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Menopause

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Original poster

Vaginal dryness

41 replies

Hyperfish101 · 06/12/2020 09:15

I have had an easy menopause so far but this is a new thing. I don’t just mean dry during sex but feeling a bit dry all the time.

I’m not on HRT. Is there any OTC thing I could use?

OP posts:

Ginisatonic · 08/12/2020 10:55

weebarra I have had breast cancer and was prescribed ovestin by my oncologist. I take anastrazole which does a very good job of ridding the body of any oestrogen but it does exaggerate all the post menopausal symptoms. It does seem counter intuitive to remove the oestrogen and then replace some but the ovestin is very targeted and as above the dose is really very tiny compared to HRT.
I suspect my GP would have been reluctant to prescribe it so if you are still under the care of the breast cancer team it’s worth speaking to them.

weebarra · 08/12/2020 11:02

That's really interesting! I'm on exemestane, another aromatase inhibitor. I think I'll ask my my GP to refer me back to the menopause clinic!

Original poster

Hyperfish101 · 09/12/2020 11:22

So..... sent in GP request for this issue. Suggesting Vagifem. Expecting a phone call back. Got an e mail suggesting Sylk.

I bet if it was his knob he’d be looking at at least a phone call discussion!

Going to request another appt.

OP posts:

JamieLeeCurtains · 09/12/2020 12:03

My GP has moved onto unhelpful text messages you can't even respond to.

The practice reception staff won't discuss prescriptions or medications over the phone and there are no appointments except for emergencies.

You have to use the online system to which an unhelpful text reply will be sent within 72 hours, and/or medications will be refused.

I currently have BP meds on hold because of this crappy system.

JinglingHellsBells · 09/12/2020 12:50

@Hyperfish101

So..... sent in GP request for this issue. Suggesting Vagifem. Expecting a phone call back. Got an e mail suggesting Sylk.

I bet if it was his knob he’d be looking at at least a phone call discussion!

Going to request another appt.

Well you need to ask what the rationale is for not prescribing effective treatment if you have no risk factors.

Frenchdressing · 09/12/2020 13:28

Yes I need to speak to him really.

SunnySomer · 10/12/2020 18:17

Gosh I’m glad to read this thread. I’ve just had a mortifying and agonising attempt at a smear which revealed VA - they recommended using vagifem but only for a few days. But it would make more sense to use long term. @JinglingHellsBells how do you find a good gynae? I had one when I lived overseas - but it was normal there to see a specialist doctor for everything rather than starting with a gp all the time.

JinglingHellsBells · 10/12/2020 20:06

@SunnySomer the regime is 14 days then 2 x a week forever. Nice guidance says if it's stopped symptoms will come back. The British menopause society has a link on their website for Specialists.

SunnySomer · 10/12/2020 20:22

Fantastic, thank you so much!

FiveToFour · 10/12/2020 20:31

I have had oestrogen sensitive breast cancer ( at 49) ,and 10 years of Tamoxifen,resulting in VA,I'm on Vagifem twice a week on an ongoing basis.
My GP wrote to the breast clinic to check they were happy with me using it initially,and the feedback was they were happy,too small a dose and not absorbed into the body in significant amounts.
Initially I used it for short periods but the VA was still a problem and after other problems any many gynae visits I'm on it long term.
Which I am very happy about!

weebarra · 10/12/2020 21:40

@FiveToFour , that gives me hope! Haven't got through to my GP yet though. I was 36 at diagnosis and have been on Exemestane for 5 years now.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 12/12/2020 00:40

I struggled to get VA treatment for a year and what a miserable year that was, the last GP i saw i asked him to imagine that he had sunburnt testicles as that was what my Vulval area felt like.

He went a bright shade of red and wrote the prescription out for the Ovestin that i asked to try.

QueenOfTheDoubleWide · 12/12/2020 00:57

My GP is great, middle-aged male but very receptive and knowledgeable. I tried one of the oestrogen creams but didn't like the ickiness of it so he suggested an Estring which has been excellent. It's a silicone ring which gradually releases oestrogen over 3 months

dingledongle · 15/12/2020 21:09

I have been using vagifem since June and asked to increase to 3 pessaries per week. GP said this is ok.

I have noticed my vulva feels dry, any suggestions?

DramaAlpaca · 15/12/2020 22:58

@dingledongle I use Vagifem a couple of times a week. My GP suggested using 1% hydrocortisone cream, which you can get over the counter, on the vulval area to help the dryness and soreness there. A week of treatment improved things for me.

dingledongle · 16/12/2020 08:46

Thanks dramaalpaca previously, prior to vagifem my GP advised using doublebase.

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