Vaginal moisturiser

[Purplehairbrush]

Can anyone recommend a moisturiser for use inside the vagina? I’ve been feeling sore and the nurse had a look earlier and said there’s a red patch at the entrance to the vagina so I want to find a moisturiser to use that doesn’t matter if it gets a bit inside. Thanks!

Ovestin cream is excellent

Yes yes yes VM is made for the vagina - it’s very calming

You really need a local estrogen cream. Moisturisers just make a temporary 'fix' but don't treat the underlying problem.

If you're over 50 you can by Ovesse cream from a pharmacy, if you're not 50 you need to get it from your GP.

The nurse ought to have explained this and got a GP to prescribe.

I’m not convinced I’m actually in Peri yet (literally no symptoms just soreness) but after hearing recently how this is a big issue for peri / menopausal women I figured this was the best place to ask for now and also the future given I suspect it’ll get worse for me when I do go through it.

Or a pessary such as vagifem - I don’t need to muck around with creams.

I would ask your gp if vagifem would help. It did for me with a similar issue but I was past menopause

It's personal choice and depends on the problem. Cream is also used externally on soreness- pessaries can't be. Soreness of the vulva isn't treated with a pessary. Some women use both.

Thanks everyone. Looked like this yes yes yes brand could be a winner as it doesn’t have hormones in. Bloody expensive though! I will try it somewhere else on my body first just in case I’m allergic. Imagine!

TBH you should really have a diagnosis and not assume it's dryness.
Redness can be caused by thrush even if you don't have a typical curdy white discharge. Did the nurse not do a swab? If you made an appt about the soreness, swabs should be done and if it's vaginal dryness it needs a gynaecologist or a GP to look because sometimes it's not as obvious as you may imagine.

However, for women who are definitely in peri, no examination is needed and treatment is just prescribed on the basis of symptoms.

If you are in peri and have the start of vaginal dryness (which often isn't 'dry' but sore) that needs more than a moisturiser.

The only types you can but over the counter that have estrogen in are Ovesse and Gina. The pharmacist would do a check first to see if you're over 50. If you aren't you can only get these from a GP.

Yes yes yes can be bought via Ocado - that way delivery isn’t an extra cost and their pricing is often a little less than Yes itself. You can get it on prescription too! They do a gentle cleansing foam for the outer parts - lasts ages

I use Estriol oestrogen (from my GP)
when needed and Yes vaginal moisturiser. Both are great.

@JinglingSpringbells i saw a gynaecologist when this first all started which was about 8 years ago. I was referred urgently due to ‘skin changes’ and a concern over possible LS. Gynaecology told me it is just dryness, and hormone driven at times (it would always get worse just before my period started).

I started washing with emollient and using an external moisturiser under her recommendation and got it under control for a number of years but the last 12 months or so it’s started happening again, usually hormonal but sometimes not.

I treated for thrush as I was recently on antibiotics and the nurse said there was no evidence of thrush hence why she didn’t swab. She said there wasn’t even any cervical mucous so I’m not too sure? She said there’s literally one small bright red area right at the vaginal entrance but the vaginal walls themselves look normal.

im only 38 and don’t think I’m in peri… this is basically my only issue (and as I say started when I was about 30), periods are normal, no hot flushes / brain fog etc so I’d like to think not! I was told blood tests are unlikely to yield answers as oestrogen fluctuates anyway?

@1NeedPampering ill take a look, thank you! I saw it’s on Amazon too

Do Ovesse and Yes yes yes come with the weird tissuey discharge that Replens does? Was fine using it and the discharge is putting me off, it doesn’t really come out though, have to scoop it out myself! It also hasn’t helped with vulval dryness, is a pessary plus cream better?

will ask at next review but need a temporary relief. Im on gel, progesterone tablets. I am over 50 but still having periods, although they are becoming less frequent

No. Nothing like Replens.

If you're using HRT you should either be having a regular withdrawal bleed every 4th week, or no bleeding at all- how much progesterone are you using?

If it's 100mg daily that is no-bleed.

!f it's 200mgs x 12 days a month that is a cycle and you would usually have a withdrawal bleed.

GP should explain all of this.

Orchid, there should be no discharge like that from yes yes yes