Atrophy - is it a problem?!

[Gardencraazy]

Any advice appreciated dear mumsnetters!

am late 50s, currently zero sex life (!!!) , on HRT patches, I do half patches to avoid migraine - at recent smear test, nurse said I had atrophy, ok no worries I said, feeling so embarrassed/ confused / worried! So she said nothing more! Maybe she mumbled about a cream but I rushed out 😳

Should I worry ?! Are there long term implications? Should I be asking for various meds or whatever to help alleviate?

Please help! Feel so embarrassed about it all!

Yes on HRT too, I'm late 50's

Does anyone know if Gina is the same stuff as Estriol, please?

Might be worth discussing with Gp and asking for external cream too
Also ask for a vaginal swab
The vaginal microbiome can get out of kilter and the first stage of Bacterial Vaginosis ( no discharge) can cause symptoms which are similar, soreness and uti type symptoms
Highly recommend probiotics specifically for the vaginal microbiome -have a look online

I use pessaries and estriol cream. The pessaries are more concentrated, but they both make a big difference - no more spots/dryness or itching. I use a pessary twice a week and cream inside and/or outside twice a week too.

Embarrassment is not 'weird', it's a common human response. Doctors are completely accustomed to patients feeling a bit embarrassed about personal matters.

Yes but if you are over 60 you can get it free on the NHS
If under 60 you can get an Hrt prepayment gor £18
It covers the whole year

Thank you!

Every other morning for me. It cured soreness, thrush, constant UTI issues incontinence,which the GP never questioned. I found out about estriol cream on Mumsnet. Was fobbed off with a few alternatives for a year. Was told it's all normal at your age. Luckily got hold of a female GP who thankfully prescribed the estriol cream. After a month I was back to normal. So no more nasty antibiotics which gave me thrush anyway.

Thank you very much, really helpful

Such helpful advice everyone thank you💐💐

In my case the female gps I saw were unhelpful. Sent me to urology consultants etcetc fir genito urinary symptoms ..... It took a young locum male gp to say try the estriol cream. Miracle within weeks

I’ve got that cream as well from GP, only just got round to using it, is it necessary to use it every day as instructed or twice a week perhaps, I tend to get thrush and UTIsmand don’t want to feel nauseous

the applicator thing was rubbish

Have you got the leaflet in the box?
The instructions are there. Ignore the rest of the info as it's out of date and only applies to systemic HRT. (It's supposed to be changed - the leaflet.)

Every day for 2 weeks , then 2 x a week after that (but you can do more if needed.)

Thanks

Yes I did read it but was worried about the side effects and that it might give me thrush because of the oestrogen etc

Does Gina have oestrogen in it?

Healthy vaginas with the right pH level don't get thrush usually. And estrogen cream creates a healthy environment.

You may get some thrush at first (impossible to say) but you can sort that with a one-off oral Diflucan tablet.

It’s worth treating it with a local cream as it really helps.

why have you not tried another type of HRT? Also how long did you give it before you reduced.

was it prescribed by GP or Gynaecologist? If former it might be worth asking GP to refer you to gynaecologist to discuss atrophy and migraines etc.

I started to atrophy about 8 years post menopause although less natural lubricant was an issue well before then.

I hadn’t realised how uncomfortable it had got until I went on HRT 10 years post menopause.

everything is much better now. No soreness (not sex related as I don’t have any nowadays), improved bladder control as had terrible urgency before. I will still breach if I sneeze on a full bladder with it hanging on to things as it were but that’s to do with injuries from childbirth.

if you can’t face the rigmarole of changing HRT try some topical oestrogen — I’ve not used it so I don’t know if you need a script for it.

I once mentioned to my NHS gyna that 88 yrs mum still on HRT and she said if she could have it her way she’d put all the old ladies in the care homes she visits on to it to stop the constant UTIs and all the other ‘old age’ issues!

Do you mean your Mum uses vaginal estrogen or systemic HRT?

Vaginal estrogen isn't HRT.

I agree with what you said by the way!

I like the applicator but then I used to use applicator tampons so felt easy

Vaginal oestrogen (UK spelling)!! Asap!!

watch this Dr Nighat Arif on the subject - atrophy is to be avoided if you can. Fine when we all died at 40 in a cave but we live so long now and atrophy can have huge negative impacts. If men had penile atrophy @ 55 the world would probably stop turning.

It is covered by hrt prepay NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA https://share.google/0icF4YdpYda3yTD3o

Can you get this before menopause? My periods are still normal (45) but I feel things have shrunk down there and I have an on off itchy patch (defo not thrush).

Yes. You can get it in perimenopause. I got it and my periods are still normal but I was having other symptoms of peri.

Systemic. She’s on a combined patch.