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[Anabelle31]

I’m 41 and have been suffering from feelings of a uti for 6 months (burning, frequency etc) but all cultures show is microscopic red blood cells. As a result I’ve had kidney and bladder ultrasound and a cystoscopy and all looked fine. My gp said I have signs of mild atrophy but kept saying I was very young for it. My mum went through meno in her 40s but I keep being told this is more common in older ladies. Does anyone have advice or experience?

[CLKD]

No one is 'too young'    put his head down the loo and pull the flush.  Several times.  Blood can be shown in urine samples due to thinning of the vaginal walls due to a loss of oestrogen = causing dryness: inside and out; deep in the ears, eyes, nostrils, vagina .........

   If any results have come back 'within normal limits' then there is no reason why your GP can't prescribe VA treatment.  Have U read the 'bladder issues' and various threads about VA on the Forum?  There is also a book: Me and My Menopausal Vagina: which is a good read.

One can buy 'gina' over the counter but is probably for ladies over 55.  U could have alookC at BOOTS web-site.

Is there a Nurse Practitioner to talk with at your Surgery?  MayB ring her and ask for a prescription. 

[chopsuey]

I’m 41 and have been suffering from feelings of a uti for 6 months (burning, frequency etc) but all cultures show is microscopic red blood cells. As a result I’ve had kidney and bladder ultrasound and a cystoscopy and all looked fine. My gp said I have signs of mild atrophy but kept saying I was very young for it. My mum went through meno in her 40s but I keep being told this is more common in older ladies. Does anyone have advice or experience?

I had a similar experience to you but in my mid 40s - pain & frequency. Had two cystoscopys with biopsy and apart from a bit of inflammation in one area of the bladder, nothing abnormal found. When I did later have a UTI, the horrific pain just never went away but no bacteria were found once the antibiotics had done their thing. 

I even asked the gynaecologist if it could be related to menopause and he said no, you 'look fine'. Their solution was to put me on a long term antibiotic, which I wasn't happy to do as my urine was clear and they would wipe out the good bacteria.

I did my own research and found an article on how vaginal oestrogen can help with bladder symptoms, took that to the GP and to my surprise, was allowed to try it. I continue on it today, later adding systemic HRT. It definitely helps a lot.  I also take high quality aloe vera capsules orally, which contain glycosaminoglycan, which can be soothing - expensive though.

If I were you, I would try and get some vaginal oestrogen and see how you get on. You are certainly not too young - if he has said there are signs of mild atrophy, I can't see why they aren't willing to prescribe some for you. They are very out of date! 

[bombsh3ll]

You aren't too young at all, and vaginal estrogen should have been tried first before invasive investigations.

Even if someone who didn't need vaginal estrogen used it, so what? There's no harm from using it.

The one thing I would say though is that if your genital tissues are suffering from lack of estrogen, there are implications for other areas of your body too such as bone and cardiovascular health, so don't overlook the rest of your body if you are potentially heading into early menopause.

[Anabelle31]

No one is 'too young'    put his head down the loo and pull the flush.  Several times.  Blood can be shown in urine samples due to thinning of the vaginal walls due to a loss of oestrogen = causing dryness: inside and out; deep in the ears, eyes, nostrils, vagina .........

   If any results have come back 'within normal limits' then there is no reason why your GP can't prescribe VA treatment.  Have U read the 'bladder issues' and various threads about VA on the Forum?  There is also a book: Me and My Menopausal Vagina: which is a good read.

One can buy 'gina' over the counter but is probably for ladies over 55.  U could have alookC at BOOTS web-site.

Is there a Nurse Practitioner to talk with at your Surgery?  MayB ring her and ask for a prescription.

Thank you for this. I’ve read lots of posts here but since I actually had microscopic blood in urine I wasn’t sure if I fit the criteria or not. I’ll push for another appointment. My last period was 17 days late, there’s clearly some evidence of menopause happening!

[Anabelle31]

You aren't too young at all, and vaginal estrogen should have been tried first before invasive investigations.

Even if someone who didn't need vaginal estrogen used it, so what? There's no harm from using it.

The one thing I would say though is that if your genital tissues are suffering from lack of estrogen, there are implications for other areas of your body too such as bone and cardiovascular health, so don't overlook the rest of your body if you are potentially heading into early menopause.

Thanks I will be sure to speak to doctor again. I don’t know why the medical establishment is so set on insisting this only happens to post menopausal women!

[Anabelle31]

I had a similar experience to you but in my mid 40s - pain & frequency. Had two cystoscopys with biopsy and apart from a bit of inflammation in one area of the bladder, nothing abnormal found. When I did later have a UTI, the horrific pain just never went away but no bacteria were found once the antibiotics had done their thing. 

I even asked the gynaecologist if it could be related to menopause and he said no, you 'look fine'. Their solution was to put me on a long term antibiotic, which I wasn't happy to do as my urine was clear and they would wipe out the good bacteria.

I did my own research and found an article on how vaginal oestrogen can help with bladder symptoms, took that to the GP and to my surprise, was allowed to try it. I continue on it today, later adding systemic HRT. It definitely helps a lot.  I also take high quality aloe vera capsules orally, which contain glycosaminoglycan, which can be soothing - expensive though.

If I were you, I would try and get some vaginal oestrogen and see how you get on. You are certainly not too young - if he has said there are signs of mild atrophy, I can't see why they aren't willing to prescribe some for you. They are very out of date!

Thank you! It’s so frustrating that not one doctor raised the possibility of perimenopause.

[Ayesha]

One can buy 'gina' over the counter but is probably for ladies over 55.  U could have alookC at BOOTS web-site.

Just to be clear Gina is available over the counter for women over 50

Annabelle31, there are posts here from women in their early forties suffering with VA, therefore definitely not too young and the sooner you start treatment the better.

[Elissa]

I am just 42 and suffer with VA.  I've posted my journey in the new members section.  My recent symptoms (last year and a half) have been vulva focussed (itchy/burning sensations plus redness on vulva area) but I wanted to mention that I also have microscopic hematuria or blood in the urine. 

The first time it came up was back when my periods became heavier and I had iron deficiency (start of perimenopause?).  The doctor did a urine test as part of a general health check and then sent me for a kidney/bladder ultrasound and all was ok.  I would have been 36 at that time.

Later when I was 39 I started having short spells of having a painful bladder (it felt very full and sore even after going to the toilet).  I mentioned the earlier blood in the urine and was retested.  It was found again, so I was sent first for a CT scan (to check for bladder/kidney stones) which was clear and then onto a Urologist who was very reassuring and not particularly concerned about the blood.  He asked me to provide a urine samples for 3 consecutive days to check for signs of cancer.  This was clear and I coincidentally didn't get the symptoms again after that.

Earlier this year I was getting up during the night to go to the toilet and went fairly frequently during the day.

Now I have been successfully treated with vaginal estrogen (Ovestin) I now assume the microscopic blood was the very early days of VA working on me.  I have read online (somewhere, cannot remember) that blood in the urine can be a symptom of VA / low estrogen down there but it doesn't seem to get much of a mention.  I was therefore very interested to see your post!

Incidentally the daytime frequency has greatly improved and nighttime toilet runs are non existent since using the vaginal estrogen.

Like your doctor, mine did not think my vulva symptoms were related to the menopause (asked her 1st visit  ) Similarly, my mum became menopausal in her late 30s too.

You're not alone.  Ask for vaginal estrogen.  Good luck.

[CLKD]

   Elissa.

Morning: If a urine sample is dip sticked in the surgery it is likely to show signs of blood if VA is present due to thinning of the vaginal walls.  If a GP suspects a urine infection then a sample should be sent to a lab..

[BermudaQueen]

One if my friends is 44 and is suffering from VA - she spoke to her Doctor, who finally agreed to give her the vaginal pessary, Vagifem - So it might be worth speaking to the practice nurse, who often seem a little more sympathetic.

I was prescribed the pessary about four years ago, and although it’s not a miracle cure, using those combined with Yes Vaginal Moisturiser, does make life a lot more bearable!

I’ve always found the practice nurses in invaluable, so might be worth booking in for a check up!

[Ayesha]

After my last experience with the Practice Nurse at my new surgery I would ask for an appointment not with my GP but with her on anything to do with GSM (VA).
As I walked out from my appointment with her I told her she was an absolute star, this reaction coming from the horrendous stories from women on this forum suffering needlessly and not being able to get the right medication.

 

[bombsh3ll]

I am really concerned about the numbers of women in their 40s with signs of hypoestrogenism who are just begging for crumbs rather than advocating for systemic treatment.

Vaginal atrophy occurs when estrogen levels in the body are too low to support optimal health of the tissues, and it is not just the genital tract that is affected or that matters, what about the bones and cardiovascular system etc, all the parts that we can't see.

If that were me I would be at the GP practice showing them the NICE guidelines and insisting that they either follow them or refer me to someone who can.

Definitely you should pursue vaginal estrogen, but it is the absolute least you deserve, not the ceiling of treatment.

It may also help if you can afford it to buy one tube or pack of pessaries, try it and then present it to your GP as a fait accompli - you can then say "I have tried this and it works, give me a good reason why it can't be continued on prescription".

This bypasses the old "I don't think X will help you" because you already have evidence it does.

[SundayGirl]

I am really concerned about the numbers of women in their 40s with signs of hypoestrogenism who are just begging for crumbs rather than advocating for systemic treatment.   

A very condescending comment as not everyone wants to use systemtic HRT.

I am neither pro nor anti HRT. What I do care about is a woman's right to choose exactly what course of action she wishes to take regarding her own bdy.

[Ayesha]

I am really concerned about the numbers of women in their 40s with signs of hypoestrogenism who are just begging for crumbs rather than advocating for systemic treatment.

Asking for systemic HRT at such a young age is not the best way to approach GSM symptoms, its entering a whole new complicated world when a simple topical treatment is available. Further on down the line then yes, think about systemic HRT but while it’s the minefield it is, and always has been, I feel best to leave well alone.
I would not have wanted to start on systemic HRT so young and I waited until other menopause symptoms occurred like hot flushes which began at age 50, I used it for five years then had enough and just to add I have not had major health problems from not being on systemic HRT, I just lead a healthy lifestyle which is important as we age.