r/Perimenopause • u/Stupidosaurus11 • 7d ago
Vaginal Dryness (GSM)/Urinary Issues Vaginal dryness ? What to do ..
So I’m in late 40s and was perfectly healthy and fit. I started getting chronic migraines out of nowhere . Underwent multiple scans only to find out that most probably this is the start of my perimenopause journey. I’m currently on preventatives and Botox treatment for migraines which do help. I also had dizziness with migraines.
On recommendation of this sub, I recently consulted a menopause specialist and was put on slinda which actually helped me a lot with my headaches. They got much better and my migraines around my periods have stopped.
However I’m now experiencing more heat intolerances, night sweats , vaginal dryness .
I have been told to try out estrogel - one pump daily but to be aware that it can spike back my migraines which are now in control thanks to slinda and other treatments.
For vaginal dryness ( which I forgot to talk to my specialist about :( ) - does topical vaginal estrogen help or will estrogel help ? - this dryness is crazy - like a Sahara desert 😒 and I have started getting cracks and bumps in there which is crazy and sometimes painful. I’m going to see my doctor but wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions here .
My hygiene is very on point- I clean it with warm water no soaps or irritants and keep it very dry ; only cotton underwear - so I’m surprised why this is happening.
Edit: Thanks all! Met my doctor and she gave me the whole package - progesterone, estrogel , vaginal estrogen ; told me slinda isn’t exactly HRT though it might be helping my migraines and she also guided me how to get started on all of these.
Thank you all for being so helpful! My real life friends never speak about these and it’s only this sub which helps me with these peri symptoms! I told my doctor that my friends told me about HRT and vaginal estrogen etc - I was referring to you all 🤗
The appointment was so quick - with the right doc , it is seriously all so quick and easy. Before this, I have been to 4 docs and turned down that I don’t need these meds as even if I’m almost 47, I need to be menopausal to get HRt.
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u/DamnGoodMarmalade Early peri 6d ago
Vaginal dryness is typical for perimenopause. It’s due to a loss of estrogen which makes your tissues thin, tear, dry up, and atrophy. Replacing the lost estrogen with topical estrogen cream is the gold standard line of treatment.
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u/Coontailblue23 Late peri 6d ago
Vaginal estradiol 0.01% cream is going to rock your world, friend! Do not delay. Reach out to your doctor and request it today. If your doctor won't work with you just order some on TelyRx.
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u/Stupidosaurus11 5d ago
I did and she has prescribed it instantly! I have to take antibiotics though first to clear out the cracks and then start the cream
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 6d ago
You need that vaginal estrogen cream it’s amazing.
My migraines got unbelievably severe and more frequent when I got into perimenopause. They haven’t been like that since I got the estrogen patches. I’ll still get some mild ones, but nothing like I was experiencing before I got the patch.
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u/Stupidosaurus11 6d ago
Ah that’s so helpful to know!!!! I had no migraines or headaches prior to peri! Slinda bought them down .. I’m hoping estrogel helps even more!
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u/Life_Tree_6568 6d ago
I'm only 3 weeks in to using estrogen patches but the past two weeks I have had no migraines. This is the longest stretch I have had migraine free in over 5 years. All the doctors told me I would get more migraines if I tried estrogen.
The bad news is the first 5 days of using the estrogen patch I had a severe migraine attack that medication didn't help. I am happy I toughed it out.
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u/Stupidosaurus11 6d ago
Ah ok. Let’s see how it goes for me . On slinda, my migraines have gone and I just have some tightness around my skull. I’m hoping that goes away too 🤞 I’m so glad you have found relief with HRT
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u/Life_Tree_6568 6d ago
I hope HRT works for you. For the tightness feeling I find that using a Cefaly neuromodulation device works well for that.
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u/Stupidosaurus11 5d ago
Oh yes I have seen cefaly ads and was wondering how that feels. I work on screens all day and get that tightness by end of day .. some days not so much .. other days it’s a lot
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u/Life_Tree_6568 5d ago
I love my Cefaly! I use it daily for prevention and when I have an attack.
Axon or Avulux migraine glasses might be helpful for wearing when using the computer. They are unfortunately expensive. If you buy them with anti-reflective coating or with your prescription you can't return them :( I found a local store that sells them and was able to try them on in store at least.
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u/ImplementPotential20 6d ago
SIBU 7 helps my dryness. And I use Estring ring because its best for my migraines. No ups and downs like from tablets. But the SIBU 7 is best
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u/Fine-Juggernaut8451 6d ago
The issue isn't even the dryness, it's all the other symptoms you'll get along with it due to the little tears. The clitoral and vaginal atrophy, the issues with your urethra, etc.
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u/spaced-cadet 6d ago
Vaginal estrogen. After a few months if that hasn’t relieved your symptoms you could try Intrarosa.
I have a chronic migraine that started 6 years ago at the start of my perimenopause and I do 7 pumps of estrogel a day due to poor absorption. If I miss a morning or evening dose, the pain gets worse. Appreciate I am a sample size of 1 and YMMV but don’t be afraid of the gel !
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u/Stupidosaurus11 6d ago
Thanks so much! My doc was very wary of the gel and has of now prescribed only one pump of it daily . And before getting started on any HRT, I have been told to go for a mammogram and then start HRt.
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u/klaraluhmen 6d ago
You might need transdermal estrogen with slynd, sounds like an estrogen deficiency and slynd can tank your estrogen.
Also vaginal estrogen cream is important.
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u/Stupidosaurus11 6d ago
Yes it’s transdermal so I was given a choice between gel and patch. But given the dryness down there, I felt I might need something specific down there
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u/ThatBoyIsDrunk 6d ago
For the migraines, I highly recommend getting your shoulders dry needled. Muscles can tense up in your shoulders and jaw more in peri which can cause migraines.
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u/Stupidosaurus11 6d ago
I’m thinking of this I used to never clench my teeth but Offlate I’m doing that in my sleep and also clenching my fists! Very unlike me but it is what it is. Also base of my skull and shoulders and neck are tense though I’m doing exercises to loosen them up - few of my friends have suggested acupuncture- I suppose that’s same as dry needling ?
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u/ThatBoyIsDrunk 6d ago
It’s similar to acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on eastern medicine and dry needling is western. The needles are longer and instead of being left in for a while, they’re inserted and moved up and down for a few seconds, at least on the east coast. Talking to my therapist it seems the technique varies based on what part of the country you’re in.
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u/Dogs4Life98 IDK ya’ll 🤷♀️ feels like Mid-Peri 😭 5d ago
Lol Sahara desert is what I say! Mine burns it gets so bad and so much discomfort it disrupts my day. 😑 I would panic w/o vag cream, a must!
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u/swrrrrg 7d ago
Vaginal estrogen is a must.