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[Kate W]

Hi ladies,  I'm post meno and up until December last year had used vagifem for nocturia (had to go anything up to 15 times per night!), I had to stop as I had bleeding and was sent for examinations (the bleeding was due, they think, to lichen sclerosis).  It was suggested I start back on vagifem in April and after a few weeks realised that the hair shedding and palpitations had started again, I was also diagnosed with high blood pressure so I stopped the vagifem and again the hair shedding and palpitations slowly eased off and my blood pressure has now come back to a normal level.   

The night time trips are on the way up again so what I'd like to know is if I ask gp to change to Ovestin would this have the same side effects?

[jaycee]

KateW, are you on any other hrt? re, the hair shedding,i have argued many times that vagifem causes hair shedding, and some other ladies have said the same, even though only on vagifem and no other HRT but others insist it doesn't happen
I am asking because i have had loss of hair since being on vagifem, and it does say on their website that it is or can be a side effect
I daren't use it now, have you asked your Dr about it, i think they would say it doesn't though

[CLKD]

The important thing is to keep any atrophy under control.  Because it can take over Life  .

I have used 'ovestin' without problems for about 4 years.  If you are aware that you have hair loss and you don't try something else, you may be between rock and a boulder.  Give the 'ovestin' a go ...... maybe keep a mood/symptom/diary too to chart progress and do let us know how you get on.

[jaycee]

CLKD  i am going to ask my Dr if i can try ovestin i think, i have a few vagifem left, but i daren't use it, i have an appointment with a dermatologist .but the earliest i can see him is the 1st of October,no one told me at my surgery that one of the Drs is a dermatologist,
He might not be able to tell me anything different ,but this hairl loss is getting me down, it is beyond thinning, and it really does tie in with when i started the vagifem,it might of course be coincidence
Also could be totally or partly stress related,and my hair loss has slowed down, but not growing back.which is causing me more stress

[Joaniepat]

Kate W and jaycee,

Hmm, well ..... Ovestin contains estriol, so is a different oestrogen from the one in Vagifem, which is estradiol. Might make a difference?

JP x

[jaycee]

I have just phoned my surgery to ask if i can try an alternative to vagifem, my Dr apparently isn't there today so has been passed onto another, so will see,

[Kate W]

No Jaycee I'm not on any other hrt as I'm not allowed to take it (migraine aura), the hair shedding is 100% due to vagifem because it stops as soon as I stop taking it as do the palpitations. Will speak to the gp and ask if can try Ovestin but it's virtually impossible to get a face-to-face chat to discuss anything.

[Sooze]

Can I just chip in with a recommendation for  Ovestin too?  Although I found Vagifem useful for a number of months (before I started systemic HRT) it made me a bit itchy and didn't help the problems I had with external skin splitting. Admittedly now my systemic HRT addresses most of the internal VA issues I still rub a bit of Ovestin in externally about twice a week to keep everything moisturised and ‘plumped up”.  Not noticed any shedding with either product though.
HTH

[Turkish delight]

Great thread!

I'm prone to hair loss, but one of the hormones I was on(I think estrogen/estrogel)made my hair grow thick and lush again in the space of 6 months.

Then one of the other hormones(think vagifem or testosterone/testogel)made it fall out like the clappers, and in places it had never shed from much before.

I'm in stasis at the mo as have had to come off them all, but still don't have a monkeys which is to answer for which thing. The whole thing is a brain cluck!

TD

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies

I have tried many different systemic HRTs and never experienced any hair loss or thinning plus I never needed treatment for vaginal dryness.  Two months ago I stopped HRT and unfortunately VA began with a vengeance!

I will be seeing my GP at the end of  September which will be three months without HRT.  If I'm prescribed Ovestin or Vagifem I will keep an eye on things and report any findings to the forum as this may be a good opportunity to note the specific effects of topical treatments. Hopefully this will be of help to some ladies.

Take care everyone.

K.

[jaycee]

Thats good Kathleen, i can't think of anything else that could cause it, and if it can affect breasts then it must get into your system,and so many people on mumsnet too have mentioned hair loss on vagifem when it's the only hormone thing they are on, does seem to point to vagifem
Yes let us know it will be very helpful,i was taking livial too, but as i had had that before with no ill effects i cant see it would be that,but i have now stopped that too, but wont affect everyone the same,
I tried Evoral Conti for  while, but after only 4 weeks my hair loss was even worse, got a few bald patches now,
I think it was the Norethisterone that caused that,apparently it is one of the worst for bad side effects,also had diarrhea , and stomach cramps with that for a few days