Itchy/soreness down below/Bladder issues

[User4543757]

I have health anxiety and worry that something sinister is going on, so need talking down a bit, I think.

I gave birth 12 months ago (3rd child), C-section. I had gained a few stone in weight and seemed to suffer from a bit of incontinence. After losing weight, that seems to have eased but I still find that I need to go for a wee a lot (thankfully only occasionally wakes me at night). Over the past 12 months I have had about 3 urine samples taken, including one that was sent off and nothing discovered. Because I keep reporting this issue, the GP has agreed to send me for a routine scan on my bladder and ovaries and I am scared that something is going to show up (health anxiety to blame for some of this, I expect). GP said she is sending me for my own reassurance but I know there is always the chance that something might show up.
Also, I have been suffering with itchy bits down below, mainly at the front and low down in the pubic area. Examined by 2 GPs nothing discovered, so now the second GP is sending a swab off. I was prescribed steroid cream a couple of weeks ago and I don't think it is as bad as it first was but it is still persistent and hanging on in there. I am also taking vaginal estrogen (45 and told I was likely to enter an early menopause 5 years ago, so I suggested this to the GP) - I have only been taking that for about a week, so too early to tell if that is the issue. I have been enormously irritable lately too and wouldn't be surprised if my hormones are shifting but there doesn't seem to be a definitive test to confirm this. Sometimes when I wee there is a slight burning sensation - not sure if it is because things are already irritated down there, it doesn't happen all the time.
GP said that some women live with this type of itchiness without any explanation - I will push to see a specialist if nothing shows up on the swab as I have private healthcare. More worried about the bladder issue at the moment I think. I don't think I have any other symptoms, aches and pains that come and go but nothing ongoing. Just worrying about the state of things and worrying there is something really wrong with my bladder/ovaries.

[Seaweed42]

I would think the itchiness and the needing to wee may be unconnected to each other.
Do you do a lot of exercise? Sometimes if your bladder is already low down, if you do sit ups, weights, or running, it can put pressure on the bladder and cause the urge to wee to increase. Do you smoke or suffer from bad coughs as this can also push down the pelvic floor.
You could have gotten sensitive to a conditioner or shampoo or soap either. I got a similar itching before it was a localised eczema that only showed up in that location. The steroid ointment fixed that.
In relation to the bladder incontinence you could visit a private women's physio who deals with pelvic floor issues for advice.

[User4543757]

Thanks Seaweed, how quickly did the steroid cream work - was it an instant fix? I think things have got mildly better but still there. I am thinking about changing my washing detergent although it is meant for sensitive skin. The GP also recommended some soap/shampoo to use, the shampoo we use is quite strong but I can't see how it would affect those bits?

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

Look up vaginal atrophy, sounds like what you are experiencing, I got symptoms of it at 47 whilst peri menopausal.
What topical estrogen are you using and how often?

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

I use Cetaphyl to wash with.

[User4543757]

Hi NK, I'm logging off now but I think it is called something like Estriol and I am currently using it everyday, I only started it last week and apparently it takes at least 2 weeks to start working. Have you had experience of this and did it settle? I am pretty convinced that I am entering some kind of major hormone change - it was also predicted to happen around this age by a fertility consultant. Strangely, I had a good day mood wise today but quite often I feel irritable and agitated (I also have 3 dcs including a toddler and another young one, so don't know if it is situational or hormonal). I wonder if the weak bladder is connected somehow. I had a C-section but I had a big baby and put on loads of weight, I suffered from a bit of incontinence until I lost a fair bit of weight. I don't get hot flushes really but I am still experiencing a period, I expect that will come later! NK, how did you know that your symptoms were connected to the perimenopause?

[User4543757]

Seaweed, I am a non-smoker and don't really do much in the way of sport other than lots of walking and lots of lifting my toddler.