To be absolutely furious at bloody incompetent GP?

https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/estriol-cream.html

can you afford to buy this? Shouldn’t have to. My GP chucks oestrogen cream at menopausal woman.

We don't have this in Scotland, we don't have any sort of app and online anything is on a practice by practice basis. All I can do online at my practice is request repeat prescriptions (limited, my HRT is not on that list) and cancel an appointment which I've already made. We definitely can't see test results, make appointments, see notes or anything else.

Probably because there are GPs wasting time by referring people who need oestrogen cream for vaginal atrophy.

@PrimalLass I'm in the UK at my GP practice I consented to view my medical notes and now I can see every single consultation, vaccination , results, prescriptions etc since the day I was born, this is all available on the NHS app, it's very useful and I always check after I've had a medical appointment.

Not to burst your bubble but the gynae waiting lists is over 18 months long in my area. Shocking.

I had very similar symptoms, drove me crazy, went to gp who gave me a fungal cream, steroid cream fucidin and clairithromycin. Itching stopped almost immediately. It was a Staphylococcus infection. Any orifice that's burning/itching which is relentless think of the possibility of Staphylococcus.

You cannot expect a doctor to provide a script for a prescription only medication without satisfying themselves it’s needed.

So why don't the doctors at Superdrug carry out an examination of the genitals before prescribing the identical prescription-only medication?

Assume you want to report the first GP not the second?

Your conflating points and doctors to your own ends. Re-read what I wrote. I was talking about the second doctor and doctors in general. I haven’t spoke. About the first doctor because whatever she did or didn’t do is bye the bye now. The diagnosis isn’t in the medical notes so the second doctor needs to start from scratch and do his job properly.

The second exam is necessary because the first doctor didn’t put the diagnosis in the notes. You cannot expect a doctor to provide a script for a prescription only medication without satisfying themselves it’s needed.

Oh OP - just seen you've posted in AIBU! That was a bit silly.

Ask MN to move this to the women's health board where you'll get nuanced responses

@Misthios there is no consulting fee btw, just so you're clear. You'll pay £25 just for the cream and it's very simple

I buy my own ovestin cream and don't bother the doctor with it because I just can't be bothered to go through the rigmarole you describe

It's pricey at £25 a pop but you need such a small amount and a tube lasts me a couple of months. I buy via Superdrug online doctor usually and it's very straightforward

So yeah in an ideal world we'd all be listened to and cared for properly. But we are not in an ideal world these days especially so gen yourself up and purchase it online

It's a micro dose and. Nothing to be concerned about

But @StormingNorman that is the whole point of the thread - the GP has not been doing her job. Because she diagnosed vaginal atrophy, didn't record that on OP's notes, prescribed steroids which unsurprisingly had zero effect, and said that to get oestrogen cream the OP would need to see a hospital gynaecologist!!

If that's "doing your job properly" i'd hate to see your definition of being a bit clueless.

It’s quite insulting to doctors to label a medical examination as ‘peering’ at genitalia. This type of thinking is why OP left without her prescription.

She'd already had an examination, she shouldn't have to have an unnecessary second one just because the first doctor was too slack to update her notes properly.
That's also a spurious comparison re. the benylin as it's an OTC product. The point is that she can get her prescription as desired from Superdrug without getting her bits out.

Women don’t have to go to any additional expense. They just need to let the GP do their job.

You have a choice to pay privately if you don’t want a medically qualified professional examining you.

And yes you can get some HRT things like the creams online. But why should women have to go to that additional expense - a tube of Ovestin is going to cost you £20 to £25 online, plus the private prescription fee. Is it really too much to expect that a family GP knows the basics of menopause and how to treat it?

I can go to Superdrug and buy Benilyn but if I go to the doctor with a cough they’re going to get the stethoscope out to examine me before making a diagnosis and prescribing. You go to the doctor for diagnosis.

It’s quite insulting to doctors to label a medical examination as ‘peering’ at genitalia. This type of thinking is why OP left without her prescription.

You can do an consultation with an online pharmacy, they can then prescribe the Overton.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable or incompetence that a Dr won’t prescribe before examining you first.
STD’s in over 50’s is not unheard of.

You can also buy Hyalofemme over the counter, it's non hormonal, so no prescription required

The first doctor diagnosed vaginal atrophy. Yet failed to prescribe oestrogen cream and instead gave the OP steroids.

Too right she should be "accountable for her prescribing practice".

Probably because the GP doesn’t know what they are doing

I personally would make a complaint.

Perhaps the first Dr didn’t quite agree with your diagnosis and wanted to try something different first, as she is accountable for her prescribing practice.

I believe Ovestin can be bought online at superdrug pharmacy once their Dr has approved it.

Would topical HRT make much difference if you are already on HRT?

YES!!!! It makes a massive difference.

Absolutely complain, @ItchDrivingMeInsane it makes me livid that so many of us are being fobbed off by GPs who haven't got a clue about menopause. Steroid cream for vaginal atrophy?? What makes me even more angry is that they haven't the self-awareness to realise what they don't know and have the decency to realise that actually, their 20 minutes training on menopause 30 years ago probably isn't enough, and to refer to a colleague with a specific interest in it. As for not being able to prescribe oestrogen cream without a referral to a gynae - wtf??

You can also buy Ovestin cream (estriol active ingredient) online if you are still getting fobbed off. I started using it in October and it's lifechanging. Every day for a fortnight, then twice a week. Now I'm using twice a week, a tube lasts me about 3 months.