I was 36 years old, when I was told I was already post menopausal. It all started when I was 42 years old. I had thought I had a UTI, very painful, but the problem was I had never had one in all my life. I had a urine test and was told I had blood in the urine. The doctor placed me on an anit-biotic. But when the pain did not resolve I made aa appointment with my GYN. It was during the exam, the doctor had a mirror and asked me to look into the mirror that he had placed near the Uretha area, I was in shock when I saw that the area was chroniclly inflammed. Then the real shock came from what the doctor told me. He told me what he tought, Lichen Planus/Sclorosis and that this is seen only in women in their later years, nursing home age. I was only 42 years old. A biopsy was performed and verified. I have been to John Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, jsut to name a few places. After 10 years I was refered to a doctor in Cincinati, Ohio. The damage was so bad. The Uretra had been pulled down less the 1/2 centermeter from the Vaginal area with the Vaginal area just close to completely closed. The skin area was so badly damaged from the disease. I have tried and tried to find out about this, but always just failed to find what was happening to me. Its been now 11 years and I am just now learning how to cope with it. Feeling I was not a complete women was the hardest thing to except. That from the outside I looked fine however, what ones could not see that my body was doing things that was so very, very uncommon. I have it also in the mouth and know I believe its in the nasal area.