Vaginal oestrogen cream

[TheLittleDogLaughed]

I am 54 and haven’t had a period for around 9 months now. Over the last month I’ve started to lose sensation in my clitoris, a lot. I’m in a loving marriage and this is making me feel really sad. I spoke to my GP and she has prescribed vaginal oestrogen so I wondered if any of you could share your experience of using it? I googled it and it seems that it can cause massive hairloss - I’m struggling with that too right now and really don’t want that to happen.

I feel very depressed at the moment- sexless and bald isn’t where I want to be right now.

Also would it just be better to go onto HRT than use this cream?

Any advice?

There seems to be a difference in prescribing protocol in the USA and the UK. Here in the USA it's pretty standard for what you are describing and in my experience, very useful (without adverse side effects). Just make sure you apply inside the vagina and not on the labia.

I am 39 and menopausal due to autoimmune conditions and I have used Ovestin for years now. I’ve never heard of hair loss as a side effect! It certainly hasn’t had any impact on mine. And I use Ovestin more than most would - every other night. It’s amazing stuff. I had terrible dryness and what I thought were constant UTIs but were actually low oestrogen related issues and it’s cleared it up for me.

I also use Oestrogel and progesterone tablets. If you can afford it it’s well worth having an appointment with a specialist from Newson menopause centre. They’ve been amazingly helpful with me - I live miles from the clinic so have remote (telephone) consultations.

This is so helpful, thank you! Can the Newson centre prescribe?

Also do you think the cream will help with loss of sensation? I don’t have awful dryness really. Drier than I used to be.

Yes the Newson centre sends the medication to me via post but if you prefer you can ask for the prescription itself. However, the stuff should be available on the NHS so it’s possible to have a consultation and then go back to your GP with the report and ask for the items on the NHS - I’m planning to do this for my next batch of stuff. My friend already does this.

For me personally the cream really helps with loss of sensation. I really hope it helps you.

I have a prescription now, just collected it. Do you need blood tests etc. before starting HRT do you know?

If you’re over 40 I don’t think you need blood tests. I did as I was younger.

There seem to be concerns about liver function etc. ?

With regard to the hair loss I got special shampoo from the gp as apparently I had dermatitis on my scalp. Probably as my skin is becoming drier. It really helped. Plus I got a scalp treatment too. Between them job done! I’m so happy. Just wish I’d gone to my gp sooner before losing half my hair putting it down to menopause.

@Elieza, can I ask what the shampoo was?

@TheLittleDogLaughed Where have you read about hair loss? It doesnt say that on the leaflet for Ovestin. If you have seen anything about hair loss on any leaflet with the product that is because the same leaflet of risks and side effects is in ALL HRT products including pills, patches, gel, oestrogen and progesterone . And it's a very low risk effect that may happen to a few women.

Also, Ovestin can be used in the vagina and outside @SofiaAmes.

It won't help your clitoris if you don't put any on it!
You don't need a blood test, no.
And the liver function thing applies to every single drug on the market- think paracetomol!

Those comments on the leaflet are not for vaginal estrogen - it's for any HRT.

@deux it’s called dandrazol 2% shampoo. Active ingredient appears to be ketoconazole 20mg/g.

I’ve also alphosyl shampoo but it didn’t work as well.

Apparently there are loads you can try til you get the one you need.

The scalp treatment is cocois ‘100g coconut oil compound ointment’ contains coal tar, salicylic acid and sulphur. I think it must have paraffin wax too as it smells like it!

The combo is what works for me. Tried both individually. Didn’t work, hair still coming out. Together and my hair loss is about fifteen hairs a week tops.

JinglingHellsBells www.timescolonist.com/life/health/dr-roach-hair-fullness-often-returns-after-estrogen-1.178201

This was one of a few articles I read

So I should put it on my clitoris too? The cream?

@TheLittleDogLaughed I have NO idea who that DR is on the link but they don't sound qualified! Have you seen the column heading- he refers to himself/ herself as a Times Colonist (play on the word 'columnist')

It's certainly not a site I've ever seen and it's certainly not The Times ( newspaper.)

So much of what is written there is wrong. Whoever is writing it ought not to be.

The absorption of Ovestin is minute. The amount of estrogen in it is 0.01%. Doing that maths (!) a hundred applications - so that 2 a week for a year - is equivalent to one 1 mg tablet of a pill form of HRT (the amount you'd take in one day.)

This is written about on other 'proper' medical sites, like the one by Dr Louise Newson (specialist menopause dr. )

I don't want to get bogged down on the question on that link but the likelihood is that the woman was losing her hair through menopause anyway and the use of Ovestin was a coincidence.

I've used Ovestin for 14 years. Don't worry about it. Old women in their 90s use it. You can use it externally too.

Lots of answers to questions here - (Newson health is the clinic of Dr Louise Newson mentioned above- lots of her videos on the menopause on You Tube too!) -

www.newsonhealth.co.uk/consultations/faq

And booklets here -

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/resources/fact-sheets

And yes you can rub the cream all over the vulva area including your clitoris. They advised me to do this when I first started Ovestin.

It seems that the US version, Premarin, is slightly different and should not be put all over.

The US has a totally different approach to all HRT and uses a lot of different products.

It's absolutely amazing for plumping up your clit and restoring sensation. I felt constantly horny as well. I now just use the patches. The vaginal cream only really works locally, where you put it. Hrt patches work for your whole body. The vaginal cream has no real effect on the rest of you, so no hair loss etc

Thank you all. I’ve started using it. The GP has said twice a week but the instructions say every day for a week and then twice a week - any advice on that?

Honestly at the moment it feels like my clitoris has left the building, it’s just not there.

NoHardSell what do the patches do for your whole body? And side effects or downsides? How long would you use them for?

You use it internally for 14 days every day then twice a week thereafter. If you feel it's not working, you can increase the number of times. It's so weak, you won't come to any harm.
Externally, use it as much as you want.

You won't get a GP giving you patches / 'full' HRT if you only have vaginal symptoms. In women who have severe vaginal symptoms you will probably find a specialist happy to give you full HRT.

Suggest you read My Menopausal Vagina by Jane Lewis- women who had all of this very badly and wrote about it.

Not only vaginal symptoms - I sweat all night, barely sleep, have horrendous palpitations. I’ve been living with it hoping it passes but not being able to enjoy sex with my husband (we met later in life - married in 2014 after YEARS being a single mum with zero sex life) is just too sad. I’m not ready to stop that part of my life yet, I feel not me.

OMG- you need HRT! Get an appt with your GP (f2f or remote) or use the online appts of a private consultant- one has been mentioned here in this thread already and there are many others incl mine- and get sorted. No need to put up with all of that.

Loads of info on the website of Dr Louise Newson.

I think maybe I should go on HRT. I always avoided it because of the various concerns people have about it ...