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[Snowcat]

Hi. I have been diagnosed with vulval atrophy due to low estrogen, made worse by wrongly prescribed dermovate, and am now on Estraderm patches, vagifem and estrogen cream.  However, right from diagnosis in April my pain has been almost consistently on one side of the labia majora (left side) and can be really intense - burning, sore, stinging etc and I gave a few tiny but painful spots there too.  I’ve started this new thread to see if anyone else has a similar issue?

It’s weird because my gynaecologist said my skin was actually more damaged on the right side! I’d like to know whether VA can manifest like this, and also what you lovely ladies have found that’s worked for you in addition to HRT.  So far I’ve tried YES, Sylk, vulval harmony, hydromol ointment, olive & Bee and coconut oil - none have really made any difference.  I’m also on Gabapentin to help with the irritated nerves due to thin skin there.

Would love to hear from anyone who can relate to all this! :-)

[sheila99]

Yes. Mine started with a sore patch on one side before becoming painful on both sides but still worse on the original side. It wasn't as bad as yours but once the skin is damaged it seems to be a long time to feel comfortable again. I use estriol .1%. Some are weaker so it might be worth checking which yours is.

[LittleClaire]

Yes mine also started on the one side (right) with an intense itch that I couldn’t satisfy no matter how much I scratched. Before I knew I was peri I thought I had female jock itch and tried all creams, fungal cream moisturiser, sudocrem you name it. Went to GP she told me to use canesten! By the time I realised what it was it was affecting both sides aswell as the rear (anal) and bit in between (perineum). I am on a mixture of Evorel 75 patches, Ovesse 0.1% estriol cream and I top up the dry bits with Aveeno moisturiser the one with colloidal oatmeal as that calms it, however in my cycle if I am on a low oestrogen day the symptoms will be worse and I can still scratch til it bleeds, yet other days it feels soft and supple again and isn’t itchy  it’s a long rollercoaster ride if anyone else has any suggestions I’m also open to hear x

[LittleClaire]

Forgot to say in previous post I am also taking Estradiol pessaries twice weekly to help the inside. I didn’t think it was much of an issue to me but without taking it I always feel on the cusp of getting a UTI especially after sex.

[Borchesterlass]

I take vagifem 5x a week and use naydaya victory oil . It’s taken few months to get everything reasonable . It’s managing not curing we have to come to terms with ,

[Snowcat]

Thank you all for your answers and helpful suggestions.  It seems I have a way to go - as I’ve only had the problem for 2-3 months.  I’m going to be able to get back to where I was before gave up the systemic HRT - years ago when I first had to go on HRT I was in a state then - but it was all resolved eventually,  I hope we all find ourselves in a much better place soon! Be interesting to see if there are any more replies - learning from each other seems more helpful than anything else!

[Lime]

Yes, left side!    Used Vagifem, first twice a week then 3 times a week for a year.   Then tried Imvexxy for a while, and now trying Intrarosa.  The Intrarosa is DHEA which converts to estrogen and testosterone in there.    I have yet to find an estrogen containing cream that does not burn like crazy.  I’m super sensitive to almost everything.    All of the inserts seem to cause an amount of bladder irritation.  As far as moisturizers, Yes VM is ok some days, organic Jojoba oil is soothing on the outside but I know it needs a cream with estrogen.

It’s very strange how the pain can come and go even in the span of a single day even though I do nothing different.   Many days around 8 in the evening it gets worse. 

I have not been able to exercise for about a year now because of the pain.  The most good days I’ve had in a row is 5.

I have learned a great deal from all of you and appreciate the sharing of experiences
with this.   I wish my Gyn of many years had warned me years ago when I mentioned pain that this is a progressive condition if not consistently  treated.

[Lime]

Forgot to mention.  On combined hormone patch also.  Not sure if it is helping and I have never felt very good when on Progesterone.

[LittleClaire]

Yes same here with the progesterone. Feel weird on it like unsettled, anxious, restless legs and irritable and snappy with people. Being a woman is not easy!!