Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Ayesha on February 10, 2023, 10:51:31 AM
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I have read so much on here about the struggles with treating VA and trying to eventually get a diagnoses and then getting the dosage right.
My VA had progressed to the chronic stage because I had no idea what was happening to my body and had never heard of this condition, at 70 how could I not have heard something about this ugly and horrid condition, it didn’t make sense!
I eventually saw my GP when I got to the stage I was unable to sit down, I assumed a prolapse. She straight away said no prolapse but I needed oestrogen down there. She never actually said what my condition was, I searched the internet and found this forum where I learned all about Vaginal Atrophy.
The treatment was a trial and error situation, after two weeks loading dose, then twice a week treatment, my symptoms were not improving. Phone call to the GP, she changed my prescription to every day Vagifem with Ovestin cream used sparingly on the vulva, alongside Sylk moisturiser.
Exactly one year and three months on I am not suffering anymore from the chronic stage I was at with VA, and I am now at the stage where I am going to try and reduce my every day regime and see how I get on.
In hindsight and with everything I have read about how to treat Vaginal Atrophy, I would have no hesitation in using the treatment every day for six months to a year before even thinking about the nonsense in the instruction leaflet about the loading dose of two weeks then going down to twice a week. It can take months of treatment for the body to recover from the degeneration of the vaginal tissues and for the area to heal and feel normal again.
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Hi Ayesha, what a wonderful post , I’m sure your experience will help many ladies searching for answers when they don’t know what’s happening to them, I was the same at 47 I had what I thought was constant thrush and cystitis, a whole year spent going to the doctors many antibiotics and thrush treatments later, I self diagnosed myself but only after finding this forum and reading what other ladies symptoms were , I was even diagnosed with IC at one point, it took me to tell my doctor what it was and ask for vagifem , I had the same time scale as you to get comfortable just over a year of treatment and I finally found relief, at it’s worst I felt utterly depressed, I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t go out and was aware 24/7 of my bladder and the constant burning sore vulva took me to the brink of losing any sanity I had left , I too wondered how I wasn’t aware of this condition and why my doctor didn’t pick it up as I’d be on systemic hrt for 4 years at this point and I agree about using more than the loading dose then going down to 2x week, it’s just not enough for so many, although my gp is completely happy for me to use as much as I want, I know a lot of ladies are up against it using more when it comes to doctors.
A great informative post which will help many women searching for answers.
Take care xx
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Thank you, Amazing grace. It's exactly why I posted to inform other women because of the minefield that is Vaginal Atrophy.
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Totally agree Ayesha. Your story sadly is very common and it was like reading my own experience of discovering VA. I had no idea and was in a right mess when I finally went to the doctors 7 years ago, I was 59 and 5 years postmeno. She did tests to rule out STD's even though I'd told her I'd not been sexually active for years. On examination I was red raw right up to my cervix, paper cuts on my vulva and a prolapse. I'd tried OTC baby creams and thrush treatments for weeks not knowing what it could be and thinking the worst.
She prescibed Vagifem and when I asked what that was and what was wrong with me, she asked if I'd ever heard the saying "dried up old woman"! Lacking in bed side manner.....
Eventually over the years my dosage has gone up and I use every day if needed, have Ovestin also for the vulva every day and Dermovate for flare ups. Use Cetraben to wash and never use soap powder for my pants, just hot wash and tumble dry, also use unsented panti liners.
I had physio for my prolapse and at the moment all is well.
I did try full HRT for six months, Femiston and then Femseven patches but the side effects were not good and didn't improve the VA anyway. I had no other meno symptoms.
I wasted a full year suffering with just 2 Vagifem per week thinking this was it. Finally got a referral to a gynae who upped to 5 a week and Ovestin every day. It still took another couple of years and gradually sorting the prolapse before I could stop using a medical donut to sit on at work and have some days when I actually forgot I had atrophy. That was rare!
I sometimes forget to insert a Vagifem and just use the Ovestin but it soon reminds me the next day and I know I could never reduce my dosage.
For years women were on twice a week but each tablet was 25mcg thats equivalent to 5 a week now and looking back on this forum and other websites, they were managing a lot better than today.
The study to reduce the dosage to 10mcg was definately flawed but someone is now making a nice profit as we have to use double the dosage to obtain the same result as before!
There were no safety issues with the 25mcg dose.
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Tnx for the update.
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This is a great post Ayesha.
I had trouble with VA which started in my 30's. I had no idea what VA was and was always being given antibiotics. Once a DR asked me if I was sure it was my sample I handed in as nothing showed and he was 'baffled'. This forum taught me what VA was and I suggested this to the same DR who said I did not have the symptoms. Luckily a different Dr agreed with me.
I tried Vagifem but was unable to tolerate this as it gave me stomach cramps. I tried Imvaggis but it irritated my bladder. Luckily Ovestin suits me and I have been using this every day for 2 years now.
I also take seabuckthorn capsules to help with dryness. I use Yes and Sylk. I only shower, not bath, and use Aproderm to wash.
I am better then I was but still struggle. I am always happy to hear when other members no longer have VA symptoms. :)
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Totally agree Ayesha. Your story sadly is very common and it was like reading my own experience of discovering VA. I had no idea and was in a right mess when I finally went to the doctors 7 years ago, I was 59 and 5 years postmeno. She did tests to rule out STD's even though I'd told her I'd not been sexually active for years. On examination I was red raw right up to my cervix, paper cuts on my vulva and a prolapse. I'd tried OTC baby creams and thrush treatments for weeks not knowing what it could be and thinking the worst.
She prescibed Vagifem and when I asked what that was and what was wrong with me, she asked if I'd ever heard the saying "dried up old woman"! Lacking in bed side manner.....
Eventually over the years my dosage has gone up and I use every day if needed, have Ovestin also for the vulva every day and Dermovate for flare ups. Use Cetraben to wash and never use soap powder for my pants, just hot wash and tumble dry, also use unsented panti liners.
I had physio for my prolapse and at the moment all is well.
I did try full HRT for six months, Femiston and then Femseven patches but the side effects were not good and didn't improve the VA anyway. I had no other meno symptoms.
I wasted a full year suffering with just 2 Vagifem per week thinking this was it. Finally got a referral to a gynae who upped to 5 a week and Ovestin every day. It still took another couple of years and gradually sorting the prolapse before I could stop using a medical donut to sit on at work and have some days when I actually forgot I had atrophy. That was rare!
I sometimes forget to insert a Vagifem and just use the Ovestin but it soon reminds me the next day and I know I could never reduce my dosage.
For years women were on twice a week but each tablet was 25mcg thats equivalent to 5 a week now and looking back on this forum and other websites, they were managing a lot better than today.
The study to reduce the dosage to 10mcg was definately flawed but someone is now making a nice profit as we have to use double the dosage to obtain the same result has before!
There were no safety issues with the 25mcg dose.
What an awful thing to say! >:(
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Quote Dierdre
“when I asked what that was and what was wrong with me, she asked if I'd ever heard the saying "dried up old woman"!”
Oh my goodness, what are you supposed to say to that. The humiliation and utter disgrace of it all, where was that doctors humanity!
Flossieteacake, it must have been so difficult for you to be so young and developing VA.
It seems everyone has their own horror story when it comes to the condition Vaginal Atrophy but it's clear we have to find our own way of navigating it and not to have it assumed as a bladder infection/cystitis. So many women, including me given antibiotics when absolutely unnecessary.
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Buy copies of "me and my menopausal vagina" to hand into the surgery ;-). Dental practice. Vets. Office. Local chemist ;-)
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Quote Dierdre
“when I asked what that was and what was wrong with me, she asked if I'd ever heard the saying "dried up old woman"!”
Oh my goodness, what are you supposed to say to that. The humiliation and utter disgrace of it all, where was that doctors humanity!
The irony is I had heard of the saying but still didn't understand the meaning or what I had wrong with me. It wasn't until I started googling and thankfully came across this forum.
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Ayesha has started a great thread here (and a brilliant opening post). It is so true about the underdosing with the 10 mcg Vagifem. IMO this has caused a lot of unnecessary suffering.
As well as this Forum, can I give a shout out to Jane Lewis and her book (mentioned by CLKD), and the Vaginal Atrophy Facebook support group which Jane started. Although no longer active in the menopause field, she was a pioneer! 😊.
JP x
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I know the informative posts in this thread are going to be of great help to so many women as they do a Google search on this horrid condition, as I found myself doing fifteen months ago. Although having no idea of the name 'Vaginal Atrophy', it was enough to put ‘Vaginal Dryness’ in the search box and when I started the search a thread came up from the Menopause Matters forum on the first page, which was fabulous!!
As I write the book 'Me And My Menopausal Vagina' is still available through Amazon.
Footnote: My experimenting cutting down on daily treatment has lasted one and a half days, nasty symptoms coming back, won't be doing that in a hurry again! ::)
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Gosh this was me two and a half years ago. Sailed through the menopause but oh boy got to age 61 (10 years post) and had horrendous symptoms, sore vagina, creeping feeling in ureatha (awful symptom that) several uti s. Coming home from work and putting a bag of frozen sweet corn between legs. Had no idea what was wrong with me, nurse practicioner put me on Vagifem, worked for a bit about five weeks in, but then symptoms all came back. Asked nurse about increasing dose, she was having none of it, so I assumed something else was going on. Had a private appointment with a gynaecologist and he said use everyday for six months then go to two a week-bingo it sorted it and haven’t looked back.
I have brought three ‘me and my vagina, book and given out to sister and friends, have also written my symptoms down in a small book for my daughter-when it’s her time. Let’s hope in the future ladies will know much more.
About the same time the VA took hold I also suffered and still do with digestive problems and wondered if I had started on full hrt would this have sorted this out too.
We must keep talking about it ladies.
Xx
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Shellyjayne - I sometimes wonder if any woman really 'sails through' completely. Possibly those who experience unpleasant symptoms early on and are able to start taking HRT have an easier time in the long run.
Systemic HRT may well have prevented you from developing such horrendous VA but many of us need to add Vagifem to systemic HRT as we get older to remain really comfortable.
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I thought I'd sailed through as didn't have much of the common well known symptoms. It wasnt until years later i realised the years of palpatations and anxiety were menopausal symptom. I'd never heard of vaginal atrophy and in my opinion it's the worst of the lot.
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Thank you to Ayesha for posting this, and to everyone else for contributing. It's so helpful to those of us who are maybe just starting to get the symptoms of VA, or even had them for a while but didn't know what was going on 'down there'!
I posted a few days ago about trying GINA as although I've been on HRT for about 6 years (I'm 55) i hadn't realised I could still develop VA. I thought being on HRT would prevent it. I also thought VA just caused dryness, I had no idea that I would lose the stretchiness inside as well. Or that it affected the bladder. I thought needing the loo urgently, 'dribbles' etc was something only suffered by women who'd given birth vaginally. Never knew it could be caused by menopause.
I shall be asking my GP for some local oestrogen soon-apparently you can't buy GINA unless you've already used vaginal oestrogen on prespription before, which seems odd but there we go. Thanks again for sharing your experiences with us!
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Have you tried Superdrug Online Pharmacy? I bought Ovestin this way with very few questions asked.
But you should be able to ask your GP for a prescription, do let us know how you get on :)
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Have you tried Superdrug Online Pharmacy? I bought Ovestin this way with very few questions asked.
But you should be able to ask your GP for a prescription, do let us know how you get on :)
No, I haven't tried to buy any yet, I will have a look at superdrug. Thanks!
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I shall be asking my GP for some local oestrogen soon-apparently you can't buy GINA unless you've already used vaginal oestrogen on prespription before, which seems odd but there we go. Thanks again for sharing your experiences with us!
Just wanted to update to say that I got this wrong! I hope I haven't misled anyone. Ayesha posted a link in another thread which clarified who can buy GINA OTC, and it says that if you've never been given vaginal oestrogen before AND you're on HRT that you have to get approval from the GP first.
If you're not on HRT, you will be able to buy it, subject to answering a few other health questions.
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Good morning!
Firstly thanks to Ayesha for starting this thread.
Suffering vaginal vulval atrophy pretty badly at the moment. Had a consultation yesterday with Newson Health,
they advised using two vagifem daily for 2 months, one inserted higher and one lower to reach the tissue around the opening.
Just wanted to share as there seems to be a lot of confusion about the dosage of vagifem, the leaflet seems way off frankly.
They also suggested Imvaggis which is 30mcg oestrogen, vagifem is 10mcg so it seems the dosage can be much higher than we are led to believe.
I think for me 2 is enough for now and I will monitor and see how things go, don't want to shock the system too much!
Also was given blissel gel for the vulva, this made it inflamed and so i have stopped, now waiting for oestrogen cream 0.01, looking forward to starting that.
Apparently when looking on the leaflet it appears this reaction is not uncommon as it is in the form of a gel and contains alcohol which
actually dries the skin! Cream has oil lipids so has a moisturising effect, thanks to Hurdity for this nugget of information.
Anyway would be interesting to hear your thoughts on these products.
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Good morning!
Firstly thanks to Ayesha for starting this thread.
Suffering vaginal vulval atrophy pretty badly at the moment. Had a consultation yesterday with Newson Health,
they advised using two vagifem daily for 2 months, one inserted higher and one lower to reach the tissue around the opening.
Just wanted to share as there seems to be a lot of confusion about the dosage of vagifem, the leaflet seems way off frankly.
They also suggested Imvaggis which is 30mcg oestrogen, vagifem is 10mcg so it seems the dosage can be much higher than we are led to believe.
I think for me 2 is enough for now and I will monitor and see how things go, don't want to shock the system too much!
Also was given blissel gel for the vulva, this made it inflamed and so i have stopped, now waiting for oestrogen cream 0.01, looking forward to starting that.
Apparently when looking on the leaflet it appears this reaction is not uncommon as it is in the form of a gel and contains alcohol which
actually dries the skin! Cream has oil lipids so has a moisturising effect, thanks to Hurdity for this nugget of information.
Anyway would be interesting to hear your thoughts on these products.
I am sorry to hear your VA is bad but I am thrilled you have been given the go ahead to use two Vagifem a day. It is worth trying Imvaggis to see if it works better for you. I found Imvaggis irritated me and I was unable to tolerate it but it is interesting it has a higher dose of oestrogen then the other treatments.
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Great post. Like you I never knew about VA til I got it, goodness knows why. It's such a shock.
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Pleased to see your Vagifem has been increased to two daily. This should help a lot, as the older version used to contain 25 mcg estradiol, not 10 mcg as we now have.
I'm not sure that Imvaggis can really be compared with Vagifem in terms of strength though, as Imvaggis contains estriol, not estradiol, so it's two different oestrogens. As far as I remember, estradiol is taken up by both alpha and beta oestrogen receptors, whereas estriol is taken up by only the beta.
I agree that many women are underdosed with local oestrogen, which is a ridiculous situation.
Good luck with your new regime ❤.
JP x
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Thanks for replies, Joniepat very interesting about the receptors, so much to learn, wish I wasn't learning it all so late in life!
Also forgot to add they also said the vagifem will eventually reach surrounding area including urethra, bladder, vulva, pelvic floor muscles, well hope that doesn't take too long, amazing!
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Thank you for starting this thread! :thankyou:
i'm not suffering myself - yet - but would obviously want to stave this off.
I was told a few years back by someone at a meno clinic that we don't need topical oestrogesn for down below if we are using systemic oestrogen (I use oestrogel and of course Utrogestan as i have a womb)
Is this not the case? :(
It's like you get a different story everyone you speak to! :( It's madness!
I'm 59. I am still having periods, or as least I BELEIVE I am, although the docs say I couldn't possibly be :( Although Ive had a scan and all is well and I have, I quote 'The womb of a still menstruating woman' They have got me so as I don't know what is happening and have been made to feel like a freak, it has really affected me :(
I don't want to suffer from VA going forward. Can I buy anything with Oestogen for down below without going through my GP, who is or appears to be not clued up, or the gynae, who is intent on pushing Mirena on me to stop my 'irregular bleeding'. It's not irregular. It comes at a predictable time, for a predictable length, despite being put on continuous HRT, and my periods have never stopped
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Great Post, very similar to me at the beginning of this journey. Shocking we have to suffer the way we do xx
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Thank you for starting this thread! :thankyou:
i'm not suffering myself - yet - but would obviously want to stave this off.
I was told a few years back by someone at a meno clinic that we don't need topical oestrogesn for down below if we are using systemic oestrogen (I use oestrogel and of course Utrogestan as i have a womb)
Is this not the case? :(
It's like you get a different story everyone you speak to! :( It's madness!
I'm 59. I am still having periods, or as least I BELEIVE I am, although the docs say I couldn't possibly be :( Although Ive had a scan and all is well and I have, I quote 'The womb of a still menstruating woman' They have got me so as I don't know what is happening and have been made to feel like a freak, it has really affected me :(
I don't want to suffer from VA going forward. Can I buy anything with Oestogen for down below without going through my GP, who is or appears to be not clued up, or the gynae, who is intent on pushing Mirena on me to stop my 'irregular bleeding'. It's not irregular. It comes at a predictable time, for a predictable length, despite being put on continuous HRT, and my periods have never stopped
How strange you were told by a meno clinic that you would not need localised oestrogen. Although taking HRT can help with VA, it is not usually enough and women need localised oestrogen.
You are not a freak and I am so sorry you have been made to feel this way. You can have periods at 58 and there is a thread on here somewhere with members who have period after the usual age.
If you wish to buy something over the counter then you can buy a pessary called Gina. Otherwise you could ask your GP for Vagifem which is a pessary or Ovestin which is a cream.
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Good morning!
Suffering vaginal vulval atrophy pretty badly at the moment. Had a consultation yesterday with Newson Health,
they advised using two vagifem daily for 2 months, one inserted higher and one lower to reach the tissue around the opening.
Just wanted to share as there seems to be a lot of confusion about the dosage of vagifem, the leaflet seems way off frankly.
Great news, Primrose, looks like you had a good day at the clinic and have been given all the appropriate meds and info.
Just to say, I always throw the Vagifem leaflet straight in the bin as in contains totally out of date information, which can be so misleading to women starting treatment for VA.
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Just wanted to update to say that I got this wrong! I hope I haven't misled anyone. Ayesha posted a link in another thread which clarified who can buy GINA OTC, and it says that if you've never been given vaginal oestrogen before AND you're on HRT that you have to get approval from the GP first.
If you're not on HRT, you will be able to buy it, subject to answering a few other health questions.
Does anyone know why this is the case? Can there be problems if you already have enough oestrogen 'down there' and you add more?
I'm assuming no va = sufficient oestrogen though perhaps you won't know in the early stages of it.
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I was interested regarding taking 2 per day if needed, I'm still struggling so won't feel worried now using 2 if needed. Just got scans and all ok re womb lining so going to try 2 for a week or two again.
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Hello Dierdre,
I hope the two work for you, can't see why not, Newson had no qualms about me using two a day for two months,
and they are as up to date as anyone right now it seems, I might not need to for that long but it is reassuring.
Let us know how it goes and when improvement begins! x
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Totally agree Ayesha. Your story sadly is very common and it was like reading my own experience of discovering VA. I had no idea and was in a right mess when I finally went to the doctors 7 years ago, I was 59 and 5 years postmeno. She did tests to rule out STD's even though I'd told her I'd not been sexually active for years. On examination I was red raw right up to my cervix, paper cuts on my vulva and a prolapse. I'd tried OTC baby creams and thrush treatments for weeks not knowing what it could be and thinking the worst.
She prescibed Vagifem and when I asked what that was and what was wrong with me, she asked if I'd ever heard the saying "dried up old woman"! Lacking in bed side manner.....
Eventually over the years my dosage has gone up and I use every day if needed, have Ovestin also for the vulva every day and Dermovate for flare ups. Use Cetraben to wash and never use soap powder for my pants, just hot wash and tumble dry, also use unsented panti liners.
I had physio for my prolapse and at the moment all is well.
I did try full HRT for six months, Femiston and then Femseven patches but the side effects were not good and didn't improve the VA anyway. I had no other meno symptoms.
I wasted a full year suffering with just 2 Vagifem per week thinking this was it. Finally got a referral to a gynae who upped to 5 a week and Ovestin every day. It still took another couple of years and gradually sorting the prolapse before I could stop using a medical donut to sit on at work and have some days when I actually forgot I had atrophy. That was rare!
I sometimes forget to insert a Vagifem and just use the Ovestin but it soon reminds me the next day and I know I could never reduce my dosage.
For years women were on twice a week but each tablet was 25mcg thats equivalent to 5 a week now and looking back on this forum and other websites, they were managing a lot better than today.
The study to reduce the dosage to 10mcg was definately flawed but someone is now making a nice profit as we have to use double the dosage to obtain the same result has before!
There were no safety issues with the 25mcg dose.
What an awful thing to say! >:(
My reaction too 😥
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How strange you were told by a meno clinic that you would not need localised oestrogen. Although taking HRT can help with VA, it is not usually enough and women need localised oestrogen.
You are not a freak and I am so sorry you have been made to feel this way. You can have periods at 58 and there is a thread on here somewhere with members who have period after the usual age.
If you wish to buy something over the counter then you can buy a pessary called Gina. Otherwise you could ask your GP for Vagifem which is a pessary or Ovestin which is a cream.
[/quote]
Thank you Flossie :)
I get a different story eveyone I ask.
I'm fed up with it all to be honest.
I'll go look at Gina on the t'interweb, thanks again :)
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Ayesha,
Thank you for your encouragement!!
Am starting new regime tonight, and throwing any accompanying literature in the bin. x
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My pleasure, primrose. Hope it all goes well for you on starting your treatment. :)
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[quote author=primrose3 link=topic=64837.msg909752#msg909752 date=1686044723
Suffering vaginal vulval atrophy pretty badly at the moment. Had a consultation yesterday with Newson Health,
they advised using two vagifem daily for 2 months, one inserted higher and one lower to reach the tissue around the opening.
Just wanted to share as there seems to be a lot of confusion about the dosage of vagifem, the leaflet seems way off frankly.
They also suggested Imvaggis which is 30mcg oestrogen, vagifem is 10mcg so it seems the dosage can be much higher than we are led to believe.
[/quote]
By my calculation 2x 10mcg of vagifem daily for 7 days is 140mcg of vagifem a week.
In its day the 25mcg vagifem was loaded for 2 weeks followed by a maintenance dose of 2 X 25mcg of vagifem a week = 50mcg a week. This was okay for many but i can remember one particular member who couldn't manage on that and having to go to 75mcg a week.
Just me but i would be questioning a dose of 140mcg weekly over a period of 2 months especially as i still have a uterus.
I agree with trying one vagifem lower down as i found that using vagifem high up as suggested never helped the vulva area.
Newson had no qualms about me using two a day for two months,
and they are as up to date as anyone right now it seems, I might not need to for that long but it is reassuring.
Are they ? or just experimenting ? sorry i can be a terrible cynic at times.
I'm sure others will comment.
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It sounds alot but remember these are micrograms. If you were on an oral tablet full HRT you'd be taking 1 milligram per day, there are 1000 micrograms in a milligram. You'd have to take 100 vagifem a day. This is why taking Vagifem every day is equivalent to only 3 oral tablets a year and such a minuscule dose and not all of that goes systemic.
I know there are different dosages because of different methods of taking HRT but the difference is still a lot with local estrogens.
I recently did a reload of 2 per day as I'm already taking one a day and it wouldn't have made a difference, but I only did it for a couple of weeks. I'll definately pop an extra one in if needed and not worry from now on.
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I understand what you are saying Dierde.
I’m still not sure about a high dose of 140mcg a week level, albeit micrograms, over a two month
period. Where is their evidence or are they trying to gather it ?
Every now & again maybe as you suggest when necessary but consistently over a length of time :-\ ?
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No need for cynicism here. When you are at the chronic stage of VA you need to start with a good regime that speeds up the reversal of vaginal degeneration. The regime of two Vagifem a day for two months only is a good start which can easily be reduced as soon as the benefits are noticed and without any long term side effects, if that’s even possible with such a low dose pessary. I cannot see any problems with what has been prescribed here.
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No need for cynicism here. When you are at the chronic stage of VA you need to start with a good regime that speeds up the reversal of vaginal degeneration. The regime of two Vagifem a day for two months only is a good start which can easily be reduced as soon as the benefits are noticed and without any long term side effects, if that’s even possible with such a low dose pessary. I cannot see any problems with what has been prescribed here.
Is this based on your own experience Ayesha ie using a high initial dose such as 140mcg a week for two months etc ?
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No, but I am coming from the conclusion of my own experience of controlling Vaginal Atrophy. It took one Vagifem, topical use of Ovestin and moisturiser daily for nearly a year for me to feel normal again. I would have no hesitation in throwing everything at this wretched condition to bring on a faster healing and get back to a normal life quicker than I did previously, the reason why I would have been happy if offered a higher dose to start with, as in the two months mentioned.
When I first sought help for my VA (I didn't know it was that at the time) I was prescribed antibiotics because it was assumed I had a bladder infection, first time ever for me. Why is this still happening, why is Vaginal Atrophy not ruled out first in a mature woman. Women are suffering unnecessarily from the neglect of this condition and I would have thought that given three courses of antibiotics did more damage than a two month course of two a day Vagifem.
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Thanks for reply Ayesha.
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Good evening all!
We are pioneers with this treatment, and at the cusp of change, pharmaceutical companies are now seemingly ready to research,
as yet it strikes me that no one really knows what is best for all of us,
in the end we have to listen to our bodies and adjust accordingly, i will certainly be doing that, maybe 2 per day maybe just one and maybe 2 or 3 a week eventually, right now as Ayesha says it needs to be gotten under control and that is what I intend to do.
All power to us all in our sensitive decision making.xx
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Hello ladies.
For reasons unknown I don't have a big problem with VA and I don't use anything topical in that area. However at a recent appointment with an NHS Consultant I was advised to double my use of Progesterone (Cyclogest) as my alternate nights regime may not be enough to protect my womb. This regime was prescribed to me by Newson Health and I was assured that it was safe for even higher doses of Oestrogen gel.
I am also a bit of a cynic and I wonder if NH have the necessary data. I am concerned that their approach of optimal Oestrogen and minimum progesterone may not be safe.
I don't particularly want to use Cyclogest every night incase it messes with my moods which are a bit swingy at the best of times! Despite this I will experiment with more Cyclogest when I have a new prescription next month.
Although I don't suffer with horrendous VA I did sample some of the symptoms when I came off all HRT a few years ago. I had never experienced anything like it and all you ladies have my absolute sympathy.
Wishing you all well and take care.
K.
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We are pioneers with this treatment, and at the cusp of change, pharmaceutical companies are now seemingly ready to research,
as yet it strikes me that no one really knows what is best for all of us
And this is the whole crux of the matter! The little research I have read suggests that women are not coming forward giving various reasons in the UK, USA and other countries to make a difference but perhaps that is now changing. One headline in research papers written on Vaginal Atrophy read ‘The New Epidemic’, this does look promising for the future, hopefully!
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Good evening all!
We are pioneers with this treatment, and at the cusp of change, pharmaceutical companies are now seemingly ready to research,
as yet it strikes me that no one really knows what is best for all of us,
in the end we have to listen to our bodies and adjust accordingly, i will certainly be doing that, maybe 2 per day maybe just one and maybe 2 or 3 a week eventually, right now as Ayesha says it needs to be gotten under control and that is what I intend to do.
All power to us all in our sensitive decision making.xx
I'm sorry that you feel that you had to leave the forum Primrose3. Wishing you well and hope that this regime works for you.
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That's a shame, where does it say primrose3 has left, I've not read that?
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Primrose's name has gone black and now a guest Dierdre.
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Ok thanks minusminnie.
Good evening all!
We are pioneers with this treatment, and at the cusp of change, pharmaceutical companies are now seemingly ready to research,
as yet it strikes me that no one really knows what is best for all of us,
in the end we have to listen to our bodies and adjust accordingly, i will certainly be doing that, maybe 2 per day maybe just one and maybe 2 or 3 a week eventually, right now as Ayesha says it needs to be gotten under control and that is what I intend to do.
All power to us all in our sensitive decision making.xx
Thanks primrose3 for sharing your new regime, there's hope for us all yet!
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Ayesha referred me back to this thread. I can't believe the problems vaginas cause. As they're crucial to reproduction of the human race, I don't understand why because it's not just older women. My problems were only noticed with sex, discharge from the irritation, UTIs, when I'm not sexually active, I don't seem to get symptoms. My GP says I will get more UTIs though if I discontinue the estrogen. I did notice the change in my vulva more. Seemed to be wasting. I was only using twice a week vagifem but am trying alternate nights plus ovestin externally every night, sometimes in the morning too because i had an examination and as someone has said, the GP unintentionally made me feel really worried with the way she was describing my bits below and i did feel like a dried up old woman. After a month I can't say I've noticed any difference except the tissues are softer but its too soon but by applying ovestin I'm at least aware of what is there because apart from washing, I don't suppose we feel about too much down there. Going back in time, some of us wouldn't even still be alive let alone interested in a sex life so women's reproductive organs probably weren't designed to last and they wouldn'teven have experienced this. At my age, 65, my gran was an old woman. With longer lives, mother nature needs to evolve women's bits to keep in step. The rest of my body is better than some 40 year olds I know, it's my private parts that are letting the team down. I'm not sure how long I should continue with the frequency of application but I guess its trial and error.
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it's my private parts that are letting the team down. I'm not sure how long I should continue with the frequency of application but I guess its trial and error.
Vaginal Atrophy doesn't allow for you to think that way, if you don't use the treatment constantly without all the overthinking, you will never get to the other side of this condition. With constant treatment you are waiting for the aging process to be reversed, and that can take months.
I understand if you throw thrush into the battle it can make things so much more complicated but if its straight forward vaginal atrophy, the battle is not so bad and can be won, as in my case.
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I don't have thrush or any other problems. I'm talking about the frequency of it, not discontinuing altogether, as I've increased the dosage. It's not over thinking, just commenting on what I've read of other people's issues on here, just discussion. But I will stick to the point in future
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I wish I had known so much more about horrible atrophy years ago. So bloody annoyed. Went to the doctors many times with symptoms, no help. It really is a distressing condition.
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I can't believe the problems vaginas cause. As they're crucial to reproduction of the human race, I don't understand why because it's not just older women.
It's VA in younger women that i can't fathom either and feel saddened that it can occur.
My problems began around age 55 if memory serves me right ::) at a time anyway when you might begin to start expecting VA. (Well if you'd had prior knowledge but as we all know that's another story).
I'd never been on the pill or any HRT before. Could using either be a contributary factor for bringing on VA in even younger women ?? :-\
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I can't believe the problems vaginas cause. As they're crucial to reproduction of the human race, I don't understand why because it's not just older women.
It's VA in younger women that i can't fathom either and feel saddened that it can occur.
My problems began around age 55 if memory serves me right ::) at a time anyway when you might begin to start expecting VA. (Well if you'd had prior knowledge but as we all know that's another story).
I'd never been on the pill or any HRT before. Could using either be a contributary factor for bringing on VA in even younger women ?? :-\
Mine around the same time but I didn't know at the time. I've never used HRT but was on the pill in my late teens for a very short time. I think it's probably that estrogen shelves off at different paces in different women.
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I was 54 when my periods ended but didn't get atrophy until age 59, it took 5 years for the estrogen to totally deplete. I've read even after your periods have ended you can still ovalate for a while quite randomly but not have a period, this must provide extra estrogen for a few years maybe. It's then we have to rely on the adrenal glands to produce hormones called androgens that change into oestrogen. Think my adrenal glands have packed up too ;D
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I was 54 when my periods ended but didn't get atrophy until age 59, it took 5 years for the estrogen to totally deplete. I've read even after your periods have ended you can still ovalate for a while quite randomly but not have a period, this must provide extra estrogen for a few years maybe. It's then we have to rely on the adrenal glands to produce hormones called androgens that change into oestrogen. Think my adrenal glands have packed up too ;D
Mine too, though it could be worse. At least I don't have discomfort when I'm not sexually active ....yet anyway. I keep using the estrogen pessaries and cream and carry my UTI ABs with me. Used to be tampax 😊
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Everything about these problem vaginas is really disheartening. Mines playing up again and it just takes precedence over everything. Really really sick of it. Sorry not such a positive comment but feeling that way out.
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Shellyjayne - I sometimes wonder if any woman really 'sails through' completely. Possibly those who experience unpleasant symptoms early on and are able to start taking HRT have an easier time in the long run.
Systemic HRT may well have prevented you from developing such horrendous VA but many of us need to add Vagifem to systemic HRT as we get older to remain really comfortable.
My friend is 73 and had no problems. She's never been in a relationship for about 30 years though.
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Hi everyone, I am new here and do not know if I am doing this correctly or not so forgive me but I am at my wits end and feel like curling up and crying, and that is not how I am!!! I have just read ALL of the posts in this thread and "burning" and VA etc... I have been suffering for a long time now... I had a hysterectomy due to an ovarian cyst almost 4 years ago, I have one ovary left that lasted awhile providing me with what my vjay needed apparently but it finally gave up too and I have been suffering with all kinds of weird symptoms of well over a year now and not knowing what was happening until I finally pushed my endocrinologist to test my hormones. My gynooncologist and Urogyno just kept asking me if I was having hot flashed or mood swings which I was not yet!! I was having night sweats and terrible terrible vaginal and clitoral pains, felt like keratin pearls but wasn't, then burning like fire crotch from hell and mostly associated with also having to urinate constantly like constantly ... it was terrible and ridiculous.. they would ask if I had pain during sex, which I did not thankfully ... finally endocronologist said I was in fact in full menopause. It took 4 visits and terrible embarrassing physicals with the Urogyno who is a WOMEN for her to finally put me on estradiol cream... I have been on it now for almost 2 months and not having a lot of relief yet, I have had a few good days mixed in for the first time in a while but then it always comes back full force for a week or so .... please please please tell me any suggestions you might have!!! I am up burning and peeing all through out the night even too, I feel like life just can't be this hard for Gods sake.
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You might not be getting enough oestrogen down there. When the vaginal atrophy is bad every day treatment is usually required until you start to feel the benefits. 2 months is not long perhaps another month you might start to feel better, trial and error dealing with this awful condition.
But as an example I use Vagifem pessary and an oestrogen cream used topically every day with a feminine moisturiser thrown in the mix. Three years on and I am free of all the symptoms, you will get there in the end with constant VA treatment.