Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Hana1988.hh]

Hi Everyone! New poster! Hoping to seek some advice, and just not feel alone really.

I'm 34, and for the last year have been taking progesterone only for previous severe acne issues due to hormone imbalance. I am currently under a private hormone specialist but i am lucky that i get the progesterone through the NHS.

However recent months, i've been getting symptoms in my bladder, and what i thought was thrush like symptoms, albeit swabs for both thrush.bv and uti always come back normal. This last week i tested my theory that i thought it to be the utrogesten (100mg day 5-26 orally) so i stopped for a couple of days and the bladder issues, totally disappeared. I am left however with this uncomfortable feeling down below, not up, but around the entrance to my vagina i suppose. It almost feels like the skin around the entrance is dry, and when i wake in the morning, it's not too bad, however once i've started walking about and getting on with my day, its becomes really irritated. I've had a look, and i do feel the skin around the entrance is dry, however up (from what i can see) seems fine. (Also, when i have had sex with my husband, which is few and far between at the moment, there have been no issues with being dry up there!)

I do have a dr's appt this week, and i do have a call with my private hormone specialist too. I was just looking for other peoples experiences. I know vaginally the utrogesten can irritate more so that's no an option. I am going to try going back on the sustained release ones instead, as i had no issues with those before, other than the price as i have to pay privately for them! I moved to utrogesten so i could get them on the NHS instead.

I also go on holiday this friday, so i'm hoping the GP will be able to give me something to help with the irritation! I really don't want this to spoil my holiday!

Thank you for reading xx

[Flossieteacake]

Hello and welcome to the forum. It sounds to me like you have vaginal atrophy. This is caused by low oestrogen. The treatment for it is localised oestrogen, either as a pessary or cream. It is a very common condition on here so you are not alone.

Symptoms include: dryness, UTI type feelings, itching, soreness and you can find the bladder hurts as well as the vulva and vagina. You may find you can carry on with the utrogestan if you use localised oestrogen.

[Hana1988.hh]

Hi Flossiecake!

Yes I had a gut feeling it may be that too. I managed to speak to GP today who’s raised a px for some oestrogen cream/gel, not sure which one but hoping it will relieve the discomfort! X

[CLKD]

Have a lookC at the 'bladder issues' and vaginal atrophy threads?  Make notes ;-)

1 doesn't need blood tests nor an examination for a GP/Nurse Practitioner to prescribe appropriate treatment.

[Flossieteacake]

Hi Flossiecake!

Yes I had a gut feeling it may be that too. I managed to speak to GP today who’s raised a px for some oestrogen cream/gel, not sure which one but hoping it will relieve the discomfort! X

I am very happy to hear your GP has issued you a prescription without any issues.

[Hana1988.hh]

Thanks Flossiecake, I was prescribed Ovestin! How long does it take to work.
It’s such a weird feeling, trying to explain it to the dr was a hoot 😂

“It’s sort of at the front, like round the entrance, you know the hole 😂😂” honestly! To be a woman!

I did my first dose last night and all seemed fine. It has been slightly easier today, only slightly so hoping I’m on the road to getting it sorted! 🙌🏻

[CLKD]

Which have you been prescribed?  When I get the need2P feelings I add an afternoon dose of 'ovestin' and swallow 2 Nurofen 3 times a day.  Then use the 'ovestin' at night.

[Flossieteacake]

I can imagine how difficult it was to explain to the GP! I use Ovestin too. It can be different for everybody with how long it takes to see improvements but some people feel better in a few weeks. I would use it everyday. I insert some and then apply some to the outer area mixed with a little Yes moisturiser.

[Hana1988.hh]

@CKLD - I’ve been given Ovestin cream. Once a night for 2/3 weeks then twice a week.

It’s slightly easier I have to say, but I’m going on holiday tomorrow, I’m worried the chlorine etc is going to make it worse!

The bladder issues have totally subsided, that stopped once I stopped the Utrogesten, my sustained release progesterone arrived today!

It’s just like an irritation around the front, at the entrance is the only way I can describe it. Sometimes it’s more noticeable than others. I even took a fluconazole tablet 2 days ago to see if that helped but it’s not done much.

Im just being impatient I think!

[Flossieteacake]

@CKLD - I’ve been given Ovestin cream. Once a night for 2/3 weeks then twice a week.

It’s slightly easier I have to say, but I’m going on holiday tomorrow, I’m worried the chlorine etc is going to make it worse!

The bladder issues have totally subsided, that stopped once I stopped the Utrogesten, my sustained release progesterone arrived today!

It’s just like an irritation around the front, at the entrance is the only way I can describe it. Sometimes it’s more noticeable than others. I even took a fluconazole tablet 2 days ago to see if that helped but it’s not done much.

Im just being impatient I think!

If possible I would try not to go swimming because the chlorine will make your skin sore especially while you are in the early stages of using the Ovestin.

Please ignore the instructions to drop the Ovestin to twice a week. Many of us need to use it more often. I use it daily and have no intentions of reducing it.

[CLKD]

Had I read the whole thread I would have seen that you were prescribed 'ovestin'  .  Note to Self: Do Pay Attention 

Put a little on the urethra area as well as internally.  Several times a day if necessary.  The symptoms you describe R, 4 me, due to dryness.  I also use KY Jelly there to keep the area moist so that it can't dry.

[Penguin]

Flossieteacake, would swimming in the sea be okay, do you think? Or us it just any prolonged contact with water that's the issue?

[CLKD]

Depends on how clean the sea might be: after salt is used in many treatments i.e. dental care.  Drying gently after a dip would make sure that you stay comfy.

[Dierdre]

I'm ok swimming in the sea and salt water pools but if there's alot of chlorine in the pool it sometimes irritates.  If your going abroad it's not too bad as they don't put as much chlorine in as we do in the UK.
When you've finished in the pool wash or shower and apply a moisturisor, you could also use a barrier cream before you swim, baby creams work like Bepanthan and Sudocream.
Have a great holiday.

[Penguin]

That's good to know thanks, I seemed to be fine sea swimming in Turkey, didn't go in the pool until the last day but everything felt very dry when I got home - wasn't sure what caused it! I hadn't thought of using sudocream as a barrier, that's a good idea. I use it to heal when I get the little paper cut feelings on the outside but I'm asking for Ovestin at next GP as there's so much on all the threads here about it!