The strange case of ... the vanishing labia minora

[2JFDIYOLO]

I'd seen several random things recently on Insta by women worried because they'd heard the labia minora can shrink and disappear after menopause.

I'd never heard of it. At 62 I'm through and out the other side and I've read a LOT of lists of peri and meno delights and recognised loads of them.

This has to be one of those windups, like women doing videos on shedding skin like lizards to freak men out ... Surely ...? I thought.

This is silly, I thought. I'll have a feel ...

Anyway. They used to be two different sizes, with the left having a rounder frilly edge.

Not any more ...

Both have definitely got smaller and the frilly bit has ... gone.

Anyone ...?

😳

Indeed. Sheer agony for me. Like a permanent UTI.

It's the same.

VA means anything to do with genitals (and bladder) where it's all shrinking and drying out. Bladder lining thins and makes it hold less or feel more irritated.

This has been one of the most eye opening threads I've ever read, I've gone from being chilled about changes to frightened! Fused vag WTF?

I reckon I've been in peri since my late 30s (night sweats were a bastard and my memory has checked out), I'm, mid 40s now, periods are tailing off 🙌🏼

Not felt the need for intervention yet as it's been manageable, all things 'down there' and my libido seem to be in full working order, really good in fact, I'm worried it'll all vanish overnight now!

That's good news. Thank you.

I feel a bit tearful now. I've been ignoring all these symptoms, not wanting to bother the GP, telling myself it's not that bad.
Thank god for this thread, I feel like I can give myself permission to get some help now.

@Clingfilm Stop worrying but be aware! Stats say 50% of women get this but TBH it's probably FAR more as lots of women don't recognise or name or the signs.

This board is so useful for women to discuss aspects of menopause that are normally not mentioned or are airily dismissed by too many medical professionals (female as well as male).
Ageing is no fun, and the more aspects of it that can be controlled or made less problematic, the better. I fully intend to stay on HRT indefinitely.

You can buy Ovesse and Gina. It's pretty pricy - around £20 compared to an NHS prescription but if you don't want to wait, go to a pharmacy and ask or buy online.

💐 honestly it’s rubbish isn’t it? You feel like you’re going a bit mad but you’re definitely not and now you know what you need 😊

Thank you - I have been quite fortunate with perimenopause but think I might now be heading for menopause. Night sweats (actually hot flushes anytime!) have come back. Vaginal and genital changes worry me a lot as I have a very sexy husband and want to be having sex with him into our 90s! Thankfully desire and libido have so far, been unaffected.

Mate, read the fucking posts. I'll add almost constant cystitis to the list of symptoms of vaginal atrophy.

The absolute worst is no orgasms.

You haven't had it- that's great. But lots of women do have it and it really is a bit shit.

My parents always answered
"When did you last have it?"
to this sort of declaration.

Although I don't recall this specific statement ever cropping up.

Absolutely. Me any friends do talk about peri menopause and symptoms but it's fair to say we don't discuss our vaginas. I think I've sort of dismissed my issues because my friends have had it worse than me.

My GP surgery is great but if I have any issues I'll buy online. I did look at Gina cream a while ago but didn't get very far because on their website it says it's for women over 50 who are post menopausal.

I had this - one side was huge and used hang below the labia majora - I had a surgical menopause and both sides are tiny now. It doesn't bother me.

Gina is the pessary (aka Vagifem) and both it and Ovesse are licensed for OTC sales to women over 50 or post menopausal.

These criteria do not apply if you get it from a GP.

There has a been a lot of talk amongst the medical profession about how older women even in their 80s and 90s (especially those in care homes) should be using this to help prevent and control problems (eg bladders.) It can help also with incontinence (along with exercises ) by building up the tissues.

Sorry, I meant 1mg cream x

I would agree with you. I don't spend all day gazing at my fanny. The UTI's on the other hand ...

Tell me about it arrrgh!! I literally cannot have penetrative sex anymore, horrendous pain. Im using the pesseries, and I saw a womens health physio for weeks. She suggested using a vibrator (with lube) to stretch the tissues. I think I have scar tissue though, which is very tight sigh....

Jingling, do you mean that the vaginal treatments have less risk than other forms of HRT?

Can I ask a really dumb question also. Can using a vaginal treatment like Ovesse cause bleeding in the way other HRTs can?

Thanks.

.

Yeah, this. Weird, isn’t it? You take it for granted until one day it stops working like it used to.

@SunnieShineYou know that it’s not just about aesthetics and nope, none of us are lounging about all day peering up our hoops…

it’s like me being really dismissive about UTIs because I don’t suffer with them. What are you worrying about? Seems ridiculous to me! I don’t have a problem so hey, get over yourself and maybe spend a little less time thinking about it

see how that sounds? Ludicrous right?

Ever think it’s strange how they say oestrogen cream in the vagina doesn’t travel to the rest of the body, yet slap your gel on your arm or thigh and it does 🤔

I used to have plump pink cushiony labbies and a flat tum.

These days ... It's all changed places ...

symptoms of vagina atrophy
constant UTI like cystitis
dry / sore painful sex
painful sex
itching
No libido
I had all of this for the last year
honestly sex was so painful and sore

what sorted it for me was intrarosa and testosterone and regular HRT and a tiny bit of topical estriol cream
within a month all symptoms stopped and my libido is back and I have loads more energy
I’m no longer dry / sore and can have sex with no lube

there is a great FB page called vagina atrophy lots of really good advice

if you can afford it then the newson menopause clinic is fab expensive but amazing as intrarosa & testosterone can’t always be prescribed by your doctor

also you can get up to 9 HRT items a month on the nhs hrt prescription for £20 or £40 a year
similar to the pre paid prescription

While we're here, can I recommend femalephysioco over on Insta?

She pops up in your feed (matron) with little pelvic floor exercise routines you can do as she counts.

She's very sweet!

I feel very virtuous sat here doing it in this cafe although my other half has asked why I seem to be ever so slightly bobbing up and down in my seat.