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[Ayesha]

Its perfectly safe to use vagifem daily, two a week is a useless dose for a lot of women, GP's have an awful habit of messing us around.

I was told by my gynae GP to use Vagifem daily as twice a week wasn't working and to use Ovestin topically.
I also use a moisturiser which I think is very important and after nearly three years I am back to normal down below after being at the most chronic stage of vaginal atrophy.

[Joaniepat]

Yes. I am 74 and use local oestrogen every night. My routine is Vagifem for three nights running, then Ovestin externally on the fourth night. Either Epaderm or Olive & Bee as moisturiser as necessary. This regime is what works for me and I could not manage with less. We have to find our own way with GSM and stick to what suits.

[Lillyg]

Thank you both….feel a bit more relaxed about it now

[Jules01]

Hi Ladies, sorry it's my first time posting after reading for a very long time. Wondering if anyone can advise if I need to see GP or just wait? I have completed 3  1/2 weeks on Vagifem and it's working so well but the side effects are bad. Two weeks daily and now twice weekly. Terrible cramps that slowly edged in by the end of week one. Terrible cramps week two, that went right down my legs. Week 3 cramps and light bleeding which has continued but not a cycle. Period not due for a few days. I'm on HRT patches and cycles are clockwork. Which is thanks to patches which resolved flooding and crazy timing. Should I just keep using the Vagifem as the dryness, burning, itching etc has gone. With pain killers for cramps I can sleep but without Vagifem I cant sleep for itchy irritation. I thought it was thrush for months on and off but that's all gone. Sorry to tag onto someone else's question. Sorry if this is wrong. Thank you

[Ayesha]

Hi Jules01 and welcome to the forum. You might like to copy and post again on the 'all things menopause' page, here its more of a wilderness part of the forum and not often seen.
There have been posts about the side affects of vagifem and I know there are lower dose types of oestrogen to use and hopefully you will get more helpful  replies from the other ladies on here.

[CLKD]

Wilderness - like it!   Welcome Jules01 - browse round.  Make notes.  if 'vagifem' isn't suiting you then mayB try 'ovestin'.  Do read the 'bladder issues' and vaginal atrophy threads dotted around the Forum.  Let us know how you get on.

[Minusminnie]

Don’t mention the ‘O ‘ word it’s Estriol 1mg/g cream now 😀

[pebbles]

I am 61 and I use everol conti patches for about 8 years i think- I have reduced them to 1/2 patch twice a week about a year ago. Recently the vaginal dryness/itching has been awful. I also have experienced a lot of urine infections/ urethral irritation and pain when passing urine. GP gave me estriol 1mg cream but i still have to use it daily and I feel that it irritates me too ?
I was thinking about going back to full patches but i reduced them as i felt really anxious, not sure if due to the patches or not tbh.... I dont have flushes any more but i am very depressed and i was recently found to have an old fracture following a minor fall so a bit worried about osteoporosis... oh the joys.
My GP tries here best but they are just so busy and they dont have the time to spend on this. i have never had any form of blood work and even take my own BP on a shop bought blood pressure monitor, so rarely see a GP. Does HRT help depression and crazy thinking ?  : )

[susanc]

Hello, thank you to everyone that posts here, it has helped me feel much better.  I thought I was the only one that was suffering from this terrible itching. I'm 69 and never imagined that this was caused by lack of oestrogen when my menopause was almost 20 years ago. I was frightened to use oestrogen as my mother died of cancer of the uterus. I became suicidal and so thought I may as well try using Estriol cream. I have been using it for three months now and things are slowly improving. Other things that help me were sitz baths in warm water, not hot be careful as what feels Ok to your hand is too hot for your vulva. Bathe for about 10 to 15 mins twice a day.  I could not use toilet paper so used cotton hankies and washed them in simple soap and rinsed well.  Double rinsed my cotton undies.  In the shower I found Canesfresh soothing gel wash was the only thing I could tolerate. I do use a bamboo toilet paper now. I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to wear jeans again. Hope this helps someone.

[Snoopyfan]

Hello,
Its great to have found this site and to see that i am not the only person that this is happening too. I also love the fact that i have found somewhere to discuss this issue. Its not the sort of thing i have felt comfortable discussing over lunch at work with colleagues or friends!!
I have been using the estradiol 10mcg tablets 2 times a week for about 4 years now. I recently increased to 3 times a week on the recommendation of a gynaecologist. At the moment I am really struggling with burning and itching around the vagina plus discharge and odour. I have now got to the point where I cannot wear trousers as this makes it worse. I have had issues with vaginal irritation since I was a teenager so have never used soap or shower gels and only use a non biological washing powder but no fabric softener. I have recently been using the boots bacterial vaginosis treatment gel and that helps with the itching and odour but as soon as i wear trousers again it comes back!! Having read other people's experiences with upping the usage of estradiol to daily I am wondering if I should contact my GP to request this. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas as I am beginning to despair that this will never improve 

[Ayesha]

There are other members on here that have similar issues to yours with their GSM not being straight forward. If an odour is present then you probably need more than an over the counter remedy but you probably know that already.

Study this document, it's the recommendations I follow and quote if I get questioned on the dose I use.
https://bssm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GSM-BSSM.pdf

This part of the forum is not well seen, I would advice you post on 'All things Menopause' page.
Oh and welcome to the forum 

[Snoopyfan]

Thank you for the advice.
The document makes interesting reading.

[kathie22]

Ayesha
This is an amazing document you’ve posted As a VA sufferer it’s so difficult to get useful information outside of the generic answers that the medics dish out So thank you.. I’m going to try to get it printed out for a reference for next time I have a review.. which is due soon I’m now post prolapse surgery and struggling get back on track with the atrophy situation

[Ayesha]

Hi Kathie, I recently had a review with my new GP, he asked about my daily use of Vagifem and if a Gynaecologist had prescribed the dose.  I said yes, my previous GP was a gynae and she prescribed the dose when the two a week was not having any effect, she told me that it doesn't reach the blood stream and safe to do so, so safe that she also uses it daily herself. He agreed with what I said, I then told him that I don't follow the NICE guidelines but the recommendations of the BSSM, as per the document. He laughed and said I know exactly what you mean, he then agreed to put my prescription on a three monthly basis to save me the monthly trips to the pharmacy.

The document has been brilliant for me when I moved to a new area, I have it printed and refer to it constantly, my new pharmacy also had an issue with the dose I was using, that is also now sorted. The document puts you in the driving seat, it lets you speak with confidence and knowledge and helps you with being assertive when questioned. I felt as if I was on the same level playing field as my new GP when discussing GSM, he got the message and I will no longer be questioned on how I use topical oestrogen which has been the case over the last year.

Sorry about the sermon, but hope it helps you going forwards. 

[kathie22]

Hi Ayesha
It will be so useful
I always feel on “the back foot” when I’m at the GP I’m not usually a submissive person and can hold my own in any argument but this has taken all the fight out of me
I’ve recently been put onto Vagifem post op previously I was on Intrarosa after a long history of problems but my gynaecologist wanted me to retry vagifem as he felt it more suitable. I have to give it 3 months so currently trying to cope with some negative effects which I hope will pass 🤞
Just a thought how would I access a downloadable copy that I could print ??