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Menopause Matters magazine ISSUE 82 out now. (Winter issue, November 2025)

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Author Topic: Estriol irritation  (Read 1090 times)

Madge79

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Estriol irritation
« on: January 10, 2026, 06:04:53 AM »

Hi everyone

I started estriol cream recently as have struggled since having a UTI a few month ago to get my urinary system back on track.

I’ve done 3 days of the loading dose, I’m using a pea size amount just inside the opening and concentrating on the urethral area when applying as my dr said.

Was told to do 2 weeks everyday and then 2 times a week after this. 


Well since using it I’ve had awful urge to pee! Ironically this is why I’m taking the cream and it seems to be making it worse! I get the same sort of irritation/urge when I use canestan cream around that area too.

I can’t tell is this is a natural reaction as I’ve read it can do this whilst the tissue plumps back up, or if I’m getting local irritation as it reacting to it.

Anyone else had the same? I’m so fed up the last 2 months have been constant urine issues and thrush!!!
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RegentBird

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Re: Estriol irritation
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2026, 06:18:28 AM »

Hi, I know how you feel!  Getting on top of the urinary issues that come with VA is a battle!

I used Ovestin at first, though I inserted it further into the vagina and used a smear on the outside, near the urethra.  I used it every night for 6 months and while it helped for a couple of months, my bladder never really bounced back.  Each day was Russian roulette as to how it would feel.
Then I started getting recurring Candida Glabrata thrush (3 times in 4 months) which seemed worse each time I used the Ovestin.
So, I switched to Vagifem 8 months ago and it is much, much better.  I had to do a 14-day thrush treatment for the Glabrata using Nystatin cream which finally got rid of the thrush.  But I cannot use Ovestin at all now.  I get thrush within a few days if I do.
I use Vagifem internally every night before bed and at the moment, organic coconut oil to relieve external dryness.  I still get flare ups when the weather is particularly hot or when I am stressed but my bladder is much, much better now.

This is just my experience of course.  I see some women have success with Ovestin but I think Vagifem might be worth trying if bladder issues are your worst symptom.
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Madge79

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Re: Estriol irritation
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2026, 11:41:01 AM »

Yes I seem to really suffer from thrush a lot too! I’m worried it will flare that up!

So do you find the vagifen still helps with urinary stuff? My dr said the cream would be better as could get it closer to the bladder but right now I feel like I can feel a red hot urethra whilst just sitting still it’s very odd!!!
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dangermouse

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Re: Estriol irritation
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2026, 01:47:05 PM »

Was just about to reply to say it could be thrush! Oestrogen feeds it but hopefully you can achieve a balance by using less of it if it’s needed.
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RegentBird

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Re: Estriol irritation
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2026, 01:25:19 AM »

Oh yes, Vagifem is a game changer where my bladder is concerned.  Not sure if it is the difference in the estrogen itself (Ovestin is estriol whereas Vagifem is estradiol).  The Vagifem pessary dissolves slowly over the night whereas the cream can be a bit messy.
But for me, Ovestin just stopped helping my bladder and started burning and irritating when I put it on.  My bladder has been much better with Vagifem.
Also, not sure if it is the ingredients in the Ovestin cream - but it seems to cause thrush.
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Madge79

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Re: Estriol irritation
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2026, 03:24:37 PM »

 Might speak to the GP about vagifen then! Thanks so much fir the advice.

It’s so weird as I have never had any urinary issues and I’ve been on systemic HRT for 5 years. Then all of a sudden it’s all flared up out of nowhere!
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