His and Her Health

Hello - I hope you can help me. I am going nuts with this itching in my "area." I am 46 years old, widowed for the last 10 years. In my younger years I enjoyed an active and fulfilling sex life. However, over the past two years I just have not felt quite right. My cycle is only 25 days and about 7-10 days before I get my period I experience rawness, redness and itching. I went to the Dr. for this about five months ago and she confirmed I had a yeast infection then.I felt much better after using the medication she prescribed. However, the symptoms are back now - each month before my period I experience this and then right after my period it goes away. I used to use tampons during my period and now I can't, the flow is light and the tampons irritate me. I am a single woman and would like to have sex and begin an new relationship now, however, this month trouble worries me, I couldn't even think about having intercourse right now.
Do you think this is another yeast infection and before my period the symptoms are worse?
Is this a perimenopausal nightmare?
Will I ever be able to have SEX again??
HELP. I am afraid I will end up old, alone with my cats, wearing a cat sweatshirt.

healthnut46 don't despair, there are answers to your problem and help is just a click away. Check out the tons of information on peri-menopause, itching ,dryness irritation and all that stuff on our companion site at www.redhotmamas.org

I truly don't think you have to resort to becoming a cat herder!! First, you need to get confirmation from your clinician that you are having a repeated yeast infestion if your symptoms seem to be flaring up again. Just because you had one episode of a yeast infection, it doesn't necessarily mean that your current itching represents another yeast infection. You might be reacting from something you are wearing, or having a reaction to your tampon, so I would suggest consulting your clinician again. As far as your cycle changes in flow and duration, this is a typical sign that your are in the menopause transition. Estrogen loss may cause atrophic vaginitis which can cause an annoying itch, discharge and dryness, too. This is a common problem in women going through menopause. You should discuss the pros and cons of estrogen therapy with your clinician, and the alternatives to estrogen. Menopause, however, is not the only cause of atrophic vaginitis- women with low body weight, i.e, athletes, or women with their ovaries removed or damaged, also may experience vaginitis due to estrogen loss. Even certain medications may contribute to it (i.e., Lupron, and others). Some low dose contraceptives may also cause vaginitis as well. Your clinician may offer some suggestions, like using lubricants such as Astroglide, Replens, KY, and/or prescribe estrogen to improve vaginal dryness and discomfort with intercourse. Most importantly, there's no reason to have to resort to cat herding and give up sex. The issues your described should be able to be treated by a competent clinician. You dont have to put up with dryness or itching, it can be successfully treated. Please let me know how you are doing, thanks for logging onto our bulletin board.

Baking soda is a home remedy or taking salt sitz baths.


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<small>[ 07-10-2008, 03:25 AM: Message edited by: Moderator ]</small>