Yeast vulvovaginitis
There are a couple of exceptions to this. If you develop diabetes, a yeast vulvovaginitis can be common after menopause. The other situation is one that dermatologists caution us about and that is the situation in which a woman has yeast organisms on her feet which contaminate underwear as it is put on.
The yeast cells seed the vulvar area and if there is any skin irritation, a yeast vulvitis can ensue. There are not good scientific studies that indicate how much of a problem this is but it is good to keep in mind if you continue to have a recurrent yeast vulvovaginitis at any age. A shampoo such as Nizoral(R) used on the feet may help this.
If you are under age 50 and had a surgical menopause, the estradiol dose in even the largest strength Climara® patch may be too low for you. Be sure to have your blood sugar checked and also a vaginal culture to confirm the yeast is from the vagina.
If the blood sugar and culture are negative, then you are having an irritant vulvitis which is a different problem.
You may want to discuss raising your estrogen dose, using a topical vaginal estrogen such as an Estring® and using good skin care practices to prevent vulvar skin breakdown.
See our patient instruction sheet at:
Instructions for chronic vulvar pain management
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