Extreme itching- can this be peri menopause

[HungryHippo20]

Hi there
I've been tracking for months and there is a definite pattern of extreme itching (worse at night) in the two weeks prior to my period. My scalp feels on fire. I have to take piriton every night and it doesn't always help. My cycle is also very erratic, last month it was 24 days and this month I'm in day 34 still no period. It used to be 28 days clockwork but lately it changed monthly but getting more extreme. I also have trouble sleeping and staying asleep and just generally feel shattered all the time!!

Could this be peri menopause? I've suggested this to (make, very disinterested) GP and he almost laughed in my face. I know it can be hard to diagnose through blood tests due to fluctuating hormones but I can't keep going on like this, it's really getting me down!

Any advice welcome!

Thank you ☺️

@Foolsgold74 nope I haven't but am googling that now!

Just a quick footnote to remind everyone that you can buy an annual certificate for £20 and all hrt prescriptions, including vagifem/vaginal oestrogen are covered. Saves a fortune.

Vagifem internally, oestrogen cream externally. Loading dose. Ignore what dr and prescription say. Do it every night for several weeks, then reduce until you reach the minimum dose to remain itch free.

It was one of my main first symptoms started with incredibly itchy ears I nearly went insane , I now use olive oil drops and they help massively. Also developed an itchy flaky scalp horrendous and still ongoing. I've tried dozens of shampoos , treatments etc and nothing really has worked . I spoke to my hairdressers about it and they said it's becoming an incredibly common symptom . They also said that lots of women have to stop dying their hair from it too

@Foolsgold74 thank you that's really helpful.

So this looks like prescription only - do you have to do anything specific (tests etc) to get them to prescribe it? Do oestrogen levels have to be low etc?

@Foolsgold74 and that is super useful to know about the annual HRT prescription fee.
I knew about the annual one but not the HRT specific one - will sort out if I go down that route and none of the over the counter stuff works

Honestly not sure. You can buy it privately now by just answering a few questions but that's obviously more expensive. Try your gp first. Say you've got symptoms of perimenopause and you're suffering with vaginal atrophy and want to try vagifem. Lay it on thick. Insist if they're reluctant (shouldn't be). Say sex is starting to hurt, you're itching like mad, everything is drying up.

The otc stuff will work a bit but you have to address the root cause too.

@Foolsgold74 everything that you'd just described is exactly my symptoms so basically just will be telling them how it is.

I've literally scratched myself raw sometimes, it's so awful :( really hope I can find something that helps.

Can't quite believe it, but the itch is gone!

After weeks of non-stop scratching, it has completely gone.
Not even faded, like gone gone.
Nothing, not one smidge of an itch all day!

I can't decide whether to put it down to utter coincidence, but I feel like it can't be. After trying SO MANY different things, I have now done about 5 washes (have done morning and night) , 2 of the capsules and 2 of the pessaries.

I am certainly going to continue what I'm doing for a week and then stop it and see if it returns!!

What a blessed relief for you 🙌

Aveeno oil, really helps me, use everyday, and Sunbed session every week

I had itching which stopped when I started oestrogel. Unfortunately my vulva is very itchy nearly all the time. I'm on Vagifem, standard dose. GP did an exam and has prescribed Dermovate steroid cream. Said it might be lichen sclerosis although there aren't any white patches. I have another autoimmune condition as well. It's annoying. It wakes me at night. It's good to hear others can relate to it.