Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: MillieMoo10 on July 24, 2020, 11:23:33 AM
-
Hello, I was wondering if any of you ladies can offer advice on my ongoing problem. I went to my GP with vulva itching some months ago and she said I had a fungal infection and prescribed a steroid cream, this cleared it up initially but it came back a few weeks later. She then prescribed Daktarin anti fungal cream and a emoillment moisturiser and again this cleared it up but it came back 2 weeks after I finished the Daktarin. I stopped the emoillment thinking maybe it had too many chemicals in it for this delicate area and switched to Yes VM but this hasn't cleared it up either. I have another phone appointment next week but to be honest I think she's running out of ideas :( I stopped using anything with chemicals in a long time ago only organic sanitary wear etc. I'm 54 and perimenopause and the GP says she sees no sign of VA. Any advice would be appreciated.
-
If it ain't nothing else, then local oestrogen.
That helped me - I was very itchy and dry between outer and inner labia and skin had gone dry like any other skin. Also very itchy pubes which got thinner. This was way before I had VA type symptoms of thrush and BV & urinary problems which also went with local oestrogen (bladder not so much though :( )
You can get oily stuff - olive&bee or Yes oil based etc which help too.
Local oestrogen - vagifem tablets are very tidy and work but I use them lower down. Cream can be used inside and out but more messy.
Sometimes, even with hrt, you need the local stuff as it does not get to the required place.
You can't always "see" VA until it is advanced.
-
Do read our threads on vaginal atrophy. Did your GP take swabs to see if there was a fungal infection and did she give it a name?
Ring and ask for appropriate treatment for vaginal atrophy. You don't need an examination nor blood tests.
As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out :o ; skin, scalp, between the toes, deep in the ears, eyes, vagina, anus ....... VA can mimic repeated urine infection-type symptoms off, mainly the need to pee .........
Let us know how you get on!
-
Thank you so much for your replies.
No swab or bloods were taken to test for the infection she just looked and said that is what it was ! and no chance of getting a swab taken now with Covid. I was thinking about localised oestrogen but I'm not sure she will prescribe it as she said I had no signs of VA. If she won't prescribe it I will give the oil based moisturisers a go and see if that helps.
Will let you know how I get on with the phone consul next week.
-
Do tell the GP that most VA isn't visible if she is anti., suggest that 4 your peace of mind you would like to try it for 3 months ;-). Mine was diagnosed by the GP over the 'phone ::) - on symptoms as well as having 3 urine samples tested negative. Be careful what you apply into the vagina there are products designed for that area.
-
Have a look at MaryJane' posts.
I got prescribed after a clear swab confirmed no infections.
It may be just worth asking straightforwardly what you want to try and taking the conversation from there. I did this last time I changed hrt - booked an appointment with a doctor and just asked and got it ;D after two years of trying to get the nurse, who I was directed to by reception, to listen, and who was hell-bent on taking me off hrt altogether dead on year 5 (and could never remember what hrt did what so not a lot of help). At least if she says no, you can ask for reasons and work on that.
Write a list of points. I always find a list helpful, even if I never use it in the end.
-
Thank you I might try the 3 month suggestions. I am a bit wary of taking hormones (4 years ago my daughter suffered a pulmonary embolism after 6 weeks on the contraceptive pill). I understand it doesn't have the same risk for blood clots as full HRT but it is still a bit of a risk as I understand it :-\
-
Is the itch entirely external i.e. not inside the vagina too? It sounds like no-one has suggested it could be lichen sclerosis - probably because very few people have heard of it and many GPs won't recognise it. It's not very common, but usually appears around menopause and isn't the same as VA. It's an auto-immune condition which causes the skin of the vulva to thin, making it very itchy and sore. Sometimes it shows up as silvery-white pearly patches of skin on the vulva and around the anus. If it is this, then the steroids would've given temporary relief as they're the only treatment on a regular basis, but to know for sure you need to be referred to a specialist for a biopsy - it can't be diagnosed by symptoms alone. Mine was mistaken for thrush at first but when it didn't respond to treatment luckily my GP recognised it and sent me for a biopsy. It's important to get it recognised as untreated it can increase the risk of skin cancer. I'd go back and ask to be checked again.
-
Thank you Racjen, the itch is entirely external and the irritation is red in colour not silvery white, it would be good to have it looked at again but that's not likely to happen in the near future :(
-
You could use a mirror to keep a beady eye on the area ;-)
-
I had same and had a biopsy and it came back chronic dermatitis of the vulva. I’m under dermatology and I will list the things that have helped me. At beginning steroid cream then hydromol ointment to wash all over with and moisturise all the time with. Don’t use any perfume products cotton underwear and wash with non bio soap powder. You should be checked for LS as it’s same symptoms.
-
Thank you Donna-paul that would be great. It does look eczema like although I've never had it before, I will mention this to doctor and see what she says :)
-
That reads like 'don't use cotton underwear' :-\
-
I didn't even notice that but I knew what you meant :D
-
I knew what she meant. I think ;)
-
Multi Gyn Actigel, i was recommended this on here so very surprised it wasn't mentioned
I got mine from Amazon, i was told Boots sell it, but my local one doesn't,it's about £7 if i remember correctly
-
Hi Jaycee
Thanks will look into that,
looking around the site and Vagifem gets mentioned a lot do you think that might help ?
Just trying to find something other than oestrogen because of the blood clot worry.
-
oops just realised Vagifem IS oestrogen ! you can tell I'm new to this ;D
-
It's unlikely to bother the blood stream MillieMoo10. It is designed for vaginal use to improve symptoms ;-)
-
I use Ovestin now, which is similiar to vagifem but a cream,which can be used internally or externally, but i would try the actigel
-
Hi here's an update, just had my telephone consul with the GP (a different one to last time) and she has prescribed an anti fungal oral tablet to be taken for 4 weeks. I suggested it might be connected to low estrogen but she said the other doctor had said that she saw no signs of VA and if it was that then the antifungal creams that I have used before would not have cleared it up if. I'm not convinced but I will take the tablets and see if it clears it up and see if it comes back again afterwards ::)
What do you guys think - could it still be the start of VA ?
-
Your GP needs a kick!
Ring this morning and ask for a referral to a Menopause Clinic - not to a Gynae as they know as little as GPs. I could spit bricks!
Vaginal atrophy doesn't show .......... how on Earth would an oral tablet improve the vaginal area .......... I wouldn't put anything into my body if I didn't think it's required especially knowing now about VA.
-
MillieMoo10, I agree with CLKD, your GP seems to know nothing. I would just ask to try local oestrogen, either Vagifem or Ovestin. They over-diagnose thrush because they know precious little about VA. I take it you have not been swabbed for thrush, so why are they prescribing oral Fluconazole? Thrush creams can make you feel a bit better because they contain ingredients that sooth the area, but this does not mean you have it. Stupid GP.
VA is caused by low oestrogen. It is quite bad by the time you get visible symptoms. You want treatment now with local oestrogen before it gets too bad.
To find out about VA, you could get Jane Lewis's book "Me and My Menopausal Vagina" available from Amazon. She is Maryjane on here. She also has a good instagram site: my_menopausal_vagina, and a private Facebook support group: Vaginal Atrophy.
JP x
-
Thank you Joaniepat and CLKD I agree with what you are saying both female GPs at my practice seem to be of the same opinion (they are youngish so no way near menopause themselves) I feel I have to give the oral fungal tablets a go (I suspect they will not work) and then I will have to muster up the courage to be firm with the estrogen :(
-
NOOOOOOO - don't put chemicals into your body simply to please your GPs.
Tell them that you have talked with ladies using vaginal treatment successfully who have never had an examination nor other treatments. Is there a Nurse Practitioner at your Practice or a male GP who may be clued up? Mine has a wife of my age ;) so diagnosed my VA over the 'phone 5 years ago ;)
-
Would you eat a food stuff that you don't like to please others :-\
-
Good point CLKD ;D
Thats also a good point about the male GP, my usual GP WOULD have a wife about the right age so maybe that would be a better option - never thought of that
Thanks :)
-
My advice is to bypass the surgery and ask 4 a referral to a menopause clinic ;-)