Is this bloody vaginal atrophy?!

[BadgersSuitcase]

Just dawned on me that it might be. Ugh.

I’m 53 and must be in late perimenopause by now. I still have periods but just recently they’ve been all over the place in length, heaviness, etc etc.

I started HRT 3 weeks ago - 1 pump of oestrogel each day and 12 days of utrogestan. I dithered for ages about HRT but my sleep isn’t great right now and I’d had a few hot spells so decided it was time

The main issue though seems to be my vagina. It’s honestly some sort of full time job trying to keep it happy. It feels … weird. So a few months back I stated using Gina, the little tablets and I fling one up there a few times a week. Alongside that, I use a very plain vaginal oil every day

I’m not sore particularly and not hugely itchy. But sometimes I feel a bit .. dryer? Sort of. And slightly uncomfortable - like the opening feels more …open. It’s hard to explain

I whacked out a mirror and I think it looks same as it always did. No patches or anything. And it’s not hugely dry, just feels different. Like I’m aware of it

I’ve clearly become some sort of slave to my Fanny

anyway, what does this sound like? I’m suspecting it’s just overall very low oestrogen levels perhaps? Is one pump of gel a day enough? I didn’t want to start too high. Anything else I could do or should be doing? I use organic toilet paper and organic panty liners for example

thanks for reading this essay about my vajayjay

Can these creams be used if you’re not post menopausal though?

Yes they can be used for perimenopause as well as post menopause. They are the equivalent of the Gina pessaries in cream form basically (I’m a GP). It’s interesting some people feel the cream has worked better for them though. I’ve literally just started with oestrogen pessaries myself and was really hoping they would help argh! Just thought it would be less messy and faffy than the cream (I also have oestrogel and it works well but is definitely already a bit of a faff). Also the pessaries seem to be causing an awful burning uncomfortable sensation for me so I might need to change to the cream anyway. By the way 1 pump of oestrogel is a pretty low dose, 2 is the standard starting dose though a lot of people find it doesn’t do much for vaginal symptoms and need separate oestrogen pessaries or creams.

You should probably get advice about the hormone based treatments if you’re still having periods. I find Replens gel (or similar - Boots do an own brand) helpful, half a syringe up your foof a couple of times a week. Plus I have Ovestin & Evorel, but I haven’t had a period since I was 49.

Vaginal atrophy is really shit (and they’ve named it so you feel even more like your fanny is suddenly some dusty old Tutankhamen relic). Everything you can do now to alleviate it will stand you in good stead when you get to the other side of peri, when it can suddenly get a lot worse 🥳

Yes it does sound like it. I'm 60 now and mine has gradually improved I'm still quite sore and fragile, and make sure my pants have thickly padded gussets!
The vaginal walls shrink and the labia disappears( oh the joys!)
I was given Vagifem pessaries and used Ovestin cream for a couple of years
I'm single so no worries about sex

I'm 47 and was prescribed estriol cream 10 days ago. Within one day I felt relief, and wish I'd asked sooner. I'm peri.

Just ask for it. Also starting dose of oestrogel is usually 2 pumps, but if one is working then stick with it. I needed 3 to get on top of the night sweats but I'm down to two now.

Why don't you go and see a gynecologist
That's what I'd do. I'm older than you and my woo-woo is not doing these things. Its doing other unhelpful things, but not these you mention.

I’m 40 and got prescribed Ovestin by my GP to try when I was experiencing issues around sensitivity and dryness. For the rest of my HRT and Gynae issues I had to be referring to Gynae and the Early Menopause Clinic before getting further HRT but Ovestin she was more than happy to prescribe before all that.
I’ve actually seen literature by specialists supporting its offering to even younger women with any sort of vaginal issues, recurring UTI’s etc.

You fill in a questionnaire before it lets you add to the basket, and one of the questions is if you’ve had a period in the last 12 months. I just say no as it’s been 10 months. It gets assessed by a doctor which took about an hour and was delivered next day. You can get it on prescription cheaper but I can’t be doing with the faff 🤣

I'm 52 and have similar troubles - I'm on a 75mg oestrogen patch, nightly progesterone and vagifem pessaries twice weekly. Everything feels thin, fragile and sore, wee sneaks out unannounced, my urethra regularly feels on fire but no infection present. And I feel like it's all shrivelled to nothing! DH assures me it looks feels the same, if a bit drier - but sex is extremely painful for me now anyway, so we have been foregoing penetration for a while now.

So if I'm interpreting these replies correctly, are people saying that (anecdotally) they get better results from cream than the pessary?

Probably atrophy. I have very severe atrophy and my gp says HRT doesn't really help and prescribes ovestin cream. Pessaries are available too. I also bought Replens from time to time. There are 2 glands near the vagina called Bartholin glands which secrete mucus and they van get blocked too. If you are embarrassed ask for an online or phone consultation instead. It does get better with treatment!

The cream (Ovestin) is great, but I still have spells when things feel a bit wrong. Slightly more sensitive, a little dry, a faint itch. So I go back to using it every evening for a couple of weeks until it settles. And I also use it to spread on the outside areas as well as using it internally. This extra use has all been advised by my GP.

Topical vaginal oestrogen cream is your friend ! Game changer for me (alongside HRT patches) I thought I was getting persistent thrush but it was just excessive dryness and irritation. I still use the yesyesyes moisturiser on days I don’t use the other cream (down to twice a week for that). All their products are excellent.

Get the estriol cream prescribed on repeat it will be covered by the hrt prepay