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[Sunnyday]

I'm 55. And suffered badly with this condition until I saw a consultant who put me on Climagest 2mg and Vagifem. Now changed to orthoGynest as Vagifem has been discontinued. This medication turned my life around and I have felt like a new woman. Sadly he said I could only take it for 5 years and the five years Is now up. I'm now due for my review at the GPs. No where can I find any information about the future for me with this condition once taken off the medication. Is there anything else I will be offered. I'm so emotional about it all any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[honeybun]

 

Firstly Vagifem has not been discontinued. You used to be able to get 25mg but now it's only available in 10mg.
Secondly, Vagifem can be used for ever. My mother is nearly 92 and she has been using a form of vaginal oestrogen for 25 years so your doctor is talking rubbish.
There is so little uptake into the bloodstream it is thought to be equivalent to about 2 HRT tablets a year.
If you look at the green menu on the left Vagifem is mentioned there. You could print out the information and show it to your GP. If that does not help then can you see a more clued up GP.

Honeyb
x

[Trey]

Totally agree with HB.  Used correctly there is very minimal systemic absorption of topical estrogens.  It should not be used on and off, but instead a steady use to keep up the protective wall of cells on the vaginal wall, which reduces absorption.

[Sunnyday]

That's sounds encouraging and makes me feel a lot easier. To think I can stay on the Ortho-Gynest   Or vagifem if I can get them back. So how you get misled. The receptionist said they had been discontinued. Perhaps it's the Hrt medication he will take me off The climagest. But from memory. He said the two went together and I didn't  go with any Hrt symptoms. Only the Vaginal Atrophy.

[CLKD]

  Ortho Gynest pessaries are supposedly to be discontined   

When were you told that you had to stop after 5 years  ......... have a word with a Pharmacist to see what the most recent recommendations are!

Browse round, join in 

[Suzi Q]

That's sounds encouraging and makes me feel a lot easier. To think I can stay on the Ortho-Gynest   Or vagifem if I can get them back. So how you get misled. The receptionist said they had been discontinued. Perhaps it's the Hrt medication he will take me off The climagest. But from memory. He said the two went together and I didn't  go with any Hrt symptoms. Only the Vaginal Atrophy.

If it was me Id make an appt with your GP BUT before I went Id print off the Vagifem leaflet
Id also have about 4 chemists numbers that he/she can ring and see for him/herself that Vagifem  hasnt been discontinued its only had the dose lowered Plus he /she can then see Vagifem can be used as long as theres no sides for life i needed
Plus u dont talk to the receptionist they are just that RECEPTIONISTS not Nurses or Doctors
Or wed be making appts to see the recep\tionists hehehe Id alo ring her and say by the way
Your giving out wrong information Vagifem has not been discontinued its just the dose has been lowered. Id then be telling the GP that THE RECEPTIO was giving medical information

[Morwenna]

Ortho Gynest pessaries have been discontinued unfortunately. 10mg Vagifem pessaries, Ovestin and Gynest cream are still available.

[Sunnyday]

Ortho Gynest pessaries have been discontinued unfortunately. 10mg Vagifem pessaries, Ovestin and Gynest cream are still available.

Thank you so much for your advice.  Ive just tried to download the information and it wouldn't allow me.  However Ive copied and pasted to take with me to GP.  Have an appointment on Monday.  Will let you know how I get on.

Interesting reading actually. 
Quote.....  Vagifem £16.72 for 24
                Ortho-Gynest £4.73 for 15. 
Now it wouldn't surprise me in the least if this is why I have been changed.  They did this to my Husband with his Arthritis tablets. 
Changed them for cost effectiveness.
They are certainly not as easy to use and I don't think as good as Vagifem.  But I would be happy to stay on either.  Both solve my condition.

Let you know on Monday my outcome

Sheila

[Suzi Q]

Ortho Gynest pessaries have been discontinued unfortunately. 10mg Vagifem pessaries, Ovestin and Gynest cream are still available.

Thank you so much for your advice.  Ive just tried to download the information and it wouldn't allow me.  However Ive copied and pasted to take with me to GP.  Have an appointment on Monday.  Will let you know how I get on.

Interesting reading actually. 
Quote.....  Vagifem £16.72 for 24
                Ortho-Gynest £4.73 for 15. 
Now it wouldn't surprise me in the least if this is why I have been changed.  They did this to my Husband with his Arthritis tablets. 
Changed them for cost effectiveness.
They are certainly not as easy to use and I don't think as good as Vagifem.  But I would be happy to stay on either.  Both solve my condition.

Let you know on Monday my outcome

Sheila

U demand them its not ur buisness if they arent managing their money
So many women older ones and mentoo are palmed off with cheaper products some not as good u can just say u found ortho messy thank u and want the pressaries as ur husband doesnt li the cream either  u want anything in this life U SAY remember they work for YOU
Vagifem is easier cleaner less messy and for most women is far more effective
Ive advised before that women of a certain age shoujld check the GP they are with and see if their patients are mostly young people and lots of kids os thats a recipe for the pover 50 to get less attention and less medical treatment as sadly some see us as non produtcive
I know Im a cynic but just say I WANT VAGIFEM LEASE AS DOES MY HUSBAND xxxxxx

[Sunnyday]

Thank you Suzies Q. I will demand. I just hope he lets me continue on them full stop. I.e my five years is up. Update on Monday. Xxx

[Sunnyday]

Just back from my GP. He was a good listener. He's sending me for a scan. Taken me off the Climagest. Changed me back to the new lower dose Vagifem.  Took all my bloods. So I got what I wanted Suzie Q. Thanks for your posts.

[Sarah2]

Wondering why has he taken you off HRT? ( except for topical vaginal HRT) . Did he discuss this with you first and say why he wanted you to stop?
There is no time limit now ( recommended advice by the BMS) for HRT . And why has he arranged a scan? Is this because of bleeding or something else?
You might find you are fine without systemic HRT but on the other hand some women need both- systemic and local.

I've linked here to the latest recommendations by the British Menopause Society . Look at the 3rd bullet point which refers to length of time on HRT .

http://www.thebms.org.uk/statementpreview.php?id=1


The decision whether to use HRT should be made by each woman having been given sufficient information by her health professional to make a fully informed choice.
The HRT dosage, regimen and duration should be individualised, with annual evaluation of pros and cons.
Arbitrary limits should not be placed on the duration of usage of HRT; if symptoms persist, the benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks.
HRT prescribed before the age of 60 has a favourable benefit / risk profile.
It is imperative that women with premature ovarian insufficiency are encouraged to use HRT at least until the average age of the menopause.
If HRT is to be used in women over 60 years of age, lower doses should be started, preferably with a transdermal route of administration.
It is imperative that in our ageing population research and development of increasingly sophisticated hormonal preparations should continue to maximise benefits and minimise side effects and risks.
This will optimise quality of life and facilitate the primary prevention of long term conditions which create a personal, social and economic burden.

[Sunnyday]

Hi Sarah. It's because the last two periods were heavy and a few clots. It will be good yo be honest to try without and see how I get on. If nothing found he said I could have at least another five years.

[Sarah2]

All my periods have been heavy on HRT ( much more than pre HRT!) but that is because I have been on long cycle HRT.
Good news that he is open to the idea of you continuing.
Why not try a bleed-free regime?

[Sunnyday]

Yes could do. Happy to try without first. Anything you can manage without is good to me. If not I'm only more than happy to try anything. As long as I never go back to how I was when it all began.