS, sent away with steroid cream and told to come back if it got any worse. Well then what happened was that my inner labia disappeared! They fused with the outer labia. I used the cream very sparingly as I hated going to the GUM clinic so much. I would go for years eeking out my tube of steroid cream.
After I had my kids I moved to another area and attended a different GUM clinic. I went in a panic as I had read in a women's magazine that LS could lead to cancer. I had never been warned of this and I was really angry. The doctor there was patronizing and acted as if it was up to them, not me, what I knew about my own body. This was back in the 80s. He mustve felt guilty though as he later rang me and asked if I could attend the clinic on a day when the dermatologist was in attendance. Unfortunately I couldnt as we were in the process of moving house again.
I arrived at new GP and told her all about my LS and she referred me to local dermatologist who suggested that I didnt need the steroid cream, just to continue with aqueous cream and used Diprobase as a moisturiser. I have now been doing this for 18 years and it has worked fine although I do still have the original problem of the White Stuff. This stuff builds up underneath the hood of the clitoris and causes pressure and pain. I find the best thing is to have hot baths every day and massage the area so I dont get a build up of it. I found this via the web and my new partner who basically diagnosed me. After that I got referral to gynae who said she didnt think I had LS.
So all those years of ghastly attendance at the GUM clinic were for nothing. I was angry about this for a while and then I thought well there are so many things that are much worse for some people I need to put it behind me and move on.
SO, I have had no inner lips since age 20. I had no idea that this would happen to others upon reaching the meno, I feel almost normal now
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Thanks for letting me vent about this. I never talk about it to friends. Only my ex husband and my current partner know the story.
Ellie