Has anyone had a biopsy?

Hello,

I am new to this website and thankful that I have found it. I am 26 and been suffering with vulvar pain for a year and a half how. I gave tried several things and spent a fortune in lotions and potions and pills to try. I am on amatrictilyine at the minute and some days I don't really feel it. However after sex, exercise or any stress at work then it is very painful and lasts about a week. Without the tablets I am in pain all the time. My dermatologist now thinks we should biopsy the area and investigate. It is on my left labia and i am a bit concerned as what I have read about it sounds very painful. I wondered if anyone else had a biopsy done? My pain is in a small specific area sp hoping they will be successful in removing some of the damaged tissue.

Thanks x

Hiya. I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering but I'm glad you have found this forum. I've had 5 biopsys taken. 4 around the outside of my vagina, 2 either side of the clit, and then another 2 lower down and then one inside.
They numb the area and I actually found relief for a small while whilst I had the anaesthetic down in that area. My biopsy found irritation, and imflamation. But they were actually testing for vulvar cancer!

I hope your biopsy goes well it's nothing to fear!

Hi,

My gynae also told me that if my condition does not show improvement (via natural recovery) in a month's time he will do a biopsy. So I'm also wondering what the biopsy is for, because I seriously do not think that my pain is associated with cancer (it is probably triggered by something!). I am really scared that the operation will make my vulvar more inflamed/worse.

HElP! how did your vulvar pain start?
I have pain on my labia too, especially the deepest fold that connects with vestibule. I am confused because I have pain on my vulvar too, but all these are only provoked with pressure and friction. Does this sound like vulvodynia or what?

Yeah it sounds like vulvodynia. I had the exact same pain your describing, I had the surgery in January and I no longer experience any pain really. I still get the odd sensation off burning but nothing major! I had half off my labia removed because I had pain in the fold as well, my vagina appearance does look different but I'd say it looks better in all honesty.

My pain started 3 years ago in July, and having the operation was the best thing I'd ever done. My daily life is so much better since.
I think the trigger for me was rough sex, my parents were away on holiday and my
Boyfriend was staying with me whilst they were away, we had sex A LOT and over the week it got unbearable! I thought I had thrush but it just got so much worse and the doctors wasn't exactly helpful. Where are you from?

They test you for everything when having a biopsy, because vulva cancer causes painful intercourse and more symptoms like vulvodynia but my skin around the vestibule changed colour so that's why I had mine tested.

I'm glad that the operation worked for you! It's hard to have a normal life like everyone else with this pain down there

For your case did the Drs identify a cause to your symptoms? I mean rough sex might have damaged your vulvar tissues, so does that mean the nerves are irritated?
I really don't like that they just label this condition with something "dynia", I believe there is a cause to all the pain we are experiencing and I think identifying the cause is key to effective treatments. I am living in Australia atm but am not a citizen so doesn't have medicare. It's so expensive & troublesome to see a specialist here (I need referral from all the incompetent GPs who think they know what they are doing but are just slowing down the process of me being diagnosed)!

I remember telling the gynae how I think the tissue skill looked red after the potent steroid ointment application and he said it looks normal to him (under a high magnifying microscope), not inflamed, not dry. That's why I find it odd that he still wants to do a biopsy. Maybe I'll seek a second opinion from a vulvar specialist instead.

I had biopsy! It wasn't bad experience at all. The biopsy of course showed inflammatory change thus vestibulodynia, which was something i knew from the beginning, but at least it ruled out other diseases.

I am 26 as well. I have been dealing with this for 15 months. My dermatologist just did a biopsy last week and he found that my nerves were inlarged. That is when he gave me the diagnosis. It has been a rough road but I am glad I finally have a name for what I have been going through. My pain is always worse in the evenings after a day of moving around. Sex can make it worse. The biopsy wasn't as bad as I thought and it did give me information about my case. I was numb for the biopsy. I felt a little pinch for the numbing and that was it. I was uncomfortable for about a day and a half after the numbing wore off. But could start having sex about two days later. So it didn't really interfere with my day to day.