Hello! New here but have been lurking for a month and found some really useful information -- thank you all. Can I ask some advice please of all you lovely experts?
I'm 51 and my problems came on suddenly in February. Odd story but my husband had a wee infection, was sent to STI clinic and so I was summoned there too. He had a waterworks infection and they wanted to treat me too so huge antibiotic and thrush treatment as well, and they said vaginal flora v. low. Menopause wasn't suggested, but avoiding soap and shampoo was.
Strangely, libido had returned for first time in a couple of years so after all clear we started having more sex again -- at which point I had a two week period and soreness/burning which would not go away no matter what I tried. Couldn't sit to work, couldn't swim, walk or run (I am very active). Went back to clinic but it wasn't thrush or cystitis, and eventually self-diagnosed as menopausal vagina problems. I'd never even heard of this before.
![Sad :(](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/sad.gif)
Saw a GP at my practice and explained all this, who sent me away with a tube of Gynest. I asked what happened after the 3 months, wherupon he told me that was the million dollar question. I wasn't left feeling very hopeful.
Things were just starting to improve at the end of the initial 2 week nightly dose, and started getting worse again afterwards. I'm not sure that it's a high enough dose twice a week. I am using every three nights and regularly getting problems halfway between doses, resorting to Replens if desperate (but they really don't mix). Had an awful week a couple of weeks ago when we were on holiday (2nd week of x2 weekly dose) when I could barely walk, swollen and red raw. Now it's mostly OK but I have bad odd days or half days.
I have an appointment to see my long standing GP this week, to ask if I can have Ovestin instead (am I right in thinking it is a slighly higher Estriol dose) and also to ask about his position on long-term use. Am I right in thinking that:
*symptoms v. likely to come back when I come off the cream
*that long-term use is now approved in some way (officially??) and that I can ask for this
* that ovestin is a bit stronger than Gynest
I'd be so grateful for any advice or knowledge on this. appointment has been booked for weeks as this GP was v popular anyway but has dropped his working hours pre-retirement and I am so keen to get sorted for six months with some agreement on future use if required. xx