Perimenopause

Thank you so much for your kind reply.  Yes it's odd it was the only symptom I had and it only occurs during my period.  I don't have a sister and my friends seem not to have any menopausal issues yet...lucky them.  The Urologist from the beginning said it wasn't a urinary or bladder issue, but sent me for the various test just to be certain.  My gynecologist wasn't very helpful either because she said it would be odd for me to have "vaginal pressure and numbness along with burning" because I only had one child and he was born via c section so prolapse is unlikely.  It can't be due to any possible std because I haven't been sexually active for 8 years.  Anyway After she confirmed her thoughts during the pelvic she said it was hormonal.  Since my mother died very young I had no reference of genetic factors such as when she would have gone through this change.  Therefore I am at the mercy of you wonderfully kind souls.  I will research those supplements and also the anti depressant you mentioned.  My question re the anti depressant...does it make you very drowsy? I am raising my child alone (no other family) so want to be sure I am not too compromised by medicine in order to take care of him.  Thank you again

Thank you gailannie,  as I responded above I appreciate the replies.  In addition to my answer above, I won't bore you with repeating myself.  However can I ask you if you had a pulling feeling or pressure in the vaginal area that would come and go?  I only have a burning sensation one day during my cycle (I get my period every 17 days and it last 3 days) and then it goes but the pressure and weighted feeling is on and off throughout the month.  I have about 7-10 days where it's almost normal but i am always aware of it.  I would love to use an estrogen cream and like you said I will have to look elsewhere for another gynecologist.  I wish you well.

Tara, I think it's telling that burning sensation just one day of your cycle. Can you tract the day?  Is it regularly at a certain day of your cycle. 

As far as a presure or pulling feeling in the vaginal area, my sensation was a severe strain and tightness of the ligaments at the top of my legs right by my vagina. It hurt so bad, it was like I wanted someone to pull them out!  Oh my gosh did they hurt!  

I think every woman does/can experience strange sensations a little differently. Many woman complain about pain in the vaginal vault. Lack of estrogen is the issue. 

Possibly just a small amount of vaginal estrogen for several days right before your period might help. That is, of your periods are still pretty regular. But a shortened cycle of 17 days, with 3 days of bleeding is pretty telling. 

Thank you, yes it's always the first day of the 3 day period...and then after that comes the numbness and pulling sensation.  Will definitely look into a cream.  My gynecologist kind of made me feel guilty bc of the history of BC with my mom and that my son has no other family. Made me think I was taking a risk for what she considered something that is tolerable.  In the big picture yes it is..but as you said I am concerned at how much worse it may get.  Thanks again.

Can I ask you what type of cream you found worked best?  I am not familiar and I know it's all personal. I am going to ask my dr for some samples but is there one in particular for the burning?  I am not sexually active so just want the odd sensation to lessen.  Thank you 

That is very telling. On the day your period starts, your hormones (estrogen/progesterone) are at their lows for the cycle. That's why your period begins.  Your estrogen builds from that low point. This is why you'd feel better in a week or so. 

Be sure to mention that to your physician, so he/she understands this is a patterned cyclical thing. 

Hi again,  really sorry to bother you but if you check this post again can you tell me if this sounds familiar. My period only lasted one day this month (yesterday).  But the day after I get a cut like feeling in the inside of my vaginal wall. It feels like it's right at the opening but inside up about an inch. It burns but I assume that's from the urine. Is that a sign of estrogen issues?  

And I forgot to add this may seem odd but I couldn't take the burning anymore and put an ice cube up there, the numbing helped it a lot.

Tara, 

   The first thing I'll mention, is that a one day period certainly points to a lack of lining build up (lack of estrogen)   There is no doubt that your hormone base is changing.  While every women will experience a host of "interesting" symptoms that vary, for some reason yours seem to be confined to your vaginal vault.  Possibly that area, for you,  is just very sensitive to estrogen deprivation.  But many women will describe pain and burning in this area. I also have heard women describe it, as though it feels like sand paper.  For some women it's a slow change, for others they felt like they woke up one morning to the Shara desert.   

   Have you been examined?  And have you been diagnosed with vaginal atrophy and dryness? Mine came on slowly after menopause.  I'll never forget the first time I had painful sex.  Boy was that a total SHOCK.  I had always loved sex, and it always felt really good.  And boy does pain take away that fun.  

   My physician used a Q tip to lightly touch areas of the vaginal vault to see if pain was in that area. Again, this is something you need to have examined.  There are answers.  

Thanks for replying.  I had a pelvic exam by a nurse practitioner bc my gynecologist was with another patient.  She said she noticed my vaginal area was very red. She asked about the my sexual activity. When I told her the last time I had sex was January 2008, she said well that can explain things.  Apparently it's a use it or lose it mentality. So I guess I have lost it. Anyway she scheduled me for a transvaginal ultrasound which I have tomorrow. She thinks it's some form of atrophy but wants to make sure it's not cyst or fibroids.  I do like her bc she said that if the US comes back clear she wants me to try the pill and a topical to see what that does.  I was confused bc I told her it burns a lot and the pain went away with antibiotics. But returns with my period.  It's also caused pressure in my bladder which made me think it was urinary but that has been ruled out.  I was told that estrogen affects everything from your vagina through your urethra so all those nerves will be impacted.  To be honest at this point I will buy HRT on the black market if it will stop me from this pain.  I can't function and it's not fair to my son.  I am all he has. I thought you had to be done with periods completely to suffer from estrogen depletion but I now realize that's not the case.  Again many thx

Please take care  x

carol

Very interesting Tara. Here's the thing that bothers me. When a woman loses her estrogen the vaginally loses color, it doesn't get bright red. Normally it would almost be white, as we lose circulation and all those tiny veins close up. Our cells also change. 

Your redness suggests something else might be going on. Hope this gets figured out soon for you.