Vaginal atrophy?

[Miriad]

I had sex and the following morning I developed symptoms that match thrush or UTI. Tests and swabs are all clear. Antibiotics and pessaries haven’t worked. If it was just irritation I’d expect it to ease off, but it’s been a month.

I’m 44. GP insists it must be vaginal atrophy because tests are clear, and has prescribed hormone cream. But I don’t see how vaginal atrophy can suddenly be triggered by sex?

I wouldn't say it's triggered by sex op, more that the action of intercourse would irritate the skin in the area that's been potentially thinning?

A symptom of menopausal atrophy is urethral shortening and thinning of urethral muscosa and control of the urethra contracting. This can leave you open to UTIs.

I'd recommend asking for a gynaecology appt, and ask about estrogen cream which can work against atrophy.

My gynaecologist also gave me a wash for the labia that isn't drying, and I use a "fatty" gel called Deuvaman gel after showering which keeps the skin around the area supple and moisturised.

I was absolutely fine and pain free, then I had sex and developed symptoms of burning and urgency. GP is saying as tests are clear it must be a peri symptom that requires hormone cream.

I can see how thinning skin could result in irritation, but surely that would settle after a few weeks and it would go back to normal? I had sex a couple of weeks earlier and this didn’t happen afterwards.

Sounds like a UTI, there's a post on here somewhere about a woman struggling to get antibiotics because her tests kept coming back clear at the GP. The she went private and got the antibiotics she needed so don't give up yet, if you can afford it, go private! You can also get UTI antibiotics from a pharmacy now I believe, might be worth trying...

I’ve had 3 types of antibiotics which didn’t work. I’ve had thrush pessary and oral pill which didn’t work. Testing clear for everything.

But I don’t see how I can be perfectly healthy and pain free, then I have sex one time and Bam! Suddenly I have severe burning pain from vaginal atrophy that never goes away.

I can appreciate that there may be atrophy which has allowed an infection to take hold easily. But I don’t see how I can have this sudden lasting pain with no infection?

Did they test you for BV? GPs generally don't test for it but the GUM clinic will. I get it after sex quite often and my main symptom is just that I'm super sore vaginally.

Currently on metronidazole for that exact reason.

I had sex with my husband in January and immediately developed the same symptoms as you. I'm 51 though. I tested positive for thrush, despite there being no discharge. GP put me on a long course of Fluconazole, but it has not worked. I saw the GP again the other day and she said it looks like vaginal atrophy. Great. I already take vagifem pessaries, and she has now added ovestin cream to be used on the sore areas of the vulva. Hope you get sorted. Maybe you should see a female GP to discuss your concerns. Good luck.

Shin I'm going to say it could be BV. Go to a GUM clinic and get tested. Thrush and BV often occur together.

You can buy gel from Amazon that may help

I'd see a different GP

Then I'd try a sexual health clinic

Then I'd see a gynae specialist privately

You sure it’s not an STD?

I’ve been married for 20 years, DH insists he hasn’t cheated and I believe him, he has no symptoms and there’s no evidence to suggest he has cheated. Plus I’ve tested negative for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis etc.

I’ve seen 3 GPs and 2 nurses. My swab done by the nurse tested negative for both thrush and BV. I don’t have any discharge or smell. I’m at my wits end.

Get a gynae referral. I was told I had VA five years ago when I had a smear by a practice nurse. No advice what should be done. This year I had gynae consult on 2WW pathway for bleeding so transvaginal ultrasound followed by internal exam by gynae consultant. I asked before exam about VA and could that be looked at too as I was concerned. The consultant told me there was absolutely no evidence of it.

What is the wash please?

You've nothing to lose by trying the oestrogen cream and potentially a lot to gain.

And the vaginal atrophy is coming, at 44 your GP is right, it has probably arrived already.

I saw the pharmacist about a uti and he reckoned that mine was caused by irritation , rather than infection. I use products to combat vaginal dryness ,and he mentioned that this may be caused by a decline in hormones.

It is common to get a uti after sex , it's referred to as honeymoon cystitis.

You are lucky to have had a treatment prescribed. It may keep any further discomfort at bay.

@LeilaLettuce its called Der-Med

OP there's also the possibility of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosis which can cause similar irritations.

I'd definitely want to see a Gynaecology professional if I were you. You must be at your wits end.

I was having UTI symptoms all the time and after having sex. Took numerous water samples to the doctors with them all coming back negative. So much so I was beginning to think it was all in me head! Then I spoke to a lovely lady doctor over the phone while dealing with the doctor for something unrelated for my daughter and she said any female over 45 feeling like they have UTI everyday and the samples coming back negative we treat with vaginal estrogen im
On Estriol- OMG it has changed my life !! I don't wake up everyday feeling like I have a UTI or after sex anymore! I call it magic cream 😃- i hope you get sorted x

This happened to me 3 years ago. Suddenly started getting UTI symptoms and thrush like symptoms. Never really settled. Started vagifem and have never looked back. I wondered why? Just out of the blue but honestly you just need to try the treatment. I'm 60 now and also on hrt patches. I'm a GP so it was really useful to be on the other side of things and realise how quickly things can change and how uncomfortable it is.

But I don’t see how vaginal atrophy can suddenly be triggered by sex?

You've got it the wrong way round. VA can make you more vulnerable to UTIs/discomfort which can then be triggered by sex.

Why not try the suggested treatment and see if it helps, I can't see any downside to it.

They’re saying 100% of the pain is caused by VA alone. No UTI or infection present. I don’t see how I can be perfectly fine at 10pm then suddenly have agonisingly painful VA at 7am the next day?

IME the discomfort could be more like chafing than necessarily an actual infection. I'm not sure but I think if they're dry and a bit inflamed the walls may kind of rub against themselves and perpetuate the problem?

@Miriad But any 'illness' or condition has a starting point. It's a bit like saying 'I didn't have a cold sore/spot/ sore throat last night and today I have'.

That's how things change.

The changes have possibly been there for some time but very gradual (like a lot of health things that can occur without warning as the subtle signs weren't apparent.)

If someone has VA then yes, it's a gradual process.

There's no harm in using estrogen so give it a whirl?

Well - after the useless GP insisted that vaginal atrophy can appear suddenly and cause agonising pain within a few hours - I cured it with an oral thrush pill.

This is after the GP did a swab test and said I don’t have thrush!

Just goes to show, you shouldn’t always believe your GP because they sometimes talk bollocks.

They often talk bollocks in my experience.

@Miriad I'd bear in mind that low estrogen can make you more susceptible to thrush because the pH of the vagina changes.

Taking the oral capsule may have dealt with the symptoms at the moment but they may come back.

I'm saying this partly from personal experience thinking I had thrush- maybe I had- but any treatment was always temporary.

The process of VA is very gradual and goes from no symptoms to noticeable symptoms at some point.

It's actually good that your GP is on the ball and willing to offer possible solutions because many women have to beg to get estrogen cream.