About 1 in 1,000 women suffer from this chronic disease, which affects the clitoris, labia minora and vaginal opening.

Patients often worry that vulvar lichen sclerosus is contagious. However, the condition is neither contagious nor can it be sexually transmitted.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus can have a major impact on a woman’s sex life, as it often causes pain during vaginal penetration and an overall reduction in sexual satisfaction. Some women who choose to undergo treatment for this condition have difficulty reaching orgasm, while others no longer feel any sexual desire and may, as a result, choose to avoid sexual intercourse altogether.

Vulvar lichen sclerosus can also impact a woman’s psychological well-being. Many women may turn to physiotherapists, psychologists or therapists for treatment. Some women face an additional challenge if their partners abstain from intimacy with them due to the external symptoms of the condition. These may include gradual changes to the skin of the vulva, the appearance of spots of various colours and the receding of the labia minora.

Nevertheless, it’s entirely possible for women with vulvar lichen sclerosus to have healthy, fulfilling sex lives. However, they must gain control over the disease by integrating various drug and medical treatments into their lives.