Vaginal Atrophy.
I've posted this before as I do feel very strongly, that more women need to be aware of this:
I am now post menoapuse & recently suffered from vaginal atrophy (VA). I had always thought I was a woman who knew about things & was aware of my body, but VA really took me by surprise .
It's not something that is common knowledge & I so wish it was - as it is a real curse of the late/post menopause for many women.
I've copied & pasted from another post I made about it as I do feel that women should be aware of it so they can recognize the symptoms.
Vaginal Atrophy (VA) is what happens post menopause & it is my mission to make more women aware of it.
Basically (& you can google for the finer details) the lack of eostrogen causes great dryness up your fanjo. It makes sex painful & also leads to itchiness that makes thrush seem mild. It is horrible & causes enormous discomfort. I had to rush to the loo just to scratch - the itchiness is almost unbearable. The itch is both inside your fanjo & all over your vulva
If you are menopausal or post menopause & get an itch and/or great dryness do look at the possibility that it could be VA & go to see your GP.
It is easily sorted out with topical eostrogen in the form of 'Vagifem', a small pessary that is inserted into the vagina with an applicator.
You need a 10mcg dose daily for 2 weeks & then a maintenance dose of 10mcg twice weekly.
There is a great deal of argument about giving women vagifem long term &, it seems to me, that many health professionals are not up to date with recent research.
I discussed this with my GP with this piece of research:
www.menopausematters.co.uk/newsitem.php?recordID=83
You do need to keep up to date with mammograms & smears but otherwise no side effects.
I tell a lie about the side effects - it has hugely helped my pelvic floor (this is well documented). I can now cough without fear of leakage.
I was lucky & had a GP who instantly diagnosed VA - but, sadly, it is not something that is well known or discussed.