Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Bungo on October 24, 2021, 08:37:56 AM
-
For the past few months have had on and off itching in vulva, perimium, anal area. Taken diflucan, canestan but still comes back. No discharge. From this website I found other women reporting ovestin cream helped. Am almost 52 and still perimenopausal but symptoms really revved up the past year. GP said I'm too young to have VA, that only happens years after menopause. Instead prescribed daktacort. Is she right?
-
No. How does she think that happens? It's due to lack of oestrogen which happens in peri.
-
RUBBISH :beat:
Read the 'bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy' threads on the Forum, make notes. Is there a Nurse Practitioner at your Surgery who may have more knowledge? VA can begin any time, it's due to a drop in oestrogen levels which causes the body to become dry: inside and out!
Ring the Surgery and ask for appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment? Get rid of the other preparations as these may make symptoms worse. Let us know how you get on, if you get any resitance ask for a referral to a dedicated menopause clinic - not a Gynaecologist.
-
This was a GP in mid 50s so you'd think she would know better. Have appointment with menopause specialist in 5 weeks so hopefully the itch doesn't flare up badly in meantime. The diflucan and canestan did work for a few weeks afterwards so maybe there is some thrush there? She said the daktacort would help that and reduce inflammation and try it for a week anyway
-
Ring your GP Surgery and ask for appropriate VA treatment. You do not require examination . If necessary, speak with the pharmacist attached to the Surgery.
Neither of those medications are recommended for VA.
-
Ring your GP Surgery and ask for appropriate VA treatment. You do not require examination . If necessary, speak with the pharmacist attached to the Surgery.
Neither of those medications are recommended for VA.
Maybe it is thrush though ? That's what she was saying ( it was only a phone consultation? She said to try and if didn't work then she'd refer me to a gyne( from advice here I'll skip that!). In Ireland so have to pay 60 for a visit so just want to hold tough now until the menopause specialist at end November. Wil the daktacort make things worse if it's VA?
-
No one can diagnose over the 'phone, though it seems that many are doing.
Thrush is characteristic: 4 me it was intense itching high up: occasionally some suffer a smelly, yellow discharge - your GP is being negligent. I know of a woman who was asked to ZOOM in the area of problem - it was her vagina. She marched into the Surgery telling any1 who would listen, "I have an itchy vagina and they wanted me to send a ZOOM photo.!" she was seen the same afternoon ;-)
There is another vaginal condition - name escapes me - again, cannot be diagnosed without examination.
I am not familiar with 'daktacort' :-\
-
Daktacort will help with the itchiness and soreness, it's antifungal and antibiotic and a mild steroid to help with the healing process, normally used for eczema etc. I was prescribed once for lichens sclerosus but it wasnt strong enough. Keep in the fridge. It wont hurt to use until you can get a proper diagnosis and if VA, the proper treatment.
-
:thankyou: Dierdre
-
VA cannot possibly affect every single woman, whether she's peri or post. You're very unfortunate to get it. I hope it resolves quickly for you. I am 51 and already postmeno, I had my last period in January 2020. I don't have VA and I do hope that I will never get it.
-
Not sure I'd put steroids there unless there was a good reason for it (and that requires correct diagnosis).
-
VA cannot possibly affect every single woman, whether she's peri or post. You're very unfortunate to get it. I hope it resolves quickly for you. I am 51 and already postmeno, I had my last period in January 2020. I don't have VA and I do hope that I will never get it.
.
Maybe it's not VA ,just general dryness due to oestrogen decline? My mother had no menopause symptoms, bar itchy vulva, is that VA?
-
Yep Bungo. A loss of oestrogen may cause varying degrees of atrophy. The whole body may become dry, inside and out. It kind of creeps up :-\. My symptoms began many years after my periods stopped, with repeated urine infection-type symptoms which tested negative. My GP recognised and recommended treatment 8)
Lots of women get symptoms but aren't aware, others simply get treatment and don't discuss. It's those in the care homes that I feel sorry for :'(
Karine - 'unfortunate' :-\. I look on it as the body slowing down ............ it is what it is and treatable ;-)
-
Three months after my hysterectomy (still got ovaries) I got VA, it was my first menopausal symptom aged 45.
I’m blessed to have a doctor that understands VA, and lets me use both Vagifem and Ovestin internally, and as often as needed. And I live in Australia, none of our surgeries, hospitals, dentist etc, have stop appointments and you can get appointment quickly and face to face.
And yes you can have VA at any age, my doctor has a patient who started VA at age 7, she now a teenager and started her periods and VA has stopped.
KarineT you are blessed not to have VA yet, and I hope you are one of the lucky ones and you don’t. Over 70% of women will get VA. And when you get it you will have it for life, and will need VA treatment for the rest of your life.
It took me over a year and a great doctor to find a routine that works for me.
-
I started with VA, it was my first symptom and main one of the peri stage, at the age of about 47, had last period at about 52. I went backwards and forwards to a female GP ,who was a few years older than me who said it was not possible to get VA until two years post meno and she kept saying it was thrush. What absolute rubbish and because of that i ended up suffering for a year.
I then saw a male GP who gave me Ovestin and wihin a few weeks, my so called thrush disapperared!
-
It boggles the mind that a GP could tell a woman they can't get VA in perimenopause.
I developed VA aged 50 with UTI symptoms. I'm nearly 53, I still get monthly periods and I will be using VA treatment for life. I have three sisters and none of them have had this issue but are all menopausal. I must have pulled the short straw!
-
I had exactly the same experience as tinkerbell, I had just turned 40, and was told for over a year it was thrush/bacterial vaginosis etc. Then a lovely practice nurse told me I should speak to my GP about trying vagifem, I had itching and burning all the way back to my bottom, burning urethra and urgency. It took a year of daily vagifem and now it is mostly under control, although still have bad days. This is something I feel very strongly about and feel doctors need to be educated that this is so much more than “vaginal dryness” I have never actually experienced dryness just everything else, and it is not a problem just associated with Post menopause. After my experience I actually asked on here who else had experienced this is perimenopause, and for a lot of people including myself it is their first symptom.
-
Apart from the anxiety returning VA is my most feared symptom; I hope I’m one of the lucky ones who doesn’t get it. My Mum won’t tell me if she has it or not. I’ve got Ovestin and Vagifem ready just in case I get it and I put Ovestin on twice a week to hopefully prevent it.
Bungo, I hope you don’t have it but if you do then at least you know early on.
Good luck with your GP.
Victoria☀️
-
Do read the 'bladder issues' and 'vaginal atrophy' threads on the Forum. Make notes ;-)
Get a copy of "Me and My Menopausal Vagina" written by a Forum Member. Read then pass to your Practice Nurse.
-
Thanks everyone. I don't know if I have it or not, but sickening that GP ruled out immediately.
I forgot to ask, do dryness symptoms come and go? I have times where pretty bad and then eases again.
Curiously I had very bad for a few days after my covid vaccine and also the day after my flu vaccine(which had last week). Coincidence I'm guessing or maybe because immune system was on overdrive?
-
Bungo when I first had VA it was on and off for the first three months, then it was permanently on :'(
-
Same here, didn't have a clue. By the time i finally went to the doctors i was a right mess, the lack of estrogen had also caused a grade 1 bladder prolapse It took about a year to get right again.
-
Hormones fluctuate. Get some appropriate treatment to C how better U will feel ;-)
-
Ditto. I wasn't dx'ed until 68. I was constantly experiencing bladder problems (went thru menopause without too many issues) but at 68, all hell broke loose. Never heard of VA (GSM is actually the recent terminology) and was shocked to finally find out what was causing all the bladder issues. Since being on Vagifem (2 years now), things have mostly settled. Age and everything that goes with it is better than the alternative.
-
Used the steroid cream the past few days and it is helping , something in the cream to also reduce inflammation. I'll be starting hrt in a month's time so be interesting to see if that sorts it . I've been so concerned about having thrush that my partner and I haven't tried having sex since start September , so don't know if have any issues with actual vagina. Although did have smear 6 weeks ago and that was no problem at all. Thanks everyone for the advice
-
I wouldn't put steroid cream below my knees :-\ unless under weekly supervision :-X when there is appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment available. U may find that HRT will sort it but it's not a cure all. it can take a while to find an HRT which suits too depending on how hormone levels are.
-
I wouldn't put steroid cream below my knees :-\ unless under weekly supervision :-X when there is appropriate vaginal atrophy treatment available. U may find that HRT will sort it but it's not a cure all. it can take a while to find an HRT which suits too depending on how hormone levels are.
I'm only using for 7 days, although you've scared me now so may only use for 5. Canestan also has steroids . Is there any test for VA or is is based on symptoms? Thrush can have so many similar symptoms it seems so maybe if I just get a test to rule that out, then would indicate its dryness due to low oestrogen. I forgot to mention , I have had piles for years,. (never really bothered me previously) so maybe the anal itch(the worst part) is due to them? I'm vegan so have at least 4 bowel movements a day which doesn't help irritation
-
There is no test for VA. It's a loss of oestrogen. Appropriate VA treatment is less likely to cause problems later on. Some GPs like to do an internal exam but it really isn't necessary - VA mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well which is why too many antibiotics are prescribed :-\ when VA treatment would ease symptoms.
Steroids are for short term use.
Piles can certainly be aggravated by atrophy as dryness can affect the whole body: inside and out.
-
Sound like VA. Unbelievable ignorance from your GP. For many women it does hit in the years after the menopause but for some of us it's the first symptom. Looking back I can see I had the very earliest signs of it from my mid-thirties. Way before my periods became irregular and the hot flushes started. The sooner you start on local oestrogen the better! My GP was very dismissive when I asked for my hormone levels to be checked at the age of 44 and only started taking me semi-seriously when I explained my mother can gone through the menopause at the same age.
-
Update. Went to a male GP who was fantastic and said nothing to lose by giving it a try for a month to see if helps.if doesn't he said I need to go for a swab. Was prescribed vagifem and will use but tbh when I see the amount of plastic in the one use applicators, I can't justify using it. Does ovestin come without applicators?
-
Ovestin comes with one applicator per tube so that you can measure the correct dose. The generic versions of Vagifem, such as Vagirux, come with reusable applicators.
JP x
-
I asked for ovestin but he said to try this. Is ovestin as effective ? If I do have VA it's mild enough, I have no issues with vagina yet, more itch in the vulva. So maybe ovestin will work as a long term preventative . I'll see if we have the generic here in Ireland . Thanks so much Joaniepat
-
Yes, Ovestin is effective but is a different oestrogen, estriol as opposed to estradiol. Ovestin might be a good idea as you can apply some to the vulva to hopefully treat the itching and dryness there. Vagifem is good for vagina and bladder, Ovestin for the vulva. You can use both products if you like. (I use Vagifem 5 nights a week, and Ovestin externally on non-Vagifem nights.)
JP x
-
Thanks Joanie . The GP said the vagifem would help the itch in vulva too if it is caused by VA. They're super easy to insert , today was day 1 , fingers crossed.make sa difference. Cant believe you have to use 5 days a week. Are you also using hrt? It's expensive enough here in Ireland, cost me €40 for this month. Afterwards will only have to use twice a week so won't be so bad. I swear, I reckon i spend €80 a week on supplements (am a vegan weightlifter so take about ten supplements a day, protein shakes etc), other meds, GP visits and health insurance. Future hrt will potentially bring it up to €150. Insane! I can't afford the menopause
-
This business of advancing years doesn't come cheap, does it?
As to the five Vagifem, it used to come in a 25 mcg dose as well, but they now only do the 10 mcg version for "commercial" reasons. I do seem to need the old dose of 50 mcg per week. Also, the Estring vaginal ring delivers 50 mcg per week, so there are no problems with this dosage.
I also use 100 mcg Estradot patches and Testogel, but luckily, as I am over 60, I no longer pay prescription charges.
I can see that it is expensive for you in Ireland, but hopefully it is easier to access GP services there than it is here!
Hope the Vagifem works well for you.
JP x
-
I've been told to use twice a day for first 2 weeks. Online it say once a day for first 2 weeks. Could my GP have gotten dosage wrong? Seeing as don't even know if this is in fact VA, I definitely don't want to be using it more than need( apart from the waste of plastic and cost😃)
-
Very very bloated today, could be entirely unrelated