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[SGNW]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this (forum and peri!), and wanted to see if anyone else had experienced what I am as feel like I'm being passed around Gp to consultant with no answers!

I've been treated for thrush for 6 months, and between treatments and since coming off I get very dry, sore, itchy on my vulva right after my period and generally before. I've mentioned perimenopause to GPs in the past when going through thrush (I am 38) and almost got laughed out for being 'too young'.

My recent swab came back negative for thrush, but I'm still getting the same feelings of sore, dry and itchy which is frustrating and upsetting. A new GP finally said last week she thinks I need oestrogen gel as sounds like peri. I'm now waiting to see a GP face to face to talk in detail about what's right for me etc.

My question is, has anyone experienced perimenopause causing recurrent (or stubborn) thrush? Could the dryness etc be what caused the thrush in the first place? I'm worried about starting any HRT if it's NOT actually that but then how would I know for sure as I know there's no one test for peri?

Sorry for all the questions, as I said this is all very new to me so I'm looking for any advice or experiences anyone could share Thank you!

[CLKD]

HI! put your GPs head down the loo and flush!  LOTS!

One of them should have suggested vaginal atrophy treatment -  to the wonderful world of confusion  because many medics simply have no idea about VA!

I would get intense itchiness high up in the vagina at the end of each period.  Many years later my GP diagnosed VA and prescribed appropriate treatment which has worked well.  Usually 'vagifem' is prescribed, the idea being to insert into the vagina every night for 2-3 weeks, to replace oestrogen naturally lost which may cause dryness: skin, deep in the ears, scalp, nostrils, vagina ......... I have found 'ovestin/estriol' helps a lot. 

Do ring your surgery this afternoon and request appropriate treatment for VA.  U don't need an exam for this, the Nurse Practitioner should be able to leave a script for you.  Let us know how you get on.

[Banjo1973]

I 100% agree with the above. My 'thrush' disappeared when i started vagifem and ovestin.

I only learnt about VA (now called GSM) through this forum. And thank god I did. Everything is comfortable down there now - as long as I use the treatment regularly. When I get lazy/forgetful it ALWAYS comes back.

Good luck

[Ayesha]

Don't worry about using topical oestrogen, its very safe and very different to using systemic HRT.
Medics have a habit of making a situation so much more complicated when most times there is a simple solution. Give the topical oestrogen a try and see how you get on, also put some relevant words in the search box, your question has come up so many times before.

[bombsh3ll]

You wouldn't be doing yourself any harm by using vaginal estrogen whether or not you are perimenopausal.

However if you are perimenopausal at 38 and your vagina is showing signs of hypoestrogenism, then this deserves more than just local treatment as you have a whole body to look after and keep well, so do be persistent with your GP, monitor any further symptoms and if there's any doubt insist on a referral to an NHS menopause clinic.

FSH isn't a perfect test but absolutely should be done when someone under 40 is experiencing symptoms suggestive of low estrogen.

[CLKD]

No lady is 'too young'  . Some girls never menstruate [rare], others have a few periods then nowt.  It may also depend on genetics i.e. if familial aunts/grans/mothers have gone into menopause in their mid-30s ........

There is also a good book 'Me and My Menopausal Vagina', written by a Member a few years ago.  Worth a read ;-)

[SGNW]

Thanks so much for all your replies!

I've got an appointment next week to see a GP, I am going to ask for a other thrush swab incase it has come back to double check - my swabs during the 6 months did come back positive.
Might be I'm fighting thrush and VA?! Or they both come hand in hand?!

It's strange on minute I can feel sore and dry, and within thr hour feels like I'm very wet - is this what people have experienced too?

Finding this forum invaluable!!

[CLKD]

Yep.  The vagina cleans itself but as the oestrogen drops off dryness may set in.  Can I be rude and ask when your appt might be?

I woulnd't be asking for another swab because the GP will probably insist on waiting for those results to come back B4 prescribing VA treatment.

Even if it's positive it is possible to use a thrush treatment and VA treatment.  There are several threads here, 1 lady did have an unusual 'bacteria' I think that took months to diagnose  .  Hopefully some1 who remembers will be along 

Do U have any KY Jelly, if so pop some up nightly which will keep the area moist though won't replace the oestrogen which causes the dryness.  And do be warned that your GP/Nurse Practitioner may never have heard of vaginal atrophy ;-)

[SGNW]

It's the 31st, so a week off.
That's a good point about the swab! Feel like I might need to go in prepared for a bit of a fight  if they don't know of it etc!

I'd love to know the bacteria thread and how it was eventually diagnosed if anyone knows where to find it!

Going to do my own research too before my app. So many changes happening that I'd never heard of before, wish more was taught about this

[CLKD]

Give us a clue as to other symptoms, annoyances, worries.  Many may well have been experienced on here 

[Jenna]

It's the 31st, so a week off.
That's a good point about the swab! Feel like I might need to go in prepared for a bit of a fight  if they don't know of it etc!

I'd love to know the bacteria thread and how it was eventually diagnosed if anyone knows where to find it!

Going to do my own research too before my app. So many changes happening that I'd never heard of before, wish more was taught about this

As requested 

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,68297.msg931727.html#msg931727

This is the concluding thread, but if you search for Glabrata, you will find the whole story!

[CLKD]

    Jenna - tnx.  we R a mine of info on here 

[SGNW]

Thanks for the thread on thrush!

I messaged the surgery this morning asking if I can do a swab to check for any thrush still there, so the results will be in in time for my appointment so i go talk about everything and anything with them there and then!

It's mainly vaginal symptoms i am getting, but very very low libido too for a while, mood swings, I did have a few night sweats last year but they haven't come back again - is that normal or are they generally constant? Not sure if that could've been something else!

[CLKD]

Nowt is normal and everything is normal in peri-menopause 

[Ayesha]

It's mainly vaginal symptoms i am getting, but very very low libido too for a while, mood swings, I did have a few night sweats last year but they haven't come back again - is that normal or are they generally constant? Not sure if that could've been something else!

You really do seem to be going through an early menopause which is awful for you at such a young age.  Try topical oestrogen you have nothing to lose but a lot to gain then looking to the future you might need to discuss systemic HRT too.
Your night sweats will be because you are low in oestrogen and at your age they won't be constant.