Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Marie62 on August 30, 2019, 04:51:14 PM
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I've been on Femoston Conti 1/5 for around 2 weeks now and doing ok so far (touch wood) but about 3 weeks ago I started getting symptoms of cystitis no actual pain but the nippy feeling is there, no burning or urge to pee.
I've been given vagifem but after googling🙄 I've came across a few reports of hair loss and as I've suffered from this before I'm very wary of starting it.
I was on Elleste conti before and lost a lot through that, changed to Angeliq and it grew back but due to Angeliq being discontinued I've had to go on Femoston.
I'm thinking maybe wait a few more weeks to see if the Femoston helps with the bladder problem or start vagifem.
If I start it now and lose more hair I won't know what's causing it ie. vagifem or Femeston.
Has anyone had side effects on Vagifem?
I think I should have asked for a cream instead as it seems to be external rather than internal.
I thought I'd got away with the down below problems as I've had most of the other menopause symptoms but no such luck 😂
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Hi. Before I started Vagifem I read a ton of reviews particularly with regards to side effects and one of the more prominent reviews/side effects was hair loss. The loss of hair could be from a host of other conditions but you may want to google reviews on Vagifem. Hope this helps.
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I have had no side effects from Vagifem just the benefits and i use it every day.
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I've been on Femoston Conti 1/5 for around 2 weeks now and doing ok so far (touch wood) but about 3 weeks ago I started getting symptoms of cystitis no actual pain but the nippy feeling is there, no burning or urge to pee.
I've been given vagifem but after googling🙄 I've came across a few reports of hair loss and as I've suffered from this before I'm very wary of starting it.
I was on Elleste conti before and lost a lot through that, changed to Angeliq and it grew back but due to Angeliq being discontinued I've had to go on Femoston.
I'm thinking maybe wait a few more weeks to see if the Femoston helps with the bladder problem or start vagifem.
If I start it now and lose more hair I won't know what's causing it ie. vagifem or Femeston.
Has anyone had side effects on Vagifem?
I think I should have asked for a cream instead as it seems to be external rather than internal.
I thought I'd got away with the down below problems as I've had most of the other menopause symptoms but no such luck 😂
The side effects listed on the Vagifem leaflet are actually for systemic HRT not local. Vagifem has worked well for me and I haven't had any side effects.
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Have just looked up reviews on Vagifem and there are loads saying they had hair loss while taking it.
I really don't think it's worth the risk as I can't afford to lose any more hair especially as it took so long to grow back and look somewhat normal again.
I know some people say it doesn't really get into the bloodstream but I don't see how it can't!
I haven't been able to find any medical documents about it online.
Any ideas what could help my ‘nippy'
bladder? I'm not great at drinking water so I'm going to try and drink more to see if that will help a bit. Don't know if the Oveston cream would be any good,just to use externally.
Been post menopause over 6 years now and as soon as one symptom goes another crops up!!!
Just feel this menopause will never end and it's really getting me down :'(
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Where did you read those reviews Ginny62. If you want to suffer a life long complaint that can be eased ? when some women need surgical intervention because their vagina is so dry that it sticks together :o : rare but it happens.
The idea is to use the product for 2 weeks every night to plump up the vagina and ease dryness. Then 1 uses the product twice a week: i.e. 5th night and 6/7th night. Some ladies need Slyc or Yes products for the outer labia.
These HRT medications are used locally and there is little uptake in the rest of the body. Why when it's put into the vaginal tissues would it migrate, though I did have breast soreness for the 1st time in 4/5 years when I had a break and required 'ovestin' again [got lazy, basically].
Drinking makes not one iota of difference! Why not give it a try, OK you may have hair loss but you will feel a lot more comfy in the vaginal area. Our hair makes our personality - do you lose all over hair or simply from the head?
You could try over the counter pain relief and 'sycl' or 'yes' products do have a read of the vaginal atrophy threads here. HERE is what we know and what you have been reading may not be relevant ;-)
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I know people say vagifem can't cause hair loss but on the side effects it says could cause hair loss and even breast pain,
Some of the side effects are on the vagifem website alone
I have had hair loss since using vagifem ,but i was on livial at the same time, although i was on livial before with no hair loss
I have stopped the vagifem now and thinking of stopping the livial
I decided to try a patch, as the Dr said they were safer than tablets, but he gave me Evoral Conti, and i lost even more hair and now have bald patches from the crown down,so stopped those too,and went back on livial
Stopping those when tablets are done,
If things like certain eye drops, which don't go through your system can cause hair loss why wouldn't vagifem
I am not convinced,i will soon know when i have been stopped a while,my hair seems to have stopped falling ,just hope it grows back
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Ginny,i don't think drinking more water will make any difference, you could try vagifem and see how you feel about it,or you could get an alternative
I am sure though that there wouldn't be complaints about hair loss if it didn't happen, some people might be more sensitive to it than others
When i had the Evoral Conti, i had a lot of hair loss, but some others thought it was wonderful, everyone is different
Not everyone has VA from what i read,i didn't, but it was through having a bad UTI that i was given it
If i feel i need it or something similiar i will try it again but for now i am not using it
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Urinary tract infections should be analysed in a lab. so that appropriate anti-biotic therapy can be given. Vaginal atrophy mimics UT symptoms really really well.
ABs will ease symptoms. But appropriate VA treatment is really worth a try.
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I've decided not to take Vagifem unless it gets unbearable as I don't think it's worth the risk of losing more hair. I know it's only hair and may grow back but the anxiety it causes really gets to me. I work in a customer facing role and I would lose all my confidence I'm afraid.
I don't seem to be dry internally and have some clear discharge it's just the kind of nipping cystitis like feeling I get.
Does any know if there are any alternatives to Vagifem that could help?
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None that will plump up vaginal tissue as medication will.
Do read about 'sylc' and 'yes' products - if you put the names into the search box they will pop up. Make notes ;). Appearance is important to many people so feeling good when meeting visitors etc. is important.
You may find that a good over the counter pain relief as well as 'sylc' or 'yes' will help - but as I had razor blades up there :o I could not have continued anyway. I wasn't dry as such but there was enough dryness high up to cause symptoms. ::)
Let us know how you get on.
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Thanks CLKD
I've just changed to Femoston Conti about 2 weeks ago after being on Angeliq but the symptoms started about a week before I started Femoston so maybe the Angeliq had stopped working so well, who knows.
Maybe the Femoston will work for the bladder issues here's hoping.
I'll certainly read up about the products you suggested thank you again
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Do you keep a mood/symptom/food diary, I may have asked already. Charting where we are can be helpful.
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I just wondered if you feel the femoston conti has improved hair loss? My hair has been coming out a lot since about June. It has got very thin on top and I couldn't go out in the Summer without a hat as my head would burn. I've been trying products to help but if anything the problem is getting worse. I'm tempted to try hrt but have read a lot of feedback saying it made it worse. Just wondered if after a month or so, you think the femoston is helping?
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I've just started Vagifem today and sincerely hope my hair will be ok. Came off Femeston 1/5 a month ago and given my hair was good on that and the oestrogen in Vagifem is the same but 1/100th the strength I'm hoping all will be ok.
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Systemic absorption from Vagifem is minimal so very doubtful it could cause hair loss - which is more likely to be a result of reduced oestrogen. This declines rapidly following menopause so will lead to hair thinning. The medical product info for Vagifem does not mention hair loss:
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5719/smpc
Hope your hair will be OK Joney but depending where you are in menopause your oestrogen will be decreasing so expect some hair thinning anyway....
Hurdity x
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Hi
If you go on vagifem website it lost hairloss as common side effect
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Hi
If you go on vagifem website it lost hairloss as common side effect
Vagifem lists side effects which only apply to systemic HRT. I haven't had any hair loss at all.
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I have used Vagifem for over 3 years now and need to use every day but I haven't experienced any hair loss.
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Hi girls,
https://www.vagifem.com/
“The most commonly reported side effects of Vagifem® include: headache, breast pain, irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, stomach/abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, fluid retention, and vaginal yeast infection.â€
They can't say it any plainer than that, can they!
BeaR.
Yes we know this - others have reported that the Vagifem site gives this info.
However the actual official medical account at the link I gave does not mention it whatsoever, so actually we don't know the circumstances of these side effects. The medical info gives results from clinical trials and then gives other side effects from what they term "post-marketing experience" which of course as you know is anecdotal.
" Post-marketing experience:
In addition to the above mentioned adverse drug reactions, those presented below have been spontaneously reported for patients being treated with Vagifem 25 micrograms and are considered possibly related to treatment. The reporting rate of these spontaneous adverse reactions is very rare (<1/10,000 patient years)."
Even so hair loss is not mentioned, so I am puzzled why the (American) site even mentions it but as there is no scientific info I would suggest that this also could be anecdotal.
I mean logically - it is very unlikely (hair loss) and if it does occur would be very rare I would suggest, as there is such minimal systemic absorption and therefore very little of the hormone gets into the system to do anything other than where it is intended ie the vaginal tissues.
In the absence of any data or scientific investigation/explanation into this, my bet is that actually many women who use this on its own as VA begins to take effect and who do not use any othe HRT, actually experience haor loss due to advancing menopause and reduced oestrogen rather than the Vagifem - but have attributed it to this.
I mean never say never - but I wouild expect any actual effect to be extremely rare - that is my understanding anyway!
I think those who want to use it should stop worrying about heir and get on with sorting out their VA! If you don;t want to use Vagifem use estriol, and maybe consider systemic HRT but not with an androgenic progestogen if they have hair issues.
Hurdity x
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Hi
Found this in Vagifem website
What are the possible side effects of Vagifem®?
Vagifem® is only used in the vagina; however, the risks associated with oral estrogens should be taken into account. The most commonly reported side effects of Vagifem® include: headache, breast pain, irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, stomach/abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, fluid retention, and vaginal yeast infection.
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Sammiejane - thanks but that is exactly the same as bear posted just before mine and which I responded to in my previous post! Do read what I said and you will see how strange I think it is that they (Vagifem company) have written this. What's more - whoever heard of vomiting being a common side effect of Vagifem? Even nausea is listed as an uncommon side effect in the medical product info not the strange Vagifem website which I can't make out at all!. Quite honestly without actual data that site seems to be a bit scare-mongering which is strange as it is the commercial site - the only explanation is that because it is a US site, they may be listing everything possible including systemic HRT to avoid litigation? :-\
I think this thread is getting side tracked from the main point - that Vagifem is a reputable, tested and very effective treatment for VA and, not miminising some concerns that some may feel about using it - that no-one should be put off by the listing of every possible side effect that has ever occurred as well as those that occur with systemic HRT and go ahead to treat this debilitating and distressing condition (VA) using the products available.
Hurdity x
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Hi hurdity
If that is the case and Vagifem is unlikely to cause hair loss then my hair loss must be from estradiol itself as I tried a patch for 7 weeks and it didn't suit I then stopped it and a week later started Vagifem then 5 weeks into Vagifem my hair started falling out , so I stopped the Vagifem and swapped to Ovestin , but my hair is still shedding now and can't be low estrogen cause I had low estrogen following hysterectomy and ovary removal 5 yrs prior and as it still shedding makes me wonder whether estrogen itself ! Yet I had no trouble on birth control very strange it's definitely that or imbalance in all 3 hormones I'm going to add testosterone when I see my gp Tuesday even low estrogen level low cause I can't cope either that or go back on birth control
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Hi Sammiejane,
I will send you a PM, regarding your hair thinning/loss.
BeaR.
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Sammiejane - thanks but that is exactly the same as bear posted just before mine and which I responded to in my previous post! Do read what I said and you will see how strange I think it is that they (Vagifem company) have written this. What's more - whoever heard of vomiting being a common side effect of Vagifem? Even nausea is listed as an uncommon side effect in the medical product info not the strange Vagifem website which I can't make out at all!. Quite honestly without actual data that site seems to be a bit scare-mongering which is strange as it is the commercial site - the only explanation is that because it is a US site, they may be listing everything possible including systemic HRT to avoid litigation? :-\
I think this thread is getting side tracked from the main point - that Vagifem is a reputable, tested and very effective treatment for VA and, not miminising some concerns that some may feel about using it - that no-one should be put off by the listing of every possible side effect that has ever occurred as well as those that occur with systemic HRT and go ahead to treat this debilitating and distressing condition (VA) using the products available.
Hurdity x
Hi Hurdity,
You seem very knowledgeable about Vagifem. Do you know the reason why the 25 µg presentation has been discontinued?
BeaR.