Question:

I am 44. I began having menopause symptoms a couple of years ago. I just recently had my annual check up. Blood was drawn to see where my hormone levels were. I was told they were low and my doctor suggested hormone therapy. I am not ready to do that because I feel I can handle the symptoms that come with menopause. There is one thing that I am having difficulty handling, though, and that is vaginal itch. It seems to be at its worst at night. Please tell me what I can do to help this.

Name withheld

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Answer:

There are topical treatments and moisturizers that might help. With perimenopause, the environment of the vagina changes from acidic to alkaline, increasing susceptibility to some infections. Also, dryness is a common problem. Ask the pharmacist for a product specifically designed to increase vaginal moisture (don’t use an all-purpose moisturizer or petroleum jelly). If that doesn’t do the trick, you may find relief from a nonsystemic prescription estrogen therapy.