I need advice please

[Cherlyynn]

Basically my down below area stings all the time after a wee (not a UTI or any infection as I have been tested) after a shower I have had to stop using any soap around that whole area even water causes it to sting. If any soap accidentally gets on the area then there’s a bit of blood. I have had a c section so it’s not from birth. I have spoken to my doctor, she said about taking oestrogen as it could be thin from breastfeeding and low oestrogen but I can’t because I am breastfeeding so now I have been referred to dermatology but they say I have to wait until September which is going to mean it’s been 3 and a half months before it could be sorted.
Has anyone else been or going through something similar?
Any advice would be appreciated thankyou!

That’s interesting, when did you give birth? I’m 9m PP and i had this in June after my period, then in July before my period. Stings like hell, thought I was getting thrush but didn’t. Practice nurse checked when I had my smear last month & no infection so they put it down to hormones 😭 also BF.

I gave birth on 3rd June, yes same here they treated me for thrush and then there was so much blood it was scary and I have had it looked at like 3 times now and the last lady said it was because of hormones and low oestrogen and there’s not really any fix because I’m breastfeeding :(
is that the only time you have experienced it?
I also have had my deodorant I usually use started burning my underarms I wasn’t sure if it was connected

Out of curiosity, what deodorant do you use? I thought I chafed my armpits in the gym last month until my DP pointed out it got worse when I put my deodorant on!! Mitchum roll on. I haven’t used it pp until then but was fine with it pre pregnancy. I have been ok with using the fem fresh sensitive wash and the soreness has resolved between the periods, I’m worried for when I am due on this month though!

ETA - that’s the only time PP but I did have it right at the end of pregnancy but everything was wild then with the pressure so I assumed it was all linked!

The Mitchum one too!!! I stopped using it and now I’m using the spare Mitchum one and it’s been fine!

wow isn’t that crazy, I wonder if it’s they have changed the ingredients or if we’re just more sensitive after pregnancy and while breastfeeding

is that the fem fresh clear one? I was using sanex sensitive and now that one burns but the clear fem fresh was a lot less stingy to use

have you been able to be intimate or does that sting too?

does it randomly just come and go then?

did they offer you oestrogen to help it?

You can absolutely use oestrogen (tablets that you insert vaginally, or cream) whilst breastfeeding - you do not have to put up with this! Look up lactational atrophic vulvovaginitis, this is a good summary: https://gpifn.org.uk/reproductive-health/

In the meantime, coconut oil can be a really good moisturizer - apply it before you have a shower to protect from water and other shower products that might get washed down.

Thank you, to be clear just use it as a barrier around the outside or put a little around the beginning of the inside to help prevent liquids going in?

Yes as a barrier round the outside 😊

Thankyou, do you think I should wait until I hear from dermatologist or ring my doctors and say I have done some research and I would like to give the oestrogen tablets a go?

I would prob contact the GP again - should be something that they can prescribe and avoid you waiting until September (although it's been a few years since I had this and rules may have changed so see what they say).

That’s a mad coincidence! Maybe it’s just too harsh now whilst bf?!

sorry no it’s not the clear one, it’s the active one I’ve been using. It has come and gone twice now but really close to my period so I am edgy about this month as to how it’s going to go! As it’s been once before and once after. Definitely linked with my hormones.

No I can’t he intimate it would hurt! Luckily it hasn’t been permanent. Well I was having my smear and mentioned i felt fully like I was going to get thrush and the nurse looked and said it looks fine and she didn’t see any discharge so it was left at that. I then came on and it went away & I went on holiday but if it happens again this month, I think I’ll go back with that article JollyNewt posted!

Did you see the bit about it not affecting milk once BF is established but it could if not established? I thought they would say post 6m but it says after 6 weeks of bf it should be fine..

Op, how are you getting on? I am still suffering, I feel like female health isn’t taken seriously 😭