Possible vaginal atrophy at 29 years old?

[CoolLilacCrab]

Hi guys,
first time posting on here but I am absolutely desperate now 😢

since September 2025, I thought I had cystitis, was on numerous antibiotics and nothing cleared it. I then realised I was dry down there, and my urethra felt so inflamed and I was taking the Desogestrel pill, so I have stopped taking the pill to see if it improved estrogen levels. I got so much better after stopping it, but it has flared up again. Only had one period since coming off 4 months ago, was absolutely fine during my period last week, but since stopping my period it has flared up again, dry, sore etc. And the symptoms get so so much worse after finishing a course of antibiotics. I have been treated for thrush numerous amount of times, even had a 6 month treatment, but it’s not that. Could this be vaginal atrophy? I’m in tears every single day as all of this just happened over night and I was absolutely fine beforehand. NHS waiting list to see a Gynaecologist is a year, so I am currently waiting for my appointment to see a private one. I also think I have PCOS as I felt something burst a few months ago and it was so painful. Every single time I take a thrush tablet orally I bleed heavily out of my vagina, my GP didn’t believe me and accused me of lying, it genuinely broke my heart.

any advice or help would be appreciated, thank you x

I think given the understandable distress you are experiencing I would pay to see a private gynae. Especially if you are hoping to have children. I had gynae issues but it was when I was about 45, took a few months to sort and different symptoms.

You have my sympathy apart from the pain It was and I have had a lot of health issues in my life the one thing that really distressed me.

ViciousCurrentBun
Luckily I have a son and do not wish for anymore children.
I have made an appointment today to see a private gynaecologist in 2 weeks time, so I’m hoping and praying he will give me some answers as I’m getting pretty desperate, and very depressed.

I was diagnosed with ‘early menopause’ aged 34 on the basis of how my foof looked and felt. Despite having regular periods , etc

it was actually lichen sclerosis. Have you been checked for this?

No I havent, numerous GP’s have fobbed me off and kept giving me antibiotics, which wasn’t necessary.

I too have Lichen Sclerosus (inflammatory skin disorder that affects the vulva) and think it is possible that this is what is causing your pain. Have a look at the symptoms online and then go back to your GP and ask if it could be this. It is often misdiagnosed as thrush. It is treatable, usually by an ultra potent steroid such as Dermovate, which needs to be started asap if it is LS. Some GPs think that it only affects Post Menopausal women but I belong to a fb group and there are lots of young women like yourself affected by it.

Hope you get it sorted OP and start feeling better soon.