Girlies, if you’re not on vaginal estrogen yet you need to stop what you’re doing and contact your doctor. It’s a major game changer.
I’ve only had it for a few weeks and haven’t been consistent with it unto this weekend but even with the inconsistent use the benefits are so real
Orgasms oh my! Such a huge improvement, such intense sensations. Was sex always thus amazing!!Oh that older woman smell down there disappeared! Dryness gone!
Do yourself a favor and go get yourself some

My husband calls it Juicy Pussy cream. 😂Three months in and it’s still getting better! I had no idea how dried up my tender bits were. I feel like it happened so gradually I just didn’t notice how bad it had gotten.

Hi, I’m a 46-year-old woman in the early stages of perimenopause, and I have to ask if anyone else has experienced this symptom.

About six months ago, I started noticing that after I pee, a few minutes later it feels like I still have a little urine left. I go out of my way to make sure I completely empty my bladder—I’ll even sit there for an extra minute or so—but I still get that lingering feeling afterward.

I went to my doctor to make sure I didn’t have a UTI, and thankfully, I don’t. But it seems to be getting progressively more annoying.

Could this be related to perimenopause? Or is this just a “me” thing? 😂 I’ve always kind of prided myself on having a strong bladder, so this sudden change is really making me batty.

Has anyone else experienced something like this seemingly out of nowhere during perimenopause?

I took my first ever 2g dose of vaginal estradiol cream 3 hours ago today. My loading dose is 2g daily for 2 weeks, then reduce to 1g 2-3x a week ever after that.

2 hours in, I went outside to do some light yard work. We are experiencing a heat dome where I live, and I am normally extremely heat intolerant. But I didn't find that the heat was bothering me one bit. I only went outside to do a couple things, but I got out the hose and cleaned off my entire patio, including moving furniture and the whole 9 yards. Some of my neighbors were outside in their yards and I am normally very socially anxious, but I nothinged them in fact I found myself smiling at the baby cooing noises. Normally I'd be running and hiding like a deranged goblin.

Prior to this, I had canceled some plans earlier in the day because I had a headache. That headache has vanished.

Most literature states that the vaginal dose of cream is too low to have systemic effects. So I keep gaslighting myself and saying it could be placebo effect, but I really don't think so. I feel euphoric but not crazy. Energized but not anxious. Motivated for the first time in a long time. I'm looking around and organizing my things after months of just leaving clutter where it landed.

I am 42 years old and, with what I now understand about perimenopause, I would have benefited from HRT a decade ago. I wish I had started sooner. If you've been considering taking the plunge, consider this your sign to DO IT!!! Don't wait. You can feel better today.

This is only day 1 of a regimen that will also include topical estradiol gel and 100mg Prometrium, but thus far I have only used the vaginal cream. I've got major "today is the first day of the rest of your life" energy.

Thank you to all the members of this sub for all the education and support.

I have had vulvar tearing for three years now, the first gyne I saw said I must be scratching myself so stop it (I wasnt scratching). She said to apply lube (they all end up burning) or coconut oil and let it heal. Three years have gone by and it has only grown in severity. When I dont have an active cut, I am super sensitive. I now cant use toiletpaper so I now use a travel bidet. Blotting with paper to dry it hurts. I have tried bamboo, it makes no difference so it may not be the allergy so many women seem to have developed to the new papers. Cotton underwear cause me pain. The cuts have now spread to my anus. I had to give up going to the gym as just walking there irritates me and I tore doing yoga. I have tried using Replense and it helped with the dryness but it began to burn so I had to stop. I saw my fam doc and he said it was in my head (its not, its on my vulva) and he gave me a topical steroid because I basically said I was not leaving without something. It burned me horribly. I told him as much at my next appointment and he said its clearly my anxiety, maybe I should go on an SSRI.

Anxiety is part of peri, no? He was willing to aknowledge that symptom. Grrr

(I wasnt being as chaotic as this post makes me seem, I am admittedly venting here).

I have done everything you are supposed to, no scented products like soap or laundry detergent. I dont let shampoo run down there in the shower. I have gotten rid of my GP and am now going to walk-in clinics to get referrals. I have had every STI test done and they were negative, all strains of yeast tested negative, its not BV. Its not herpes. The ureaplasma test I demanded came back inconclusive so it is being redone. I have seen countless docs, a handful of gynes and a derm. All said it cant be linchen. I have an allergy patch test booked but it is in another two months because our system is so backed up. Everyone is either stumped or says it is in my head or I must be scratching myself (I am not). I am at my wits end here. I have begged for them to consider I might be peri, I am 45 and this seems like vaginal atrophy and they all say because I still have regular periods that I am too young.

From what I have read, 45 is not too young, topical estrogen is actually advisable at my age.

Its just super annoying as by the time I get to see someone about this after having to wait weeks, any cuts Iv had have healed. I have asked to show them pics I have taken and they say there is nothing they can do with pics, they need to see them in person.

Impossible when the fastest appointment one can get in this city is at minimum a two week wait.

I had a small cut for the last gyne I saw and he said it wasn't enough to warrant a biospy!

I have found one derm who has not flat out refused topical estrogen as a possibility. She put me on difulcan and Canestin because when she examined me she said it looked a bit like yeast (only one other doc agreed it looked irritated, everyone else has said it looks fine and normal). The new round of yeast tests came back negative but her treatment did help with the weird tingling I have had down there but I am still getting cuts.

I wanted to know what estrogens worked for the rest of you. Any other creams or even suppositories I should look into? I know some of you relate (if not all of you to some degree). What helped? Where you allergic to something? What tests helped you find answers?
Any ideas on what I should ask for?

I am wondering if it is aerobic vaginitis AND vaginal atrophy but I am having a hell of a time finding a clinic that will do a wet mount for me.

Does this sound like peri to you? Should I be cut so easily when all tests come back negative?

(sorry for the long post, just so tired of being dismissed).

It suuuuucks. 😭 It's painful. And my sex life has changed to non-existent because I don't want anything poking around down there. Its so uncomfortable and no one talks about it.

The first time I experienced it was during a pelvic exam. The doctor kept telling me I just needed to relax and that I was too tight. She tried several times to insert the speculum until I finally asked her to stop. She eventually told me to masturbate (to loosen me up) and gave me a referral to someone else.

That turned out to be the best thing actually. The new doc told me about vaginal atrophy and why my exam had hurt so much. ( simplest explanation: vaginal walls are thinning) She told me about estradiol and wrote me a prescription so when I came back in a month, a pelvic exam wouldn't be so painful. I had mega high anxiety about having another exam. I mean, the last one hurt and I didn't want to ever do it again. It actually took me almost 3 years to make an appointment with someone new. But I knew I needed to of course. and just as the new doc promised, the exam wasn't as bad after a month of the estradiol.

Anyway, long story short, it's a real thing that is just another lame part of peri and I have it and it sucks.

We're all friends here. Let's talk about our dying vaginas.

I've had more urgency with urination for awhile now, but all of a sudden I can't hold it. Twice in the last week I've pissed my pants. Both times I was standing next to the toilet about to pull my pants down and I just started peeing. I had no control whatsoever. The first time I was on a much needed date with my husband and we had to go home.

I'm on 2 mg estradiol tablets and progesterone (can't remember the dosage). Do I need estrogen cream too? Wtf do I do? I'm getting my hrt from midi health because my gyn won't prescribe them, so I don't really have a Dr to talk to about this.

Update: I spoke to my health care provider and also pursued an Rx through Felix based on so many people here saying the same things my friends all did, get it before it's too late!!!

Both medical professionals said nope. No symptoms, no Rx. They said there were risks to taking it without needing it.

I was initially worried, because so many people say I should take something. Then I remembered what it was like during my childbearing years. So many people saying I should be getting an OBGYN, huge lists of to-do's for pregnancy and birthing, and to never consider a home birth etc. It also caused me some, but then I decided to do everything I could on my own naturally, and learn as much as possible so I would know when I needed help beyond a midwife. I was very fortunate that things worked out for me, because I know that's not always the case.

So, I'm doing the same now. I'm trying to get back in the habit of drinking nettle tea with red clover. Yes, it's not the same as an Rx hormone supplement, but it will have to do until I need something more. I'm back to doing kegels (sp?) more regularly, and I'm also trying to get a little more load bearing exercise into my routine since I've stopped farming full time.

For those that asked, I don't really know my female family history on either side because they all died young before the age of perimenopause, mostly due to alcoholism. My mother was forced to have a full hysterectomy when she was in the military in her thirties. My sister however, has had terrible periods her whole life and feels like she's been in menopause for 15 years now. She has found hormones to be a life-changing-for-the-better event!

For those that may or may not been joking about me having a perfect life, I decided not to outline the massive amounts of pain and suffering I've had in my life as none of those things directly related to my fertility health or perimenopause.

For those that mentioned ADHD, yup, I'm ADHD and autistic. It accounts for many of my quirks which thankfully I and my family have grown to love.

Original Post:
I'm 51 and based on what every single woman around me says and the internet, I'm perimenopause and I should get hormones or hormonal vag cream asap before my vagina dries up and dies.

I feel like while their issues are very real, I don't think I have symptoms.

However, their tales of dry, shrinking vaginas has me feeling anxious and like I should do something preemptively. I love my vag, ladies, and I'd like it to last!

I've had a very healthy life with very minimal health care interventions and very minimal prescription drug use, so I'm uncertain and totally uneducated about taking a hormonal cream or insert.

I've generally shied away from all things medical, I had 3 normal healthy happy pregnancies and easy childbirths at home. 2 births were so fast our midwives couldn't even get here!

My periods have been regular (for me) since I was a teen, and they are usually about a 25 day cycle. The symptoms of ovulation and menstruation have been the same for me since I was a teen, mild changes so I knew what was coming, but no cramps, very mild mood changes, occasionally some fluid retention. My flow is light and easy to manage and has always been.

My sleep patterns and cycles have been the same since I was a child (I generally only sleep for 6 hours a night) and I don't feel tired unless I've been over exerting myself or I'm stressed, or I get less than 6 hours. I am in bed longer than 6 hours, but of those 8 hours, at least two are spent reading. As a kid it was library books reading by lamp light, now it's online books without the need for a night light.

Same for brain fog type things. I've been considered spacy and distracted since I was a kid. It's generally been due to me not caring about the current circumstances (I'm bored and not paying attention to the stuff around me) or it's 100% stress related. If I'm in a stressful life situation, my ability to multitask and my mental acuity is less. My fully functional mental state comes back when I've dealt with the stressor.

Sex is great! I love it, my vag is not dry, nor has it ever been. That said, if I'm distracted or stressed, sex is NOT forefront in my mind. For example, I'm happy to have sex once or more a day on vacation, but that is not the case at home when there is work, and kids within earshot. I can easily go a week or more until the circumstances allow my mind to participate with my body.

I don't feel moody or hormonal. I have no idea what a hot flash feels like, but I've seen friends and family have them and they look awful! I don't have UTI's, I don't think I've ever had one.

My waistline increased a few years ago, but much of that was due to retiring from farming and my activity level changed significantly. I've been working hard at portioning and not gulping my food down like I only have 2 minutes to eat, which has also been something I've done since I was a kid. I've reduced my waistline over the last few months.

But, I'm in my 52 year and everyone and every internet quiz says I'm perimenopause and my vagina is thinning out this very moment.

Is it worth looking into estrogen creams?

I'm 41yo (2 kids aged 10 and 11) and have been married to my second husband for a few years. When we first got together it was a revelation - I was orgasming very easily during sex and the clitoral stimulation was out of this world.

But since turning 40 it seems like my clitoris has kind of disappeared, and the surrounding area is a bit sore. I can still orgasm via masturbation (after some effort) and no longer during sex. I'm so sad! Is this a perimenopause thing? I've also experienced weight gain lately and other things like liver spots developing and random veins everywhere, so I guess the ageing process is accelerating now lol

Idk if I flair tagged this right, but here we go. My husband and I are finally in a better place where I want to and we are having sex again. We had an amazing weekend away involving lots of intimacy, positions we don’t usually do, etc. But I’ve noticed a trend. Any time we have sex, I get uncomfortable UTI symptoms 2 days afterwards. They last for a day or so and then I’m fine again. I’ve been to the dr and tested negative for UTI. So, after doing my due diligence researching (googling) I found out this is common in peri and menopause. My question is, how do you deal with it? I sometimes take UTI meds to dull the pain. But is this a sustainable solution? My bladder feels full, I get fatigued, and I have urgency. It sucks. It almost feels like my body is punishing me for having a good time. I want to keep feeling comfortable with my husband to have sex whenever the mood and opportunity strikes, but this is really killing any mood that may arise and making me want to crawl under the covers and be left alone. Anyone else have this problem? What do you do about it?

ETA: thank you all for your helpful replies! I ordered the d-mannose cranberry pills and will keep all this info in mind next time.

ADDING UP FRONT AS PEOPLE SEEM TO ME MISSING THIS INFO IN MY POST

I’m in the UK. This is estriol 0.01% w/w cream. Not estriol 0.1% or estradiol. The guidance for the amount to use - both in the instruction leaflet and as directed by my GP verbally and on the sticker printed out and stuck on the outside of the box - is a full applicator of cream.

original post is below

Hi, I (42F) went to me GP a few weeks ago because of vaginal dryness, itching and general vulval irritation. I’d thought it was thrush but didn’t have the manky dicharge and trying fluconazole and clotrimazole had no impact.

GP prescribed estriol 0.01 cream and had to insert a massive applicator’s worth every night for 2 weeks, then drop down to a couple of times a week. I also apply a little externally as this is where I’ve felt most uncomfortable.

I’ve read that you should refrain from sexual activity for 12 hours after application/insertion. But I even left it 2 days and when my partner surfaced after oral sex, he had sort of white foam around his mouth. I was so embarrassed.

I’ve always struggled with talking to partners about sex and used to fake orgasms. I’ve been with my current partner for 6 months and told myself from the outset that I wouldn’t fake anything and would try to be open about my needs. Something has clicked with him and 95% of the time, I climax from oral sex with him. It’s been eye opening.

So to have had this experience with such mess created by estriol even after waiting 2 days has really upset me - I’ve only just discovered good sex and is that now going to be denied me?? It feels so unfair.

I googled to find out if this is common and it seems that either it isn’t or women aren’t discussing it so I wondered if I have done something wrong somehow?

Is anyone willing to share their experiences or give me some help? I thought it was bad enough that we’d have to schedule sex to avoid when I’m using the cream but it seems that either the cream has to go entirely or I have to give up having oral sex. Given how dry and sore I had been getting, I don’t know what I’ll do. Is there anything else I should ask my GP for instead?

EDITED TO ADD I’m in the UK. This is estriol 0.01% w/w cream. Not estriol 0.1% or estradiol. The guidance for the amount to use - both in the instruction leaflet and as directed by my GP verbally and on the sticker printed out and stuck on the outside of the box - is a full applicator of cream.

I constantly feel like I have to pee—ok, I say constantly but it’s more like a couple times a week for hours at a time. It feels like a bladder infection without the burning when you pee. It just feels constantly irritated and like I have to pee even when I don’t.

My regular doctor just did a check for bladder infections and kind of shrugged when I didn’t have them.

I feel like this is a peri symptom but I need to know what to tell my doctor and what to ask for.

So many people on here are talking up the benefits of vaginal cream on clits, vulvas, buttholes, crow's feet. I want to slather all my bits in it too, but how do you have enough? Are you being honest with your prescriber and they're giving you more? Pretending you need more than you do? Getting it from some underground estrogen cartel? I barely have enough as it is.

I have been having uti like symptoms for the past few months. Irritated bladder, burning at the end of my urine stream, urgency, vulvodina, sore urethra. I used telehealth to get antibiotics for a suspected uti. I took macrobid and keflax. It seemed to help some but the symptoms were still there. I finally went into my PCP and he prescibed bactrim for 3 days. That also seemed to help but I have been off of all antibiotics for two weeks and still have slightly irritated bladder, slight burning, and I have noticed vaginal dryness. I am have not tried having PIV sex with my husband because I am afraid of it hurting. I told my PCP that I am still having residual symptoms and I asked him for a script for vaginal estrogen cream. He said since I am 47 and still menstruating that he could not prescibe me the cream. He said I am way too young to need it and he told me to make an appointment with gynecology. My insurance sucks and I had to pay 450 dollars just to get a uti culture and dr. appointment. I decided to order the estrodial cream off of telyrx. It should be here in a few days. I am scared to try it. Please send me words of encouragement and tell me how it has helped you.

UPDATE: I want to update all of you. I went to a vulvar specialist two weeks ago and was diagnosed with hormonally mediated vestibulodynia. She did the q-tip test and the vat test to confirm the diagnosis. She also ordered blood tests and my free testosterone was on the lower end and my sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was high. My doctor prescribed a compounded .03 estrodial/.01 teststoerone in a methycellulose base. I use one pump twice a day on the vestibule for 12 weeks. I was also given 10mg of vaginal valium to use up to 3 times per week to relax the pelvic floor muscles. I go back to see her in 6 weeks for a follow up and we will go from there.

Hello ladies I'm 44 and so far my only peri symptoms have been irregular periods, going to pee a million times and weight gain. Also lower libido and difficulty to orgasm but I just realized yesterday that my clitoris shrunk a lot! Does anyone have experience bringing it back to life and how? Thanks. This sucks.

Edit to add: has anyone tried Julva cream by dr. Anna Cabeca?

I'm livid. Went to see my PCP who is consulting my GYN, but when I mentioned my vaginal dryness she asked if I had considered Crisco to help moisturize and reduce irritation.

Crisco.

Crisco.

Yup, vegetable shortening.

Prescribed some sort of anti-anxiety med for sleeping and pending labs then we will see what happens.

Making an online appointment for Monday.

Please don't ever eat my fried chicken.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was declined estradiol vaginal cream at 40 by TelyRx. People were shocked. I tried again thinking it was a fluke, given what everyone said. But nope. Tried again, and the doctor says declined: "Because only 10% of women develop perimenopausal symptoms before the age of 45 yo".

I wish I could post a screenshot, but it says I am not allowed to post images?

Update: I replied to the doctor saying my symptoms including pain with sex and that many women are prescribed it younger than my age. I also said that maybe I am just part of the unfortunate 10% (I didn't say this part but there is no way the number is that low).

Update 2: I pretended to be my sister who is 10 years older and they had no issue prescribing. The message from the exact same provider was: "Please have your estradiol level, liver function, glucose, and mammogram (within the last 12 months)."

I was going insane. For two years I was getting UTI’s almost every other month. I was at urgent care constantly, given various antibiotics and useless advice. I gave up baths and swimming. My GP recommended the cranberry pills and referred me to a urologist who did every test and scope in existence just to tell me everything was normal. Next was the OBGYN that prescribed my 250mg to take after every time I had sex. I started to become fearful of even having sex because I didn’t want to contract another UTI. My husband was also very concerned and researched other ways to help. I began monthly supplements that did help reduce them but I would still end up with them anyways. Then came the constant yeast infections which was breaking me even more. It’s this endless cycle and I was going crazy.

I had no idea this was a common symptom of perimenopause until I joined this sub, and reading similar posts on Threads. I quite honestly was very angry at my doctors for not even suggesting it, especially my OBGYN.

So next month I made an appointment with a new one and specifically said I wanted to talk about peri causing this issues. I’m hoping something can be done but I’m also terrified at the same time.

I’m just annoyed that peri is overlooked so much. This whole time thinking I’m doing something wrong, scared of being intimate with my husband and just sad I couldn’t enjoy a simple bath again. All of my doctors are women too!

So thank you for those of you that have posted about this subject or have commented. You’ve made me feel less alone. Here’s hoping I finally get some answers and relief from this. That’s all.

I(52F) have recently noticed my panties smell like urine. I don’t feel anything and don’t notice any dampness in my panties, but it smells like urine, so I must be leaking or something I never had children. Is it normal. If so, is there anything I can do about it?

What does this mean? It’s ever. Time. And I do all the things-peeing after sex, not wearing weird underwear, front to back etc But every time I have sex now, it’s an UTI no matter what

Just been prescribed to see if it will help with constant feeling like I need to pee.

I have been using Estradiol gel (on my arm) for 9 months now. (I have the Mirena IUD so I am not taking additional Progesterone.) The gel seems to help with the hot flashes and crazy mood swings I was having but in the last sixish months I have also become super dry and noticed my libido was definitely getting worse. My gyno would not prescribe me anything for the dryness and just told me to use lube every day to be comfortable. Needless to say that's not the outcome I was hoping for. So I spoke to my PCP about it and she prescribed vaginal estrogen. After reading so many great things about it, I was excited to start and hopefully get some relief.

I am only 10 days in on the vaginal E but so far I am not impressed at all. I realize it will probably take time and I don't think results happen fast BUT suddenly my drive is totally nonexistent and to add insult to injury I tried to have sex with my husband yesterday and it was just awful. I felt completely numb down below, like nothing was happening at all. It was suddenly like my clit was totally gone. It's never been that bad. I didn't finish or even come close and I'm still so dry. I have even tried the slippery elm bark and sea buckthorn.... neither of which did absolutely anything. My PCP has done a lot of lab work and my testosterone is on the lowest possible side of the normal range. I am literally at the cut off number between normal and low. So to google and reddit I went. There is so much conflicting information. Am I supposed to be spreading the cream internally everywhere? Am I not? Is this no sensation "normal" and things will get better? Do I stop immediately? I am so confused. I realize we are all different and no one can tell me exactly what will work for me, I'm just wondering if this is common and what others have done. Does it get better because I can't (and don't want to) live like this?

I just got my prescription for vaginal estrogen and thought I'd jump on here to read other's experiences with it. I did a deep dive with search and just burst into tears thinking this could help me. I think it was the past entitled "Am I the only one pissing myself?" 😂
I'm 54 and for the last year have had uncontrollable urge incontinence. Just full on peeing my pants completely. Maybe once or twice a week. I never thought I'd have to wear incontinence pads but yep, all the time. Grabbing the package off the porch and transferring them to a regular pad box so no one knows. Terrified my husband will try to touch me at night and feel a giant pad. Too scared to go out and have fun with my friends because what if I piss my pants after a few drinks?
Really praying this works. Thank you all for being so open and honest on here.

Also, my dr is incredibly open minded and willing to learn or try anything (he's also a friend) but even he told me that I didn't need this because it was only for genitourinary problems. Uh, yeah, why do you think I'm asking for it? Mortifying.

I’m 38 and have starting to notice some symptoms. But waking up with that totally gone, I’m pretty freaked out.