Here are the recommendations from the NICE guidelines for the treatment of urogenital atrophy:
Urogenital atrophy
1.4.9
Offer vaginal oestrogen to women with urogenital atrophy (including those on systemic HRT) and continue treatment for as long as needed to relieve symptoms.
1.4.10
Consider vaginal oestrogen for women with urogenital atrophy in whom systemic HRT is contraindicated, after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.11
If vaginal oestrogen does not relieve symptoms of urogenital atrophy, consider increasing the dose after seeking advice from a healthcare professional with expertise in menopause.
1.4.12
Explain to women with urogenital atrophy that:
symptoms often come back when treatment is stopped
adverse effects from vaginal oestrogen are very rare
they should report unscheduled vaginal bleeding to their GP.
1.4.13
Advise women with vaginal dryness that moisturisers and lubricants can be used alone or in addition to vaginal oestrogen.
1.4.14
Do not offer routine monitoring of endometrial thickness during treatment for urogenital atrophy.
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I have highlighted the key bits you need to know.
Essentially, if you want urogenital atrophy to remain under control, then local oestrogen needs to be used long term and probably for the rest of your life. If your GP tries to stop the prescriptions then, firstly show him the NICE guidelines and then demand you have a referral to a specialist for advice about how you should manage the atrophy.
I think many GPs ignorantly think 2-6 months would be enough and then somehow the atrophy is all better but without oestrogen the atrophy will not only return, it will become worse because of the oestrogen deficiency.
Local oestrogen is not just a short term treatment, it is a long term preventative for not just vaginal dryness but also to help prevent bladder and urethra infections long term. Many older ladies have repeated antibiotic treatments for UTIs which may well be prevented with local oestrogen. DG x