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!

Mine arrived yesterday but an holding off till Monday to start in case there are side effects….

Nope
The pessaries are absorbed into the tissues of the bladder and vulva also
My issues improved and everything went to back to full working order and more not describing as wierdos lurk
I used the cream as well and found it was too much in that area again vague I had to stop as it was extremely uncomfortable
Not everyone needs both

Fair enough. Maybe its age dependant too. The older you are, the lower your natural oestrogen and the more likely you are to need the cream as well.

Everyone's different 🙂

Hello @FergoMcFergFace. Did this come on quite suddenly for you? If so was it after taking antibiotics by any chance? You mention greenish discharge and this is a characteristic of a condition called aerobic vaginitis. Not saying it is but might be wise to look it up. Not widely recognised within the NHS as I found to my cost.

Yes and no. I've been back and forward to the doctors with other menopause symptoms and general dryness since January. Didn't get on with Blissel, despite trying twice. Then five weeks ago everything really ramped up out of nowhere so I started using Yes VM again.

I had realised (stupidly - I'm normally really careful about things like this) that the tube I was using had been open a couple of months too long. I didn't realise you're supposed to discard it after four months. But none of the clinicians I've seen have been that concerned about that. I am awaiting swab results.

Am cursing myself. I had some atrophy about 3 years ago before I started HRT. Things defo calmed down in that area and I had vagifem pessaries then moved onto the Ovestin cream. But of course I got rubbish taking it regularly and now find myself on about day 8 of a really sore vagina!! I also had thrush so did that treatment which helped but then I got my period the next day (still on cyclical HRT so still bleed every month) so having to deal with that too so can’t do much with cream etc. also think biking in the gym and dancing has made it a whole lot worse.
Will book the drs when period is over to take a look. I’ve also had internal skin tags removed in the past and not sure if I have another of those. Oh and a grade 1 prolapse (which is fairly common but doesn’t help!) Argh the stinging!

That sounds the absolute pits. 😔 I'd book an appointment now as you never know how long they'll make you wait for a face-to-face appointment. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Thanks. It is the pits. Starts off ok but always end the day stinging and very sore.
Sometimes my drs surprise me and book me in the next day so feel like I need to give it a couple of days.
Will also book to see a women’s pelvic physio. Just want the pain to go as can’t function like this!

Little update from me. I had an appointment at the hospital to discuss HRT and the doctor examined me. He said it wouldn't hurt to try a short course of steroids and that I'd feel better within three days, which sounded very appealing.

Well, I felt worse by day three and much redder.

So now, on the advice of my GP, I'm back on just the Estriol. Didn't think I could feel any worse than I did when I started this thread. I just hope the Estriol kicks in soon.

You poor thing, I hope you start to feel better soon.

@FergoMcFergFace that sounds awful. Really hope the estriol works soon. Sounds like it takes a while and we have to be consistent.

I saw the Dr (even with my period) and she said it all looked fine! Examination was a bit uncomfortable and I just have to do better and stay on top of the oestrogen cream. I’m beginning to feel better now and defo not as sore. I have learnt my lesson there!

Such an interesting thread. Thank you. I’ve had ten months of discomfort now with a prickly wet feeling - jeans are very uncomfortable. More discharge than normal. I have tried both cream and pessarys but probably only for 6 weeks and then stopped as didn’t notice a difference. Also both a gp, gum clinic nurse and gyno have examined me and not one has said I look like I have atrophy? Would they be able to tell? I’ve also tried yes vm but I find it irritating and stings.

A gynaecologist should be able to tell you, although I guess at 10 months, the symptoms may be more apparent to you then the visual signs are to a health professional.

Have you been swabbed for infections?

Yes every test for infection going - and a microbiome test that says I have a high level of lactobacillus

There are other options to try - maybe ask your doctor about trying the Estring vaginal ring?

Yes, I saw a gynaecologist and he diagnosed LS. I’d been using the vagifem pessaries twice a week which helped but the Dermovate cream completely resolved the problem although it would flare up occasionally.

Since being on Mounjaro, I haven’t had to use the Dermovate cream or vagifem pessaries at all. It does feel like a miracle cure.