I posted this on askdocs but got no response so posting here instead.
24F Chronic vulval itching & irritation for over a year
24F 75kg 165cm UK-based (so NHS). Propranolol PRN for anxiety but prescribed long after this issue started. Vagisil (OTC) applied 2-4 times a day on advice of my GP.
Some potentially relevant history:
- Autistic + anxiety
- I was told by a GP at 15 I had PCOS but unsure whether the diagnosis was ever official. It was following an external ultrasound that appeared clinically normal and bloods that were normal. She said I had PCOS based on irregular periods and acne. I now have excess facial hair and struggle to lose weight, and my periods are a bit more regular but are still.. Weird. Not why I'm posting but might be relevant history?
- Also as a teenager I was diagnosed with an overactive bladder and wet myself and the bed regularly up until I was about 17. I rarely have accidents anymore, I only wet the bed if I've drank a lot of alcohol the night before. Might also be relevant idk.
I didn't tell the doctor about the above (he didn't ask) and I've moved around a lot and NHS trusts don't communicate, so it's unlikely he has my full medical history.
The actual thing I'm posting about is as follows:
I have had chronic vulval itching and irritation for over a year. I first went to my GP in August following noticing blood after wiping. The blood was not coming from my vagina and it looked like cuts were bleeding. Since then I've noticed occasional vulva fissures chronic itching etc. It is improved by vagisil but it comes back when I discontinue use.
My GP took STI swabs, yeast infection swabs and BV swabs. All negative. Prior to GP visit I also took at home yeast infection and BV swabs which were negative too. GP didn't know what it was but on exam she said it didn't look like thrush etc. Advised me to use vagisil and sought advice from a gynaecologist who advised referral to gynaecology.
I got referred to gynaecology and had my initial appointment in February, but couldn't be examined due to being on my period at my appointment. Had my followup appointment last week where I was examined. I honestly left the appointment with more questions than answers.
The Dr examined me (with chaperone present), didn't really explain what he was doing or what was going on. He took a swab with a red or orange? label. He said it looks like thrush and was taking a swab to test for it. He was going to prescribe me thrush medication but after I questioned whether he knew for sure it was thrush he decided we would wait until the test comes back. He also referred me to an ultrasound. I didn't get a chance to ask why because it felt like he was rushing me out of there after I questioned about the yeast infection. I wanted to know why he thought it was thrush when I'd already had multiple negative tests, he told me the tests can be wrong but he didn't really answer what he saw based on the examination. It was over within 10-15 minutes.
I have done some research and read that sometimes tests can't pick up all kinds of yeast infections. But I'm unclear why he's referred me for an ultrasound. I also wanted to ask him what was the next steps if the test was negative? I went into the appointment thinking it might be vulval eczema and left feeling awful and confused.