Post Menopause

[Chester157]

Any of you lovely ladies out there having problems after the menopause? 61 and had last period 5 years ago. Had the usual problems which I managed to cope (mood swings/insomnia) were the worst for me. Thought after 5 years things would become better but I have recently started with dreadful dryness/itchy/sore problems down below. I've tried various creams and potions and think I may be only adding to the problem. I've been to GP and have now started on HRT as other things we've tried have had no effect. What are other ladies doing with these sorts of problems?

[PollyPerky]

Other ladies are doing the same as you :) Hrt, vaginal estrogen, eating well, exercising.

When you say you are now using HRT do you mean vaginal estrogen cream /pessary? It's not actually classed as HRT (by the drs) it's simply vaginal estrogen.

[Chester157]

I started off with vaginal estrogen cream /pessary but this helped for a few days but then back to where I was before. Talked it over with GP and agreed to go on HRT to see whether that would help with the problems - we ladies shouldn't have to suffer. I didn't go on HRT whilst going through the menopause but took fluroxitine for another problem and I believe that helped me with my mood swings - a life saver. GP has suggested keep taking the vaginal pessary along side the HRT patch for 3 months to see whether it helps.

[PollyPerky]

Just for anyone else reading..

there are two stages of menopause- peri meno and post meno.
Post meno is a permanent state so we don't really 'go through the menopause'; we go through peri, then live in a post meno stage forever.

The peri symptoms can go but for something like 15% of women they last forever.

Things like vaginal dryness and bladder issues can occur during peri or not for a few years after the final period- like you have found.

I think women sometimes think that once peri is over (flushes and sweats and maybe mood swings) it's all back to normal. But the effects of lack of estrogen bring other symptoms as time goes on.

You need to use the vaginal stuffl ong term or your problems may come back- don't accept it if the GP tries to take you off it. NICE says it's for long term use.