Please share positive experiences of treatment for vaginal atrophy symptoms

[FergoMcFergFace]

I joined the Vaginal Atrophy group on Facebook and while there's plenty of useful info on there, it's also a firepit of poor women who've been suffering for years with little relief. 😩

I find it really upsetting and I need someone to tell me to get a grip and/or give me some positive stories of successful treatment.

I've been backwards and forwards to the doctors for the past eight months with vaginal dryness and I'm in the middle of a major flare up of vaginal soreness.

I have a doctor's appointment in less than two weeks but in the meantime, I'm only using Hydromol because everything else stings.

I've only tried Blissel so far but both times I tried it, I had an awful reaction by day seven. Estriol is my next option.

Thank you if you got this far!

@NorthernDancer
I know this is off the topic of the thread, but my partner was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer just over a year ago at the age of 47.
He had to have the prostate removed.
Sex still happens, although it's not as spontaneous!! He had a penis pump, which he uses daily as physiotherapy to help encourage erections to return, and we use injections (can't remember the name!) prescribed by the GP to allow a full erection for sex.
It might be that things improve over the coming year or so.
I suppose all I:m saying is please don't feel this has to be an end to intimacy between you and your husband.
Wishing your husband a swift recovery, and sending thoughts to you. It's hard being the supporting partner. X💐

I struggled with symptoms for several years before starting on estrogen cream. I had a massive battle with my GP to get HRT which is a saga in itself - even after having a hysterectomy with conservation of ovaries when I was 44 it took 5 appointments and 4 prescriptions for everything from Prozac to folic acid before I demanded patches and got them. Estrogen cream was not mentioned.

It took repeated UTIs - like 6 within 6 months - and constant itch, dryness and discomfort to get the estrogen cream and that was only because I asked for it after reading threads on here and seeing reels on Insta from people like Nighat Arif. Bad news is that the damage is partially done and I have a very minor prolapse. Good news is that with the estrogen cream it won't get worse and the UTIs are practically gone.

There is a school of thought that EVERY woman who has passed the menopause should be given vaginal estrogen as it's practically zero risk and saves a fortune in treating complex UTIs in the elderly. I fully expect to be using it for the rest of my life.

And to be clear it makes me FURIOUS that nobody in GPs practices is looking at women and thinking hang on, we've got a 53 year old who had a hysterectomy 8 or 9 years ago, is on estrogen patches yet has still had 6 prescriptions for UTIs in 6 months - maybe we should offer vaginal estrogen cream.

Nope, it's up to the women to do the reading, do the learning and make the requests. It's a fucking scandal.

I agree its a disgrace.

I spread the word to any younger friends in their 40s to start pre emptive treatment. I also suggested ovestin to my mum who has had recurring bladder issues for years.

Sadly no one seems to listen to me which I can't quite get my head round.

They are.

I saw a recent NHS add saying 'if you have repeated UTIs, ask your GP about Oestrogen cream'

I wish I'd screen shot it and posted on here.

There is a book on this topic written by a member of another forum (Menopause Matters) - called Me and My Menopausal Vagina and the author is Jane Lewis.

It's about her journey about VA. It was published some years ago (maybe 10 or more) and supposedly distributed to many GP practices.
Jane was also on daytime TV talking about her experience.

She wrote the book to try to educate other women and GPs.

She was in a very bad way and thought it would help other women.

I use the pessary and a bit of the cream. I haven't had a UTI since I started using the Vagifem pessary 2 years ago. I also put estriol cream on the tip of the applicator and then stick a little on the rest of my bits as well. It's magic stuff. It was a bit nippy to start with but that stopped. I know an 85 year old who has constantly hospitalised with UTIs who had been prescribed the pessaries and cream. It's never too late.

100 per cent. I’ve posted before on other threads about my awful experience but basically lots of UTIs. Antibiotics thrown at it. Still sore and stinging. “Drink more water”. Another UTI. A young GP at my practice had a look. Can see some sort of brown patch. “I’m sending you for a biopsy”. So I asked would that cause all this weeing and stinging? “It could do” and gave me steroid cream to try. Finally got the appointment through with the gynaecologist. Couldn’t see anything worth doing a biopsy on. I asked what is all this stinging and weeing?!!! All he said was we offer Vagifem and steroid cream. I said I had Vagifem a few years ago and it gave me labour pains and the steroid cream did nothing. He replied (wait for it) “they are the only two options. That’s all we offer”. That was the end of 2021. I ended up on antidepressants (not that I minded; they’ve been brilliant) and went onto the Menopause Matters website where I discovered something called Ovestin (which is now branded estriol) Spoke to a different GP at the surgery. Asked him to prescribe it and it’s been like a miracle. I could barely leave the house with the constant stinging and weeing. My underneath felt like it had been kicked by a horse and most of the time I just laid with a cold flannel on it. Absolutely disgusting how little the doctors know.

Disgusting how little many of them know, but also disgusting the attitude that it's "just one of those things" or that you just need to get on with it. If penises started shrivelling up in midlife you can be sure that would be taken a bit more seriously and we would ALL know about it.

I had never even heard the word atrophy before I was about 50.

No nor me. I thought menopause meant feeling hot now and then and your periods stopped. Make you laugh, the gynae I saw was one all the women wanted to see and waited months for an appointment! Really? Fucking useless.

who do all women want to see yet doesn't know about VA?

The mind boggles. It’s fundamental surely.

You said it was a doctor all women want to see. So do they not treat va?

@JinglingSpringbells Out of interest Ive just googled him and asked some questions through AI. He absolutely should have been able to treat me and not just have said Vagifem and steroid cream were my only options. He should have known to prescribe Ovestin. Maybe he didn’t like me who knows but I’m now even more baffled.

OP- get it lasered!

Best thing I ever did. Info here: https://thewomenshealth.clinic/treatment/laser-vaginal-tightening/

It really helped my pelvic floor so much

PM me his name? Curious.
It can't be who I think you mean as they have a video online about treating VA as part of an interview.

Does it help with peeing spray and constant soreness from dryness? If so, I am in! My clinic is doing deals at the moment, its much cheaper here, I think anout £300 for the course

No it won't. That needs topical estrogen.

The jury is still out on laser treatment I think the BMS has info on this (check it out) but I'm sure it is not all it's supposed to be. Read and research valid medical sites and papers like google scholar before paying any money for treatments.

I have vagifem 10 sticks. As I mentioned used them for about a week and decided they dont work. I think i need to start again and be patient don't I? My doctor said use for 3 out of 7 days every week for thenforeseeable future. Does that sound sensible? Sorry to ask all these questions but it is so good to be able to ask 🌻

I cant answer that because I didnt have those issues but I can now go running after 3 cups of coffee whereas before I couldn't!

I also get fraxel laser done on my face and the difference its made to my skin is amazing- I have read it helps for VA but obviously good to research it all first.

A week is nothing. women here report improvement after 3 or even 6 months. It is not an overnight fix. It takes years for estrogen to fall and months for the tissues to revert back to normal.

There are vagifem pessaries and estriol cream . I use cream as it can be used externally too.

The guidance is daily for 2 to 3 weeks, then 2 x a week BUT this is guidance. Many women use it every other day after the initial daily doses.

What a remarkable and supportive thread this has turned into. For all the nonsense, and sometimes nastiness, that exists on Mumsnet, this is what we should be about, women supporting women.

I am horrified at the treatment some of you have had at the hands of GPs etc, and realise how fortunate I am with my GP surgery - every single Dr, Nurse or HCA I have had any menopause/gynae/HRT dealings with has been nothing but supportive and helpful, I have felt so heard and listened to.

I will be writing to them to express my gratitude - I shouldn’t have to as it should be the norm, but sounds like they aren’t and so should be applauded!

No real point to this post, sorry to go off on one

I've been off estriol for a while now and have no issues these days. But the cream helped massively.

I would not explore zapping my nether regions with lasers as a first option. Estriol cream, the pessaries or the ring are cheap, non-invasive and available on the NHS.

I would be very skeptical of any commercial site/clinic extolling the virtues of a treatment they have a vested interest in selling you.

Estriol solved my over-active bladder and vaginal prolapse almost overnight. I use it when needed, usually twice a week. Good luck!