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[luv2laff]

Hi, I'm almost 52 and have a mirena coil and use sandrena gel. I'm thinking of also using vagifem for an extra "boost" to avoid dryness and irritation. Has anybody tried this and how long are you meant to use it for? Can you keep using it for years or do you have to stop after a shorter length of time?
Many thanks for any advice available. Xx

[CLKD]

Lots of ladies find Vagifem useful - I was prescribed another preparation for vaginal atrophy, Ovestin1mg which is delivered by applicator.  The idea is that it is used every night for 2 weeks then 2-3 times each week, however some ladies find that they need continual applications in order to keep symptoms: urine-type 'infections' and the need to wee often : every night.

It is a very local form of HRT so there is little chance that the uptake will spread round the body.  It really does stop those VA symptoms! 4 me it was like razor blades up there 

[Annie0710]

I was told about Vagifem from here, it cured my recurrent UTIs and gynae said to double the dose, after about 4 months I kept forgetting to do it and tried stopping, and so far so good.  Well woman nurse took it off my repeats as she said in too 'oestrogened up' , I didn't agree as its a minimal dose but didn't say anything, if I need it in the future I'll ask for it, and will fight for it

Annie x

[CLKD]

Why stop if it works  and the Well Woman Nurse doesn't know what she's talking about as it is a local preparation   

[Annie0710]

Why stop if it works  and the Well Woman Nurse doesn't know what she's talking about as it is a local preparation   

Yes I know CLKD, but I'd pee'd her off enough that day and couldn't e bothered to argue, I've been fine since off it but if I get a smidgen of an infection again or any other sign, I'm back there in a flash

Annie x

[Maryjane]

Annie you really should stay on vagifem for,life. One of the very top HRT specialists say we should be ahead of the game regards VA /bladder issues and 5 xs a week is absolutely fine for life.

Very when it comes back again which it highly likely will , it will come back harder and not so easy to sort out.

Va can't be cured only managed.

[Annie0710]

Oh god I'll tell her when I see her in September then, we already had a debate over cutting patches, she insisted you can't cut them where I insisted you can, ok not ideal but sometimes I feel like it's too much and lower dose, we agreed to try 50mg on the agreement I won't cut them, fiancée picked up my 3 month script and it was for 75mg, so I'm back to snipping a bit off !

She's not going to like me

Annie x

[Maryjane]

Why not gel then ? As you can play around with it , there is somewhere on the wide world net reasons why you should NOT cut patches.

The reason given is a scientific one that I can't remember. HRT is really important for pelvic health , I don't feel the average GP practice nurse knows much if anything about HRT, it's why I have had to go private , shouldn't but I have the bladder/ vagina from hell. Although better than it was. Aka 5 times a week vagifem and sandrena gel.

The specialist I no of via a friend said , GPs are still very ignorant/ arrogant  about HRT and are ignoring the latest guidelines , where it clearly states local OESTRGEN can be used for life as can full HRT , with the risks benefit ratio known, also if more local HRT is needed than two /three times a week then that's Fine.

If you do the ,ATMs as to how much each vagifem contains of OESTRGEN it is minute tiny tiny , it can't over OESTRGENise you.

[babyjane]

She's not going to like me

Annie x

Hi Annie, she doesn't have to like you, she is a nurse not your friend, but she does need to be professional and if you think it is personal then you need to see someone else like your GP.

Vagifem is a management not a cure.  Once VA has set in it does not go away but vagifem can stop it getting worse.

[Elizabethlovejoy]

Vagifem has simply transformed my life.
After only two months my irritable bladder and rumbling cystitis has gone.
Twice a week is fine for me.
Such a simple thing to use

[Evelyn63]

Another vote for Vagifem, I've only been on it about a month so probably early days, but I do think there's an improvement.  I too am plagued with recurrent UTI's and cystitis and it was my GP who put me on Vagifem.  I had a severe attack of cystitis on Sunday/Monday but it was secondary to another issue which the Vagifem wouldn't have been able to hold off, however I had plenty of self help medication with me and managed to get it settled after few hours.

[dahliagirl]

I had vagifem prescribed to me by the gynae who did my rectocele repair.

I find I need to double it up, despite using hrt, but assumed that it would not be 'taken off me' without consultation with someone like the gynae who originally prescribed it?  I usually see the well woman nurse too, but she seems to realise it is a lifelong thing (at least I hope so - she is a bit butterfly brained at times  )

[CLKD]

A UTI can only be diagnosed in a Lab., a fresh urine sample is sent away and 'grown' to see if there are any bugs that need antibiotic treatment.

Vaginal atrophy mimics UTI symptoms  .  This may be due to the body skin thinning = drying which results for me, razor blades up there 

[Annie0710]

I know she's wrong, if things don't feel right down there I'll definitely go back, she was worried that I was using 75mg patch along with Vagifem and my oestrogen is always in the 700s, I can't even say I feel good but I haven't used Vagifem for quite a few months so when she took it off my repeats I didn't argue as I know I can get it again if I need to as the gynae prescribed it


The gel probably would be better for me to play around with for dosage

Annie X

[CLKD]

You know your vagina Annie - if it begins to niggle you know that the treatment helps!