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Original poster

Atrophy - is it a problem?!

81 replies

Gardencraazy · 13/08/2026 19:49

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!

OP posts:
bocketyaulbag · Yesterday 08:32

It's very common. I also had a sore rectal area which is linked. I use vaginal pessaries. They help a lot.

bocketyaulbag · Yesterday 08:33

rivalsbinge · Yesterday 08:04

I wonder if this is what I have? I’m 51 on HRT but I keep waking at 4am scratching myself like crazy.. and then I go back to sleep wake up in the morning sore and during the day it calms down and then nightly again the itching starts. I do it without being fully awake as well. I have just realised I haven’t had any discharge for maybe a year + as well so this post and googling has just made me realise I may have this. I’m not sexually active so no way of knowing about dryness with sex etc

Yes I had terrible itching also and didn't recognize it as atrophy

JinglingSpringbells · Yesterday 09:45

Additup · Yesterday 07:29

With respect Jingling changing from pessaries might help @Biiz . I used vagifem for over a year with no problem but then they started causing uncomfortable bladder feelings/urgency. I swapped to cream inside and out and it was all resolved. I think the pessaries can be a bit drying for some people. I use an estring now and its fab.

Show quote history

@Biiz is having a problem emptying her bladder. That's not the same as urgency, frequency and burning but even if she does have those as well she still could have prolapse. (I've had surgery for that.) Not saying don't try cream but just be aware there could be other things going on as well.

ClawsandEffect · Yesterday 09:52

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ThatPearlSnail · Yesterday 10:08

I tried the pessaries but didn't get on with the applicators, so I requested the Estradiol cream. It works really well for me every other day following the two week loading period. I use Estrogel as well.

I had a total hysterectomy and the atrophy was probably the worst symptom and it happened scarily fast. Gp only offered Estrogel at first, even though I presented with hot flushes and dryness. It was my own research that informed I should also use pessaries/cream so I requested using econsult and the prescription was there the next day.

rivalsbinge · Yesterday 16:35

Lottapianos · Yesterday 08:17

@rivalsbinge , itching or feeling hot / dry / irritated in your vagina or vulva could definitely be signs of peri related issues. Highly recommend vaginal oestrogen cream. It feels so nice to apply - really cooling and smoothing,like putting a lovely body lotion on dry skin. My issues were mostly to do with weeing a lot, and it took around 8 weeks to feel much difference but I've been so impressed with the improvement

Arhh thanks off to the GP again, I’ve been stupidly using thrush treatments on and off.

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