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Menopause

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Original poster

Vaginal atrophy?

17 replies

Courcheval · 28/01/2022 15:49

I'm almost 48, well into peri, periods every month, very heavy for 2 days then just spotting.
In December I thought I had thrush so bought canestan combi which seemed to stop the itching and burning. It came back within a few days and I've had the burning ever since. The last 2 days I've been in agony as all I can feel is my clitoris, it seems to have gone hypersensitive but not in a good way, the pain is horrific.

Having lots of urinary urgency and frequency too.

Our female GP is the gynae specialist so I've got an appointment with her in 3 weeks time. I've been using Vagisan but it's not really improving things.

Any advice anyone?

OP posts:
pontiouspilates · 28/01/2022 16:01

Sounds like you need Vagifem on prescription. You take it daily for 2 weeks then twice a week for 'maintenance' - it's been amazing for me. Other than that, Coconut Oil us pretty good at soothing that horrible dry, itchy sensation.

TickleMyFanny · 28/01/2022 16:03

You can buy it privately with Superdrug online doctor. I've used them before they are very good.

pontiouspilates · 28/01/2022 16:33

@TickleMyFanny

You can buy it privately with Superdrug online doctor. I've used them before they are very good.
That is really good to know. Thank you!
JinglingHellsBells · 28/01/2022 17:08

Vagisan will not treat atrophy. I think it's mainly a weak local anaesthetic to calm things down.

Buying Vagifem or Ovestin online is a HUGE rip off. The cost is over £20 and the actual cost is around £5 to the NHS. I pay for it on a private prescription from my dr, and pay about £7 for a tube.

Original poster
Courcheval · 28/01/2022 17:13

Thank you. I've got some coconut oil so I'll try that until I can see the GP. Just feel yukky with all this, hopefully I'll get Vagifem on prescription. Will it reverse things or just stop things getting worse?

OP posts:
Original poster
Courcheval · 28/01/2022 17:15

Also will it help with urinary problems? I've had a quite a few leaks ☹️ due to the urgency.
Many thanks

OP posts:
Purplewithred · 28/01/2022 17:22

I had this with VA and the only thing that fixed is it getting my HRT sorted. Urethritis did feel like a sore kind of itch, and lots of urgency and a bit of leakage too. Might be worth taking a sample of urine to the GP in case you do have an infection. That might also get you a quicker consultation.

takemetomars · 28/01/2022 17:24

@Courcheval

Thank you. I've got some coconut oil so I'll try that until I can see the GP. Just feel yukky with all this, hopefully I'll get Vagifem on prescription. Will it reverse things or just stop things getting worse?
Go for ovestin as you can use a bit of the cream on the vulva
RuthTopp · 28/01/2022 17:42

I'm on Vagifem , but after the initial treatment , I take 2 a week which I thought was more normal than a previous op suggests of 1 .
I also have clitoral atrophy , which the vagifem I does not help with but although I've spoken to a nurse at smear tests and basically was shrugged off .

JinglingHellsBells · 28/01/2022 18:13

@Courcheval

Thank you. I've got some coconut oil so I'll try that until I can see the GP. Just feel yukky with all this, hopefully I'll get Vagifem on prescription. Will it reverse things or just stop things getting worse?
It will reverse it and help your weeing.

You need to use it forever. If you stop, the symptoms come back.

If it gets too bad (some women do not seek help) it can become so bad it can't be reversed fully.

There are cases of very old women whose vaginas have completely closed up as they got so dry and shrank and the walls fused together.
Obviously this is rare now we have products to prevent it, but too many women are unaware of how it can develop.

Deux · 28/01/2022 19:01

My gynae has me on Vagifem internally. Then daily Ovestin on entrance to vagina, vulva and perineum. She said to really rub the Ovestin in, like you would with a moisturiser. She told to me to make sure to rub around clitoris to avoid clitoral atrophy too.

Theonlyoneiknow · 28/01/2022 22:07

I have Lichen Schlerosus which also causes similar symptoms of atrophy (in my case). Disappearing labia, clitoral hood etc. Does anyone know if Vagifem and/or Ovestin could also help me? Thanks

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 28/01/2022 23:50

Get Vagifem and Ovestin prescribed.

JinglingHellsBells · 29/01/2022 09:28

@Theonlyoneiknow

I have Lichen Schlerosus which also causes similar symptoms of atrophy (in my case). Disappearing labia, clitoral hood etc. Does anyone know if Vagifem and/or Ovestin could also help me? Thanks
I thought that local estrogen cream was something that was used in women with LS alongside steroids? You definitely need it.
Theonlyoneiknow · 29/01/2022 09:45

My GP only gave me dermovate @jinglinghellsbells. Should I ask for something else too?

JinglingHellsBells · 29/01/2022 10:50

@Theonlyoneiknow

My GP only gave me dermovate *@jinglinghellsbells*. Should I ask for something else too?
Yes, I said that in the previous post :)

Even without LS women need this a lot of the time.

2DogsOnMySofa · 03/02/2022 07:26

So glad I've found this thread... I didn't realise what I had was related to menopause (why don't we not know about these things).

All of a sudden I thought I was getting a UTI, then thrush, and my clitoris has been super sensitive and throbbing like a ba**d, but not on a good way! I've been like this for a week now, had a urine test that came back negative so I'm going to book into seeing a gp today. I can cope with the hot sweats and lack of sleep, but this has reduced me to tears.

Thank you for starting this thread op and o hope you get sorted soon too

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