Is this thrush or something to do with HRT?

[ClunkyJaw]

Long story short ....itchy foof

Full story .... up to 3 months ago I'd only ever had thrush once in my life and that was when pregnant 18 years ago. However in the last 3 months I've had it (if indeed it is thrush) 3 times!

I'm not 100% sure if it is because I'm not getting the "cottage cheese" discharge with it although on one occasion I did seem to have a thin milky discharge. What I am getting though is an incredibly itchy vulva!!

Initially I tried Vagisil cream but that didn't seem to offer any relief so I tried a Canestan pessary and cream which did work eventually but not as instantly as thought it would. The second time started with Vagisil again, no joy so then took an oral capsule thrush treatment which again, eventually worked. This morning I've again woken up to that tell tale itch.

I'm wondering if it's something related to HRT as I've been on it for 6 months. I did mention it to the GP over the phone when I renewed my HRT prescription but she was a bit non-committal and didn't really say much other than if it responded to thrush treatment then that's probably what it is and that it may be hormonal.

Has anyone else had similar as a result of HRT, or think of anything else it could be if not thrush? Any preventative tips?

Thanks

LS? Commonly happens in menopausal women. Another joy of womanhood. (Tbf men can suffer as well but I bet it’s not as hellish for them!)

www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/what-is-vulval-lichen-sclerosus/

Look up the symptoms of vaginal atrophy, it may be the start of that and you need Estradiol pessaries that are used to treat changes in and around the vagina such as vaginal dryness, itching and burning caused by low estrogen levels or menopause. You don't have to put up with it, it is easily treated.

I thought I had thrush but it was vaginal atrophy. I only realised after a very painful smear and a lovely nurse. Three months on an oestrogen pessary and the itch has gone but I’m still sore inside.

Something similar happened to me. Tried thrush cream, tablets from GP, lots of over the counter things... to be honest I need strong steroids from GP to actual clear it up but not sure what it was.

I had thrush for the first time in my life recently I'm 37. U can def get it without the discharge.

For about 2-3 weeks it was just soooo bloody itchy so I called the gp. Told them there was no discharge or was completely normal. They gave me a pessary and the cream. The night that I went to take the pessary I had some of the cottage cheese like discharge. So it was weird that for weeks I had no discharge either. Pessary worked discharge was gone but was still a bit itchy for nearly a week. That was in November.

This week I've started feeling itchy again 😩 I put some cream on and it helped but I think I may be a few weeks away from the full on thrush coming 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wonder if it's because I've changed my pill in last 6 months.

Def try thrush treatment first and hopefully that works 🤞🏻

Thanks for the replies and the suggestions - I'll do some reading up on LS and vaginal atrophy and see if it's possibly one of those