Itchy and sore down below, nothing makes a difference (Vagisil, etc)

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Just that really. This seems to have come on suddenly over the last three months. Vulva is sore, itchy and very uncomfortable. Hurts to wipe after going to the loo. Feels really tender. Tried vagisil and Dr Wolff's Vagisan, plus savlon, etc and nothing really makes any difference.

Anyone else have this and have you found anything that works??

Could it be thrush? Doesn't necessarily need the discharge to be there. Otherwise I know from when I've breastfed that low oestrogen can cause those symptoms. I looked into oestrogen gel for vaginal use which apparently helps. Have you been to your GP? ( well aware not so simple to do that!)

I’ve found coconut oil helps a lot. I use it daily and it’s been hugely helpful.

It’s part of menopause for some women, along with vaginal atrophy. 😢

Meg's M⁰enopause oil based lubricant or the water based one. Available in Boots. Game changer. Not too bad on price. £10 a 100ml bottle.

You need a hormone cream - vagifem or Ovestin,

It's the tissues getting thin and dry, basically.

@Floydthebarber I did wonder if it was thrush, but it's just the outside, not inside. I tried an oestrogen gel ages ago, the pessaries for inside the vagina but they caused hair loss (I know, they're not supposed to, but it was too much of a coincidence!). I'm going to try make an appointment with the GP tomorrow. I'd be quite chuffed if it was thrush, at least them I could just use the canesten cream!

@BlueKaftan - yes, I believe so. I remember hearing Davina McCall saying how it hurt when she was wiping herself when she was menopausal and thinking "I'm lucky I don't have that along with everything else!" and now here we are....I knew I was drier on the inside but that didn't bother me unless I was contemplating sex - but now my fanny has withered on the outside too. I'm like a dried up husk everywhere.

Thanks @Derrymum123 - will have a look.

@picklemewalnuts - oh yes, you've reminded me, it was vagifem that I had. After three weeks my hair started to shed - it happened with HRT too, and the pill when I was on that so I'm rather nervous of trying again. Will see what the GP says.

Definitely get some treatment. The YES products are very good, if you want to avoid hormones. YES is also available on prescription.

Don't ignore it though. It's the one piece of crap that doesn't go away with time unfortunately.

Good luck.

I had this. Tried everything for near on 18months.

Eventually saw the GP and been diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosus.
Strong steroid cream and pessaries.
Annual check ups for life.

The steroid cream gave me total relief after a few days.

Google it. You might find your symptoms match.

Hope you feel better soon

Ovestin cream is a life saver, I have chronic UTI but had same symptoms including soaking night sweats freezing cold, nocturia every hr so no sleep, Ovestin saved my life until I was able to vet long term antibiotics for the UTI.

Also for thrush, Professor Malone-Lee would prescribe boron or boric acid (can’t remember which) pessaries/vaginal suppositories. Apparently this raises the PH as the vagina should be acidic, and thrush can’t live in the acidic environment.

Could be localised excema. Has similar. Got steroid cream called betnovate ointment from GP. Stopped it completely.

Vagifem have saved my life and my poor lady bits

This. Vagifem pessaries are recommended by WHO to prevent vaginal atrophy.

I'd be asking the doctor to lol into this. Your symptoms are in line with atrophy.

@wonkygorgeous - yes, I've known it was atrophy, at least for the internal bit, for a while now, but because of the hair loss that seems to happen, haven't wanted to take anything hormonal. Will have to have another think. Wanted to try HRT again but so scared of losing my hair again.

@DoorWasAJar - thanks, that's useful info.

I use Vagifem and no hair loss - in fact it is abundant . I also use Oestrogel ( hysterectomy). I also use this product at times www.ahyes.org/products/water-based-natural-lubricant-applicators/

Sounds like a menopausal symptom, had that for a while and just using tissue after a wee was painful and since started hrt have no issues and also my brain fog has lifted. There are lots of different options for hrt and one that may suit you better.

Sudocrem also helped ease the soreness.

Please let us know what the GP says OP.
I've been having similar and HRT does seem to make a difference.

I also find coconut oil helps too and doesn't seem to cause any adverse effects for me

Ovestin is likely to make a big difference.
it's so localised you might find it doesn't make the hair loss happen in the way a oestrogen gel/patch/tablet might.
good luck!

I'm the same OP. Am on HRT, which has been great for all other symptoms and have no inside dryness but nothing has properly helped with the outside, I use vaseline to ease the stinging when peeing. No advice but am going to try some of the suggestions made here.

Thanks for all the responses - its good (in a way) to know I'm not alone in this. I will be buying some coconut oil today, as a couple of people have suggested this. Annoyingly, I threw some away a few months ago as it had been sitting there for over a year.

Am filling in form for GP consultation today so hopefully I'll be at least able to talk to a doctor to begin with, perhaps a face to face if required.

With all the creams I've been slapping on, I'm going to have a permanently damp crotch - lovely! This menopause business is shit. I'm irritable and feel like telling everyone to sod off as I'm dealing with my poor withered fanny and can't be arsed with their petty nonsense. Unreasonable

Can't you put some oestrogen cream (like ovestin) on the outside as well?

You need Ovestin cream.

Also, estrogen does not cause hair loss. If anything, it helps hair.

If you did have hair loss on previous HRT or the Pill that would be the type of progesterone (some are androgenic- similar to a male hormone - so hair loss [baldness in men] is a slight risk. That's also why some women get acne from some types of Pill.

Also vaginal estrogen is not absorbed anywhere except in the vagina or the surrounding skin. It doesn't get into your blood system.

Please don't even think of using antiseptics like Savlon which are not meant for delicate areas!

You can probably get this sorted very quickly with the right treatment.