The diagnosis
A woman has been complaining about pain during sex and itching for months – in the end a simple ointment helps
There is something wrong with the patient’s genital area; she has been feeling her vulva changing for months. However, tests for sexually transmitted diseases come back negative – there is something else behind it.
This text first appeared in March 2023.
A while ago, a woman in her mid-thirties came into my gynecology practice and said, “Can you take a look? Everything feels so tight.” At the first appointment a few months earlier, she had complained of itching. Even then, her vulva was rather pale and dry for a young woman. A swab showed a bacterial infection, which I treated with antibiotics.
When she came back, she was desperate and told me her story: For months she had felt that her vagina was changing. Recently she could hardly use her menstrual cup during her period. She had suffered from numerous fungal infections over the past five years; they had been treated with vaginal tablets and creams. She also had several genital herpes infections with blisters at the entrance to the vagina and a painful burning sensation – antiviral tablets worked every time, but the itching remained. A test for common sexually transmitted diseases revealed no further information. The woman felt poorly, also because intercourse became increasingly painful and she bled afterwards.
Published in star 12/2023
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
