What could be causing this soreness and itching?

[OwlFC]

Have had some delightful intimate itching for about 6 weeks now. It's not constant and varies in soreness/ itchiness but I'm generally aware of it a fair bit of the time.

But what could be causing it?

I'm 51 and last had a period in May so I'm firmly perimenopausal. I don't take HRT but I do use Gina and have done for a couple of months (I am using this to try and combat the issue!)

No new washing powders / soaps / lotions etc

It isn't thrush as I've tested for that and treated with both pessary and cream, just in case. It isn't any other infection.

Its also not internal - it's more soreness and itching around the outside and a little further up.

No discharge, no redness and I don't suffer with dryness

Any ideas what I could try please?

I have lichen schlerosis and your symptoms sound very similar to mine. A gynaecologist prescribed a topical steroid cream.

OP Ihave recently had something that sounds similar but i'm def menopausal. It turned out to be lichen sclerosous and treated with a steroid cream.
LS is often characterised by white patches

I don't think it's LS or anything like that. I've had a good look (enjoyed that a lot!) and it all looks perfectly normal, not a white patch in sight and no change at all in how it looks or feels

I'm leaning towards this being caused by fluctuating oestrogen and I'm going to get some of the ovestin cream to use and see how that goes

My gynae suggests using Vagifem/Gina internally and Ovestin externally. With the latter she said to rub it in well and use on the whole vulval/perineal area.

@OwlFC I'm using the Vagifem twice a week now after using it for 14 days continuously at first.
It was actually the practice nurse who got one of the doctors to prescribe it for me.

Vagifem changed my life by stopping the awful itching.

Has this resolved for you? I’m having very similar but 40 so don’t know if it’s perimenopausal or not…