Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Lizzie06 on May 12, 2019, 08:05:19 PM
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Hello Ladies, I've been using Vagifem for the last 4 weeks to help with recurring UTIs. I'm just starting my 3rd week of every other night dosage of 10mcg. So far the Vagifem has been successful as I've not had a UTI. However, over the last few days I have been very itchy around the labia and vagina opening, which I've not experienced before. I also have some discharge. I've been applying multi gyn which has helped to calm things down but I'm still itchy. Could this be a reaction to the Vagifem? Should I persevere with using Vagifem? Any advice welcome. Thank you
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Firstly - did you have urine infections diagnosed in a Lab.?
Some ladies find that they need another product with the 'vagifem', I use KY Jelly with success on the outer lips, others have sylc or yes products. Your symptoms are usually due to dryness - as oestrogen levels drop off the body may become dry, inside and out >:(
Have a search for the products and see if anything would suit? You can use 'vagifem' nightly if necessary.
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Firstly - did you have urine infections diagnosed in a Lab.?
Some ladies find that they need another product with the 'vagifem', I use KY Jelly with success on the outer lips, others have sylc or yes products. Your symptoms are usually due to dryness - as oestrogen levels drop off the body may become dry, inside and out >:(
Have a search for the products and see if anything would suit? You can use 'vagifem' nightly if necessary.
Thank you for reply. Yes all urine samples came back as infections, and treated each time with ABs. I was advised by my urologist to try Vagifem to help with the UTIs. I'm also using Evorel conti patches and use sylc and Yes to moisturise.
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Often the fillers in Vagifem and the oestrogen creams can irritate. Multi Gyn used internally and externally can help but many of us find you just need to use some vaginal moisturisers daily e.g. SYLK or the YES products, to keep things more comfortable.
Keeping the vaginal flora in balance is the key but over time the local oestrogen should plump the skin and make it more resilient and less prone to irritation. It is about constant management though :-\. DG x
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Yep. Keep treating B4 symptoms become problematic, it's so easy to say 'It's OK tonight' ::)
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Vagifem can make things seem worse rather than better to begin with but it will settle down ,
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I have had thrush for the first time in years on vagifem. It hasnt stopped me using it as I know it has benefits and maybe the thrush wasnt connected. . I have found switching to ovestin from estriol for the outside bits and around entrance has made a big difference in dryness it seems to have a more sustained effect. It was an accident by my pharmasist who gave me the stronger ovestin by mistake.
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? 'ovestin 1gm ? :-\
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The ovestin is 10 times the strength I believe. . It's a 15mg tube. I only apply it outside and just in entrance. I know he made a mistake but if you were using it inside you couldnt use too much the applicator is so much smaller and it holds the correct dose. If you were to try to use the estriol applicator it would take a whole tube of the ovestin to fill it!
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TC - if you use some Multi Gyn Actigel each morning after using the Vagifem it really helps to counter the negative effects of the fillers.
Multi Gyn Actigel treats and prevents infections like Thrush and Bacterial vaginitis that can take hold due to an imbalance in the vaginal flora. Multi Gyn helps to maintain the correct balance but don't use it every day as it is a bit acidic - it tends to sting a bit at first after application but is then soothing - I use it 2-3 times a week to keep things healthy alongside Vagifem. Use a good dollop on teh end of my finger , push some up inside and then around the outside. I do use SYLK every day after my shower as well.
If you buy Multi Gyn Actigel it tends to be cheaper online - I noticed it was a good £3 - £4 more expensive in Boots. DG x
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Thanks DG. I dont know how but I missed your reply. Very helpful. I will get some actigel. Especially since I use vagifem and ovestin every night. And since my post I've had thrush again. taking canneston tablets every few weeks isnt ideal. They will end up not working.
I hope you are well DG. Thanks for taking the time to reply xx
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? Lizzie ? :-\
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The fillers in the oestrogen creams made my urethra burn like crazy - we are all different and what will work for one women will not suit another. As so many of us on this site say “it's trial and error†- find what works for you. This forum is about helping others to find that 'right way forward' so I speak from my own experience and hope it helps others.
I do find I need to use Multi Gyn Actigel to prevent vaginal infections taking hold - it is about 'a range of strategies' to keep things comfortable.
I believe there isn't a really good vaginal oestrogen treatment available yet: GPs and even gynaecologists are not that clued up on the problems and treatments of urogenital atrophy and pharmacological companies need to do more work on this. DG x
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I think ideally, a pessary or cream that helped on more levels and not just delivering oestrogen would be great. If a treatment could offer moisturisation and some preventative against infection and thrush that would be great. DG x
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VA treatment should do that. Thrush certainly requires diagnosis by a medic and appropriate treatment, I tried an over the counter preparation years ago and was in a cool bath for 2 hours due to burning!
A healthy vagina is moist which protects the area. It's that dryness >:( that starts problems :-\
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We are a Mine of Info on here :thankyou:
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Hello Ladies, I've been using Vagifem for the last 4 weeks to help with recurring UTIs. I'm just starting my 3rd week of every other night dosage of 10mcg. So far the Vagifem has been successful as I've not had a UTI. However, over the last few days I have been very itchy around the labia and vagina opening, which I've not experienced before. I also have some discharge. I've been applying multi gyn which has helped to calm things down but I'm still itchy. Could this be a reaction to the Vagifem? Should I persevere with using Vagifem? Any advice welcome. Thank you
I have had a an itchy patch on the labia which has increased since starting Vagifem (no discharge seen) but I don't think it is a causal effect because I first had the itchiness around the start of peri and years before using Vagifem. I think it is more likely to be caused by the drop in oestrogen. I am using Olive and Bee and also a spare tube of Estriol on it. I have a GP appt. next week just to check it as a precaution. I also had an examination by a uro-gynaecologist only 6 months ago.
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Katejo, have you been checked for lichen sclerosis?
JP x
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Is the patch white katejo?
I thought that local eastrogen encouraged the tissues to create their own moisture. Ithat ithe "eastrogenised tissue would lubricate itself somewhst say during sexual arousal.s that not right?
Maybe the blood levels of E need to be a decent level too. I definitely read in a trial (cant remember where, I've read so much most of it's a blur) but I do remember it saying that levels should be above 250 pmol to treat VA symptoms.
maybe there is a "ladder of symptoms" and the lower rungs like hot flushes need less systemic eastrogen to resolve than the higher ones like anxiety/depression and VA. It would explain why some ladies find a resolution of physical symptoms on a pretty low dose but not VA. Just a thought.
I definitely notice (still have uterus and cervix) that I have no cervical mucus anymore. Does raising E levels restore this. Not sure how the mechanism works but I used to have a "healthy" discharge with definite clear mucus and it kept things comfortable I have no discharge at all now.
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I have one area that itches often. Never looked at it. It hasn't altered over the years.
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Interesting Birdy - I think we are a bit behind the times in the UK. DG x
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Katejo, have you been checked for lichen sclerosis?
JP x
A uro gynaecologist did an examination a few months ago and didn't find any problem then. As I said above, I have a GP appt.. next week. Whether the GP will know about Lichen Sclerosis I don't know. I saw the Uro gynaecologist again in April and mentioned the increased itching but she wasn't concerned. I also have a meno clinic follow up appt. Very soon so may ask about it there.
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Good luck katejo I hope you get some answers.
itching is so distracting. And uncomfortable isnt it. It makes me feel like I want to keep washing. i Used some KY when I ran out of "yes" and it itched like crazy , never has before.
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I didnt know that. I've never had problem with it before but havent used for a while. guess I'm more sensitive to the fillers nowadays.
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I've never had problems with KY ;-). It is used in Hospitals etc.. My itchy patch isn't bothersome all the while, but sometimes I want to get a needle up there :o ::)
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Good luck katejo I hope you get some answers.
itching is so distracting. And uncomfortable isnt it. It makes me feel like I want to keep washing. i Used some KY when I ran out of "yes" and it itched like crazy , never has before.
That will learn you, Tc! Stick to Yes or Olive & Bee. Sylk and emu oil are OK too. In an emergency, try olive oil until you can get further supplies of proper moisturiser.
JP x
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Crikey - olive oil back in the medicine cabinet? Emu oil :-\ ?
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Good luck katejo I hope you get some answers.
itching is so distracting. And uncomfortable isnt it. It makes me feel like I want to keep washing. i Used some KY when I ran out of "yes" and it itched like crazy , never has before.
Mine doesn't itch all the time. Urine irritates it but once I have applied Oljve & Bee or Estriol, it does calm down
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R U drinking enough if urine burns?
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If you're sore, drinking loads of water will dilute the urine so it stings less. I sometimes use the cystitis powder sachets. They sort of neutralise the acid.
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If you're sore, drinking loads of water will dilute the urine so it stings less. I sometimes use the cystitis powder sachets. They sort of neutralise the acid.
I don't mean that it burns inside at all. Have had that with cystitis. It just irritates externally a bit.
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Katejo - Maybe flush with cool water after a pee ...... what colour is your urine during the day?
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Is the patch white katejo?
I thought that local eastrogen encouraged the tissues to create their own moisture. Ithat ithe "eastrogenised tissue would lubricate itself somewhst say during sexual arousal.s that not right?
Maybe the blood levels of E need to be a decent level too. I definitely read in a trial (cant remember where, I've read so much most of it's a blur) but I do remember it saying that levels should be above 250 pmol to treat VA symptoms.
maybe there is a "ladder of symptoms" and the lower rungs like hot flushes need less systemic eastrogen to resolve than the higher ones like anxiety/depression and VA. It would explain why some ladies find a resolution of physical symptoms on a pretty low dose but not VA. Just a thought.
I definitely notice (still have uterus and cervix) that I have no cervical mucus anymore. Does raising E levels restore this. Not sure how the mechanism works but I used to have a "healthy" discharge with definite clear mucus and it kept things comfortable I have no discharge at all now.
I had a look in the full length mirror and i can't see any white at all.
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That's good! One thing to stop worrying about ;)
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? Lizzie ? :-\
Reading other ladies experiences and advice I've continued using Vagifem which has stopped the recurring UTI's, and started using estriol 0.01% externally for the itch. The itch has gone, I still get the occasional signs of BV which I use multi gyn to sort out.
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? Lizzie ? :-\
Reading other ladies experiences and advice I've continued using Vagifem which has stopped the recurring UTI's, and started using estriol 0.01% externally for the itch. The itch has gone, I still get the occasional signs of BV which I use multi gyn to sort out.
The itch has gone completely? The Estriol gives me temporary relief but it does come back by the next day.
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Icthyness is a sign of dryness ;-) - mayB Katejo - use something else that lasts longer?
VA mimics urine infection-type symptoms really really well.
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Katejo yes itch has gone. I use the estriol nightly and also use VMagic thou the day.
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Icthyness is a sign of dryness ;-) - mayB Katejo - use something else that lasts longer?
VA mimics urine infection-type symptoms really really well.
I use Olive and Bee as well.
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I've never had itching with VA, soreness, burning, etc but never itching. The vulvar specialist I saw said I had traces of lichen scelorisis and lichen plantus that was not active at the time, so not sure what that meant, but again no itching or white patches and these are supposed to be the main symptoms. Although I have read a post on here that said this is not always the case so it could be Lichens. The specialist also said I could go for months or even years and not have a flare up, so maybe its dormant or he could be wrong, not had a biopsy. The only time I've had itching is with thrush, have you tried an oral tablet for this Katejo.
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Thrush shouldn't be treated on an 'if possible' basis ........ it should be looked at ;-)
'canasestan' pessary sent me into a cool bath for several hours, it burned dreadfully. Turned out symptoms were due to VA.
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Our surgery advises against a doctors appointment for thrush as its classed as a minor ailment and we would be redirected to the chemist. Your'e lucky if you can get an appointment within 2 weeks sometimes. I agree about the canestin pessary and also the cream burning, I cant use it either but I will take an oral tablet that works quite quickly if it's thrush and you dont have the luxury of a doctor that will see you straight away and take a swab. I think also you can buy a kit OTC to test for BV and thrush now. Touch wood, I haven't had thrush for a long while as my VA's been behaving its self.
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Tnx Dierdre - LIVE yoghurt is also helpful, eaten and applied ;)
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Good post Birdy - everyone thinks GUM clinics are for STDs but these specialist clinics see and treat so many things to do with the urogenital area they are naturally far better informed. My daughter has had a check up on quite a few occasions, for peace of mind, regarding a number of problems from UTIs to strange discharge and they were brilliant - also very sensitive and supportive as well.
DG x
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Would you want to show your nethers to a Pharmacist though :-\ to get a diagnosis of thrush? OK if you have been treated previously, however .......
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Good post Birdy - everyone thinks GUM clinics are for STDs but these specialist clinics see and treat so many things to do with the urogenital area they are naturally far better informed. My daughter has had a check up on quite a few occasions, for peace of mind, regarding a number of problems from UTIs to strange discharge and they were brilliant - also very sensitive and supportive as well.
DG x
I did try to contact one a little while ago but it required us to complete questions about sexual activity before speaking to/seeing anyone.
See this link to one in Central London. It only mentions problems specifically to do with sexual health http://dean.st/now-choose-one-options/