Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: cedwards on January 13, 2025, 05:28:25 PM
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I want to highlight the connection between vaginal dryness (vaginal atrophy) and urinary tract discomfort. As they are two close but separate areas in the body, I never made the connection. But there is a connection and the cure for me has been estrogen cream and probiotics targetted at the urinary tract.
I'm 62 and until 8 months ago I felt I was over the worst symptoms of the menoupause. Took HRT some years ago for hot flushes and vaginal dryness. I fellt better, thought everything had settled down and stopped taking medication, all seemed pretty OK.
Gradually I found that I was getting UTI type sysmptoms. Soon it hurt to stand for any length of time, walk, move around, and be in a car. An alcoholic drink made things much worse. The pain was in my vagina and urethra. I was given antibiotics. I could not understand why was I sensitive to alcohol when the tests for UTI's were proving negative. The antibiotics did nothing. No doctor mentioned Vaginal Atrophy (which I'd never head of ) or it's link to UTI like symptoms.
It was only after paying privately to see a gynocologist that I was told I had Vaginal Atrophy. She prescribed Estrogen and told my to take probiotics, avoid alcohol, drink plenty of tap water, not iced water. Things improved dramatically. But even she did not explain that the probiotics were to target the urinary tract problems. I got that connection by searching online. I feel pretty OK but strenuous gardening or a long walk still set things off again.
Bottom line. If you can't move without pain in the vagina and you feel like you have a constant UTI, it may well be Vaginal Atrophy and a simple combination of etrogen in the form of a cream and probiotics may cure the problem.
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:thankyou: Join the Club - we have lots of threads about VA on here. Initially I had urine infection-type symptoms but urine samples showed no growth.
As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out; scalp, skin, deep in the ears, nostril, eyes, vagina ...... as well as muscles may become lax = aches and pains. Appropriate treatment used nightly if necessary: despite what is stated in the leaflet in the box or what GPs/pharmacists believe, we can use as often as we need to in order to keep symptoms at bay.
I don't know where probiotics help. 4 me it's a heavy feeling below my belly button so I put estriol up there mid-afternoon followed by at least every night for 5-7 .
How often R U using the VA treatment? There's a good book: Me and My Menopausal Vagina : which all medics should read B4 they qualify!
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Thank you for this information, I didn't know about probiotics for va - which ones do you use?
Thanks
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I use Optibac for Women. It is not marketed as for VA specifically but delivers good bacteria to the vagina to help restore the normal flora and pH balance, which changes with menopause, reducing the likelihood of UTI's, thrush etc.
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Forgive my asking: is this by mouth or applied on the vaginal area?
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It's an oral capsule but the company say they have evidence the bacteria reach the vaginal area
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:thankyou: if it works, continue with it. Tnx for the suggestion.
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I’ve seen this pop up a lot in women close to or post-menopause, and a few friends went through the same mix of dryness and urinary irritation. What helped them most was staying consistent with a gentle moisturizer and talking to their doctor about low-dose local estrogen, which made a big difference without being a big treatment. Hydration and avoiding strong soaps also reduced flare-ups more than expected.
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Minicat can I ask what gentle moisturizer do you use, have used Yes and hydrmol ointment. But wouldn't say they moisturized.
Would be grateful for what you use.
Chopsuey
Have heared of Optibac. I do take Yakult and bio yogurt daily.
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Dermol is a good one to use. Can use it to wash with too 😊
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I've known about the connection between vaginal atrophy and the urinary tract since I saw a gyny/urology doctor 8 years ago. Nobody has mentioned probiotics though. I take one daily for my digestion. Are they different?
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I’ve seen this pop up a lot in women close to or post-menopause, and a few friends went through the same mix of dryness and urinary irritation. What helped them most was staying consistent with a gentle moisturizer and talking to their doctor about low-dose local estrogen, which made a big difference without being a big treatment. Hydration and avoiding strong soaps also reduced flare-ups more than expected.
Balance Complex (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KP2D0DC) is something I’ve heard people mention when trying to sort out recurring discomfort. It doesn’t replace proper medical care, but some found it useful alongside what their doctor recommended.