Hi Suzi, Thanks so much for your reply. I;ve read a lot of your posts on here and you always make me feel better. The fact that the front is fusing doesn't bother me and I can't feel it but I'm concerned about eventually closing up. When I saw the gynae in 2012 she said the extra skin at the back was nothing to worry about but no other information and my GP didn't explain anything either except to reassure me it was nothing serious like cancer. I guessed it was connected to the va as it happened arround the same time. I spoke to my neighbour who is a medical secretary and she got in touch with the secretary to the consultant in charge. She obviously isn't medically qualified but knows quite a lot from typing letters and reports. She confirmed that they don't usually recommend removing it if the lady is not sexually active (we haven't 'done it' for a few years) and its not causing a nuisance. It has increased at the back in the last 3 and a half years. I did go back again to the GP, can't remember when, to say it was still growing. Think that was when he mentioned the cryosurgery. He didn't try to persuade me or, again, give me any explanation, so I wimped out.
Just this week I've had splitting at the back - not had this before, like the paper cut thing. Thinking about it I'm wondering if some oestrogen cream on the outside would stop or slow down the fusing. Afterall, its a consequence of no oestrogen. When I asked for some replens on prescription the GP said to me 'oh, that's ok its not oestrogen' so I'm doubtful that he will give it to me. I'm even nervous about asking.
Apart from this problem which I'm worrying about again because of noticing about the front labia, the vagifem is working fine at the moment, unless of course my stress causes a blip. So sorry to read that you have problems again with the soreness and burning. Its really dreadful and considerably reduces quality of life. I look at other women walking about and envy them that they don't have these problems but I don't know do I? They might have. They don't know I've got it. I do hope you get some improvement soon. I get really depressed when I get a blip because you start thinking is this it forever. So far I've been lucky and the vagifem has worked again but you alway have that doubt. (I'm 69 - a bit older than most on here I think). Guess I'm lucky to have got this so late as a lot start in late 40's,
Ladies who use oestrogen cream as well as vagifem, can I ask how often you apply it. I assume I can tell my gp its only a tiny amount applied and won't amount to a full dose. Don't know how long it'll be before I steel myself to make an appointment.
Thank you for reading this long missive. I can't tell you how much comfort I've received from this site. XX