Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Trufflecat on September 01, 2024, 07:20:50 PM
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Hi
I need a non-oestrogen pessary or cream for vaginal dryness please and would welcome recommendations
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I used to like Balance Activ Moisture Plus pessaries (the ones in the blue box). Usually available in Boots. The Yes brand of products is popular. They do an oil based moisturiser, Yes OB, and another called Yes VM which is water based. They have a good website, and I think you can buy sample sizes.
JP x
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I find olive and bee and V magic the best. Is there a specific reason that you can’t use vaginal oestrogen? I was utterly terrified of using it but I’ve done a lot of research and the risk is very over exaggerated. Having said that I know there are some people who can’t use it.
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Who has suggested that you need a 'non oestrogen' product Trufflecat?
Drying is due to a loss of oestrogen and moisturisers won't replace that hormone. U may find that your vagina copes adequately with 'yes', 'sylc' or other moisturisers so do let us know.
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Hi
I need a non-oestrogen pessary or cream for vaginal dryness please and would welcome recommendations
Hi,
I’m doing ok on Yes VM but another one recommended by my menopause specialist is PJurmed which I’m going to try once my Yes VM runs out.
E x
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Sorry for the delay in thanking you for your suggestions. It's been a busy couple of weeks........diagnosis of very small breast cancer, stage 1, and lumpectomy a week later. Because it's oestrogen receptive I'm advised to stop my hrt (on it for about 10 years) and that includes not using any topical oestrogen.
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The use of topical oestrogen is very safe. One pessary, equates to a tiny amount of oestrogen required to keep the tissues healthy.
I have secondary breast cancer and my oncologist is fine with me using vagifem and Ovestin.
Maybe speak to your oncology team again?
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It doesn't include topical estrogen, you can use that fine with BC.
Multiple, multiple studies showing that it is NOT absorbed systemically.
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This information might be helpful Trufflecat:
https://www.yesyesyes.org/pages/post-breast-cancer-dryness?srsltid=AfmBOoqxYOzDRSraXkTXiry0vbjC88GcdxVqIWt39FkGNJSFJ0e-98EO
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Tfufflecat - how R U feeling? My lump was felt whilst in the bath [16.11.1996] so I underwent lumpectomy and precautionary radiation treatment for 4 weeks. Tamoxifen made me
ill :-\.
As I left the Oncologist Clinic he said 'no HRT for you young Lady' ......... however, quality of Life is important.
When I was diagnosed with vaginal atrophy many years later my GP didn't hesitate in prescribing appropriate treatment. VA can become chronic so regardless of other health issues, continuing treatment should be considered. Because any cancer may not be triggered. Ever.
Let us know how you get on? Will U B followed up with regular mammograms?
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With reference to Nas and CLKD's comments here are some quotes from the Position Statement For Management of Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause (GSM) that you might find helpful.
"Non-hormonal approaches are usually the first-line choice for managing urogenital symptoms (or related urinary symptoms) experienced by women during or after treatment for an oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Women can usually be given local vaginal oestrogen to improve their symptoms related to GSM. For the treatment of severe GSM symptoms, there are no specific data on the safety of local vaginal oestrogen after oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. However, after regeneration and cornification of the vaginal skin, increased systemic levels of oestrogen are not seen and they remain below postmenopausal levels. Such local oestrogen-only therapy, even long term – if associated with improved quality of life and sexual function – will seem a reasonable theoretical and unproven small risk to many informed breast cancer patients. Women with a history of any type of cancer – including oestrogen-receptor-positive cancer – should use vaginal oestrogen if required and if beneficial; they should continue using this in the long term. The evidence does not show an increased risk of cancer recurrence among women using vaginal oestrogen who are undergoing treatment for, or have a history of, an oestrogen-receptor-positive cancer."
The link to the full pdf document
https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf
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Hi Trufflecat
Please do pursue this with your medical team. GSM if left untreated, will likely be your demon for ever more.
A tiny pessary and/ or a blob of cream, could just keep a lid on all those potentially horrid symptoms.
Excellent information shared by Ayesha. I’m so glad that Ovestin and vagifem have been permitted for me now.
Best of luck.
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I just tried yes today with an applicator from another gel.
A little stinging at first but felt so normal today I almost cried.
I even had to insert the cup cuz have my period. Post taking the cup out I was a little worried but omg what a difference it made
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Thank you so much everyone!
My surgeon is VERY keen on hrt and points out that the risks are VERY small. However I have been on lisdexamfetamine for the past few months (ADHD diagnosis at 60) and I think that thanks to that I might manage without hrt. I WILL use the vagifem though.
CLKD she also agrees that it is IMPOSSIBLE to pinpoint the cause of cancer in most cases. It is my choice whether to take oestrogen suppressing drugs once my radiotherapy has taken place, and looking at the side effects I am thinking I won't.
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I'm glad you have an informed and compassionate surgeon and are being afforded the autonomy to make your own treatment decisions.
I just wanted to add that even though you are postmenopausal you can still ask for tamoxifen instead of an aromatase inhibitor, if this is what you are being offered after radiotherapy.
This is a SERM with some estrogenic activity so doesn't tend to produce the urogenital atrophy seen with aromatase inhibitors.
It is also bone positive in postmenopausal women.
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That's very interesting bombsh3ll, thank uou