Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Garnet161 on April 21, 2025, 09:52:52 AM
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Hi all,
Seven months into daily Ovestin use and I thought I had the atrophy beaten! I also use Emerita BiEstro/Progest creams for systemic relief - which works very well.
Though my bladder will always be temperamental, I have had 3 pretty good months, with just a few niggly symptoms here and there. I sometimes use Ovestin on the outside but overall, things have been good. I have learned not to get panicky and start overthinking things when my symptoms are odd, knowing that things will get better - that the Ovestin is doing its job.
But the last 3 days have been a bit uncomfortable, and I am noticing the anxious feelings and some warm flushes - which is very unusual. To add to it, my bladder has been irritable (sitting here I feel like I have to pee badly, but I know there isn't much there). I hate that feeling!!
My question - does anyone else get this? Where you coast along for months, feeling pretty good and then boom! symptoms are annoying and uncomfortable, even though you are doing everything the same. I started my daily diary 3 days back just so I could keep tabs on symptoms again. I thought maybe I am experiencing a big dip in estrogen - which may not have happened for a few months. I just don't know!
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Yep. As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry, inside and out. When my symptoms niggle I put an 'extra' dose of estriol up mid afternoon and take 2 Nurofen tablets to ease the nip as the urine flow shuts off: then every night for 5 ........ or more if required.
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Thanks, I'm just confused as to why this has happened suddenly after 3 pretty comfortable months. In saying that, I have had much worse symptoms but there is an odd sort of spasm happening occasionally and I can't tell if it's my bladder or if it's on the outside.
I would assume that this coinciding with a few hot flushes (which were gone for months and months), means the estrogen has taken a sudden nosedive.
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It's a possibility certainly. The condition is a bit Trial and Error to keep symptoms comfy. Let us know how you get on?
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Thanks, this has got to be one of the most frustrating conditions!
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That and bowel issues :-\ of which we have threads!
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I started with hot flushes again recently. I do think estrogen levels shelve off and plateau in some of us. I also agree with my doctor in that lost estrogen cannot fully be replaced artificially so as atrophy is a deteriorating condition and as we age, for some of us out current regime may not suffice and needs adjusting. In 5 years, i've gone from vagifem twice weekly to recently vagifem nightly and estriol cream externally nightly. I'm envious of women who had swift menopause with very little changes to their bodies
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Agreed it is one of the worst symptoms, in fact for me it’s been the absolute worst! I’ve recently started using Ovesse oestrogen cream on the outside as it’s just so itchy, dry, pale, sore you name it. It helped a little but now I’m days away from my due period the symptoms have got bad again. Dry, sore, itchy blah blah. I’m bored of it now. I know it’ll improve after my period is over but will be bad again soon after. The inside for me isn’t really a bother apart from some discomfort after sex for a couple of days which feels bladder related. Vagifem inserted twice weekly helps with that for now. I think like others have said it’s trial and error to feel comfortable, and even then it’s not guaranteed to last due to our own hormonal fluctuations/decline. Are you using other forms of HRT patches, gel etc. if so, could you ask for an increase in that to see if it helps?
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LittleClaire - why aren't you using vagifem every night to ease those symptoms which seem to correlate with atrophy :-\
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The Vagifem is used for inside and the inside isn’t the issue it’s the outside. I’m using Ovesse every day on the outside
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I’m using Emerita BiEstro and ProGest creams systemically which have been excellent so far. But I’m starting to think I’ll have to ask for the combined patch to see if that is better. I can’t use the gel because the corresponding progesterone is tablet form and I can’t take systemic internally due to my mother’s recent liver cancer diagnosis.
The nightly Ovestin appears to still be working but gees, those days where I believe the estrogen is dropping - I loathe those days!! Day 4 of discomfort :(
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The Vagifem is used for inside and the inside isn’t the issue it’s the outside. I’m using Ovesse every day on the outside
If you're having discomfort after sex, it's likely also the inside. I used to get the bladder issues, endless UTI after sex, weird sensations around the uretha, and it stopped once I used estrogen inside. It's because the vaginal walls are thinning. Atrophy affects the whole area inside and out. I wished someone had advised me earlier as it would have prevented or slowed down the wasting. i didn't need it every night at first. Twice weekly was enough but it definitely sorted out the discomfort following sex.
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Tnx LittleClaire .
Garnet161 - hopefully your Mum and family are getting good support following her diagnosis?
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Thank you. Sadly my mum passed away 4 months after diagnosis. Cancer is cruel.
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4 months is no time to drawer breath after a diagnosis :-\. :foryou:
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Yeah it probably is inside too I just don’t notice them symptoms as much as the outside. I have only been prescribed it for twice weekly so if I use it everyday then run out, I won’t be able to order another prescription yet as it needs to be reviewed 3 monthly. So annoying
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Yes often the inside is only noticed when affected by sex. It's so bad that you're limited in your prescriptions. My GP surgery was a bit like that but they seem to have gone in step now and prescribe two tubes of estriol cream when I ask which is usually every couple of months and vagifem when I request it too. Would they limit treatment for people with eczema or asthma?
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I know, I think it’s a lot down to them not being educated on menopause and its pot luck whether you get an understanding doctor/nurse or someone who is not willing to help you at all. I was dismissed at first due to my age (37) when I first went in about symptoms as even myself I didn’t know what it was. I was at the doctors because I didn’t feel right but didn’t know why. Blood tests showed nothing wrong so I couldn’t explain it until I came across perimenopause and researched it then went back to ask for HRT. When I have my next review I’m going to ask if I can have vagifem daily and see what response I get.
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You need to get proactive, read this document and quote it to get your message across because its true, medics have little knowledge of GSM and its symptoms. Your age is a factor where they are coming from but if you are suffering badly then there is an easy solution, you have to fight your corner.
https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf
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Alternate nights might be enough for a while or every second night. I saw a different doctor last week who started harping on about the recommended twice weekly again. She was a junior doctor and Iraqi. So they're not even all on the same page at the same GP surgery