Sex and Lichen Sclerosus – Finding Pleasure Again
Sexual health is deeply personal. It’s about more than just physical function — it’s about connection, confidence, identity, and pleasure. When Lichen Sclerosus enters the picture, it can impact every one of those areas. Pain, fear, changes in appearance, and lack of information can lead to avoidance and emotional distress.
But here’s what I want you to know: pleasure is still possible. You are still deserving of intimacy — with yourself and with others. Healing your sexual self after LS is not about returning to how things used to be. It’s about discovering new ways to connect, to feel, and to be present in your body again.
The Most Common Challenges
People with LS often face:
- Pain or tearing during sex
- Loss of sensitivity or desire
- Fear of triggering a flare-up
- Embarrassment or shame about appearance
- A feeling of disconnect from their sexual identity
These experiences are normal. They are not a reflection of your worth or your ability to experience intimacy. They are simply challenges to be met with care.
Redefining What Sex Means
We are often taught that sex means penetration — and that anything else is foreplay. But true intimacy can look like:
- Touch, cuddling, skin-to-skin closeness
- Kissing, massage, mutual exploration
- Clitoral stimulation, sensual talk, shared fantasy
Redefining sex takes the pressure off performance and opens the door to new kinds of pleasure.
Preparing for Intimacy
If you’re nervous about becoming sexually active again — whether alone or with a partner — these steps can help:
- Get to know your body again
Use a mirror. Touch gently. Explore what feels good and what doesn’t. Reconnect without pressure. - Use lubrication
Fragrance-free, water-based lubricants or vaginal moisturisers can reduce friction and increase comfort. Don’t be afraid to use them liberally. - Time it right
Avoid intimacy during flare-ups. Wait until your skin feels calm, and you feel mentally ready. - Communicate openly
Tell your partner what you need — whether that’s slowness, pauses, or non-penetrative options. Let them know this is a journey you’d like to take together. - Explore at your own pace
There is no rush. Let intimacy evolve naturally. Consent, trust, and comfort come first.
When to Get Extra Support
If you’re still struggling, you might benefit from:
- Seeing a psychosexual therapist
- Talking to your LS specialist about regenerative treatments like the O Shot® or Morpheus8V
- Exploring pelvic floor therapy if you experience tension or vaginismus
You Are Still Deserving of Pleasure
LS may have changed your relationship with sex, but it does not erase your right to feel desired, touched, loved — or to experience pleasure again.
Healing your sexual self is an act of courage. You are not broken. You are simply learning to relate to your body in a new, gentler way.
In the next chapter, we’ll address another intimate topic: how to navigate your menstrual cycle with LS and stay comfortable through each phase.
Chapter 22: Periods, Pads and Pain – Managing Menstruation with LS
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Dr. Shirin is a fully-trained and highly-experienced aesthetic physician, who works diligently to ensure a 5 star quality service, and brings an honest and ethical approach to every one of our clients. With over 20 years of experience in the medical field, including several years as a GP and a sub-speciality in anaesthetics, Dr. Shirin is fascinated by the harmony between medicine and aesthetics, and with her expertise, Elite Aesthetics is able to offer effective, doctor-led treatments to vastly improve the lives of our clients.
To find out more about how we’ve put a smile on customers faces in the past, read our testimonials below for first-hand accounts of a variety of our treatments. You can also find out more about what we think at Elite on our blog, as well as reading more about what the press says about us. Our delighted clients hail from areas including Greenhithe, Dartford, Gravesend, Bromley, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and West Malling – as well as from further afield.
Had a consultation with Elite yesterday, I must say I was a bit nervous, but Dr Shirin was so friendly and helpful.
I was given lots of advice and was given treatment options that were within my budget.
A few weeks after the P Shot I've really started to see a difference and have gained my confidence back.
Thank You!
Elite is an outstanding professional clinic with high standard treatments. All the staff members are friendly and offer you honest opinions when it comes to products and treatments. This is a welcoming clinic that I can 100% recommend. Treatments are spoken through and explained in detail, also aftercare. I have been going nearly a year now and am happy with all the treatments I’ve had, wouldn't go anywhere else. The Bocox treatment started to work within a few days, which I was surprised about. So glad I went to Elite for treatment.
Thank you Dr Shirin, the O Shot has really helped me with my Lichen Sclerosus. I'd heard about the treatment on the LS Facebook Groups and message a few people that had treatment with Dr Shirin. I was like many in the group who had run out of treatment options and using creams on a daily basis. I have to say a few months after treatment, I can see a real positive change and I'm hoping my LS will continue to improve. Dr Shirin did say that I might have to have a second treatment given how severe my case is.
A great discovery in the neighbourhood ! There is no need to go up to London for a beauty treatment of any kind. You'll find a whole range of different treatments suiting all age groups and concerns. Welcoming, reassuring, friendly, professional, high tech. I shall be back for more. I love the results of the Thread Lift I had.
Great service as always, skin is glowing very happy
Very happy with the result of my recent visit. For sure will continue with Elite in future
I have been very happy with the care and attention you have received from Dr Shirin.. I would definitely recommend Elite to my family and friends.
Dr Shirins professional approach fills you with confidence. The clinic is modern and efficiently run. They certainly do their utmost to help and advise their clients. I am 100% satisfied that I made the right decision in choosing Elite Aesthetics !
thank you again for my follow up appointment to make sure i was ok and there was no life changing affects from the mess I had done else where how a midwife and beautician can inject and leave customers the way they did is unreal the mess my lips where in and the amount of lumps left was so bad and although there still not perfect Dr shirin managed to massage a lot of the lumps out so not only has she done my previous practitioners job with that but she also cares about the wellbeing of her customers I just wish I had got to Dr shirin to start with con not thank her enough
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Accreditations
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We have extensive knowledge and experience in the medical and aesthetics industries, but we know that above all, the results matter! All of our treatments are vigorously tested in-house before we offer them to our clients to ensure they are safe, effective and will give you, our wonderful clients, the results you want. Your happiness, well-being and satisfaction are at the very core of everything we do here at Elite Aesthetics, and as a result we will never over-treat or carry out a procedure that Dr. Shirin, deems inappropriate or unsafe. Ethical treatment guides our practice, and we aim to become an industry leader in this respect. This means you can always feel confident that you are in safe hands when you choose Elite Aesthetics.
Our practice is led by our founder, Dr. Shirin Lakhani, who is an advocate for greater regulation in the aesthetics industry. Dr. Shirin and Elite Aesthetics believe greater regulation is vital to the development of aesthetics industry as a whole, and as such, our clinic’s philosophy is based on providing doctor-led care to the highest, medically approved standards. We adhere to stringent ethical and medical principles ensuring all the procedures we offer are safe and effective. Dr. Shirin is also fully registered with the GMC (reference number 4634863), and Elite Aesthetics is CQC (Care Quality Commission) Registered, an endorsement recognised by the UK Government, The Department of Health and NHS England.
Elite Aesthetics has been awarded PDO Thread Lift Certification by MINT Threads.
