Dear God, the ITCHING

[TragicMuse]

It's driving me absolutely insane. All day, all night, all the time.

I have the estradiol pessaries but that's all.

It's not thrush, I had a swab.

I'm so sore and so damn itchy, I don't know what to do with myself...

I've tried:
Vagisil
Yes VM
Sudocrem
Eurax

The only slight relief is from a cold flannel, but that's not particularly long lasting. And makes the bed damp.

Help! Any suggestions will be so gratefully received.

I started with this last year and I use vagisil but it’s a diferent one with oat in it. It really stopped my itching/dry feeling. Vaginally it’s more a little dry I use a moisturising pessary from balance activ. Not needed every day but helps loads. I’m not on HRT as currently managing evolving symptoms ok

I also get terrible itching on my legs at night. Getting to bed early / being less tired helps, and moisturising early in the evening, before the itching sets in, also helps.

HRT has made a big difference but like PP my legs are kind of wrecked - I use tanning lotion & leg make up for when they are on display, they look fine!

Sympathies re the vulval itching OP, that's miserable.

The vagisil might mask the symptoms for now but because you're not addressing the underlying cause, with estrogen replacement, the process of vaginal atrophy is silently continuing and will get worse.

I had this when I started HRT - I stopped it and the itch went. The same thing happened when I was on the pill and in hindsight it was when I had probably started the menopause. I had lots of clear discharge too.
The only thing is I started when I was 38 and have had no HRT. I'm now 48.

I do this for the same reason and it works.

@TragicMuse This is a classic vaginal atrophy symptom.

The condition is now being called GUS- genito urinary syndrome- because it affects genitals and bladder.

Vagifem will help internally but won't do anything for your vulva.

I'd ignore the more 'complicated' suggestions here like steroid creams, and various other things mentioned.

You need to try topical estrogen cream- Ovestin.

It may sting a little at first (not always) but just keep going with it. Use a pea sized blob, not a handful!

@Disco2023 I agree with @Pollyputhekettleon because things like Vagisil just mask the symptoms for a while. If you don't treat this properly, it will get worse and it can get to a point of no return where it's very hard to change the loss of elasticity and soreness. Vaginal walls can actually bleed ( as well as shrink) when they lose estrogen.

I use Ovestin but it has not eliminated the need for steroids on occasion. Thank god for steroids or I think I'd go nuts.

Ovestin. Stopped mine immediately after endless thrush/uti symptoms.

What's the rationale behind using steroid cream? Do you have eczema? What did your dr diagnose?

With the best will in the world op, you really need to get a doctor's appointment and they will refer you to a specialist if necessary. People cannot diagnose your problem on here.
I speak from experience, I have had a couple of biopsies of the vulva and have been diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis. I have a prescription for Dermovate steroid cream which helps enormously.
My mother had similar issues and she had a type of cancer called Paget's disease and had to be operated on to remove it. It's rare but it's possible, so please get a doctor's appointment!

Steroid cream is the standard go to treatment for a lot of vulval conditions. No, I don't have eczema. There is no particular diagnosis. A little area of atrophy but no underlying condition certain. Possible diagnosis of Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis based on the timing of the worst flare each month, but that's never been proven and I don't have autoimmune markers. That was the dermatologist.

I hear you but it's not the first step for women in peri or post menopause. It also has to be used under close supervision and not for more than a week unless prescribed otherwise by a dermatologist. All the OTC sorts that are available - eg E45H- say very clearly not for genital use.

Too many women don't understand the signs of vaginal atrophy and then it gets worse.

I used to have terrible soreness and assumed it was thrush, and then I used topical estrogen (I am also a life-long eczema sufferer, which comes and goes.)

It’s ridiculous isn’t it? I want to claw my face off.

I use oestrogen pessaries internally and Ovestin externally twice a week as a minimum but some weeks it’s more. In addition I was diagnosed with lichen sclerosis 3 years ago so always have a tube of Dermovate steroid cream and if I have a flare a few days of this externally clears it quickly. Sometimes I use steroid and Ovestin together. Ovestin on its own isn’t enough to stop the itch once it starts I need steroid cream for that. The itch is unbearable and I have literally rubbed the skin raw at times and it affects every aspect of my daily life. Any possible side effects from steroid use pales in comparison so I’m happy to use it when needed and so far no negatives.

I don't use OTC steroids and use as directed. No more than once or twice a week. Ovestin twice a week. In between, moisturisers and lactic acid containing cream. No medication is without risk but lots of doctors have told me to use the steroids as the first line to control the symptoms. They are a miracle when you have severe itching. They can be used very safely as prescribed.

I had the same issue, started about 8 months ago. I was prescribed Ovestin. Initially every night for three weeks then I gradually reduced it to twice a week inside and a little outside. I religiously used Sylk vaginal moisturiser three or four times a day. I tried a few moisturisers and found this one worked best for me. I was literally consumed by the itch! It took about six months of treatment but finally I am top of it with the maintenance dose of Ovestin and the Sylk once a day.

@NeedCoffeeNowPlease I understood you were not using OTC steroids. (Because you said you'd seen a dermatologist.)

I assume you know that you can use Ovestin more than twice a week and also on your labia? It's not just for use internally.

It can be used that way as much as needed (daily if that works) not just twice a week. It can take a few weeks of daily application to make significant (good) changes to the skin. And it usually needs to be continued forever, not just a temporary 'fix'.

The reason you may get a flare in the progesterone stage of a cycle is that our own progesterone increases body temperature, so any underlying soreness does tend to flare.

It takes months or years at the moment for non-urgent referrals to a gynaecologist or dermatologist (some areas of the country have a 2 year wait for a derma) so it just seems sensible for the OP to try Ovestin from her GP and see if it works- it won't cause any harm.

My itching has got slightly less bad recently - I've had to changed from shower gel to basic bar soap, be very gently when washing (i used to scrub a bit to 'get clean!) , blot rather than wipe with loo roll - I'm finding that some brands cause the paper to form tiny balls which stay in the vaginal/anal area after going to the loo then come out in the shower! And finally, after a shower, drying between my legs with the hairdryer rather than a towel. It helps hugely

When I was using the Ovestin every day for the two weeks when I started, it was all wonderful. But that may not have been over a flare up phase. Maybe I should try that and see if it really does stop the flare? If it's external I probably don't need a full dose every day anyway. I was using it every two days but it didn't stop the flare then. I'm finding it works best to use twice a week with the steroid once a week and moisturisers in between. I should be in a crazy flare this week but have used steroid twice this week and it's surprisingly good. Honestly, when you're THAT itchy it is urgent and you'll do whatever works.

You can. I am prescribed eumovate and it's been a life changer. (until I forget to use it!)

@NeedCoffeeNowPlease It's worth a go! I treated myself for thrush for years and slapped on Sudocrem for soreness ( a really red patch) and it's only Ovestin that it's stopped. I'm on HRT anyway so don't need much, but a tiny pea sized amount rubbed in works well (far less than the applicator amount) . Obviously if you have a wee etc straight afterwards you'd need to reapply.

Try Loratadine anti histamine pills, they're a revelation! Just make sure they're Loratadine and not cetirizine or any other main ingredient or they won’t work as well.
Loratadine takes away all itching for around 10/12 hours at a time

I think I'll give it a go, but too late for this month. Next month I'll start mid-cycle and see if it makes a difference at the worst flare. I'm not on systemic HRT. I understand about treating for thrush. That's what I did at first too. It's been years but I'm getting better at controlling it. It doesn't help that doctors are all over the place with what they think it is. Fortunately my current doctor seems to be onto things well.

Such a helpful thread, am off to the GP Monday as getting desperate with the itching - I think I might have lichen sclerosis as I see skin changes too