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Author Topic: Estring anyone?  (Read 9084 times)

Joaniepat

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Estring anyone?
« on: February 12, 2018, 08:47:29 PM »

I am thinking of asking to try the Estring when I visit the menopause clinic next month. I would love to hear other people's experience of this, either good, bad or indifferent. Many thanks.
JP x
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Dancinggirl

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2018, 10:13:56 PM »

Estring is very good but it can give you BV and thrush, so you do need to use a bit of Multi Gyn Actigel a couple of times a week to keep the vaginal flora healthy.  DG x
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paisley

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2018, 01:32:21 PM »

Can I ask is Estring just for vaginal athrophy or does it work on other menopause symptoms? Flushes, anxiety etc.
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Joaniepat

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2018, 02:31:29 PM »

No paisley, it is only for vaginal atrophy.

Dancinggirl, many thanks for your response. Yours is the only reply I've had, so perhaps the Estring isn't very popular, maybe for the side effects you mentioned.

JP x
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Dancinggirl

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2018, 03:11:06 PM »

Vagifem is still the lost popular but I used the Estrng for six months as it gave a higher dose of oestrogen consistently which is what I needed at that time. I then went back to Vagifem which I will is got the rest of my life. DG x
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Lizzie06

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2018, 10:17:57 PM »

Hi Joaniepat, I've been using the Estring for a week so a bit early for me to give any proper reviews. It does say on the info leaflet that it takes 2 weeks for the ring to start being effective but, I have to say, I have been pretty clear of my VA symptoms since starting. It was easy to insert and I don't feel it. I do use multi gyn to keep any possible infections at bay. Hope that helps :)
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Joaniepat

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2018, 07:27:27 AM »

Thanks Lizzie06, that sounds good so far, I really hope it works for you. I think Vagifem is causing me irritation as I need it at least every other day to keep the urinary symptoms under control, but get quite sore in the undercarriage on that amount. Maybe the Estring will do the trick for me too.
JP x
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Dancinggirl

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2018, 08:28:49 AM »

Using any local oestrogen alone is rarely enough. You need to use a range of strategies to help keep the urogenital atrophy under control. The UTI type symptoms are horrid.
Vaginal moisturisers are essential but don't use these at the same time as the Vagifem. SYLK or the YES products are the best.
Make sure you clean really well after opening your bowels.
Drink plenty of water and avoid acidic drinks like fruit juices, caffeine and alcohol.
If your urethra is burning, drink a glass of water with half a teaspoon bicarbonate od soda morning and night for 2-3 days - it will neutralise the urine.
Make sure you pee regularly and fully empty you bladder.
Don't sit down for too long - keep moving.
Wear loose clothing and try to avoid getting the ‘lady bits' area too hot.
Systemic HRT may be necessary alongside the local oestrogen to really help things.
DG x
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Joaniepat

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2018, 08:53:02 AM »

Many thanks DG. I think I am doing all the right things, and as well as Vagifem I use 2 pumps Oestrogel, testosterone, estriol cream externally, Sylk and, when necessary, Actigel. Maybe I am one of the unlucky ones and become sore after using Vagifem, perhaps reacting to the fillers  :(
JP x
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Hurdity

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2018, 09:55:05 AM »

I have toyed with the idea of asking for an Estring but never got around to it - Vagifem always makes me need to pee more but not sure whether that is the fillers or what? Ancient runner I think uses it but hasn't been on here much recently. I presume you don't need a progestogen so don't have that worry? In my case because I use Utrogestan vaginally I wonder how having an estring would impact on absorption although I still use Vagifem while taking the utro anyway!

I would be interested to hear how you get on if you decide to go ahead because I think you are in your 60's like me? Also are you managing to get all this on NHS? (Sorry I've forgotten!).

Hurdity x
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Joaniepat

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2018, 09:38:58 PM »

Hurdity, thanks for your message. Yes, I am late 60s and so far managing to get what I need on the NHS. I attend the menopause clinic at the Chelsea and Westminster. The Vagifem and Oestrogel were initially prescribed by them and so far my GP has been amenable to putting them on my repeat prescriptions. I don't know what he will say about the Testogel though, but will cross that bridge when I come to it, as I am only on my third or fourth sachet.

Fortunately I have had a hysterectomy so don't have to worry about progestogen.

The Vagifem seems to control any urinary or urethral symptoms quite well for me, but the vulval soreness has been an ongoing nightmare. The less Vagifem I use the less soreness I seem to experience. Generic estriol cream has been helping a little bit with that. I'm hoping the Estring might give some stability, so I'll be asking about it at my next appointment at the Chelsea and Westminster (in a couple of weeks).

I'll update this thread if I get to try it, and in the meantime will have a look at ancient runner's posts.

JP x

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Joaniepat

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2018, 08:46:52 PM »

I've been using the Estring for a week now and so far so good. I feel more comfortable than I ever did on Vagifem. However, I tried to extract it this morning before going to Women's Physio and could not get the damned thing out. Have any other users had this problem? Maybe this is why it isn't so popular!
JP x
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Maryjane

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2018, 07:44:52 AM »

I used it for a year with no problems at all .

I stays in for women's health physio ,mine would go up so high physio could only just feel it.

Re getting it out as mine was hard long vagina , finger next to thumb , and cough grab and hold on for dear life 🤣.

I now use vagifem again as I have had Mina Lisa laser treatment, and the vagifem is now fine .
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Joaniepat

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2018, 08:21:22 PM »

Thanks Maryjane. So does that mean one has to insert both finger and thumb into vagina? (I'm not sure I could do that!)
JP x
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Lizzie06

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Re: Estring anyone?
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2018, 06:17:17 AM »

I've been using the Estring for 7 weeks with good results. When I first inserted it I was worried about feeling it and how to remove it. I can't feel it and had a go at removing it after a week with no problems. I managed to hook my index finger into the hoop and pulled gently. I did do a bit of research on the net and found some ladies insert a lubricant into the vagina (wait for 30 mins) which will loosen it and make it easier to remove. Hope that helps.
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