Burning down below

[burningNC]

Is this a menopause thing as well?!
my urethra is burning randomly. No UTI symptoms at all, no need to go more often etc. no STIs
did a thrush treatment in case it was that
any other ideas? Thrush cream helped but it was more that the cream was soothing rather than the thrush bit

There was a thread on here recently about a certain brand of toilet roll causing some issues. Have you changed the toilet roll you buy recently?
it might have been Costco.

Please go and see GP, could be lichen sclerosis, that’s how it started for me.

@burningNC Incredibly common. It's called vaginal atrophy or GSM- genital symptoms of menopause- but affects all the skin around the bladder and the bladder.
Google both VA and GSM for more info.
It's very easily treated. You can now buy a very weak estrogen cream or a tiny pessary- look up Ovesse and Gina- or see your GP and get it prescribed.

Are you on vaginal estrogen? I had UTI type symptoms - didn't feel dry at all, just lots of cystitis/thrush/wrong shower gel type stuff. Pessaries cleared it up. I had to stop the pessaries for a week for my smear test and bam it all came back and I had to double dose the pessaries for a fortnight to make it all stop.

I’ve managed to buy some which is on the way! A lot of places I tried wouldn’t let me buy as I’m 41

I’ve not been out the place this week but if it carries on I’ll go

Ah- didn't know your age.

It's licensed to buy OTC for women over 50 and post menopause.
However in reality many younger women need it too.

I'd still see your GP if you're worried but it's a very low dose and using it for a couple of weeks won't do any harm.

Do you have other peri symptoms?

Yes I’m on HRT, 1 pump of gel, oral progesterone every day and a mirena (endo so I needed extra progesterone)

If you're only 42 and need HRT it's likely you need more than 1 pump of gel which will help the VA if you move up to 2 pumps.

Ahh ok
i started it due to overwhelming anxiety, panic, loss of confidence driving etc
I had a huge gynae surgery last year and they think that brought on peri due to all the faffing with my ovaries and possibly they took some ovary tissue

edited to add - it just depends how I get on with extra oestrogen as I need to keep it as minimal as possible

Well a lump has just appeared so it looks like it’s that causing it… too high up for a bartho whatever it is cyst, it’s right near my urethra
guess it’s a GP trip

That's where Bartholin's cysts can appear.

See your GP.

I’ve rung them, got to ring back at 2pm and they’ll give me a weekend appointment with a female GP

It’s a cyst on the Skenes gland, got antibiotics

Good to have a diagnosis, let us know how you get on with the antibiotics x

I also have an infected thumb (long story) so she’s given me an antibiotic she said is good for cysts/skin infections
I’m a bit… cross. She was examining me and it hurt, and she said “I’ve finished now so you can stop panicking”
I didn’t tell her I’ve just had to do a police statement for a sexual assault but surely you presume that if someone is tense there’s a reason why?

Good about the dual-purpose antibiotics! Hope your thumb is better too
I’m so sorry you’ve had the experience of SA, it is an awful thing to have to revisit the event for a statement.
I do think you’re being a little harsh on the GP there, tbh. It’s pretty normal to have a tense patient because of a particular procedure, rather than the much more traumatic event you lived through.

I think I was more tense as she was using a speculum but not inside me, it was to hold everything open? And it hurt

That’s understandable

It’s less sore but the lump is still there
not really a lump, it’s like a soft swelling
thumb is still not happy (pic of thumb!)

No change still in the lump. I have options of
GP but not until next month
GUM clinic I can ring on Monday and see when they can get me in
it’s almost a flat lump like broad bean shape

Back to update I went to the GUM clinic. She said she could easily see it (the GP struggled) and then asked her manager to look as well
said no more antibiotics but it looked like it could be on the way out and come back if not
swabbed for infection so waiting results

anyway it’s back, pain urinating and burning feeling around it so I’ve got another appointment in about 10 days

very pissed off as it’s now stopping me doing spin or having sex!

I have a skenes gland cyst. It is as you describe - small broad bean shaped. Mine has been there quite a long time, but it doesn't hurt like that. Is it actively infected or something?

I’m honestly not sure, I’ve had a course of antibiotics
it’s like it settles for a few days then flares up again