Gender differences in genital lichen sclerosus

BACKGROUND: Studies specifically conducted to assess gender differences in genital lichen sclerosus (GLS) are not available. This multiÂcenter study aimed to identify possible gender-related differences on GLS clinical features, history and course, through collecting data from a large mixed-sex sample of patients. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 729 subjects (53.8% females, 46.2% males) affected with GLS, consecutively observed within a network of 15 Italian dermatology units. The following information was specifically collected: Clinical features and severity of symptoms reÂlated to GLS, extragenital involvement, previous therapies, diagnostic suspicion at referral, type of referring physicians, development of genital squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).RESULTS: Females complained of symptoms more frequent and severe than men; pallor and scarring-sclerosis-atrophy were the most frequent features without gender differences; itching-related signs were more frequent in females tha...