Vaginal estrogen

[Mylifestartstoday]

My GP has given me this, I used it every day for 2 weeks and now once a week. I feel so bloated when I use it, and my stomach feels very tender. Is this normal?

Will it help with the dryness long term? It works for a couple of days, after that I’m so, so dry I can’t wear jeans or anything due to the chafing!
I’ve been referred to a by age but may have to wait a while for an appointment.

Are you using Ovestin or Vagifem?

It's almost impossible that it is causing your bloating. It's a very weak type of estrogen- believe it or not , but using it for a whole year (twice a week) is the same amount of estrogen that is in one single 1mg estrogen tablet ( which women take every day as HRT.)

If you are still sore you need to use more. The dose is 2 x a week anyway not once, and some women use it 3-4 x a week to feel comfortable.

It can take some time to work well- 2 weeks is nothing (sorry) and it may take up to 3 months used at least 2 x a week to make your vagina how it was!

Keep going with it.

Why have you been referred? is this to a gynaecologist or menopause clinic? What can they help with that your GP can't do?

Also sorry to miss this- you use it for life. If you stop the dryness comes back.

It’s ovestin. The prescription says to use it every day for 2 weeks and then once a week, but once a week clearly isn’t enough. She’s referred me to a gynecologist, I didn’t question it, just presumed that’s what happened.

I’m so uncomfortable, I feel like I’m sitting on a red hot poker

No one gets referred to a gynae for just vaginal dryness unless it's incredibly severe and the usual treatment doesn't work. They'd all be inundated! Not your fault of course but odd behaviour by GP. You have been given the treatment by your GP. Your GP is wrong anyway- read the leaflet in the box- it says use once OR twice a week. (And many women use or more often.)

That’s strange then. She wouldn’t really know how severe because she didn’t examine me. She was training, but there was a GP with her and they didn’t correct her.
I used it yesterday and did get some relief, I’m going to use it again tonight and see how I am after the Christmas break. I’ve had no other menopause symptoms at all, thought I was going to be lucky.