Page 2 | Trouble down below

Thisyearcandoone · 2021-12-04T07:05:52+00:00

Morning all. I'm really struggling down below being very itchy! Not thrush as no irregular discharge. Is this all part of it or should I pop to GP? Thanks x

ErrolTheDragon · 04/12/2021 13:06

If this was a condition which affected blokes (other than indirectly), these localised oestrogen treatments would be being pushed like viagra.

JinglingHellsBells · 04/12/2021 13:21

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

I might pay the excess. Can't quite bring myself to make a GP appointment for a wilting fanjo.

Oh don't be daft! :)

Honestly, this is SUCH a common problem. It's just another part of your body. Nothing to be ashamed of.

You will find it hard to by these products online and they are a fortune.

Why? Because the companies are making money out of women who are too embarrassed to see their GP.

The cost of Ovestin is around £7 on a private prescription (that's what I pay as it includes a dispensing fee. The NHS cost is listed as around £4. If you try to buy it online, the cost is around £28. Rip off.

The thing is- there is no cure for VA- only ongoing use of hormones. So it's really something to sort out properly, or you'd be forking out a lot of money for the rest of your life when there is no need to.

Tootsey11 · 04/12/2021 16:20

Op, I've got va. Please take everyone's advice and get treatment. Mine was that bad I could barely walk and spent months sitting on my knees when at home as I couldn't sit down. My Gp is a middle aged bloke and I did not care one jot what I told him. He examined me about six times as he didn't know what was wrong. It took me nearly a year to feel relief so the sooner you get on the vagifem and cream the better.

ShagMeRiggins · 04/12/2021 16:38

I was diagnosed with Itchy Vulva and prescribed Fucibet but instructed to use it sparingly, and short term.

I do all the requirements to avoid such as washing with aqueous cream, wearing only cotton underwear, not sitting in a hot bath, etc, but honestly there are some nights when I scratch myself raw.

Thank you for this thread, and for anyone who is unwilling, please think again. It might be uncomfortable to speak with a GP but not nearly as uncomfortable as the condition (whether Vaginal Atrophy or Itchy Vulva—depends on where the itching is, I imagine).

This has gone on and off for years with me. I’ve had enough and will see GP to enquire about a proper solution.

to all the itchy fannies...

ErrolTheDragon · 04/12/2021 16:46

@Tootsey11

Op, I've got va. Please take everyone's advice and get treatment. Mine was that bad I could barely walk and spent months sitting on my knees when at home as I couldn't sit down. My Gp is a middle aged bloke and I did not care one jot what I told him. He examined me about six times as he didn't know what was wrong. It took me nearly a year to feel relief so the sooner you get on the vagifem and cream the better.

Six examinations?

That's appalling - wtf aren't all GPs properly trained in meno issues liable to affect most women at some point? One of the female GPs in our practice told me ahead of time I'd probably need something at some point, so as soon as I started 'drying out' I got an appointment (it happened to be a young bloke) and told him what I needed. No examination needed.

Tootsey11 · 04/12/2021 16:53

@ErrolTheDragon, yep six times. And because everything looked fine I was given repeated treatments for thrush. I was in agony.

PerseverancePays · 04/12/2021 17:14

[quote Tootsey11]@ErrolTheDragon, yep six times. And because everything looked fine I was given repeated treatments for thrush. I was in agony.[/quote]
According to Davina McCalls documentary on the menopause (recommended) the menopause segment of medical training is optional, and 60% of medics don’t bother, hence six examinations while he scratches his head in puzzlement.

SparklingLime · 04/12/2021 17:18

That’s appalling, but he could have just looked the NHS website of he was out of his depth…

DramaAlpaca · 04/12/2021 18:41

Good grief, I'm shocked and appalled at six examinations!

I feel I should add that a GP wouldn't normally need to examine you at all for symptoms of vaginal atrophy, as unless it is very severe and has been going on for years there won't be anything to see.

Many women including me think at first they have thrush, until they eventually put two and two together and realise it can't be as there's no discharge and that thrush treatments don't work.

Just wanted to put that out there so women who need treatment aren't put off from going to see their GP. All it should take is to tell them you are menopausal and describe the symptoms - itching, dryness, soreness, and ask to try Vagifem or Ovestin. No examination should be necessary.

JinglingHellsBells · 04/12/2021 20:25

@Tootsey11 I actually winced when I read about your 6 examinations.

I assume you were happy (?) with that at the time, but it seems very odd to me. Is there any chance that GP was 'examining' you for other reasons, and not medical ones?

The only dr who should examine you if at all, is a gynaecologist, with a nurse as a chaperone (I hope there was one present when you had your 6 examinations.) Most GPs can't spot VA and shouldn't even try. It needs a really expert eye to diagnose it.

I have used ovestin for 15 years. I was examined for other reasons by my gynae (smears) but never every for VA. I just said I felt dry and wanted to try some treatment.
I feel what you want through was highly out of order.

Original poster

Thisyearcandoone · 04/12/2021 22:09

Wow! Thank you all so much for the replies.
I've actually got some ovestin that the nurse prescribed me when I last had my smear, i had totally forgotten about it until now. I remember telling her it was a bit sore but it's now so much worse!
I've had a read of the leaflet and will start tonight.
I feel a little deflated tbh, I'm only 40 😔

OP posts:

Cheermonger · 04/12/2021 22:15

It’s horrible! I have vagifem and I use it every night, if I miss a night the itchy soreness comes back. I also have a frozen water bottle in freezer which I use in between my legs if it ever gets painful again. Tbh vagifem has been amazing! If you use panty liners try stopping for a bit as they aggravate my sore itchy ness too !

ErrolTheDragon · 04/12/2021 22:17

all the more reason to make sure you look after yourself properly.

Kummerspeck · 04/12/2021 22:23

Can I just let people know that there is now an alternative to Vagifem called Vagirux, which is exactly the same but has one re-useable applicator per pack instead of a plastic applicator with every pessary so there is far less plastic waste

Tootsey11 · 04/12/2021 22:27

Nothing untoward about the examinations and nurse was there each time. A 'specialist' gynae also examined me even though I said it wasn't necessary as there was nothing to see. He insisted and it went ahead and said there was nothing wrong. I think the reason why it took so long for a diagnosis was they all said I was too young at the time. I was 43. I had been peri from 35 and no one took me seriously. I don't understand anyone suffering from va not seeking help for it. And I wish I had of pushed more for help with all the other symptoms years ago then the va might have not been as bad.

DramaAlpaca · 04/12/2021 22:43

@Kummerspeck

Can I just let people know that there is now an alternative to Vagifem called Vagirux, which is exactly the same but has one re-useable applicator per pack instead of a plastic applicator with every pessary so there is far less plastic waste

That's good to know. I hate the plastic waste with Vagifem.

JuneFromBethesda · 07/12/2021 09:28

Another one here saying thank you for this thread. I've been waiting for 3 months now for my GP to prescribe HRT and in that time have only had blood tests (4 weeks ago, still no results). I've just contacted the surgery again to ask for results, and to be prescribed Vagifem or Ovestin. It really helped reading this thread, so thank you everyone. These symptoms are really shit

sansou · 08/12/2021 08:46

I asked my GP for Vagifem and have been prescribed with the non branded same ingredients Estradiol 10 micrograms vaginal tablets which comes with 2 plastic applicators (washable).

Aderyn21 · 10/12/2021 22:07

Also take an antihistamine if the itching is bad

LookslovelyinSpringtime · 10/12/2021 22:25

Is there a need to use Ovestin as well as vagifem?

DramaAlpaca · 11/12/2021 00:13

@LookslovelyinSpringtime sometimes yes. Some women use Vagifem internally and Ovestin externally.

Drunkpanda · 17/12/2021 22:39

My ovestin comes with an applicator for internal use

WaterLilly42 · 17/12/2021 23:17

@Thisyearcandoone Hi op, I'm a similar age to you and after 4 years have recently been told by the gynaecologist at the hospital that i have vulvar linchen planus.

The GP's have been pretty useless, I've been examined i think around 2 or 3 times by 2 different Doctors but they had no idea what it was and were no help, they took swabs which didn't show anything unusual and there is no rash or anything. The itching started to get worse this year so I had to be forceful and make them refer me to a gynaecologist. I was even so desperate at one point i went to the GUM clinic as i just couldn't understand what it could be.

Anyway the gynaecologist was great, he said its pretty rare to see it in someone my age late 30's as they normally see it in women in their 50's /60's . I've been given steroid cream to use for 3 months and he's put me on the waiting list for an operation where they do a biopsy.

I would urge your doctors to refer you to a gynaecologist, i was waiting for 7 months for my appointment. Don't let them fob you off as i wish i had done it sooner.

Good luck ☘