sudden allergy to ovestin?

[EllenRipley]

Has anyone become allergic or irritated by ovestin after using it for a while? The very problem I was successfully using it to treat (sore urethra!) has come back with a vengeance. I've attacked it from all sides so far: antibiotics in case of uti, thrush treatment (oral pill, cream & pessary) and various gels for BV & thrush. The problem remains. I had thought maybe I needed a bit more of the cream (I reckon my oestrogen levels are getting even lower - no period for months, starting to get hot flushes throughout the day) but it seems to make the problem worse every time I use it. I'm scunnered! I'm going on holiday soon and frankly I want to leave my ladybits at home. Don't know if it's worth another trip to doc or whether to see if, after all the antiBs and antifungals, I should try let things settle for a bit. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Wow. What a great example, MODS. Someone else is unsympathetic and the person the comment is directed at and is suffering, points it out, with no offensive language, the MODS silence you and delete the comment. 9

@Ridiculoususername you've been given some great advice here

Glad to see this thread kept alive which also shows how many women are affected.
I had no UtI issues whatsoever until
I hit 40. Definitely a peri menopausal issue. I'm also a gransnetter now so I'd say get this treated sooner rather than later.
After seeing private urogynaes eventually things have progressed for the better.
YES! vaginal moisturiser. Def try this - it seems a bit lame but it's very very effective. Dont bother with the other ones; you have to send off for it but it arrives v quickly. Local oestrogen - I couldn't tolerate the cream at all (lots of local swelling - awful) however Vagifem are quite good but the best is eString, which delivers a continual dose but is tricky to get in and even trickier to get out.... massive supply problems as well (early 2024) with eString at the moment which is worrying as I've found that the best thing by miles. For those with chronic UTIs at menopause time, a combination of trimethoprim and Hiprex seems to work for a lot of people. My favourite OTC is the d-mannose fizzy tablet delivering 2000mgs of d-mannose along with very soothing other additions, available by Lucovital in Boots and same product, different name online in Holland & Barrett. They're both sold in tubes.

I’ve just found this thread and can see it’s going to be really helpful. Just been prescribed Ovestin cream and read the accompanying info sheet which says may not be advisable to use if first degree relative has had breast cancer - my mum. I was going to start using for the first time tonight and will try to call my GP tomorrow re my concerns. Does anyone have any information on this in the meantime. Thanks

So, in general, the "local" topical or insertable oestrogen creates either very low (usually just in the initial weeks whilst it repairs the tissues) to no circulating oestrogen at all (in the blood). It is considered the only safe HRT when you have a history or familial history of breast cancer or similar. This is obviously a completely different scenario to regular systemic HRT, which would be out of the question for anyone with this history.

Any specialist in menopausal related issues like this would be able to confirm this to you.

@Powerplant There is a lot of info on this online.

Ignore the leaflet. UK meno specialists have been trying for YEARS to get the manufacturers to change the leaflet.
The leaflet is the SAME as the ones in HRT.

Ovestin is not HRT.
It's a topical estrogen.
It's not absorbed into the system, except for a minute amount during the first 2 weeks.

If you used it for a whole year, 2 x a week, you'd be getting the same amount of estrogen as ONE DAY on an HRT pill.

Sorry for the caps!

If you're wanting to find more medical info on this have a google for Dr Louise Newson, her Balance website and search the topic there.

It is considered the only safe HRT

It's not classed as HRT.

It's classed as topical estrogen.

HRT is systemic hormone replacement.

It's used by many women who have had breast cancer (not all, but many).

Yes, agree absolutely. It's a shame so many women could be potentially denied this therapy which is usually very helpful.

Thanks for all your valuable information. I’ve been unable to contact my GP today but have looked at Dr Newson’s website. She’s probably more knowledgable about the subject than my GP anyway. So still mulling it over. Thanks again.

Louise Newson writes the prescribing guidance on HRT for GPs.

Have you not seen her around on social media? She's always being quoted in the press, appears on day time TV etc etc.

And estrogen cream is not HRT. Your mum's health has no connection with using this.

I’m sad to say I’ve never heard of Louise Newson. Until my recent visit to my dr. I more or less sailed through my menopause. It’s only now that I have an issue I’m reading all I can about the subject and really wasn’t aware of how debilitating menopause can be for some people. I have been lucky.

Whoch is the Harley Street Clinic referred to please ? Same symptoms and driving me completely nuts. i have to sleep with cold flannel to ease burning.