AIBU to wish I had known sooner about vaginal oestrogen cream?

[Seriestwo]

I am nearer 60 than 50 and have had lots of UTIs and vaginal dryness for ages. Peeing stinged, wiping was sometimes painful. I have been on HRT for about 10 years. Mentioned it in passing to GP who gave me cream in an applicator and you must know about it! Within 2 weeks I was so much better and comfortable. I hadn’t realised how uncomfortable it was.

The cream has the advantage that you can rub it over your vulva which also benefits from extra oestrogen. The concentrated oestriol is not that messy as just about 0.5g/ time

sorry but what is it I would actually ask the dr to prescribe?

That's bad but good to know you were sorted.
What private medics did you access ?

I use Ovestin, 0.1% oestrogen cream that comes with an applicator. Some women prefer the vaginal oestrogen tablet type pessaries

I have been prescribed Estriol with the applicator. It has made a huge difference for me.

estring

I think you have to be over 50 and (or?) not had a period for a year to get it over the counter.

Look up the rules before you go or buy online so you know what to say (or not to say) to the pharmacist to get it.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/rmm/3112/Document

Yes…best thing ever! I am 4 years post menopause and early 50s. I’ve been on oestrogen patches twice a week and recently increased to 100. I also had nightly progesterone but this was not working for me as I need a snack at night! So my doctor said to insert them. I was still having issues with pain, dryness, itchiness so I got the cream too. Issues disappeared overnight!

I had a hysterectomy aged 47 and was given HRT patches. Then the itching, bleeding after sex and UTIs started…I was given a raft of antibiotics and this would last a month before I was back with another infection. My game changing moment was when I saw a female locum instead of my usual GP. She asked about my symptoms and then asked if she could examine me. She said I was suffering from atrophy and no wonder I had all these symptoms. She prescribed vagirux and it was truly revelational!!! She said all women 40+ should be offered it and I can take it for life.

Lycahealth

seriously do not mess around with the crem get insertable slow release like estring.
90 day
makes so much difference
cream is messy and dosage variable

I’ve just started on Bissell Gel.

I’ve been getting recurring UTIs, dryness, pain after sex for well over a year. Asked my old GP if it could be peri, male GP smirked and almost laughed and said no. Gave me more anti-biotics.

I’ve had an urology referral who said one more UTI and he will be give me a long course of antibiotics. And waiting for a gynae referral (over a year now).

I moved a few months ago so have a new GP, a new UTI this week, new GP, I’ll give you antibiotics to clear it but have you considered it’s your age and likely linked to peri / menopause. Yes, yes I have and my GP laughed! She’s like, I’ll prescribe you this gel and I’m sure your UTIs will end and you won’t need the long course from the consultant.

WTF, how can it be so hard!

Did anyone start bleeding after starting on the gel? I don’t really have periods (I have the coil) just some spotting every now and again. Today about a week or two after starting the gel I’ve started bleeding, not super heavy or anything but much more like a period then I’ve had in years