At the Austin Love Doctor™, we are passionate about helping our patients realize their healthiest sexual selves.With our treatments for loss of libido, painful intercourse, erectile dysfunction, difficulty achieving orgasm, and more, we help countless men and women from Austin and beyond address their sexual concerns to have better sex and more satisfying intimate relationships.
If you suffer from lichen sclerosus, an uncommon but uncomfortable and even painful genital inflammatory skin condition, you may feel frustrated with your body, isolated from your partner, and unheard by your primary care physician.
Our compassionate and experienced physician, Dr. Emily Porter, specializes in treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin with a procedure called the O-Shot® as well as Profractional Laser. Keep reading to learn more about these revolutionary procedures and other treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin.
What is lichen sclerosus?
Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that commonly presents in a woman’s vulva, perineal area (between vagina and anus), and peri-anal area (around anus). While it can happen to any woman at any age, it is most commonly experienced just before puberty or after menopause.
It is unclear exactly what causes lichen sclerosus, though it could be due to an overactive immune system or unbalanced hormones, explaining the relationship with diagnosis near times of hormone fluctuation.
Note: When lichen sclerosus presents in men it is called balantis xerotica obliterans (BXO). We offer treatments for this condition as well!
The condition causes physical changes to the skin in the genital and anal regions, creating white patches that appear shiny and thinner than normal. Women who suffer from lichen sclerosus may experience:
- Painful intercourse
- Redness
- Itching
- Discomfort or pain
- Tearing or bleeding
- Blisters or ulcerated sores (in extreme cases)
- Scarring that causes problems with urination, defecation, and intercourse
- Fusion of the skin around the clitoris (clitoral phimosis) or vulva that seem to be stuck together
What treatments are available for lichen sclerosus in Austin?
At Austin Love Doctor, we know that no two patients are the same, and neither are their treatments for lichen sclerosus.
We provide in-depth consultations and thorough physical examinations from our board-certified physicians to accurately diagnose the condition and create a customized treatment plan.
To adequately treat the symptoms of lichen sclerosus, we find that a combination of bioidentical hormone therapy, diVa® laser vaginal therapy or Profractional laser, and the O-Shot is most effective in helping our patients find relief.
Learn more about natural hormone therapy
How does the O-Shot® work to treat lichen sclerosus in Austin?
You may have heard about people receiving injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to heal meniscus tears or regenerate hair follicles, but this growth factor-rich substance has plenty of sexual benefits as well!
The O-Shot is a revolutionary treatment that harnesses the power of your body’s own natural healing abilities to rejuvenate the vagina and clitoris from the inside out.
This injection procedure works to treat lichen sclerosus in Austin by regenerating the damaged tissue – encouraging healthy, lichen sclerosus-free skin cells to thrive in the genital region. Results can last up to several years with patients in full remission during that time.
Does the O-Shot help with other intimate concerns?
The O-Shot is an amazing all-around treatment option for both pre-and postmenopausal women. Along with being an integral part of our treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin, it also helps women recharge their O-spot and lead more satisfying sex lives.
In addition to treating the symptoms of lichen sclerosus, our patients who receive the O-Shot report noticing significant improvement in:
- Vaginal & clitoral sensitivity
- Natural lubrication
- Frequency & intensity of orgasms
- Stress urinary incontinence symptoms
Who is a good candidate for the O-Shot?
Generally, healthy adult women who want to treat the symptoms of lichen sclerosus or stress urinary incontinence, achieve more & better orgasms, or suffer from vaginal dryness are considered ideal candidates for the O-Shot. Women who are survivors of breast and other cancers in which estrogen replacement is contraindicated fare especially well with this treatment, both in clinical studies and real life.
However, if you are currently pregnant or are planning to get pregnant, it is best to wait until you have completely recovered from childbirth before having an O-Shot.
While the O-Shot is not designed to enhance libido, that is often the effect. If you suffer with a loss of interest in sex, we can also help with our natural hormone therapy options.
What can I expect when I come to Austin Love Doctor™ for this treatment for lichen sclerosus in Austin?
After your consultation and examination with our physicians, we will make a recommendation of the best treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin for you.
We typically recommend most patients have a series of O-Shots to maximize the results. This procedure takes about 30 minutes in our Austin office. Here’s what you can expect when you come for your O-Shot:
Blood Draw
We first gently draw a small amount of blood from your arm. Using our state-of-the-art centrifuge, we quickly spin the blood to isolate the plateletsーor PRPーfrom the other materials that make up blood.
PRP Activation
Then, we must “activate” your PRP with the appropriate materials to release the all-important growth factors contained in the plasma. These growth factors work to stimulate collagen production, regenerate tissue, and increase blood flow to the area, as well as recruit stem cells to heal the tissue that has been inflamed.
Injection
After we’ve adequately numbed the injection sites with a topical cream, we then use a tiny Botox needle to re-deliver your activated PRP into the anterior vaginal wall (AKA the “G-Spot”) and into the clitoris, as well as any areas in the vulva or perineum that area affected by lichen sclerosus.
Is the O-Shot painful? Do I need to plan for recovery time?
With our numbing cream, use of cold and numbing injections, the average patient reports 0-1 out of 10 on a pain scale, most often as “pressure” or, rarely, a tiny pinch or burn. Many patients say they felt nothing at all. Dr. Porter has performed hundreds of these procedures and trains other physicians from around the country on the O-Shot and other procedures. She is experienced with and has seen lichen sclerosus and is comfortable with its management.
Immediately after your injections, the area may be slightly swollen and extra sensitive, but there are no side effects with the O-Shot that would prevent you from continuing with your daily activities. You may resume sexual activity the same day (and you may very well want to!)
How quickly will my lichen sclerosus clear up?
Certain effects of the O-Shot can be seen right away, like increased sensitivity. However, depending on how quickly your body regenerates tissues, you may not see the full results of your treatments for lichen sclerosus for several weeks or months after your series of injections. We can schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the efficacy of our treatments.
Once new tissues begin to regrow and the skin in the treated area begins to thicken, you will notice significant reduction or total remission of your lichen sclerosus symptoms (not to mention the toe-curling orgasms!).
How long do the results last?
Each patient’s experience with treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin differs. Depending on your age, the extent of your condition, the severity of your symptoms, the length of visible results varies, but can be anywhere from 6 months to several years.
Generally, after an initial series of O-Shots, we recommend that a woman have an annual injection to maintain results and keep the symptoms of lichen sclerosus at bay.
Some patients find that with a combination of regular O-Shots, laser treatments with diVa, and continually balancing their hormones with hormone therapy, their symptoms go into complete remission–and stay there!
Can I hear from someone who received treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin from Dr. Porter?
We’re glad you asked! On her podcast, The Austin Love Doctor: Marriage, Sex, & Intimacy Solutions, Dr. Porter frequently discusses her personal experience with helping patients have better sex lives.
In one episode, she tells listeners about a patient she once helped overcome lichen sclerosus.
And now, story time with the Austin Love Doctor
“I went to do her procedure and did like a proper exam on her, and her clitoris was, like, completely gone. I couldn’t even find it. It wasn’t something I had seen before as a sexual wellness doctor. Thankfully, I had mentors…
I called Dr. Peet and told him what I saw, and he said, ‘That’s lichen sclerosus.’
It’s devastating, because when sex is painful, it’s lonely. Because you have somebody that doesn’t even want to hold their partner’s hand while watching a movie because they don’t want to disappoint them if they can’t reciprocate. Or women can fake an orgasm, and they can fake interest, and they can fake a lot of things, but it’s hard to fake that you’re not in pain and have somebody not perceive that.
We started her on some testosterone cream, estrogen cream, steroid, and I did her diVa. She returned a month later, and we injected platelet rich plasma. I was going to do the O-Shot, but I couldn’t do the clitoral part.
A couple of weeks after the third treatment, she texted me and told me that she’d finally gotten in with her gynecologist, and that there was nothing to biopsy because it had completely gone into remission and the skin had normalized.”
This patient, a woman in the health industry herself, has given Dr. Porter her permission to share her contact information with anyone who may want to hear her testimonial. Contact the office for details.
Listen to the full episode here
Don’t suffer in silence. Come to the Austin Love Doctor for your treatment for lichen sclerosus in Austin today!
Lichen sclerosus can happen to any woman during her life and it is important to know that there are treatment options available.
If you are feeling frustrated or are experiencing pain and discomfort due to lichen sclerosus, we can help with our treatments for lichen sclerosus in Austin.
We will create a treatment plan that works best for your lifestyle and will get you back to enjoying intimacy and sex.
Take our candidacy test or contact us to get started!
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