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[CLKD]

Well I'm older and probably been on regular treatment longer as well as being sexually active with a DH  .  So lubricated naturally rather an adding a hormone.

My symptoms begin with a fullness in the lower region below the belly button, I immediately being 'ovestin' plus 2 Nurofen to ease the need2P symptoms.  It never gets like the razor blades  feelings of years ago.

[Minusminnie]

I'm a similar age to you CLKD  and been on some sort of treatment for over 10 years now i guess. 

To me VA is not entirely about lubrication and consistent use of some sort of hormone is needed otherwise you can quickly go backwards.

If using less ovestin is okay for your individual symptoms then well and good. 

Reduction of ovestin may not work for those with the classic VA symptoms of burning and itching. 

It may give some reading your post

Ladies know whether treatment is still required.  I don't need ovestin as often as previously, I recognise the symptoms. 

 

a sense of false hope.  Maybe if you had said that you recognise your symptoms rather than 'the' symptoms.

[meno-mel]

a sense of false hope.  Maybe if you had said that you recognise your symptoms rather than 'the' symptoms.

That is actually the difference between signs and symptoms. Signs are detected from the outside looking in while symptoms are from the inside looking out. So by definition CLKD could only have been describing her own symptoms.
Unless I misunderstood...

[Katejo]

I wonder what these GPs and pharmacists think will happen if you have more than 2 or 3 doses a week. Bearing in mind it's a minuscule dose and not absorbed systemically, just what is their problem? I suppose they are just jobsworths.
JP x

  I came across 1 woman who had been told by a doctor that it was only safe to use 1 Vagifem once a fortnight!

[CLKD]

WHAT! Katejo .......... so much mis-information around.  Still. 

[Dierdre]

Well I'm older and probably been on regular treatment longer as well as being sexually active with a DH  .  So lubricated naturally rather an adding a hormone.

My symptoms begin with a fullness in the lower region below the belly button, I immediately being 'ovestin' plus 2 Nurofen to ease the need2P symptoms.  It never gets like the razor blades  feelings of years ago.

I've been on treatment 8 years now but still unable to reduce and still getting flare ups if something interferes with the treatment (just had a particularly bad one lasting 2 months). I'm ready for my dose each day and sometimes have needed 2 in a day.

I'm not sexually active but have always been told this is not a factor and the "use it or lose it" saying is a myth? I don't have any natural lubrication, if I did have sex it would have to be with a lot of lube out the tube. 

Is age a factor and the length of time on treatment? I was told it's for life. It would be nice if this changes as we age.

[CLKD]

I think that it may be individual.  Perhaps some ladies who don't post here may treat 'as necessary'. 

It's about finding a regime that works enough to keep the vulval area comfy. 

As for GPs refusing   

[Dierdre]

I still don't understand why some women don't get VA at all.
What do they have that we don't?
Is it genectic? My mum doesn't suffer with this and she's 93.
I had very few meno symptoms, sailed through I suppose, to then have VA. I would like to know why, is there any research on this?

[Jules]

I still don't understand why some women don't get VA at all.
What do they have that we don't?
Is it genectic? My mum doesn't suffer with this and she's 93.
I had very few meno symptoms, sailed through I suppose, to then have VA. I would like to know why, is there any research on this?

Im 65. My sister is 20 months younger, doesn't have any of these problems but she did have severe hot flushes, panic etc and was on HRT for quite a while. I didn't have bad menopause problems but the down below ones I do have. So I'm not sure about genes. I manage sex without pain but with vagifem and a bit of lube. I'm expecting it to become more difficult though. I imagine in the past, women of my age were viewed as old and were probably in a care home😊

[Minusminnie]

I think that it may be individual.  Perhaps some ladies who don't post here may treat 'as necessary'. 

Would be good if some could post to support the ‘as necessary’ when most are advised to use continually.

I would like to know why, is there any research on this?

I’d be happy to put myself forward if it helped others in the future. 

[CLKD]

When VA began for me it was like razor blades  up there.  Intermittent urine infection-type symptoms, initially treated with ABs. Whilst these eased symptoms I had no idea about VA. Then my GP sent a sample to a Lab for testing which came back 'no growth'.

I was started on pessaries initially which were removed from the market.  'ovestin' as been my go-to - every night initially followed by every 3rd and 6/7th night, unless symptoms irritated.  4 me that is a feeling of pressure below my belly button so I immediately put a treatment into the vagina, the swallow 2 Nurofen to ease the need2P feelings.  3 times a day usually helps.  When I was away on holiday about 2 years ago without any medication  I noted that symptoms weren't problematic.  4 me it's about managing the VA.

Both my sister and Mum 'can't remember' how they were in menopause - my sister "I'm through all that." 

It has been suggested that I should continue with a couple of times insertion every week ...... however, if the body doesn't require medication of any type, I'm not keen to use any.  I wouldn't take pain relief for example on an 'in case' basis.

[Dierdre]

I still don't understand why some women don't get VA at all.
What do they have that we don't?
Is it genectic? My mum doesn't suffer with this and she's 93.
I had very few meno symptoms, sailed through I suppose, to then have VA. I would like to know why, is there any research on this?

Found this online:

After menopause (post-menopause), monthly menstrual periods stop. The body still makes small amounts of oestrogen by changing hormones called androgens into oestrogen. Androgens are produced by the adrenal glands, which are above the kidneys. A hormone called aromatase changes androgens into oestrogen.

Androgens.  Could this be the the missing link that causes variations of symptoms when postmenopausal, how well your adrenal glands produce androgens and how well they are then changed into oestrogen by aromatase?
Anyone heard of Androgens and Aromatase? Maybe we should be looking how to produce more of these as well as taking estrogens.

[meno-mel]

Found this online:

After menopause (post-menopause), monthly menstrual periods stop. The body still makes small amounts of oestrogen by changing hormones called androgens into oestrogen. Androgens are produced by the adrenal glands, which are above the kidneys. A hormone called aromatase changes androgens into oestrogen.

Androgens.  Could this be the the missing link that causes variations of symptoms when postmenopausal, how well your adrenal glands produce androgens and how well they are then changed into oestrogen by aromatase?
Anyone heard of Androgens and Aromatase? Maybe we should be looking how to produce more of these as well as taking estrogens.

That's interesting Dierdre, the main androgen is testosterone I suppose, which does vary a lot between women. A few weeks ago, I was reading that healthy menstruating women have three times more testosterone than they have oestrogen, and the body converts testosterone into oestrogen when needed.

Google isn't sure about the above, I had to look through a lot of results to get a sensible answer about women that doesn't simply dismiss our testosterone levels as being "less than men", I'm inclined to think, "So what? menopause isn't about men, so why obsess on how much we have compared to men?

I found the quote below online this morning, I can't wait for this to happen!!!

What Happens After Menopause?

Postmenopause is everyday after you reach your official menopause moment 12 months after your final period. The signs and symptoms experienced in perimenopause may persist for a few years into postmenopause, but women overwhelmingly report feeling much better in postmenopause. Boundless energy, laser focus, and increased libido are all waiting on the other side of menopause. Sleep problems will subside. Your body will begin operating more smoothly. The greatest sign of menopause being ‘over’ is when you begin to intuitively feel that your disruptive symptoms are easing. This means your body is adjusting to the “new normal” of your hormone levels.

Why do I think this wasn't written by a mature lady?

[CLKD]

Menopause is never ' over ' though, it's the state we arrive at once periods stop.

'laser focus'.   ?? American ?? 

[Dierdre]

I'm 13 years postmenopause! Still waiting 

Maybe we should all be taking testosterone not estrogen?