Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Hillbilly on May 20, 2020, 01:48:53 PM
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Hi all.
I just spoke to my normal GP and told her my symptoms; dryness, itching, stinging and recent uti...and she is giving me vagifem pessaries for 2 weeks to start with. I've had a quick search but want to confirm a couple of questions please?
Is it right that you should wait for at least 6-8 hours after inserting before having sex?
Can you use it while having a bleed?
Don't take it at the same time as Utro?
Does it need to be taken at the same time every day?
Is there any residue that needs 'cleaned' before sex? :o
Thank you :)
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You can use Vagifem at anytime of the day, so you can work around that, have never heard about the 6-8 hour wait though.
I used it in the peri stage when i was still getting periods. I use Vagifem every day, it is a tiny pessary and don't get alot of residue, i hardly notice it, it is a bit more like normal discharge you get in your younger days.
I have a Mirena so dont use Utro, but i probably wouldn't use it at same time if you are using Utro vaginally.
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Thanks Tinkerbell :)
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I too am wondering, are we supposed to use it during a period? Or wait till it's over. Seems a bit weird using it during, but maybe that's just me ???
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Why is it weird? I guess it depends on how heavy/long your period lasts, i still used it during but i have struggled with getting VA under control so wouldn't have wanted to have gone a week without it.
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I think it's just the thought with me, but if it's meant to be done then I'll do it, like you say Tinkerbell you don't really want to leave it. :)
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If the vagina is lubricated with menstrual blood, it shouldn't require oestrogen replacement during the period. At the end of each bleed I would itch, intensely, high up for a couple of days. Then I would have brown blood for 24 hours ........ In your situations I would start vagifem or ovestin until the next bleed.
I wait until DH makes a move and if he doesn't, I insert the 'ovestin' ;)
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Menstrual blood is going to add estrogen to the vaginal tissues though. I would still use it during a period on the more spotty days.
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This is helpful, thanks everyone :)
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Menstrual blood is going to add estrogen to the vaginal tissues though. I would still use it during a period on the more spotty days.
I think you meant to say "isn't" in response to CLKD's comment about lubrication, which is not the point of Vagifem. It was late when you posted!!! I totally agree. Of course you should continue to use vaginal oestrogen as you need to keep the tissues oestrogenised.
My solution at this time is to use estriol cream on the end of the tampons while bleeding, especially as tampons tend to dry out the tissues anyway, so the cream helps with lubrication and the oestrogen keeps the tissues in the right state. If you don't have it already then you will need to ask for it to be prescribed, which I do for this purpose. Make sure you ask for the generic estriol cream not the Ovestin ( which is 10 x stronger) because you will be using it quite liberally if using it every time you change tampons.
Hurdity x
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Oops! yes i meant to say "isn't" and i am burning the midnight oil at the moment so was a late posting!
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Another question,
If I stop taking HRT entirely do I have to stop the vagifem or can I continue that with nothing else?
It's been 10 days or so since I took the Utro and my mood is bad again, I'm not sure I can carry on.
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Another question,
If I stop taking HRT entirely do I have to stop the vagifem or can I continue that with nothing else?
It's been 10 days or so since I took the Utro and my mood is bad again, I'm not sure I can carry on.
No, you don't have to stop Vagifem. There's no reason why you should, and there are many women only using local oestrogen. It is extremely low dose.
JP x
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Oh Joanie thank you! I think I'll come off the HRT :)
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Oh Joanie thank you! I think I'll come off the HRT :)
That's a shame, but hope you get on OK. Hopefully you can at least keep the VA under control.
JP x
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To answer your other question about Vagifem while taking utro (vaginally). I pop the Vagifem in during the morning approx 10 hours after the utrogestan (at night) to space it out a bit. This seems to work fine.
Hurdity x
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I've been using Vagifem for years and it's made a huge difference to me. I'm 51 & started taking it before my periods had completely stopped. I would take it while bleeding as long it wasn't heavy.
I don't find it ever leaves residue.
I would avoid using it before sex.
I don't take HRT at the moment.
The reason I started it was terrible vaginal pain all the time. I had been bleeding slightly after sex for a long time & having frequent UTI's as well. All symptoms of vaginal atrophy I suppose. After a few wks it stopped all that. I often forget to take it twice a wk tho & just take it once, but still no return of previous problems. Hope it helps you too :)
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Thanks all :)
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:clapping: