Vulval punch biopsy

My GF has had what we believed to be persistent yeasties. Her GYN does not believe it was that as last time he slipped her a steroidal cream to use without explaining and it worked whereas the anti fungals didn't.

So. The concern is Lichen Sclerosis. Very early stages as there're no visible signs - just the itching. He considers it's more likely dermatitis but given the seriousness of the disease he wants to rule it out with a biopsy - so she's going in on Tuesday for a punch biopsy. Ouch. I'll go with her for moral support.

If it is, it's way early enough so treatment stands every chance to be very effective. If not at least we may have a better idea what it is.

I've a feeling it is. She's got minor thyroid problems and they do correlate. Sigh. Poor kid.

Please take my best wishes with you when you go for the appointment on Tuesday. I've performed a few punch biopsies, but not had one. Ouch is right!

I've not been on the receiving end of a dermal punch, but I have used them a few time to do piercing through cartilage. Yah, you betcha, a big ouchie, eh! It could be much worse, though imagine having a divot dug out of you with a scalpel like a zit doctor did to me once. (He may have claimed he was a dermatologist; he was a zit doctor.)

Speed

I'd like a description of a punch biopsy or better yet a video. Any help?

There are tons of videos available on YouTube, just type in dermal punch biopsy and they'll come up. There's a good one from UC Davis and another one of a punch biopsy on a dog named Moxie. The one about Moxie should be titled "Moxie has good drugs on board" because the dog is thoroughly out of it. Torbugesic is a wonderful thing!

They describe punch biopsy as a cookie-cutter core sample, and that's an apt description of the process. The goal is to retrieve a full-thickness sample of skin for pathological examination. Done with local anesthesia, it,s a relatively simple, low risk procedure that takes about 10 minutes and is usually an office procedure.

Which, BTW came back negative. The local hurt, the biopsy process didn't but when the Lidocain wore off..oye! She had a sore couple of days.

Oh, that is most excellent news! Glad to hear it.

I wish her a quick recovery!