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[Calendula]

Hi, I am 66yrs old and in the last 3 months have been having horrible itching and burning down below which is getting worse. I have been using Replens for the last few weeks with not much relief. I have been reading about vaginal oestrogen and would like to know if anyone is taking this who has a history of breast cancer. I have made an app with gp but its not for 2 weeks. I had a hysterectomy at 46yrs and was on HRT for 5yrs until I got HER2 breast cancer in 2007 and had to stop. A friend told me about Gina and being able to get it online but the questionnaire asks about breast cancer so it blocks your order. Obviously I prefer to get it from the gp but I've heard some GPS are not  very sympathetic and its frustrating trying to get an app with a female gp. My friend said just don't tick the breast cancer question and order it and I have read that some gynecologists are in favour of local oestrogen for bc women due to the low dose. Any advice will be welcome. Thanks..

[CLKD]

Hi!  Quality of Life is important.  My oncologist muttered at my final appt "No HRT for you my Girl".  However.  When I began to get vaginal atrophy symptoms: razor blades  up there: with occasional urine infection-type symptoms, my GP prescribed 'ovestin'. 

If U meet with resistance at your Surgery ask for a referral to a Menopause Clinic or have a lookC at Dr Newson's website.  There is the opportunity to send Dr Currie an e-mail for which there is a change - she will give you a clear answer.

Let us know how you get on. "Replens" has lots of additives so may make symptoms a lot worse.  'yes' and 'sylc' can be used as a mositorisor but won't replace oestrogen being lost in the vaginal area.

Do read the 'bladder issues' and VA threads.  Make notes ;-).

[Tinkerbell]

I saw a meno specialist a few years ago and she told me that a previous history of breast cancer was not a reason to not prescribe HRT unless still in treatment stage. She had BC in the past and used systemic HRT herself.

[Mouse60]

I am on Imvaggis and have had breast cancer 13 years ago. Advice from my GP was that the oestrogen in pessaries is a very small locally delivered dose and not systemic. She was of the opinion that the patient leaflet needs updating to reflect the virtually non existent risk.

[CLKD]

that's what Dr Newson is trying to do: get the info in the leaflets altered  .  Where is the British Menopause Society in this?

[Ayesha]

I remember being so surprised when my GP said to use Vagifem every day, twice a week being totally inadequate for me, she said it was such a low dose that it didn’t even reach the blood stream.

The usage instructions definitely need updating particularly now it’s available to buy over the counter. Women who prefer to buy instead of getting it on prescription will have no idea just how free from worry this HRT method is and how often it can be used as the leaflet instructions are the same if obtained on prescription.