vulvar anatomy Archives

Kintsugi: How I Learned to Love my Vulva Again

Jul

Kintsugi: How I Learned to Love my Vulva Again

Introduction Lichen sclerosus can cause architectural changes. I explain what this means in detail here, but briefly, architectural changes are changes that occur to the vulva that physically change the way it looks. For example, some folks lose some or all of their labia minora. These changes can cause a lot of distress. You may feel like part of your identity has been removed. You may feel less 'feminine' than you did before the changes. Some folks (myself included) feel broken because of how our vulvas look. If this resonates with you, you are not alone. In today's post, we are stepping away from evidence-based information and science to have a heartfelt post about architectural changes and a beautiful philosophy and art - Kintsugi - that helped me move from feeling broken and ugly to feeling beautiful and worthy. I hope it creates a healing and transformative shift in you, as it did…

Vulva Awareness and Appreciation with Jaclyn & Penny

Apr

By Jaclyn Lanthier

Jaclyn Video, Videos

Vulva Awareness and Appreciation with Jaclyn & Penny

National Vulva Awareness Day 2023 Why do we Have an Event for Vulvar Awareness and Appreciation Did you know 8 out of 10 folks with vulvas do not know all the names of their anatomy or what part does what? Yes, we have a major lack of vulvar awareness out there. Vulvar health is in trouble because of stigma and lack of awareness and education, and we want to turn that around! April 21st is National Vulva Awareness Day! National Vulva Awareness Day was created in 2022 by our dear friends and allies to the lichen sclerosus community, SweetSpot Labs, to bring awareness to a part of the body that is often overlooked and to break the stigma around the vulva. This year, we at Lichen Sclerosus Support Network wanted to hold an event on this special day to raise awareness and cultivate some vulva appreciation and love. Introduction In…

How I Successfully Overcame the Fear of Performing My Vulva Check

Mar

By Kathy

Kathy Blog

How I Successfully Overcame the Fear of Performing My Vulva Check

Whether or not you have Lichen Sclerosus, checking your vulva on a regular basis is an important part of your health. Anyone with a vulva should do a self-exam once a month, just like everyone with breasts should do a monthly breast self-exam. Because vulva checks aren’t talked about much, it may seem weird to do one. And, if you have Lichen Sclerosus, you may be nervous about the kind of changes you may see. Know that with the right education and practice, it can become a routine part of your health that you’ll get more comfortable with. In this blog, I’ll share with you my first experience doing a vulva check and how you can do one on your own. Plus, I’ll connect you to some helpful LSSN resources to make your experience easier. Preparing for My First Vulva Check When I was first diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus, I…

The Clitoris & Lichen Sclerosus: What You Need To Know

Feb

By Jaclyn Lanthier

Jaclyn Blog

The Clitoris & Lichen Sclerosus: What You Need To Know

Introduction My last blog post looked at architectural changes and lichen sclerosus. This week, we dive even deeper into this topic. Specifically, I am discussing the clitoris, clitoral health, and what you can do if you have any of these clitoral problems as a component of your LS. If you missed last week’s post, you will want to go back and read that first as this post builds on that foundation. This post is evidence-based; I draw on the medical literature to share what you need to know about clitoral health and lichen sclerosus. I will be sharing my personal journey later in the year. Quick Recap on Architectural Changes LS typically does not affect the vagina. Instead, it affects the skin of the vulva. All those parts that make up your vulva are a part of your anatomy, and that is what is meant by architecture. So what about…

She Reversed Severe Clitoral Adhesions Without Surgery

Feb

By Kathy

Kathy Blog

She Reversed Severe Clitoral Adhesions Without Surgery

In this blog, I’ll share information about clitoral fusing and introduce you to a fantastic woman. This warrior was able to reverse her severe clitoral adhesions without a medical procedure. And she did it within a few months. One of the most common questions I get when people are first diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus is: What will this do to my body? The next question is: Can I do anything about it? Unfortunately, having Lichen Sclerosus (LS) puts you at risk for vulvar changes, including fusing/scarring. But here’s the good news: Surgery isn’t the only option for treatment. Of course, everyone’s LS journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. But knowing all of your options can help you decide what’s best for you and give you conservative measures to try before opting for surgery. Let’s learn a little more about clitoral fusing/scarring. What…

Architectural Changes & Lichen Sclerosus

Feb

By Jaclyn Lanthier

Jaclyn Blog

Architectural Changes & Lichen Sclerosus

Introduction When I say architecture, what comes to mind? Many of us conjure up images of gothic cathedrals, the Doric or Ionic columns from Archaic and Classical Greek architecture, or perhaps a building you often pass by on your walks. Suffice it to say, you probably think about some building or other. What probably doesn’t pop into your mind is a vulva. Yet, when you begin to engage with the lichen sclerosus community and the LS literature, you may often hear folks referring to something called ‘architectural changes’. What on earth are architectural changes and what does that have to do with lichen sclerosus? Great questions! I am here to help answer them. It can be really overwhelming in the beginning to wrap your head around all of the medical jargon and terms out there, which is why I like to break down what each term means so you can be more…