---
title: "Which menopausal symptoms commonly mimic lichen sclerosus"
description: "Learn which menopausal symptoms mimic lichen sclerosus, including vaginal dryness, itching, burning, and painful sex, and when to seek evaluation."
url: "https://www.myalloy.com/knowledge-base/which-menopausal-symptoms-commonly-mimic-lichen-sclerosus"
---

# Which menopausal symptoms commonly mimic lichen sclerosus

> Learn which menopausal symptoms mimic lichen sclerosus, including vaginal dryness, itching, burning, and painful sex, and when to seek evaluation.

## Which menopausal symptoms commonly mimic lichen sclerosus?

Lichen sclerosus can look a lot like several menopause related changes, which is one reason it often gets missed. Here at Alloy, we see this come up pretty often, especially when someone has persistent vulvar itching that doesn’t fully respond to vaginal estrogen.

Based on what we know from our vaginal itching guide and the experts in the videos above, the menopausal symptoms that most closely mimic lichen sclerosus include vaginal dryness, thinning of the vulvar skin, burning, irritation, painful sex, and itching. All of these come from low estrogen and fall under what’s called genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Dr. Rachel Rubin explains this overlap really nicely in this chapter of her video on lichen sclerosus. It shows how hormonal depletion can look almost identical to early lichen sclerosus and why a good exam matters. You can watch it here: [Differentiating from menopausal symptoms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFqs33WFg7E&t=115s).


[Watch video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFqs33WFg7E&t=115s)

If you want a refresher on how menopause itself can cause itching, dryness, burning, and irritation, our vaginal itching article walks through it in more detail: [Vaginal itching and menopause](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/vaginal-itching-and-menopause).

If you are dealing with symptoms like these, vaginal estrogen from our menopause hormone therapy options can be really helpful. You can read more about the estradiol vaginal cream here: [Estradiol vaginal cream](https://www.myalloy.com/solutions/estradiol-vaginal-cream).


**Estradiol Vaginal Cream**

3-month supply

Effective relief for vaginal dryness, itching, burning and the prevention of frequent UTIs.

[Start Now](https://secure.myalloy.com/experience?categories%5B%5D=vaginal-health%2Csexual-health&sku-ids%5B%5D=b05fc1ea-c11f-4fa7-bb93-0f0494a62cff&skip-category-select=true&type=intake)

---

This answer was created using the following resources:

- [Treating Lichen Sclerosis and Hormonal Changes | Dr. Rachel Rubin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFqs33WFg7E)
- [Your Menopause Questions Answered | Dr. Sharon Malone - Lichen Sclerosus and Estrogen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PRXWN3UbNw)
- [Ask the Expert: Vaginal & Sexual Health in Menopause | Dr. Kelly Casperson - Lichen Sclerosus and Hormones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYO_LMQn49s)
- [Optimizing Vaginal Health Through Menopause | Dr. Rachel Rubin - Lichen Sclerosus & Vulvar Conditions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32G9lNBSvrA)
- [How Menopause Care is Different for Black Women - Unique Menopausal Symptoms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blbufebYi4k)
- [Is This Perimenopause? What You Need To Know | Dr. Corinne Menn - Lichen Sclerosus vs. GSM: Recognizing Persistent Vulvar Itching](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRUrIfaA8_U)
- [Lichen Sclerosis: An Underdiagnosed Condition in Women of Color | Dr. Sameena Rahman - What is Lichen Sclerosus?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2m4PHD4IG0)
- [The Benefits of Estrogen Therapy During Menopause | Dr. Kudzai Dombo - Estrogen and Menopausal Symptoms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG9LCiukJjc)
- [Vaginal Itching & Menopause | Menopause Treatment | Alloy](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/vaginal-itching-and-menopause)
- [Are Your Menopause Symptoms Worse than You Expected? What You Can Do](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/are-your-menopause-symptoms-worse-than-expected)
- [Lesser-Known Menopause Symptoms & How To Treat Them](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/lesser-known-menopause-symptoms)
- [How Perimenopause Affects Your Skin: Dryness, Rosacea & Eczema](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/perimenopause-skin-changes-explained-understanding-menopauses-impact-on-your)
- [What Causes Irregular Periods in Your 40s? Periomenopause](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/im-in-my-40s-and-am-having-irregular-periods-am-i-in-perimenopause)

---

*This is a markdown version of [https://www.myalloy.com/knowledge-base/which-menopausal-symptoms-commonly-mimic-lichen-sclerosus](https://www.myalloy.com/knowledge-base/which-menopausal-symptoms-commonly-mimic-lichen-sclerosus) for AI/LLM consumption.*