Stinging, irritated vulva and inside vagina

[GlomOfNit]

Dunno what's up.
I'm taking HRT (Sandrena and Utrogestan) and while I've been prescribed oestrogen cream for my undercarriage, haven't actually started with that yet (it seems quite a faff/messy). The last 2 weeks or so, my vulva has been quite irritated - stinging like I have an infection but there's nothing to see. Now, areas in my vagina are doing it too and it's really horrible, like I've inadvertently washed with something acidic! It stings a bit worse when I pee but nothing marked. I even had a look just now with a mirror and the bedside lamp and there's nothing to see - no redness, no discharge, no odd coloured bits, no obvious swelling. No adverse smell.

I only wash with Simple soap outside and water inside, I do use the Cuticara medicated talc under boobs and groin area and so on, but try not to get it too close to the fanjo. Maybe that's it? I also was using some horrible loo paper which turned out to be scented, but stopped that after I'd had the stinging a few days - it took a while to realise it wasn't a good idea! (Didn't intentionally buy the stuff, I grabbed it in a hurry and didn't realise.)

Any ideas? I'd put it in General Health but I can't be arsed with all the people who'll tell me to get a STD test (I don't have sex any more really, the last time must have been 4 months ago, and we always use condoms. Fecking perimenopause stole my libido ). I'm not pregnant and I'm very sure I don't have an STD! My last smear test was about 4/5 months ago and I tested negative for HPV (which is all they initially test for these days). Is this something perimenopause related??

You need to use the oestrogen cream that has been prescribed.

Use the cream. Don't use soap around your nether regions just warm water and definitely no talc. Sudocreme if you've sore patch groin wise. Sorry it's Meno related

Why haven’t you used the cream? It’s literally changed my life! (Ovestin). If you’ve only recently started the HRT sometimes that can cause changes in your vaginal ph etc that can upset everything. I got thrush initially and then used canestan and it’s gone now. No issues.

Could be the start of thrush. I’m on hrt patches and oestrogen cream for vagina and have had it a couple of times (although I am having regular sex which doesn’t help matters). I rarely have the classic discharge but it stings when I pre and very itchy and sore when I have it. Could also be the start I’d a uti. Worth trying a thrush tablet maybe.

Ovestin the only thing that helped me with that, it's really not messy, it's a very small amount and seems to get absorbed easily. Helped my sex life too.

I had this, it was awful and I ended up going for an examination with my gp.

Turned out it was eczema! Ive have never had it anywhere before and I think it's a side effect of the hrt I gel and pill I take.

I was prescribed some steroid cream and it sorted it out. I've never had itching or stinging like it, it was from my perenium to the front of my vulva, awful, you really do have my sympathy if that's what it is.

thanks for the responses!

This came on really suddenly, about 2 weeks ago, so I assumed it was related to something I'd done (eg the sodding scented loo paper!) and have never had anything like it before (apart from something a GP said was 'dermatitis' - i.e. generic skin irritation! - that I once had for a while which I think was an irritation from putting my Mooncup in too carelessly!). I've been on HRT since March this year so not that recently started on it.

Re. why I've not started the Ovestin - not sure. I don't really like putting Stuff on my fanny, it always makes me feel a bit unclean and icky. I know this is daft and so many women - on here and friends - urged me to get some Ovestin and give it a go (I asked GP for it on thinning skin and libido grounds). But now I've got this sudden onset of stinging, I'm reluctant to put ANYTHING on in case it makes it worse!

I don't want to try two things at once (eg ovestin and a thrush pill) because if it stops I won't know which it was. So shall I just be brave and try the Ovestin and see if it helps? Do you put it on vulva as well as internally?

Use the oestrogen cream as prescribed. Don't use soap. If you want to use a soap substitute use emulsifying ointment sparingly and rinse gently. Dab gently to dry, using a flannel that has been washed in non bio powder and without conditioner.

Just use the Ovestin you have been given.

That's what it's for.

And please stop using talc. In the US there are law suits in progress from women with ovarian cancer that has been linked to using talc down their knickers.

You don't need talc.

or soap.

Just warm water - shower twice a day to keep clean.

use a pea sized blob of ovestin.

Just to be clear, I'm NOT using talc down my knickers! I've just been using it because I had some intertrigo under my breasts recently and I tend to pat it under my saggy tummy too. I am not putting it in my pubes, nor would I. (Though I'd always understood that the 'link' to ovarian cancer was spurious and there's no evidence base for it.)

I'm now using the Ovestin, I was just a bit slow to start with it after I was prescribed it a couple of months ago, because while I'd been told by a medical friend of mine it was the dog's bollocks and to ask for some, at that point I didn't have any actual issues down there. Now I do - but wasn't sure if what I'm now experiencing was perimenopause related or something completely different.

I've been getting similar irritation. It comes and goes. I am of the opinion now that it happens when I start the progesterone. I am due to start that tomorrow and I am interested to see what happens. I have felt perfectly fine for the last two weeks. The previous two were extremely uncomfortable.

I am on Vagifem which comes in an applicator so easy to use. You need to use what you have been prescribed as this will only get worse with age. Have you tried Vagisil? Apply stuff with toilet paper if you can't touch yourself.

It sounds like vaginal atrophy, just use the cream you've been prescribed and it'll relieve the symptoms you describe.

Are you using the utrogestan vaginally?
If so, that could be the cause.

Ovestin defo helps with the symptoms you describe. You can use it externally as well as internally (I saw a meno specialist as I had the symptoms you are suffering with). You can also take an antihistamine tablet, again on the advice of the specialist, which helps me too.