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[Bella247]

I’ve had VA for a few years.

First I used Ovestin. It worked for a couple of years then seemed to stop.

Then I tried Vagirux- it didn’t work at all.

Now I’m using estriol twice a week (and every other day on the vulva which is where it seems worst) on the advice of a Gynecologist. This seemed to be working ok alongside olive and bee every time I went to the loo.

I had a flare up a couple of weeks ago and did a loading dose for a week which seemed to work.

Now I’m having another flare up and I’m well and truly fed up.

I do not know what else I can possibly try???

[Nas]

I feel your pain Bella247.
I have this also now ( due to not being able to take systemic HRT).

I’m burning, itching and bloody fed up. Oh and my “ bits have vanished!

I think you need to use a cream and pessary daily: twice a week is nothing.

What’s olive and bee?

[Nas]

Just bought some olive and bee!

[Bella247]

Oh really that’s so interesting.

I have health anxiety and although the logical side of my brain says the risks of vaginal HRT are overstated I still get worried. That bloody panorama documentary on Louise Newson hasn’t helped.

Olive and Bee is an organic olive oil based moisturiser.

There just seems to be no rhyme or reason why I get these flare ups. I’m so fed up of it.

[Bella247]

Do you mind if I ask, does systemic HRT help with vaginal atrophy?

My GP (who’s pretty clueless) said oh we don’t prescribe systemic HRT where the only real symptom in VA.

[Nas]

You can never use too much localised oestrogen and if you are having flare ups, it probably means that you need to use more cream.

Ignore the Panorama documentary; vaginal atrophy is the pits and needs treating, otherwise it will worsen.

[Nas]

Systemic hrt sorted mine. Now it’s back.

Maybe try a different GP and ask for a low dose HRT? It might just solve things for you. Obviously if you have a womb, you would need progesterone ( or not if you don’t).

It’s all trial and error unfortunately.

[Bella247]

Oh no poor you! It’s so frustrating when you think you’ve cracked it and then that treatment stops working.

I think drinking coffee might make me worse (could be a coincidence that the flare up seemed to have coincided with me starting to drink coffee again because I’m so tired).

Unfortunately that GP is supposedly the one with an interest in women’s health at my GP surgery. The other ones he seen there are even worse than her.

[Ayesha]

The only way I can control my VA (GSM) symptoms is to use treatment every day. Vagifem, Estriol cream smeared on the outside twice a day and a moisturiser.
I tried to reduce the dose but the symptoms immediately came back even after four years of treatment.

Topical oestrogen is a different ball game to systemic HRT, no need to worry about over dosing.
For some women systemic HRT is not enough to control VA symptoms and need topical treatment too.

[Bella247]

Thanks very much. It’s so confusing.

I’ve read there’s something called intra rosa you can use but I don’t know much about it.

I try not to google because of health anxiety buy I feel like I’m left with no choice because GPs are always so ill informed and/or dismissive

[CLKD]

So is Dr GOOGLE!

U R in the right place - browse round. Make notes ;-)

Vaginal atrophy can be controlled/eased with appropriate treatment.  We cannot overdose on oestrogen because it's our natural hormone although as we age levels drop off.  Replacement localised 'vagifem' and/or 'ovestin'/'estriol' really helps. 

[Dierdre]

Must be the time of year, I'm having a flare up too. Took 2 vagifem and 2 lots of estriol yesterday and feel improvement today. I usually take both daily anyway so had to double up to make a difference and it seems to be working. Will go back to one a day in a couple of days. Had alot of stress over the last couple of weeks, it does it every time. Wasn't sore this time as used my Dermovate and nipped that in the bud but the plumpness had completely gone and was looking very dehydrated and loss of colour, like no blood flow. Googled it and one of the delights of atrophy.
Yes, that Panorama programme has triggered the doubts again!!! I have no choice, if I don't use the amount I do then I have no life and might as well take to my bed.

[Ayesha]

Weather conditions can definitely play a part, hot summers and now a humid autumn, I've certainly used more Estriol this summer. The condition will bite back if you have one of those can't be bothered days and miss out on a treatment, it has to be consistent. 

Topical oestrogen is the safest form of HRT, the Panorama programme featured the use of systemic HRT only, which is always a most controversial and discussed subject.  Whereas topical HRT is hardly spoken about, you can buy it over the counter its that safe, we shouldn't doubt or worry about using it as we need to control our symptoms.

 

[bombsh3ll]

If it were me, assuming you have no contraindications, I'd seriously consider systemic hormone therapy.

Vaginal estrogen treats one thing, systemic treats everything.

Even the vaginal creams are a much lower dose now than when they first came on the market, and it just isn't enough for some people.

My personal view, and I know this isn't shared by some specialists but is by others, is that if someone has a healthy level of estrogen systemically, they don't have vaginal atrophy unless there is another issue such as neuropathy or reduced blood flow.

Studies from the 1990s showed VA to be prevalent with a blood estradiol level below 50pg/ml, and much less so as levels increased above this.

You can still use vaginal estrogen as well as systemic if you want to.

[Vavavoom]

I really feel for every woman who is at the end of her tether trying to cope with this, it’s grim!

Can anyine who is experiencing this totally debilitating condition advise if VA/GSM ever settles down or ever goes away?

Im 54, using systemic HRT for last two years and now also 10mcg Local Estrogen (Vagirux) every other day and it’s not even tackling the burning, gnawing, cramping and constant UTI symptoms. So far this has been a permanent flare up for five months straight now! I had stopped systemic HRT for the usual clinical investigations but resumed 3 weeks ago. GPs seem totally dismissive. It’s so hard to come to terms with the whole thing. How are women supposed to just ‘get on with it’???

Thanks for this supportive commuity!