Print

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

[Gilly23]

Hi I am 64 and have been battling VA for 10 years. It’s been worse in the last two years and for a year I have been on oestrogel 2 pumps and progesterone at night plus 2 x weekly estriol cream internally. After the first 6 months I improved and was almost normal. The last three months it’s come back with vengeance . My GP has no answers and gives me a kind sympathetic face but that doesn’t stop the misery. I am considering coming of HRT as I only took it to help V A. Instead increase my estriol dosage because I am aware others do it a few times a week. My GP turns her nose up at that.
I am otherwise luckily fit and healthy but really need a management plan with this VA and UTI type symptoms.
I would be very very grateful if anyone can share any successful management plans and or routes I can take. This is so miserable. Thank you so much .

[CLKD]

Your GP needs a    do what suits u, it's such a small amount of active ingredient - tell her that the leaflet in the box is out of date and if she is at all concerned, to contact Dr Newson!

 OH!!!!  and tell her to buy herself a copy of Me and My Menopausal Vagina!!


Get it up there now and again this evening for at least 2-3 weeks nightly. Some need a smear of estriol on the outer labia too .  Occasionally HRT may help with this condition.

What many don't realise is how VA mimics repeated urine infection-type symptoms really really well!  Which leads to over use of antibiotic therapy which does ease symptoms but won't replace any oestrogen lost.

10 years is a long time to put up with symptoms! 

[Ayesha]

Posts like yours make me so angry and its why I always say educate yourself and pass the message back, to yet another ignorant and dismissive GP, when it comes to GSM and menopause treatments in general. Systemic HRT is not always enough to treat symptoms of GSM (Vaginal Atrophy) and you can increase the dose of topical treatment to whatever it takes to ease symptoms.

These two documents are vital reading when you come up against a brick wall as you have done!

https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf
https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/09-BMS-ConsensusStatement-Urogenital-atrophy-MARCH2024-A.pdf

[CLKD]

 

How do U feel this afternoon?  Hot weather and stress can increase VA symptoms.

[sheila99]

You can do it either way. As you know it's safe to take enough local oestrogen to cure it but some gps ( mine  ) won't increase it. Or you can increase systemic hrt enough to stop it. The NHS is usually ok up to 4 pumps which might be enough for you.

[Minusminnie]

Don’t mean to be picky but for anyone reading ‘manage’ is a word I’d use rather than ‘cure’ as unlike systemic HRT there is really no option to stop /come off using localised HRT.

[Gilly23]

Thank you for all your help and wise words. It seems such a simple solution and amazing that the doctors won’t go with it. The doctor I saw was meant to be the practice specialist! I have some spare vagifem so I will use that up and it won’t affect my prescription.
I saw a gynae-urologist to get on HRT, I paid privately to see her. I wasn’t overly impressed by her and I am wondering if anyone could recommend a site I could look on to consider paying for a menopause specialist?
Thank you for your time, it means a lot.

[Ayesha]

Dr Newson's clinics are mentioned a lot on here but whilst you wait you can buy extra supplies of topical oestrogen from the pharmacy. Gina pessaries and Ovesse (Estriol) cream, both available from Boots.

No woman seems to be able to buy these products without being given the third degree, be assertive and tell them you already use the products.

[Gilly23]

Thank you , that’s very useful to know.

[orrla]

I am trying this..

In 2018 my dr cut my HRT. First UTI in 2019, then two more in 2020 and 2021... GP gave antibiotic and not a word! Only this forum explained ...

Went private last year, back on 100 dose plus testo, plus Estring ring.. 

It's ok, but these rings are not evenly filled, I think, because after changing one last February got f.. UTI again, after two weeks. Changed it to new one and it is ok but need to put Estriol every now and again.. Last ring lasted two weeks longer though.

The one I have now suppose to run out end of August. Shall see... It looks VA improves but very slowly as it's nearly a year now..

Best

[orrla]

I wear Estring...

[orrla]

Why don't you read again..?

[orrla]

It's ok, but these rings are not evenly filled, I think, because after changing one last February got f.. UTI again, after two weeks. Changed it to new one and it is ok but need to put Estriol every now and again.. Last ring lasted two weeks longer though.

Jules read you correctly.
You just being your usual rude self!

Very common now days! ..interpret as you wish, and comment without reading first..

[orrla]

Did I ask for your opinion?

[orrla]

Good, because I do not need any opinions of my answer to this thread question which reads (check!):::

Does Systemic HRT help VA and bladder issues or stick to topical hrt

To which I answered that that's what I am trying and described my experience.

Why does it look to you as I am asking for help?!?!

Truth?

You were both totally irrelevant with your posts!

My advice to you both: Always read first, only then reply!