Incredibly itchy

[LefttoherownDevizes]

Vulva

Driving me mad, no infection, accidentally washed with shower gel the other day.

I'm going to draw blood soon.

Q 1) am late 40s and peri menopausal, could it be related?

Q 2) what can I put on it to soothe t? Canesten no help (which makes sense).

Sat next to DH at home on an all day online training course, literally squirming like I've got ants in my pants

I got very itchy a few years ago (in my 30s then so didn't assume menopause related). After trying everything I went to the gp. A lovely doctor listened to me and after a few other tests took blood. She explained that vitamin deficiencies can sometimes manifest in skin reactions.

Lo and behold I has a (mild) b12 deficiency. I now take vitamins tablets everyday and the itch has gone!

Low oestrogen related? Ovestin internal cream might help, you can use it externally as well. Ask your GP to prescribe it. Google vaginal atrophy.

Menopause related. Google will explain.

No advice other then canesten but you have my sympathy 💐

Just googled

God it's depressing, you'd have thought they could at least give it a slightly less depressing name

Searching Amazon for vaginal dryness has brought up a myriad of products. Might just whack some E45 on for now

Thanks

Steroid cream will help with the itching. Anything you can get OTC will be fine to put on externally or you can ask the GP to prescribe something if you’re concerned about putting stuff on your vulva Hope you get some answers, OP. No need to suffer, there are treatment options available.

Also, I know you said no infection but could it be thrush? Sometimes the discharge is subtle but the effects are not. Have you had a swab done?

Canestan is for thrush. Herpes, people recoil, majority have had cold sore
Won't bore you with the detail of how you get it on the vulva!!! It itches like hell. You will often see a sore bit like a little mouth ulcer if you have a look with a mirror. Used to get terrible thrush
Stopped using all bath/,shower products. Get some natural sea salt,soak in a little bath.dry with the hairdryer on warm

@Chargreen

Also, I know you said no infection but could it be thrush? Sometimes the discharge is subtle but the effects are not. Have you had a swab done?

Yes this. And also if you have vaginal dryness you may not produce the typical clotted cheese type thrush discharge. I never do. Just itchy and sore.

Dr Wolf’s cream saved my life a couple of weeks back. It was driving me insane. I am early 50s and still have infrequent periods.

I treated it as thrush a few weeks ago but it's definitely but, I've had that many many times and thus isn't it. It's just exceptionally itchy/sensitive/red skin.

Also kept thinking I had a urine infection as the urethra was due and uncomfy but dip clear and not pain like other utis. Looks like it's due to the same.

It's all becoming clear (will try Dr Wolffs, no way bothering GP at the moment, am up there enough as it is!)

don’t worry about bothering the GP, you’re uncomfortable and in pain and that’s what they’re there for.

When I had thrush (I know it isn’t that, just using this as an example) I couldn’t shift it and was so sore it was unreal. I eventually went to the doctor who prescribed me some steroid cream that worked in MINUTES to relieve the rawness (also tablets which got rid of it in a week or so). I felt like a right idiot for not going earlier.

I sympathise, itching down there is a special form of torture!

I had extreme itchiness brought on by the mini pill. GP said it was external dryness and prescribed Epaderm ointment and it cleared it up really quickly after months of suffering!

I have had this problem a few times and the doctor gave me a prescription for hydrocortisone cream. She said that the leaflet will tell you not to use on your genitals but you can if you have the gp recommendation.

@YesIamTHATmum

I have had this problem a few times and the doctor gave me a prescription for hydrocortisone cream. She said that the leaflet will tell you not to use on your genitals but you can if you have the gp recommendation.

Posted too soon. It worked. My last irritation did not come back.

@YesIamTHATmum

I have had this problem a few times and the doctor gave me a prescription for hydrocortisone cream. She said that the leaflet will tell you not to use on your genitals but you can if you have the gp recommendation.

That cream is an absolute miracle, hope you can get some on prescription, OP

ooh thanks I have tons of it from eczema-y kids, will slather some on. Once my period (finally) finishes

look up lichen sclerosus, this is what i have it drove me mad. the gp prescribed some stronger hydrocortisone cream which massively helps.

*@LefttoherownDevizes * have you seen any improvement? I'm 52 and have had an itchy perineum for the last few years controlled in the main with sudocream but this year its got worse and just lately has been horrendous. I've drawn blood a few times overnight and its starting to disturb my sleep; I've just finished a week of really strong antibiotics so wondering if some thrush is there too but its not my vagina that's itchy just all the other bits! I wash gently twice a day, dry with the hairdryer, use vagisil with limited success. No chance of getting into a GP round here especially if you want a female one and theres no point if I'm just going to be told 'its your age/perimenopause/'!

[quote blobby10]**@LefttoherownDevizes have you seen any improvement? I'm 52 and have had an itchy perineum for the last few years controlled in the main with sudocream but this year its got worse and just lately has been horrendous. I've drawn blood a few times overnight and its starting to disturb my sleep; I've just finished a week of really strong antibiotics so wondering if some thrush is there too but its not my vagina that's itchy just all the other bits! I wash gently twice a day, dry with the hairdryer, use vagisil with limited success. No chance of getting into a GP round here especially if you want a female one and theres no point if I'm just going to be told 'its your age/perimenopause/'![/quote]
Whenever I get thrush, it’s never the vag itself that gets itchy and sore, it’s my perenium and top of the flaps first, where the discharge ‘gathers’. Try
some steroid cream, it really helps, and is fine to put on externally. If you can get a GP appointment, even if on the phone, do ask for a prescription steroid. The relief is instant (well, 15 mins) and I almost cried when it started working. Even if it isn’t thrush, I think the prescription cream would work on your itchiness and soreness.

I too was fed up with being dismissed by the GP regarding thrush/ genital discomfort so you have my every sympathy. Are there any walk-in GUM clinics you can go to near you? They are bloody brilliant about everything and really know their stuff.

I've got my period so can't really do anything til it's finished. But the urethra/vulva is so sore I can't use my Mooncup, which is a first.

I've got some Dr Wolff's to try shortly though

Mine definitely gets worse in the run up to my period (which is also due any day) . @LefttoherownDevizes delighted to 'meet' another mooncup user - I wish I'd known about them thirty years ago as much money would have been saved

< waves > they're the only way to mitigate the flooding somewhat (plus tampons are just too drying, so uncomfy)

Interesting about symptoms getting worse with period, my teenage hormonal migraines are back too