Estriol treatment HRT

[Esoranigasil]

I recently have been prescribed Estriol (Overton 1mg cream) for my menopause symptoms which aren’t too bad, but I do have vagina atrophy. I’ve been using it for five days and each day inserting the applicator has become more painful and last night it was complete agony! I don’t know what it’s done to the inside of my vagina but it is so painful. I am going to ring my doctor on Monday but today is Sunday so there’s not much I can do, and I’m not sure whether I should use it tonight. Has anyone had any experience of this cream doing this? Is it normal? Is this part of the two week thing? Should I stop using it? Any advice or info would be very much appreciated x
ps. I am seven months after a full abdominal hysterectomy I do not have a cervix if that is even relevant lol

Have you tried lubricating the applicator with some of the cream or a jel?
Are you trying to push it in/up too far?
Does it help to lie down to insert it?

Take it easy, don’t give up. The difference it will make esp if you’ve had itching & burning will be a massive relief.

After the two weeks is passed, I think you’ll only need it twice a week? Panty pads help if you find it a bit “moist” or, use it before bed?

I hope others will come along with more/better ideas to help you.

When I was first prescribed Ovestin for banal atrophy, I could not insert the applicator. I guess I was too dry and atrophied, because it was too painful. So I didn't push it. I inserted 1cm for a few days, then gradually increased. Took perhaps a fortnight to be able to insert it all the way.

Could it be that by braving it and inserting the applicator all the way you might have lacerated the fragile area? Maybe try gradually increasing the depth, as I did?

Commiserations. Oh the joys of womanhood.

No it’s literally the applicator touching my internal skin, It’s raw, it’s like all my nerves are exposed I’ve never felt anything like it! I’m wondering if maybe I’m allergic to it?

Autocorrect may be right for once. Vaginal atrophy probably is banal to HCPs.

If you're on Facebook this is a good group.

www.facebook.com/groups/503616177117762/?ref=share

No strangely enough I’m not that dry its just …everything is shrinking lol!
This is like all my nerves are exposed inside my vagina I’ve never felt anything like it! The first day I used the applicator it didn’t hurt at all, next I felt a bit dodgy then it started to really hurt now it is at agony and that’s just in five days!

I’ve never heard of banal, what is it? I just tried googling it but can’t find anything

Low estrogen can cause the vaginal canal to shorten and narrow and this can make inserting anything painful. Once improved with topical estrogen (it helps strengthen, thicken and restore elasticity) if this is the case for you then silicon dilators can help

Dry vaginal walls can also cause pain when inserting something like an applicator where they can cause microtears. Options are to dip the applicator in a pot of Sylk or coat with Yes OB or squidge the Ovestin into the palm of your hand and apply with a finger. You could also mix it with a little yes OB before you do so.

Keep in mind you do not need to insert either the applicator or your finger all the way up, rather just as far as you’re comfortable. Keep going and persevere, it’s not a quick f8x but should improve with time.

There is a dedicated vaginal atrophy support group on Facebook if you want to join it.

Autocorrect for vaginal.
🤣

I’ve never used the applicator, just a small amount of cream on my finger.

Would you be better off with something more systemic - a patch for example - to get more oestrogen into your body quickly? I had the beginning of VA last year, I tried the ovestin cream and it did seem to help a little with VA and urge incontinence but once I started on Evorel Sequi patches it improved no end. I still use both, along with the vagifem pessaries Are you taking any other HRT or only the cream?

The most effective treatment for VA is topical estrogen. About 20% of women need systemic HRT too.

Systemic HRT doesn’t necessarily get the oestrogen into our body quicker so that it improves VA symptoms. It can take time for the tissue to improve. Tweaks can also be made eg increasing how often the cream is used (can also be applied externally on the vulva) and trying different options depending on what’s available eg Vagifem, Estring and Intrarosa.

Oh! Hahaha 🤣

No this is all I’m taking as my only meno symptom that’s bothering me is the atrophy, I don’t think they’ll offer me anything else because I don’t have any other symptoms really

Thanks I’ll join that 👍🏼