Vagifem - anyone used? Any side effects?

[Oldisthenewblack]

I've just been prescribed Vagifem tablets. I asked my GP for something to help with what felt like dryness 'inside' - difficult to describe but something that I never used to feel. Having just read the enclosed leaflet, it sounds like HRT! I didn't realise. I thought it would be just some kind of fancy lube I'm now a bit concerned as this sounds like serious stuff, and I'm not sure about putting it in my body. I'm not menopausal yet (as far as I know) though I do hav a whole host of symptoms, but that's more to do with other issues sigh Has anyone used Vagifem and did it have any negative side effects?

Thanks in advance

[highlandcoo]

Good luck Cointreau and hope you get some reassuring news soon

[Millionbelle]

I’ve been using vagifem for about 18 months and am now getting hot flushes back again although menopause is now 20 years ago!
Don’t know if this is the vagifem, does anyone else get this happening?

[JinglingHellsBells]

Not sure why you think Vagifem could cause hot flushes as systemic estrogen stops them!

Also, vaginal estrogen is not absorbed into your system so it can't be the cause of your flushes.

How old are you? if you are 20 yrs post meno, assume you are in your 70s if you were 50-ish when you were into menopause?

[Lily63]

Hi, I am new to this site. I have a thickening of my lining also postmenopausal and been prescribed Vagifem for dryness. My GP has also stated I have to take Norethisterone for 10 days every 4-6 months. Is this normal for people using Vagifem?

[JinglingHellsBells]

@Lily63

No it's not.
How bad is the thickening?

How is it being treated? It can't just be left.

Have you had any tablets for it or another treatment?
Did you have bleeding which resulted in investigations?

In the past, some drs gave a course of Norethisertone once in a while ( like once a year or every 2 years.)
Now, this has been discontinued as unnecessary.

However, if you have hyperplasia, your dr is being cautious, but the question really is what is causing the hyperplasia?

[Lily63]

I don’t know how bad the thickening is, they haven’t said and I haven’t as yet had my results back from biopsy.
I went as after 18 months of no bleeding I had 2 so they sent me to hospital for ultrascan and found thickening
They said they would recommend Vagifem from my GP as I also struggled to have intercourse due to feeling like so sore. So I went to get the prescription and she said I also needed to take them. I assume to stop the thickening.
Nobody has mentioned hyperplasia, but then I haven’t had my biopsy results back yet

[JinglingHellsBells]

How old are you now @Lily63?
Sometimes even a bleed after 18 months is a normal but very late final period. The thickening may be due to a normal cycle.

BTW hyperplasia is the medical term for a thickened lining.

You really need to know the results of your scan. Thickening can be as little as 6mm instead of the normal 'under 5mm', or as high as 20mm!

Your GP isn't really correct as the advice from NICE is not to use Norethisterone as your GP suggests.

If you have a thickened endometrium that in itself needs treatment depending how thick it is. The treatment can be a Mirena coil or Norethisterone taken for 6 months in extreme cases.

But if you are still actually having very occasional periods, you may have nothing wrong at all!

[JinglingHellsBells]

ps the thickening would be obvious on the scan- sometimes they say if you ask, sometimes they won't. the biopsy won't tell you the thickness only if the cells are normal or not.

[Lily63]

Sorry I didn’t say after the scan they said due to my lining being thick I had to go back in for a hysteroscopy.
I am 56 years old and the bleeds were in Nov and the hospital said it could have just been my ovaries having a last flip.
Thank you I will call the hospital again in the morning to see if they have my results yet and also ask the question of how thick the lining is?

[JinglingHellsBells]

@lily63 Can I clarify what's what?
You have had a scan, and a hysteroscopy when they took a biopsy?
How long ago was this?
Even under the NHS your results ought to be back in 2 weeks.

In the meantime you have seen your GP (for this or something new?) and been given Vagifem with the instructions you need Norethisterone now and then.

Sorry but this is really arse over tit!

Your GP ought to wait till she has the results of your scan before going against NICE prescribing rules.

If your lining is thick due to another late period that is normal and you won't need Norethisterone.

If you have another reason for the hyperplasia, then they will offer you treatment which would actually be Norethisterone!

Your Gp sounds a bit muddled to be honest.

[Lily63]

Hi
18th December the hysteroscopy they said they recommend Vagifem. And would send letter to GP to recommend Vagifem.
I couldn’t get a Dr appointment until the 8th Jan So hoped they would have my results as well.
The Dr didn’t have the results and said I need to ring the hospital. She did have the letter though. Repeated my lining was thick and will give me a prescription of Vagifem. She said you only had spotting? I said no I bled for 4 days like a period then again the week after.
She then took my blood pressure and said “oh dear that is too high you need to go and buy a blood pressure monitor”
She then said I am also going to prescribe you Norethisterone but you must ensure you take the Vagifem at the same time and every 4-6 months so if your going away on holiday there is flexibility. But make sure you are taking the Vagifem. It’s very important you do! Do you understand!
I said no not really if it’s that serious can I not take either? No you are too you she replied.
She drew me a picture of how a cycle works and why I should take the tablets.
I left thinking I will google it and assumed the tablets were regarding the Vagifem. But now I am assuming it’s all to do with my lining being thicker, how thick I don’t know and why I don’t know either

[Lily63]

I haven’t started to take the Norethisterone yet as I will be having a smear next week. So hopefully I will know more by the time I should take them
Also I know the Vagifem is to help me with the dryness which is a good thing.
But do other ladies also have a almost constant aching/throbbing inside them too? Is this due to the dryness?
It is so frustrating not knowing what is going on with your own body....
I tried the hospital again for my results and no one is answering. Unfortunately it has been nominated to one person and she isn’t always at her desk

[Flownew]

I have just started vagifem, and have to say the leaflet really worried me in relation to side effects, have a bit of anxiety around DVT’s, but reading this thread I’m a bit less concerned now.
I had hysterectomy about 13 years ago, and have been on oral HRT ever since, in the last year I have had urinary symptoms multiple UTIs/cystitis and the urologist started me in VF this week.
My last GP appointment I was discussing coming off oral HRT, but I’ve not taken plunge, and now I’m not sure what to do. I am only on a1mg daily, I reduced this over a year ago.
Anyway, as my partner is a lot younger than me I want to ensure we are still able to be intimate without me getting a UTI, so have taken the plunge with VF. My question after all that is, I am using at night, how long after insertion is it safe to have intercourse.
I haven’t told him about treatment yet, but I also don’t want to be pushing him away, I was a little reluctant already due to UTIs but I don’t want him to think I don’t want him. Please don’t say talk to him, as he is not the kind to be able to do that too.
Should I change dose to the morning?

[JinglingHellsBells]

You can use Vagifem any time not just at bedtime. obviously if you have sex soon after inserting it, it may become dislodged and not be so effective.

It has no risks of blood clots. The leaflets in vaginal estrogen are the same as in all HRT and they do not apply to vaginal use- it's some legal thing where they have to include the leaflet for all hormonal products.

It is a bit sad though that you can't discuss your health and stuff like HRT with your partner. Is this you who is embarrassed or would he be?

[JinglingHellsBells]

by the way if you are worried about DVT with tablet form hrt you should swap to patches or gel type and there is no risk with those.

[Flownew]

Thank you, sadly its me who doesn’t feel comfortable. If i want to change dose to daytime, and i have been doing at night do i miss one tonight and go back to mornings tomorrow. Only had 2 doses so far. How long does it take to disperse?

[JinglingHellsBells]

It's a bit sad you can't share intimate stuff with him when you have sex with the bloke! He loves you for who you are- menopausal symptoms and all. No need to behave as if you were 25 and it's not something women go through.

You can use it any time- the gap between night and next day won't matter. Not sure how long it takes to dissolve.

[Lizzy60]

Hi I’ve been using Vagifem now for nearly 3 months, prescribed by GP for dryness and itching. Things started to improve about 4 weeks ago and then a week ago went back to square one with very annoying itching in that area. I have tried allsorts of over the counter stuff from the pharmacy over the last few moneys and nothing helps with the itching. It’s driving me mad and making me anxious. Spoke to Dr today who says it can take up to 6 months for Vagifem to take effect, she suggested upping dose to every other day for a couple of weeks. I did a swab test when I first started using Vagifem which was negative for Thrush or infection. Has anyone else suffered this awful feminine itching and any ideas to cure it. GP is adamant it can’t be anything else than menopause.

[Lizzy60]

Whoops Should have said months in previous post not moneys

[Sissysan]

I read all the comments however couldnt find an answer. Sorry if i missed it.
I had breast cancer 12 years ago (48y now) and my gyne subscribed Vagifem today. In the leaflet its mentioned not to use it when you had breast cancer. Anyone in the same situation and do you think its safe to use?
Also do you gain weight with Vagifem?
Thanks a lot!

[Katndaz]

I have been on vagifem for a week now and I am absolutely knackered I am waking up every night sweating profusely. This must be a side effect as I did not have this before I started the vagifem

[dingledongle]

lizzy60 I use vagifem 3 x per week after I spoke with GP.

Started it in June & it worked initially and then seemed to be less effective.

My periods stopped 2 months ago so I am happy that I am on the downward slope of peri menopause

Might be worth speaking to GP

[Boiledeggandtoast]

Hallo Sissysan. I'm sorry to hear that you had breast cancer. I'm not in the same situation but I understand that the dose of oestrogen in Vagifem is so low so this should not be an issue, but hopefully someone with more medical knowledge will be able to answer your question.

I just wanted to reassure you that in my experience Vagifem does not lead to weight gain; I've been using it for 19 months without any change in weight. I'm 59.

[Sissysan]

Thank you very much for responding and giving me your insights! Much appreciated!!

[JinglingHellsBells]

@Sissysan Most drs now would say that after being in remission for 12 years it's safe to use vaginal estrogen (and many women use it much closer to a diagnosis.)

If you use it 2 x a week (or a bit more if needed) that is the same as ONE TABLET/PILL of estrogen (1 mg) taken daily as full HRT.
It's minute.

It's not absorbed into the blood stream beyond the first few days - once your vaginal walls are thicker as a result of using it.

The leaflets in anything containing estrogen are exactly the same whether it's vaginal creams or full HRT.

There is a bit of a medical 'row' going on around this as the leaflets are totally inappropriate for Ovestin and Vagifem.