Who knew your fanny shrivelled up and ran away when you hit mid 50s!?!

[shrumps]

I certainly didn’t and I miss it! The only part of my body to become skinny and Im absolutely pissed off. Why did no one tell me about this?? And now I feel I can’t tell anyone else in case it’s just me.

Also wondering this.

And - erm - what about oral sex .... is this off the table if I'm using cream/pessaries, or do you just use the topical oestrogen on days when you're not having sex and then go for it on the in-between days?

I am frantically typing out an e-consult form for my GP as we speak. 54, been on HRT for 4 years, still OK down below but things are definitely changing a bit and I want to get on this preemptively....

Just remember though, after all this misery and fanny frazzle in our 40s/50s, we still outlive men on average!!

I think the official advice is avoid sex 12 hours after using the vaginal estrogen, but I try to wait a full 24 hours (I only use Ovesse once weekly though, so it's not difficult for me to work around it). My husband commented once that he was a bit swollen, but that was only a couple of hours after i'd used the cream. So be warned it will have an effect if you don't wait the specified time 😂

The blasted biology, as per usual.

Not everyone will experience atrophy, but many will. I thought all was fine until I had the most painful smear of my life, something that had never been an issue before. Thankfully I knew exactly what it was and was on the phone to my women's health doctor pretty much immediately.

A two week course of Vagifem* followed by continued twice weekly use will sort out things nicely. The great thing about topical oestrogen is that it doesn't enter the bloodstream and even those who have had hormonal breast cancer can use it. I speak from experience as my oncologist prescribes it. It really is incredible stuff.

It's also worth noting that atrophy can also lead to increase UTIs as the tissue surrounding the urethra can also diminish leaving the opening more exposed and prone to infection from bacteria. Topical oestrogen prevents this too. A friend of mine started developing near constant UTI in her late 40s. Once she started on topical oestrogen, they stopped and she has not had a single since.

*Other topical oestrogen creams and pessaries are available

Edited to add that by continued use, I mean for as long as possible/forever.

With Vagifem, it's inserted before I go to sleep

I'm single too but I was told that one of the main problems of vaginal atrophy is that it can give rise to UTIs so I'm taking it for that reason. And if I ever feel like entertaining a man again (I'm mid 60s and most men are just - well, not doing it for me these days) I hope my bits will be up to it!

I use estriol cream but only externally as if I use it internally I get a watery ammonia smelling discharge, I had to stop using tampons (when I was still menstruating) for the same reason. My fanny doesn’t like any foreign substances left up there (including sperm which I have to try and wash out). Has anyone experienced similar but been able to use the vaginal tablets mentioned above? Are they actually tablets or pessaries that melt into cream, because my fanny definitely won’t like that and will protest by emitting a flood of ammonia. I have to use water based sensitive lube too as others set it off. My fanny is like The Princess and The Pea(sized blob of estrogen cream).

My minge is less plump and hairy than it used to be which I do miss. Yes! Moisturiser does the job externally but I worry about atrophy with only using estrogen cream on the outside. I am on systemic hrt too.

My flaps are massive so looking forward to a bit of shrinkage.
Also my smears have always been painful so god knows what they’ll be like.
I love sex so if theres a cream out there to keep me wet then yes please when the time comes

I must be really lucky ,no hrt no creams and my fanny in perfect working order and i’m nearly 59.

Early 40s. What fresh hell is this.

Just when you think menopause is already fucking horrendous, you turn a corner and learn it's the gift that keeps on taking.

I developed atrophy while breastfeeding so when the pain and UTIs started up again I demanded HRT, wasn't going through that again.

Im going through this now im 48 and im going to have to do something about it. Burning and uncomfortable and other symptoms :( Can you use the cream without progesterone? As im reluctant to go on full hrt for health reasons . Is it little to no side effects?? And you can use vagifem with the topical estrogen??

you have to be careful and are supposed to use it in the morning for this reason and avoid sexual contact.

You're also supposed to avoid skin contact for a while after using oestrogen gel on your legs which again is one of the reasons why they recommend using in the morning.

You don't need aGP, the online chemists sell it.

I get Gina from Pharmica, never been near the GP.

Which gel please?

I'm 52 and I don't use any HRT other than the vaginal estrogen. Everyone is different, my sweet spot with Ovesse is once a week, otherwise it gets a bit too plump (I was very alarmed getting washed after the initial 2 weeks, I'd never known such plumpy goods 😂).
I also use replens for general moisturising/vag skin care. Replens is marmite insomuch as some women love it, some hate it.

I have wondered how little labia minora will women have left if they had them snipped and shaped pre-menopause.
Whilst women do vary in ‘mass’, the labia do have a function and unless someone is unfortunate enough to have vulval cancer or other disease I think hang on to your flaps.

I've literally just started on HRT, mainly for bone health reasons, and (thanks to another MN minge whinge thread) decided to be 'brave' and mention the vaginal issues I'd been having. Persistent itching, feeling like I was sticking together sometimes, 2 times of nearly wetting myself. All sudden onset.

So I have estriol cream too. I've been taking it 2 weeks so just finished the loading dose, and it has made such a difference already. The convo with the doc was fine.

I really wish we DID talk about this more, as I'm a suffer in silence type and presumably so are many many others, and things just get a bit worse and a bit worse. And we get told its not nice to talk about this and when it happens, we have no idea what is going on. So thanks to all who have shared their stories.

I’m 47 and perimenopause hit me earlier than your age so you might want to do some research. I knew nothing apart from hot flushes and periods stoping.

It’s not all bad for everyone. All experiences are different.

Yes, you can just take the vaginal oestrogen without the systemic HRT. But guidance has changed wrt who can/should take HRT, so if you're having symptoms, maybe ask to speak to the GP meno specialist and get their advice? Or post in here on another thread about your health problems and see what the hive mind thinks before speaking to GP.

Nothing wrong with mine and I’m 63! That said, I’m on full blow HRT - best thing ever for that department 😉

I had vaginal atrophy in my 40s on the progesterone only pill (after having endometriosis and a cyst). Went back to combined pill, fanny much better and no endometriosis symptoms either. Haven't taken any HRT (started it for brain fog, tried two types but it caused more problems and not worth it) or pill for a while now, no periods for two years and absolutely fine down there too at 51.

"Snipped and shaped" what?

Yes. Estriol cream

I thought there was a higher risk of cancer if you only use oestrogen and have no progesterone and you still have a womb.