Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Elizabethrose]

Hello everyone,

I would be grateful for some advice please as I feel I need to visit my GP to discuss vaginal HRT. I'm 57, late stage peri, for the past year have had 4 bleeds, all anovulatory, continue to have massive oestrogen surges and plummets BUT for the past 2 months I've been on an oestrogen low with flushes etc and am feeling slightly uncomfortably dry. I've never experienced this before. I would say the discomfort is internal, from the outside all looks normal and still ‘plumped up' etc. I have absolutely no discharge or mucus, all is totally dry.

I had a very violent first labour, with deep second and third degree tears, ripped cervix, fractured coccyx so have lots of scar tissue. My cervix bled throughout my second pregnancy and the high vaginal area was exceptionally uncomfortable (imagine a thermos flask being inserted constantly). I was admitted antenatally a number of times but the docs could not find out what was causing it, there was no sign of any infection but all was red raw! All cleared up immediately after the c section. A recent hysteroscopy had to be done under GA as it was impossible to get through the cervix without one, they tried! None of this scarred area is sore though.

I've only had thrush once in my life as a result of an antibiotic disagreeing with me. The GPs found it very difficult to treat: a number of things were tried which my vagina seriously and painfully reacted to. Premarin was tried but stopped after I reacted to that too; stomach cramps, spotting, constant headache. I should say at this point that I'm enormously reactive to hormone change, have been treated by various well-considered specialists over the years. HRT proved a disaster for me, as the side effects were impossible to live with. I swore that I would never go near HRT again and indeed it was recommended that I didn't. However, given my own hormones seem to have calmed I thought it may be time to try a local oestrogen again.

Dancing Girl recommended Sylk, which I have used once a day on and off for the past couple of weeks, I have also used Yes. Neither product seems to make me react but I am allergic/reactive to a lot. I can only use pure vegetable oil soap, nothing else near my vaginal area. Never was able to use spermicides, but could use KY without a problem.

Sorry for the ramble, I'm trying to give as much info as may be necessary for someone to advise me. I have no knowledge of vaginal oestrogen and wonder what you ladies would advise given the info I have provided.

Many thanks I would be so grateful for your help x

[Annie0710]

My goodness you've been through the mill bless you

These are what I have used for dryness

Replens : after my hysterectomy when I was much younger = worked well and kept me moist

Vagifem (ongoing) : cleared my UTIs and plumped me up but I haven't noticed moistness

Sylk: prescribed recently for vaginal dryness and splitting during intercourse, solved lubrication problem only

Testosterone: produced lubrication, no tearing/splitting during intercourse

Just to add I've been on oestrogen hrt since I was 32(now 50)

X

[Tinkerbell]

I started with Ovestin, still use a little blob externally a few times a week, but moved onto Vagifem which I prefer.

[Elizabethrose]

Oh Annie, thanks for your response. Whoa, it sounds like you've been through the mill too! Poor you, I can well imagine the pain of splitting, how awful for you.

May I ask, how long have you been using Vagifem, is it expected that it will increase lubrication? Is it that it may well take a while to have an effect dependent on how bad the VA was? I'm glad to hear the testosterone is proving beneficial, is that a recent addition?

My ovaries have proved very productive for many years(!) so I don't know what the state of play is re my testosterone production. This is all very sudden really. I had a three month oestrogen low at the beginning of the year but didn't experience this sort of discomfort then. Normally everything is a roller coaster ride with me with copious cerv mucus.

Thank you Annie, I hope all continues to improve for you. x

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Tinkerbell,

Thank you for your response. What is the difference between the products and why do you prefer Vagifem?

[Tinkerbell]

I found that for me Vagifem worked better and as it is a disposable applicator for each use it is just easier...although I guess not so good for the environment!
Ovestin is a cream that you need to fill into the washable applicator each time.
Vagifem is a tiny pessary that is prefilled into a very skinny applicator.
For both you need to use it every night for two weeks and then go into a maintenance dose that suits you. Both manufacturers say 2/3 times a week but I have never found that enough, so use it every night at the moment.

[Elizabethrose]

Thanks for your detailed response Tinkerbell. Do both products feel as comfortable, did you experience any irritation with either?

[CLKD]

As these products have to be inserted, how would that affect your current problems ?  ?

Initially I had pessaries which were withdrawn.  My GP gave me Ovesting1mg 1+ years ago.  A specific amount is drawn up via a stiff plastic applicator and inserted as high into the vagina as possible, push the plunger to deliver the amount, withdraw applicator.  Wash applicator.  Used nightly for 2 weeks then every 4 and 6/7 night or more if necessary.

I think the only way you will find out is to try …….. as well as using KY as often during the day as you feel necessary.  I find with tearing of skin in other areas that packing the area with appropriate cream - Savlon - but probably not 'down there'  ; helps the skin to 'knit'.  Vaseline - Granny swore by Zinc and Castor oil.

[Elizabethrose]

Hi CLKD, thanks for your response.

I don't think I'd have a problem inserting an applicator, it's dry but not tearing or anything. Today I have an awareness of my vagina (high up), if you can understand what I mean. It feels dry, like it's rubbing or something. It feels a bit scarily like how it kicked off in my 2nd pregnancy. I don't know whether it is a touch of thrush, I've only had that once before and it didn't manifest itself like this. It isn't at all sore on the outside just very dry! x

[CLKD]

Thrush ITCHES!  high up.  Dryness is probably the initial cause.  This causes any damaged or thinning skin to stick together = awareness of the area affected.  Bugga ………. 

For me VA was like razor blades up there …….  which was eased with medication.  Have you tried coating a tampon liberally with KY - which you are unlikely to react to - and inserting gently as high up as possible?  Several times a day?

My go-to of course if LIVE yoghurt, again as high up as possible.  Several times a day.  Every day ;-).

[Elizabethrose]

Thanks CLKD, I'll watch it and get off to GP Monday if nec. It may be thrush starting, I'm saline washing the outside area just in case and using Sylk to moisturise. I may not use the veg soap tomorrow, it could of course be that. Here's hoping!

I'd be interested to get feed back on these products though as it may help my choice. x

[Sweetscarlett]

Hi Elizabethrose
   
I use Vagifem I have just finished a 14 day reload I find it quick and easy to use, mostly it's pain free to use - sometimes I can feel it a bit tight to insert butfor the most part it's good. I think I will upgrade my twice weekly to three times - I use mine at night after my evening shower
I use Ovestin cream on my outer bits currently twice weekly
I also use Hydromol liberally when ever I feel the need / also E45 if I feel a bit scratchy

💚💚Ss

[Maryjane]

I also had very rough births , cut up to the cervix and down to anus and tore three inches into my butt muscle that was pregnancy no one , other two scars as well.

I saw mr Nick Panay last week , and he says as we age the scars tighten with the atrophy and can cause lots of trouble , I have been told to massage the scars with a dilator regularly with a blob of ovestin on the end to soften the scars.

I use vagifem / ovestin and systemic HRT all for my vagina. I dip the vagifem into some YES and insert 7 days a week.

When examined ( baring in mind all the oestrogen I use ) I am moderately estrongised, but there is still clearly signs of atrophy and thinning of the skin on the scars.

I have had women's physio , and they can feel all the " hard" internal scars , but the massaging isn't the nicest thing to do when it is all so sore.

Also YES have bought out a new " vaginal moisturiser " VM that you use every three days , I used my first one this am.

Our poor vaginas , 3 9lb babies in under four years , I was only a size 8/10 now a days I would of had C-sections. My eldest is 30 this Christmas.

[CLKD]

  

[Annie0710]

Oh Annie, thanks for your response. Whoa, it sounds like you've been through the mill too! Poor you, I can well imagine the pain of splitting, how awful for you.

May I ask, how long have you been using Vagifem, is it expected that it will increase lubrication? Is it that it may well take a while to have an effect dependent on how bad the VA was? I'm glad to hear the testosterone is proving beneficial, is that a recent addition?

My ovaries have proved very productive for many years(!) so I don't know what the state of play is re my testosterone production. This is all very sudden really. I had a three month oestrogen low at the beginning of the year but didn't experience this sort of discomfort then. Normally everything is a roller coaster ride with me with copious cerv mucus.

Thank you Annie, I hope all continues to improve for you. x

I started vagifem 2015 when I joined this forum, I wrote about constant UTIs and members recommended it, it stopped them almost immediately and plumped out the new sagginess I'd noticed

I started testosterone only last month so early days but we noticed I don't need the lube so far plus I've not split , I'm only talking paper cut type tearing but as we all know, even the slightest nick is painful

X