Print

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

[Gillsky]

  Hi, I'm a 71 year old lady who has always considered herself to be reasonably fit and healthy,
I am retired, very active with a husband, son with aspergers at home, and married son with two grandchildren, who keep me busy.
We live in the country and I walk my dog regularly, a couple of hours twice a day,
All was well ................. until,
I started to have some problems when going to the loo, soreness, dryness and pain urinating.  I put it down to just being older and have got on with it for quite a while, but doc suggested urine sample on regular check up and traces of blood were found.  To cut a long story short it ended with me having a camera scan into the bladder to check for anything suspicious and all found to be well, except the report said atrophic introitus with a caruncle ??  Now me not knowing what this means and if it is indeed worrying would appreciate any advice or similar experience. 
Also the comment from the Doctor was, "you are very very dry down there".  this has actually been mentioned before and that is how the Vaginal Atrophy diagnosis seems to have been concluded.
SO - he prescribed vagifem for 10 days, pessary and then continue with this for twice weekly.  hmmmmm, interesting as when reading up on Vagigem, it posed quite a vatiety of worrying side effects.  OK I did try it, but in the meantime having visited my GP, she suggested the use of Estrioiol cream insterted into the vagina each night might be a better treatment, as also this can be used topically on the sore area lower down.
So there you have it,  I am currently continuing with the Estriol as to be honest it seems well a little more soothing and gentle on my area. 
Questions are :-   the caruncle ?  I cannot get an appointment for now to discuss this, does anyone have experience of it ?
Vagifem - what are the safety issues?  as there seemed to be many when I checked it online.
Estriol - I am favouring this for the time being, but wondered how long before I start to feel the benefits of it's use.
Any other comments or experience that anyone has had with this condition, I  would be much grateful for
thank youl

[bombsh3ll]

A urethral caruncle is a benign growth at the entrance to your urethra (where you pee from).

It is common in postmenopausal women (although can occur in other age groups) and is usually treated with topical estrogen, as you have been prescribed.

The only safety issue with vaginal estrogen is the medically inaccurate patient information leaflet in the box, which scares women who would really benefit from this treatment off using it with warnings of blood clots and breast cancer that have only ever been shown to be very marginally increased in those using the treatment systemically (i.e. treating the whole body by taking pills, patches or gel absorbed through the skin), NOT applying it to the genital area.

Please do not be put off using this treatment that will make you a lot more comfortable and can help prevent urinary tract infections and sepsis.

There is no meaningful absorption to the rest of the body from the vagina. Even women with breast cancer can use this.

[jaypo]

I agree with bombsh3ll, vagifem is very safe,some women need to use it 5 x weekly as twice a week just isn't enough in severe cases of VA . Hope it helps you 

[Gillsky]

Thank you for your messages.  That is very helpful and reassuring.  I think in all honesty I am happier using the Estriol cream as it seems more soothing and I can apply as and when needed throughout the day and with the applicator at bedtime.  I guess I am going to have to be patient with the progress on this as I definitely get the impression it can take some time, trial and error to resolve.

[Ayesha]

Topical oestrogen is very safe, the following link should be reassuring

Quotes from the Position statement for management of GSM/Vaginal Atrophy
“Studies have shown that around 70% of women have symptoms of GSM, yet only 7% receive treatment.
Women should be offered an examination and their decision to accept it or not needs to be respected.
The clinical response to treatment with topical oestrogen is usually rapid and sustained.
Women should also be advised that the information packaged with vaginal hormone preparations is out of date and factually incorrect. This needs to be changed by the MHRA.
The dose of vaginal oestrogen is very low, for example, using 10mcg oestrogen pessaries regularly for one year is an equivalent dose to just one 1mg of oestradiol HRT tablet.
If symptoms do not improve with vaginal oestrogen, consider increasing the dose, changing preparation (and consider DHEA) or using an additional treatment such as systemic HRT or two local treatments.
The frequency of using these preparations can be increased in women who have persistent symptoms as the doses of these preparations are very low.
Vaginal oestrogens can often improve urinary symptoms, including urinary infections.
Some women use vaginal oestrogen preparations more frequently than the recommended dose to improve symptoms sufficiently, for example Vagifem alternate days instead of twice a week. It is safe to use the treatment in this way as the dose is very low.
Women should be reassured that it is safe for topical oestrogen to continue in the long term (medication should be on a repeat prescription). Women should continue to be reassured about the long- term safety of vaginal oestrogen preparations."

[Minusminnie]

The estriol cream should help your caruncle.  I have been managing one conservatively in this way for a few years.  i recently saw a gynaecologist to check me out and his view on the caruncle was to carry on with the cream and monitor it.  Said i could have it cauterised or some such but sucked through his teeth a bit. I think they are reluctant to touch them.  He said seeing a urologist would be the way to go if it got any worse.

I've a small magnifying bathroom mirror that i hold between my thighs while i look to monitor things.