[Mrs King]

Ladies, I hope you will be able to offer me some timely advice on an extremely embarrassing problem that I have had since way back when but which has got progressively worse in the past few years to the point that I rarely leave my home anymore.

I have burning, unbearable vaginal itch that I simply cannot relieve, no matter how much I poke around and scratch. I frequently draw blood as a result of these frequent ‘scratching sessions’ and am worried that I am causing serious damage down there.

I’m a retired lady of a certain age but still enjoyed an active social lift until recently but I have lost all interest in socializing and have become profoundly depressed and isolated because of my embarrassing problem. And even if I was not depressed, leaving my home would be utterly pointless anyway as I would end up spending all my time in some disgusting toilet having a good scratch. I can do that in the comfort of my own home thank you very much.

Outside of being driven to almost complete insanity because of the itch that just won’t go away, I also can’t talk to my girlfriends about my problem. Let’s see, how can I put this – they are all po-faced, country club types, the type of older, prudish woman who never misses a meeting of her local Republican Women of America chapter. They just wouldn’t understand and neither would my husband. I’m all alone with nowhere to turn, just me and my itchy vagina. Please help!!

Mrs V King, Plains, Georgia.

[Claret]

If you have eliminated all the "normal" possibilities, yeast infections, STI's etc. then I urge you to check out the Lichen Sclerosis web-site for information on this afliction. It is thought to be tied in to an auto-immune problem in the same way as Lupus, arthritis etc. by attacking your own body. It manifests itself as extreme itching, a white figure 8 pattern surrounding the vulva and the anus. The skin will itch, and because of the thinning will very often break, bleed and scar over. This scar tissue eventually can create a multitude of problem. Please take a mirror and check yourself for blood blisters, and especially for the white manifestations. The web-site in the US appears to be one of the more comprehensive sites and offers some really good information and helpful hints.

[Mrs King]

Thank you for your reply Claret. I’m covered in blood filled blisters so you might be on to something there.

I can also assure you, dear, that my chronic itching is most certainly not due to any funny business that would cause a STI. I’m a 66 year old righteous christian lady and have only ever had relations with one man – my husband. Also, whatever about loose morals in other parts of the country, here in the Deep South we don’t “do” STI’s.

[Claret]

Well, I'm almost your age and I can assure you that STI's can be contracted by almost everybody and that loose morals don't set the standard. HPV, UTI's and STI's can happen at any age and trust me there are lots of STI's in the Deep South, it's not immune.

But the main point is, Lichen Sclerosis can be debillitating and humiliating, it can hurt and it can demoralize a person. There are treatments that can lessen the itch, scratch cycle. The tests can/may include a punch biopsy unless it's to the point where the Doctor can make a visual determination. Good luck.

[Mrs King]

Thank you dear.

It's just that us southern belles are a little touchy when it comes to sex and don't like to talk about it under any circumstances.

Mrs King