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[Mavis]

Hello all,

I am a new member and would like advice please. My Gyne has told me to reduce the Vagifem from twice a week to once a week only. I have a small cyst on my ovary and I wondered if this was the reason why I was advised to reduce. All was going well and symptoms improved (I had constant urine infections and was always on Nitrofuratoin before Vagifem). Since reducing urine symptoms are back! It was going so well before that.

[CLKD]

Hi.  Gynaes know very little about HRT and VA treatments.

Once a week isn't worth bothering with.  Did he/she not explain the reasons behind his/her thinking?  The advice is to use VA treatment every. night for 2-3 weeks then as necessary which usually means every 3rd and 6/7th nights.  Some find that they require 'ovestin' to smear round the vulval area or a moisturiser: sylce or yes seem popular.

Did U have urine 'infections' or was it VA which mimics infection-type symptoms really really well.  Something else that medics don't seem to be able to get their heads around.   

    Is the cyst being scanned regularly?  Browse round.  Make notes ;-).  Up the vagifem !

[Ayesha]

Topical oestrogen is very safe to use and it would be madness to stop treatment as the symptoms will come back.
I would have a word with your Gynae to find out more information because GSM (Vaginal Atrophy) is an unbearable condition that would be impossible to live with as time goes on without proper treatment, he/she needs to know that.

[bombsh3ll]

I would ask them what exactly they think is going to happen if you continue to use it as per the manufacturers instructions.

Frothing at the mouth? Growing a second head?
Speaking in tongues?

Even clinicians who believe incorrectly that estrogen is dangerous should be reassured that systemic absorption of vagifem is negligible.

[Mavis]

Thank you for your interesting and helpful replies.
My Gyne said I should reduce as twice a week is not needed. I actually thought once a week would be ok too as all symptoms of VA went when using twice a week and I (stupidly) thought I may be using it unneccesarily twice a week.
I was told I had VA and had continuous urine infections where I was weeing around 50 times a day and up and down to the loo during the night time too. It drove me crazy. I was on continuous antibiotics which did not help.
It is returning so I will up the Vagifem until things settle..I hope they do!
As for the ovarian cyst, I am due a 6 month scan to keep a check on it. I am 61 ys old.

[CLKD]

The ABs not helping should have made your GP query why not, were urine samples sent to a Lab to be 'grown' so that should it have  been necessary, the correct AB treatment was prescribed?

Do read the 'bladder issues' and vaginal atrophy threads on the Forum: make notes ;-).  There is a book written by a Member of MM "Me and My Menopausal Vagina" which should be read by every medic B4 they qualify. 

VA symptoms can rise and fall depending on a lot of issues: weather, lowering oestrogen levels: so sometimes we need to do a reload, i.e. every night for at least 7 nights.  I can get by with 5 nights, my symptoms are a strange feeling below my belly button ' heaviness ' .  When I get the need2P I swallow 2 Nurofen 3 times a day.  1 day is enough to ease my symptoms. 

Your Gynae needs to put his/her head down the loo and pull the flush  .  Then go off and learn what vaginal atrophy actually does to the vulva/vagina! 

Let us know how you get on.  Ask away.  Nowt is OTT ;-)

U R in Good Company.

[Mavis]

I am being given good advice and appreciate your help..thank you!
There is always blood in my pee when GP uses a dip stick (it is never seen, just in the dip)and she sends it off and when it comes back it usually says 'mixed growth' or it has no bacteria. But they always put me on antibiotics. I also have cystitis cystica which was diagnosed by urologist. So I do get confused at times as to what exactly IS wrong!
The Gyne discharged me after telling me to reduce the Vagifem to one a week.
I will read the threads as advised. Huge thanks for your help.

[CLKD]

Many have blood in the urine which may B an indication of vaginal atrophy.

The Gynae discharging you probably means that he is stumped!

Up that Vagifem and let us know how you get on.  We cannot overdose on oestrogen ;-)

ABs should never be given without a 'bug' to treat, the World is becoming resistant to the commonly used broad spectrum ABs.  They will relieve symptoms of VA but won't replace the lost oestrogen. 

R U able to explain cystitis cystica?

[Ayesha]

I am being given good advice and appreciate your help..thank you!
There is always blood in my pee when GP uses a dip stick (it is never seen, just in the dip)and she sends it off and when it comes back it usually says 'mixed growth' or it has no bacteria. But they always put me on antibiotics. I also have cystitis cystica which was diagnosed by urologist. So I do get confused at times as to what exactly IS wrong!
The Gyne discharged me after telling me to reduce the Vagifem to one a week.
I will read the threads as advised. Huge thanks for your help.

The symptoms you mention can be due to low oestrogen and the link below will give you power when in discussion with medics. It's scandalous that you were told to reduce to one a week Vagifem, the more information you soak up on this little known condition should help you enormously.

I am ten years ahead of you and my regime is every day Vagifem plus an oestrogen cream for the outside and a moisturiser, that's how bad this condition can get if not treated properly from the start, and you have being doing so well on two Vagifem a week, that's brilliant.

https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf

[Mavis]

Hello all,

I am a new member and would like advice please. My Gyne has told me to reduce the Vagifem from twice a week to once a week only. I have a small cyst on my ovary and I wondered if this was the reason why I was advised to reduce. All was going well and symptoms improved (I had constant urine infections and was always on Nitrofuratoin before Vagifem). Since reducing urine symptoms are back! It was going so well before that.