Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[CLKD]

I know that we have lots of threads on these but I don't understand why VA irritates the bladder  .  That may even be 'how' VA affects us.  Why low oestrogen = increased urination etc..

[MrsMitch]

Me neither but it sure does. Looking back I must have started with menopausal symptoms in my late 30's in that I started to need to pee much more frequently and got shooting pains up my urethra).  Since being on testosterone for 3 months now,  those issues are easing for the first time. I wonder if that means my testosterone levels were falling at that age?
The one thing I wish is that when you mention it to a GP they didn't just say it's normal as you age. Most elderly women I know don't have those symptoms but rather men.
So CLKD, I'd be interested to know why, too.

[CLKD]

I thought that I was being thick.   

[Ayesha]

Oestrogen receptors are situated around the whole area, vagina, urethra, bladder trigone and pelvic floor, therefore a lack of oestrogen could have consequences with conditions affecting the bladder. 

[CLKD]

tnx. 

[Dierdre]

I assumed it's because the urethra and bladder also have atrophy and anything that irritates them will cause burning and freqency. It's similar to having cystitis, the irritation and inflammation cause you to need pee more often.
Last year when i was suffering from recurrent thrush it affected my bladder and caused cramps and spasms.

[CLKD]

I've never had problems with the urethra - fortunately.  It's the bladder that becomes irritated with a feeling of fullness below the belly button = warning signs.  This time it was different:

Yesterday: that griping pain (on Monday and Tuesday) that I had across my belly turns out to be atrophy  -  after the intermittent griping which felt as though I had lifted something heavy; my bowels became 'iffy' ........ followed by today VA symptoms.  Had a bath and popped some estriol up there, will do another treatment later.  Now to take some Nurofen.

Treatment and Nurofen at 11.30 p.m., more treatment this morning.  Much more comfortable now. 

[Dierdre]

Probably a VA flare up then, perhaps do a reload and take more regularly, every day.

[Jillyboo]

I think it's just a case that lack of oestrogen affects the whole area but sometimes women only think of VA as being dryness/soreness and don't associate it with bladder frequency, burning etc. Perhaps it should really be called VVA (vulval and vaginal)?

[Ayesha]

Its strange how it effects us all in different ways. I never felt any dryness only intense burning and the constant need to pee, which in hindsight was because I was dry I suppose.
I never associated it with being anything to do with lack of oestrogen but it appears to be the cause of all sorts of nasty symptoms in that area. Its a tongue twister of a name to describe all the conditions due to the lack of oestrogen, Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause (GSM) and it can all be a minefield.

[CLKD]

My GP often asked whether I was 'dry' and although we've used KY Jelly for years++, it wasn't dryness as I expected it to be.   .  The GP prescribed atrophy treatment after I had several urine 'infections' treated with ABs that probably were never necessary. 

The area feels irritable internally this afternoon despite Nurofen earlier.  Around the 'G" spot area and yep, we know where mine is 

[Ayesha]

I wonder if that is still happening, mature women presenting with symptoms of a bladder infection when none have ever been present before  and the first thoughts are antibiotics. I've never forgotten the suffering whilst waiting for three lots of antibiotics to work, three months before I was finally told you need oestrogen down there. Four years on I hope things have changed.   

[MrsMitch]

I wonder if that is still happening, mature women presenting with symptoms of a bladder infection when none have ever been present before  and the first thoughts are antibiotics.

Unfortunately it is still happening.  It took 12 agonising years for my VA to be diagnosed and that was by ME from reading this forum.
Prior to gaining the info on here I was asking the gynae I was seeing if my pain/bladder probs etc could be menopausal and she kept saying no!!
So I had repeated antibiotics, painful nerve block injections, minor surgery to my viginal area to remove atrophied continuously sore and bleeding tissue,  all which did nothing yo help my problems and she finally discharged me and sent me back to my GP who knew even less.  Would love to sit down with her and explain that 6 years of seeing her with no successful treatment could have been avoided if she'd simply considered my questions.

[Taz2]

Around the 'G" spot area and yep, we know where mine is 

Is it in the same place as everyone else's? 😁

[CLKD]

Mrs Mitch - that's awful.  Which is why 'Me and My Menopausal Vagina' should be essential reading for all medics prior to qualifying!

Taz2 - it's not something I discuss in general    and there are some medics who still don't recognise the fact  as apparently, it can't be seen on Post Mortem  .   

What was the question ?

I think that 4 me when problem begins and my bowels become 'iffy', frequency is made worse due to pressure because my bowels hasn't emptied.