Hi ladies, I have been reading through this forum and I'm hoping you can help. I'm 41 and very distressed by vulvar/perineum/anal area/inner thigh symptoms. The areas go very red (rash) and they burn. It's painful to walk around and sit down at times. There has been a slight itch internally and externally but this is not a prominent feature, it's the tender, irritated, burning feeling that's the worst. My GP reckons it's dermatitis and prescribed a topical corticosteroid called betamethasone cream 0.05%. This helps calm it down and cured it twice in the past year but this time around my issue has been going on for 3 months and the cream is not getting rid.
My GP recently offered Ovestin (following my suggestion of vaginal dryness) but I'm not convinced she thinks it'll help. I have completed the 2 week loading and now i'm on the twice weekly application (internally only). I wouldn't say it's helped so far.
My history: heavy periods that simply wouldn't stop 2 years ago. I was offered a mirena but wasn't keen on a device in there, so the gynaecologist put me on daily Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) 10mg daily. I have not had a period since I started on these tablets. My GP mentioned recently this was suppressing my estrogen so hence my suggestion that I might have vaginal dryness and she offered for me to try Ovestin. I've been told a couple of times during pap smears that I am dry inside.
I'm not currently sexually active so don't have pain during sex.
No history of thrush, have been tested a few times internally and externally and it's always negative.
I have no urinary symptoms like cystitis or urgency.
No visible changes down there.
My questions to you please:
- the burning associated with vaginal atrophy (a lot of you mention) - is it on the vulva/perineum area or are you referring to an internal burn in the vagina/when you pee?
- do you think my symptoms (burning, red, irritated skin and occasional itchiness) is vulvar atrophy?
I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Sorry for such a long post. Elissa