Vaginal discomfort - is HRT the problem?!

[menoq]

Since I became peri menopausal/started HRT I've been really uncomfortable down there. Dry, fragile and generally uncomfortable. I'm on estrogel and doctor advised to up the pumps. It hasn't made a great deal of difference. I just came back from holiday where I forgot to take my HRT (left it at home) and for the first time in a year didn't have any issues down there at all. Notable relief.
Is it possible that HRT could actually cause the problem?
(I haven't been swimming or done anything that could coincidently have changed things down there).

It's more likely to be advancing menopause than HRT oestrogen I would have thought.

Vagifem localised oestrogen pessaries is the suggested solution in the HRT groups I follow on Facebook.

The HRT Truth Collective and Vaginal Atrophy are worth a look. As is FPOPS U.K. (all Facebook groups)

Thank you 🙏

Realise this is an oldish thread but am interested to know if things have improved for you OP?
I've recently started hrt estrogen patches (already have the mirena- got it inserted 2 years ago) and started to feel vaginal dryness about 2 weeks in, so after my 4th patch. So odd. 😕

Anyone else had this?

@Biscuitsareme I persevered with HRT for a bit and then came off it all together and my problems down below are completely gone.

It's really strange, as advancing menopause sounds like the most sensible answer, but I genuinely believe it was the HRT. Incidentally my sleep actual improved after coming off HRT, too!

I'm now getting crazy brain fog so peri definitely advancing - I might explore a different type of HRT, but if it creates the same problems I'll have a very difficult choice to make.

Really hope it works out for you :)

You may not have absorbed the gel very well. Try patches?

Thanks @menoq ! It's a difficult one isn't it? I've definitely noticed an improvement in sleep, mood, energy levels and next to no brain fog with the patches...but the vaginal dryness is frustrating. My next step will be localised estrogen. See if that helps. Strange that no-one else has mentioned this so far as a side effect of hrt. Good luck finding hrt that works for you! 🍀

Ovestin. Topical vaginal oestrogen.

Game changing and localised so you can use it even if you don't want/can't take HRT.