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[libby]

 Hi, I am new to the forum and can say it looks fab and with so much info regarding the Menopause. I have been told by my GP that i am coming to the end of the menopause due to having blood tests, though to me it doesn't feel like it. Still having hot flushes and tired all the time, doesn't seem like its lessening any. I went to the GP a couple of weeks ago as have been itchy and so sore down below, even bleeding due to the itching    Intercourse has been non existent for months due to the breaking of skin and being so sore    She gave me Dermovate Cream which when using seems to make me not as sore but as soon as I stop using it, it ends up bad again. Anybody else suffering from this and have any remedies of their own....Is there light at the end of the tunnel 

[CLKD]

Have you been diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis?

Your GP should have given you a localised HRT for vaginal atrophy, did you read our threads here yet?  As oestrogen levels drop off then the body may become dry, inside and out, including the vaginal walls. 

[PeanutbutterCup]

I agree 100% with CLKD and I speak from experience. Having been to my GP many, many times with the symptoms you mentioned along with a constant feeling like I need to wee all the time she refused to believe my issues were hormonal and "diagnosed" me with various ailments from thrush to Lichen Sclerosis. She prescribed Dermovate Cream for Lichen Sclerosis which I used. It made a bit of a difference but not much.

It was only through my own research and the advice/experiences I received on the forum that I realised my initial suggestion of it all being hormone related was indeed the case. I went back to my GP and asked to be prescribed Ovestin cream which has helped greatly.

I should also point out that on one visit to my Nurse Practitioner to get swabs for thrush (which turned out to be negative) she said it definitely didn't look like I had Lichen Sclerosis and agreed it was more likely hormone related. She prescribed me Vagifem which I didn't take as I had put my trust in my GP who I assumed was correct. Big mistake, I should have listened to my Nurse Practitioner and could have had relief months ago.

One thing I have learned in the past 8 months is that GPs aren't always right and for some reason seem to be reluctant to believe any of our issues are perimenopausal/menopausal/postmenopausal related. My GP is a young female which makes it harder for me to understand (her time will come!).

I thank this forum for being my light at the end of the tunnel 

[CLKD]

GPs simply don't do menopause during their 3 years of in-house training.  Not even in Obs and Gynae .........

[racjen]

I have lichen schlerosis and it was diagnosed by a referral to the women's unit at Exeter Hospital, where they did a biopsy. It's now treated successfully with Dermovate cream, but your GP shouldn't just be giving you that without a proper diagnosis. It has a pretty characteristic appearance - areas of skin on the vulva which have a pearly grey/white colouring, it's very itchy and it only affects the external skin, not the vagina itself. I'd insist on a proper referral if I were you; if necessary change GPs (I was lucky, my GP recognised it immediately but she still sent me to an expert to make sure).

[CLKD]

Thanks racjen - I believe too that it is quite a rare condition?

[Dierdre]

Hi racjen I was told by a vulva specialist I might have this but haven't had the test. I have never had white/grey patches and don't itch at all so I doubted his diagnosis. My symptom was raised redness on the labia which did settle after 2 weeks of strong steroid creams but I have atrophy that causes this also when I have a flare up. Could it be lichens without the itch and patches of white as I don't want to use this steroid cream if more vagifem and Ovestin will do.

[CLKD]

A steroid cream should be used for as short a time as possible as it can leave it's own problems.  LS must be diagnosed correctly otherwise one might be using a powerful medication without good cause.

[Dierdre]

Yes, I agree and will question this before using again.  I've used more VM moisturiser and extra Vagifem and am seeing an improvement so is probably an atrophy flare up. Been very stressed this week so not surprised.

[racjen]

Yes I think LS is quite rare, it's an auto-immune condition, and GPs certainly shouldn't be treating it with potent steroids without a proper diagnosis. If you don't have the characteristic whitish change to vulval skin, and itching, I suspect there are all sorts of other things it could be.

[libby]

Thank you for your comments, very interesting. I was told I had Lichen Schlerosis and given Dermovate Cream but have since been back to the GP and advised still sore, itchy and it is uncomfortable having intercourse    They have now given me Vagifem, so looks like I may never had Lichen Schlerosis in the first instance  I have to use the Vagifem for two weeks daily and then is it once/twice a week? It seems like on the forum the Vagifem is a life saver, hopefully it will sort out my problem 

[racjen]

There's no way they can say conclusively that you have LS without doing a biopsy - you should definitely question this and if necessary ask for one. I'm really shocked that GPs seem to be throwing steroid cream around so casually, it really can do more harm than good as it thins the skin, last thing you need in this situation.

[libby]

It is scary, there was no talk of any biopsy. She just examined me and said yea it is LS.  I have stopped using the steroid cream and using the Vagifem now instead....Will I always have to use Vagifem (Cost a fortune in prescriptions) or when I have finished going through the menopause will I not need it. Never realised that the Menopause caused so much, I obviously was very naive and just thought hot flushes for a while and periods stop and that would be it. 

[Dierdre]

Atrophy is caused by a decline in oestrogen so you will have to use vagifem for life. It is manageable and using vagifem and Ovestin with moisturiser like Yes should keep you comfortable. I didn't get atrophy until i was 5 years post menopause and had never heard of it either. You might also need more than twice a week on the maintenance dose, but can increase this if needed. Ovestin cream can also be used on the outside and some ladies use full Hrt for other symptoms and local oestrogen for atrophy. I hope you are seeing some improvement now.