What do you use for err 'intimate' itching?

[TabithaTwitchel]

Dunno why I'm being coy

Anyway it's not thrush or anything like that - it is definitely hormonal menopausal itching and it's driving me mad at the moment

What's your go to to soothe an itchy fanny? (Put bluntly!)

Vagisil often helps, as does the Nadaya oil sometimes. I also have some oestrogen cream I think

But do you have a tried and tested remedy as none of the above are providing immediate relief right now! Is it a case of a pot of natural live yogurt or is that not a thing now?!

The NP at my GP who is a menopause specialist recommended Yes or Sylk for this.

I get Hydromol on prescription and it really helps. You can buy it OTC so if you get on with it you can then ask for a prescription for a bloody great tub. To be clear this isn't a vaginal lubricant, it's for external skin.

Thanks both! Will check out both of these suggestions.

It's not dryness or anything - just plain bloody itching! I hadn't thought to try a moisturiser tbh!

Vagifem.

If it’s external Sudocream is great

Lanacane.

Have you tried vagifem pessaries? I use these twice per week and they work really well. I remember being so itchy it was hard to sit down.

My meno Dr recommended Yes too.

I had the itching absolutely terrible for a year at beginning of menopause and couldn't believe I never saw it mentioned by others as something some women get -

I actually made myself red raw and got some special stuff shipped from Australia- smelt of coal tar like you would use on eczema- did work though

Ovestin cream. Comes with an applicator. Absolute game changer. Think it’s prescription only but no reason why your GP wouldn’t prescribe it.

I had it terribly about 2 years ago, seems to have eased off now - I guess kike you @Crikeyalmighty it was kind of the start of symptoms. I'll maybe look at getting some Yes for the occasional flare ups.

My problem now is itchy ears, which apparently is a peri thing as well. 😭

You need to get it checked out by a dr - it could be lichen sclerosis - which needs monitoring. Hydromol, Cetreben ointment, Epimax, Oilatum are all worth trying to see what works for you use as soap as well as moisturise. Dead Sea salt baths are good. Avoid tight jeans, go for loose clothes , go commando ant home! and switch to zero / sensitive skin washing liquid and non perfumed soap or shower gel. You should shower immediately after swimming in chlorinated pools. Wear white pants to avoid dye leaching out into the vulva. I was given all this advice at the hospital. I’ve also had steroid cream and vagifem pessaries.

When you say you think you have some oestrogen cream, you need to find it and use it! It’s made a huge difference for me, I alternate the ovestin cream and Vagifem pessaries, also use coconut oil as a moisturiser/lube, which helps a lot.

However, while this all helped with itchiness and dryness, I didn’t notice my clitoris essentially shrivelling up! It was only when I got a new partner that I noticed how feeble my orgasms were and how hard it was for him to even find it. Spoke to Meno Clinic nurse and she said testosterone might help with sensation but unlikely to have physical changes, which is frustrating.

Have since started testosterone as well as the oestrogen gel/cream/pessary combo and utrogesten pills, so I feel like I’m taking a lot of stuff now, but I finally feel like I’m getting back to myself.

Don’t let coyness rob you of your orgasms - be aware of changes down there and get on it before it’s irreversible.

Estriol cream with applicator on prescription has relived the itching and dryness I suffered with. I kept using Vagisil not realising it was a lack of oestrogen causing my symptoms.

@gerispringer thanks! However it really isn't anything other than menopausal itching. Definitely not LS

@Allthecatseverywhereallatonce I'll get some of those - thanks! I have had them before about a year ago and just stopped taking them so I'll make sure I get some more

And thanks all- lots to explore here

@gettingalife that's a good point. I know that the lack of oestrogen is causing this stupid itching so I do need to actually treat that topically - the vagisil is a bit of a plaster I suppose

i hate the euphemism “vaginal dryness” that is used because you can most definitely be “dry” while still feeling wet if that makes sense

topical oestrogen in cream or pessary form is what you need. That treats the underlying thinning and drying of the vagina. You can get it on prescription or over the counter (though it’s much more expensive)

and yes the disappearing lips and clitoris was a shock as well. I use oestrogen cream externally to help with that

Can I ask what the difference is between vagifem and Gina tablets? Thanks!

@Echobelly yep- mine persisted for about 18 months and then just went away- I think because I had rarely (if ever) seen it mentioned I didn't link it- also due to mirena I hadn't had a period since I was 36 so didn't link it either- I was 50/51at the time - it was in fact the only real symptom I had apart from a bit of feeling like creepy crawlers were on me occasionally and a small bit of night sweating

Similarly I have had the contraceptive implant for years@Crikeyalmighty so I get no periods and couldn't link it to that. I think the undercarriage itching lasted about 6 months, not constantly, but I did have a few nights where I could barely sleep due to it.

No difference, same thing. Gina is the name that you can buy privately in the chemist. Think it's about £20, so it's double the price of prescription vagifem but it saves a trip to the gp.

I’ve just bought Vulva Balm and it’s been great, I have suffered for many years with itching and this has soothed it in a few day.

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