To miss my more youthful vulva

[OptimismvsRealism]

I did not expect this bit of ageing at all (esp as I don't have kids so nothing controversial has ever really happened down there)

But I miss it feeling moister and bouncier and just generally more resilient and upbeat

And I miss not needing to pee every half hour

And then when you do pee it feels like there's more to come

Feel quite bummed out (was going to do a front bum pun but decided too shudder) to contemplate the next four decades with a buzzkill down there

Yep, topical HRT and Yes moisturisers. The former restores things to a more normal state and the Yes moisturisers keep things comfortable when needed. They also do lubes.

Gaaaa this is why I hate GPs. How old was she? Some seem to think it will never happen to them.

Dry Fanny and urethra chafing during sex was the push to get me to the doctor. Within a month of being on oestrogen I'm self lubricating again! Think about it. In terms of bounciness I'm pretty good because I strength train and having good core strength makes a huge difference.

And yes why shouldn't you take it for the rest of your life if you want.

Omg that's awful. My VA was so bad, my gynae prescribed estriol cream daily. It's worked, I just had surgery and was told I was very well oestrogenised.

This sounds amazing. Are you on pills or cream?

My GP wouldn't give it until I was well oestrogenised and settled on HRT. But then did a blood test which showed I had zero T, so prescribed testogel. They call me for a blood test every few months keep an eye on my levels.

Blimey, you are a bit young for all that. I'm 74l, reached my menopause at 51.5 before which I was perimenopausal for two years or more; my vulva is much the same as ever.

I'd be more concerned about needing to pee so often. It is possible you have a urinary infection so please get that checked and do drink plenty of water, plus lemon and barley.

Oestrogen gel. It's amazing! Also helped with sleep, hot flushes, anxiety and brain fog. But the dry fanny was an indignity too far!

@OptimismvsRealism She is actually a couple of years older than me so about 48 or 49. It might be she hasn’t had any symptoms or has some personal reason to be concerned about HRT. I had to literally beg her to get on it at 43.

OP you ar SO not too young for all this.

My weeing started to get bad at 42 and I started HRT at 44.

I was literally weeing three times every night plus multiple times before going to sleep.

Estriol cream solved it all. It builds up the wall of your bladder.

I was desperate, I started weeing when running. Went to pelvic physio who recommended estriol cream, GP then got me on HRT too and diagnosed prolapses.

I do strength training and it has done nothing to make my vulva more youthful in menopause. I don’t really see how it can help unless poster mean internally.

I miss its former plumpness. There no cushion there anymore. I ride bikes occasionally and there definitely less padding there than in the past.

I was forever at the doctors with suspected UTIs and pain when I was peeing but no infection was every found and these symptoms went back to my early 30s. When I finally went on hrt at 43 and then bought my own topical hrt for my vulva these symptoms went away entirely. Some women just have perimenopausal symptoms for a long time before menopause and some women hit menopause at 40 or even younger.

There isn't much of an answer to the plumpness, but if you're having burning symptoms and frequency you need to get topical oestrogen. It will improve your quality of life.
Have you been tested for recurrent uti? They're really common in perimenopause

Get yourself to a women’s health physio. They are wonders, can check you are doing your pelvic floor exercises correctly, identify where it might be weak (or else too strong so you can’t fully relax the muscles), suggest further things you can can do to improve etc. Really worth it. The thing of still feeling you need a wee when you’ve had a wee can be a sign of pelvic floor weakness.

At 43 w no kids you are unlucky to be feeling the drought so early, and with the peeing all the time issue

early meno?! I’d check that out and consider HRT - you are likely at least near peri at this point

I do strength training and it has done nothing to make my vulva more youthful in menopause. I don’t really see how it can help unless poster mean internally.

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-pimv2ff7eu/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/8931/14311/rudiger-anatomie-the-female-muscular-system-laminated-anatomy-chart__00558.1603834078.jpg?c=1?imbypass=on

If you look at the illustrations of the female muscular system, you can see how some of the muscles do lie in that area.
For me, improving their strenth provided a tightening to the outer labial area.

I mean my advice if you're sleeping with a guy who doesn't want you to use lube to improve your own pleasure because of some weird squeamishness or ageism is... get rid of the guy. Massive red flag alert. I've had to use it since early thirties anyway due to birth scarring.

Re not being able to get a doctor's appointment, just order it from an online pharmacy and fill out the symptoms form.

yes I mean internally. That's why I referred to core strength. Your pelvic floor is part of your core.

Here you go: www.chemist-4-u.com/consultations/vaginal-cream?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9YT7xIXlhwMVHJGDBx0V4iYCEAQYASABEgJ64vD_BwE

Wait, what? I’m in my 30s can you please explain what you mean??

Thank you, yes I agree about pelvic floor but your vulva is not internal hence my confusion. I thought we are talking about vulvas, not vaginas.

Well then you're very lucky re being as 'normal' there as ever.

This is a bit tone deaf- good for you if you have no issues but that doesnt mean the rest if us haven't.