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[Florrie2025]

New here - sorry for the long post!

I’m really having trouble with Vaginal Atrophy problems. Day to day is not too bad, and just have occasional deep feeling pain/irritation, but sex is like someone putting glass up me, and the outside gets small tears.  Having read a lot of things on here, I now feel quite annoyed at my GP practice for not being more helpful.

My last period was at the beginning of 2018, so I'm definitely post menopause.  I had been afraid to start vaginal oestrogens due to a family history of breast cancer.  I finally took the plunge and started Ovestin later that year.  It didn’t really improve things so in March 2019 I was told to do the re-load, and then back to the twice weekly dose.  There still wasn't a huge improvement but I carried on with it. In 2022 it was suggested I try Vagirux, this caused a burning/itching reaction and I stopped at the end of the pack and went back to Ovestin.  In 2023 I was diagnosed with Breast cancer, so was told by my surgeon to stop taking the Ovestin until we knew what type of cancer I had.  As the cancer wasn’t Oestrogen positive I was later told I could go back to Ovestin.  I then had an infection and was changed to Vagirux again. This had the same reaction as before, so was told to stop everything for a few weeks, no oestrogen, no moisturisers etc.  I was then on and off Ovestin for a few months. The GP referred me to gynae, but they refused to see me, and just suggested I try Blissel. This still didn’t work, so at beginning of 2024 the GP referred me again.  I am still on the waiting list!  In May 2024 I was changed to Imvaggis pessary, again the maintenance dose is not working for me. So having read through many things on the forum I believe I need to now ask for treatment for more than 2 times a week. Do you think it would be worth me trying Vagifem, or would that result in the same terrible pain I had with Vagirux? The Ovestin didn’t work on maintenance dose, and only started irritating me around the time I was ill and no doubt had a weakened immune system, so feel I could tolerate this. Should I go back to that, or just ask to increase the days I use Imvaggis and ask for an external cream too? I can’t work out which is a stronger treatment because the way they are described is different.

Thanks for any insight.

[Minusminnie]

If you have been ok on Estriol/Ovestin I would ask to increase the dosage & then use some on the outer vulva where you mention that you are getting tears.

Many on here do not get on with Vagirux and ask to try Vagifem.

If you did go on Vagifem that may leave you with the problem of an external cream (estriol) not being prescribed as well by some GPs who say that you can’t use both.

You could get round this by buying Ovesse cream in Boots which is the equivalent of Estriol. Just used externally it lasts longer.

(Nice to see the name Florrie which was my grans name)

[Florrie2025]

Thanks Minusminnie, I wonder what is in the Vagirux that causes the problems.  I wil ask my GP for Ovestin and see how things go. Do you know if this is a stronger dose of oestrogen compared to Imvaggis?

[Minusminnie]

An AI respone

Yes, Imvaggis is weaker than estriol 0.1%. Imvaggis pessaries contain 0.03mg (30 micrograms) of estriol per pessary, according to Oxford Online Pharmacy. Estriol 0.1% cream, like Ovestin, contains 1mg of estriol per gram of cream, says the Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS. Therefore, the cream contains a significantly higher concentration of estriol than the pessaries

[Jules]

Hi. I have used both vagirux and vagifem and found no difference between them. I also started with a loading dose then twice a week, which helped for a while but I then needed more as I aged, so now use vagifem alternate nights. I also had to start using estriol cream externally. I'm fortunate in that most GPs at my surgery prescribe what I need. I find the dose I'm now using maintains my comfort. It took a few months to improve so you've to stick at it.

[Florrie2025]

I can not fathem why I was put onto Imvagis when it is weaker than the Ovestin, I needed more help and yet they reduced the estriol amount.  I did go back to the GP last weak, and was prescribed Estrial cream 0.01%.  This also seems a lower dose but is a much larger quantity of cream so maybe it equals out. Apparantly they are no longer able to get Ovestin.  I have today received a message to say that a new prescription has been made up for me of Interosa pessaries. I haven't heard of these, but am now panicking as have just read that you shouldnt take them if you have had breast cancer.

[MrsMitch]

Florrie I'm astonished! My GP said that isn't licenced for use in the UK (I knew that couldn't be true) when I enquired about it, & here you are being prescribed it! I'd been very interested to see how you get on with it, will you keep us updated, please?

[Florrie2025]

Hi Mrs Mitch - Yes I’ll keep you updated.  How long ago were you told this. Have you heard good things about it? I’m really worried as this seems like full HRT and that scares me due to previous breast cancer.

[MrsMitch]

I was told this only last week by the GP. I know little about it except ladies on here have mentioned it & I believe (but could be wrong) that it delivers testosterone directly to the area that needs it when you have urethra/bladder issues. The only thing I did read from the NHS is that the benefits need to outweigh the risks before prescribing.
I don't think there are any issues with vaginal oestrogen though, even if you've had breastfeeding cancer. I'm sure someone else can either confirm that or correct me. I'd very much like to try it but from what my GP said, I've got no chance of getting it.