Vaginal and anal tearing/fissures

[arrowsmom]

For the last 6 months I have been getting tearing (look like paper cuts) in my vaginal area (1/4 to 1/2 inch long). I get the tears at least once or twice a week and they last from 2-4 days, go away for a few days and then come back. They continue to occur in the same locations;
1. Inside the vaginal lips on the sides almost always in the crease (between the labia minora and majora?)
2. Between the anus and vaginal opening (perineum)
3. Above the clitoris in the "hood" area.

This tearing is not related to intercourse since my husband and I are unable to do that due to the pain it causes me.  There is no real pain otherwise. I am getting some minor bleeding when I poop due to the tears in the anal area. The entire vaginal area is very itchy and if I scratch or rub the skin at all I often give myself one of these tears.  It seems as if the skin is very thin. There are no other symptoms that I am aware of.

I have had blood work and a biopsy done. Some of the things that I was tested for were; genital herpes, lichen sclerosus, lichen simplex chronicus, lichen planus, vulvar vestibulitis.  All results came back negative. The biopsy tested positive for "healing ulcers". My doctor does not seem to know what the problem is and is contacting a specialist in Lebanon, NH.

My Dr. prescribed an estrogen cream which did not seem to work. I have not been on any other medication for this. I am looking for some guidance as to what this condition may be and how to treat it. My husband & I want to get pregnant soon but I would like to resolve this issue first. Please help.

[mrsrojo]

This is it (subacute atopic dermatitis) FINALLY described for the first time this month. Here is the link    http://www.acep.org/MobileArticle.aspx?parentfeedid=5&feed_id=imn040820111457434233&parentid=742
Best of luck to all you ladies who suffer with this horrible ailment!

[braziliangirl123]

I am 13 years old and I have never had sex or any intimacy down below. Last night it felt like I was tearing but I wasn't sure. So I ggov a mirror and looked. My inner labia on the left side has a cut that looks like someone tried to pierce me with a gage. 20% of the left labia is hugely swollen and red. It is also giving me extreme pain and it throbs.
        I opened my inner labia even more any found a similar cut again. I am currently very sick and always thirsty.  My mother is in the hospital and my father is home. What am I supposed to do? I don't want to go up to my father and ask him to take me to the hospital because I have cuts down there.... please help me.

[sweetie0183]

I seem to be having the same issue.  I went to two different doctors and they both told me that there was nothing wrong with me down there.  I noticed it started right after i started taking birth control.  I thought i had a yeast infection so i went and got monistat over the counter.  That cleared it up but the soreness was still there. So i went back to the doctor and she gave me a dose of diflucan.  So i went to the second doctor and they said i was fine as well and said i just looked a bit swollen and ran a yeast infection test and that came up clear.  I just really wish this would go away! it puts a damper on my sex life because it is so painful.  There is no bleeding or itching but it does sometimes hurt to pee!

[gillbill]

PLEASE GO TO THE DOCTOR if it is at all persistent or re-occuring.... You have to interrupt the cycle. Do not wait for insurance! It may cost $100 you ARE worth it. Prioritize yourself! AND NOW!

Demand your Dr. to try what my Dr. finally tried. (and later apologized for no being more aggressive the first times...)

My Dr. prescribed a "Z-pack" Which is Zithromax 250MG/Generic=Azithromycin=4 pills. He prescribed Flagyl 500MG=Metronidazole=14 pills. He prescribed Clobetasol .05% cream=a topical steroid, which I was going to use if I needed it after the antibiotics, but I didn't (maybe I used it for 2-3 days) - I was worried about the steroid, b/c of the fact that it thins the skin and it seemed counter - production intuitively to me). Anyhow the Antibiotics worked great! My body was able to heal itself after the Antibiotic Napalm Bomb. Now I can eat healthier and what ever else I want to try with the problem solved!

I am still totally fine and most people who really have a solution don't return to a site like this to leave specific drugs and detail to the persistent problem they are finally rid of... I worry about people fearing something terrible and not going to dr. or trying everything under-the sun over the counter and irritating the problem... I am 100% better and "normal" as I ever was...

AND IF I had read that message (to go to dr.) earlier, instead of all of the posts that listed some or no success I could've possibly been free of this years ago. AND if it comes back I will go immediately back and demand the exact prescription I listed on my previous posting....

January 19, 2011

I wish you all luck in getting your issue taken care of.

Thank to everyone for all of your posts!

[dm813]

Hi everyone, I have had the same problem for 2-3 years now. I am 22 and have lived with my fiance for 3years. I have never been on any birth control. Around the time it started I had been on many anti-biotics for a couple of years as I suffered from many UTIs and kidney infections. I have not had a UTI or kidney infection in over 2yrs. When I first got a tear it was just one on the outside under vaginal opening, it was like a papercut and stings bad when i pee. I first started to put savlon on it then I had my first smear test and while there I asked the nurse advice about it and she said that I should never use savlon in that area and the ONLY way for it to heal is a hot bath with no soap. I believed her and have suffered since. I get them constantly, When one heals another one starts and always comes back in the same place prob 3 or 4 at the most. I have went months without sex and it just doesnt make a difference. I am just so frustrated and upset by this. I have it just now and it does get itchy but I try not to scratch it but sometimes wake up during the night with it. Can anyone tell me what my next step should be? I would be so grateful. We shouldn't have to deal with this!!
Thanks! Debs

[elizabetta93]

I wish I could have found this forum and read what you wrote about vulvodynia many years ago.  My mother was diagnosed with vulvodynia and suffered with it from age 40 until she died at age 84.  We were never able to get any decent answers for her and nothing that any doctor suggested helped her.  She had many doctors, treatments, scans, and several unnecessary operations over those years.  She had no quality of life for the last 8 years of her life and lived on painkillers...which often didn't help either.  If I had read your post maybe we could have helped her.  It really saddens me.  Glad you shared your story though and glad to hear you have found a solution.  Elizabetta 93