Vaginal Oestrogen

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

I have an appointment with my GP next week and want to ask for Vaginal Oestrogen. I'm 52 and I am noticing tearing so want to do something about that.
I have a mirena coil but won't use HRT. My DM had breast cancer before 40 and died of another hormonal cancer around my age. My menopause symptoms aren't bad enough to justify even a small risk.
However, my understanding is that vaginal oestrogens are pretty much risk free and so I want to give them a try. Which ones do people use and get on well with? Are there any that people have found problematic? I'd like to have an idea of options before speaking to the GP.

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude the dose of estrogen in vaginal estrogen is tiny.

If you used it for a year (using it 2x a week as prescribed) that is the same total amount of estrogen as in a 1mg daily dose of HRT.

It's not absorbed anywhere except where it's put.

@JinglingHellsBells
Thank you - that's good to know

I have just had ti stop taking the progesterone i was prescribed as it sent me mad after 2 days. Riddled with anxiety, crying, agitated, snappy, uncomfortably bloated.

I am gutted because the oestrogen had been having a very positive effect on me.

Is there any way to take it without taking the progesterone? Have just stopped all of it until I can get to speak to a doctor.

@PeriChristmas

I have just had ti stop taking the progesterone i was prescribed as it sent me mad after 2 days. Riddled with anxiety, crying, agitated, snappy, uncomfortably bloated.

I am gutted because the oestrogen had been having a very positive effect on me.

Is there any way to take it without taking the progesterone? Have just stopped all of it until I can get to speak to a doctor.

I had this initially but it calmed down after a while. I just pushed on with it.

@Bagelsandbrie how long did it take to settle? I just don't feel like I can go about my life, work, kids, elderly parents etc... feeling like this.

[quote PeriChristmas]@Bagelsandbrie how long did it take to settle? I just don't feel like I can go about my life, work, kids, elderly parents etc... feeling like this.[/quote]
About a month I think. I also had an episode of thrush which I’m sure was linked to the extra oestrogen but then I treated that and after that it all settled down and I felt better. But I’m used to dealing with side effects from stuff - I have lupus and other autoimmune issues and take 22 medications daily so I learn to just ignore stuff. I guess it depends how debilitating it is for you. Sometimes it’s worth persisting. You can’t have the oestrogen without the progesterone though because it stops the thickening of the lining of the womb - which is important to prevent cancer etc. There are other ways of getting the progesterone though - mirena coil might be a possibility…?

Thanks @Bagelsandbrie.
I understand about why the progesterone is needed. I don't really understand how taking it through a coil would make any difference. And the thought of feeling like this but having it stuck inside me is not great.
Wow 22 medications are a lot to cope with

@PeriChristmas

Thanks *@Bagelsandbrie*. I understand about why the progesterone is needed. I don't really understand how taking it through a coil would make any difference. And the thought of feeling like this but having it stuck inside me is not great. Wow 22 medications are a lot to cope with

I understand- I’d never want a coil personally for various reasons but I know lots of people think they’re amazing. I guess perhaps the chemical make up of the progesterone is different, I’m not really sure. I’ve also heard of people using utrogestan capsules vaginally although they’re not officially licensed in the UK for that, but that mainly helps women who have gastrointestinal issues with them as obviously it by passes the stomach. Might be worth a thought. You’d have to ask a specialist about that for dosing etc though.

@PeriChristmas Just a thought- it might be wroth starting a new thread of your own as this is getting lost with the one from @ChazsBrilliantAttitude on vaginal treatments.

Regarding Utrogestan...

2 days is a very short trial of it. I know you were worried about side effects and that in itself can be a trigger. Best not to put too much store on other people's experiences sometimes.

As @Bagelsandbrie says, for women who find side effects too much, the next way to try is using the capsules vaginally.

You may be one of the women who just don't get on with it though. There are plenty of other options.
There are 4 types of progestins. The Mirena is not the same sort as Utrogestan, and then there is a yet another type in Femoston, or a patch (which has Norethisterone as the progestin.)

It's trial and error really, but if you can push on beyond 2 days, it might be a good idea. it's unusual to feel so bad so quickly after such a small dose.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]**@PeriChristmas* Just a thought- it might be wroth starting a new thread of your own as this is getting lost with the one from @ChazsBrilliantAttitude* on vaginal treatments.

Regarding Utrogestan...

2 days is a very short trial of it. I know you were worried about side effects and that in itself can be a trigger. Best not to put too much store on other people's experiences sometimes.

As @Bagelsandbrie says, for women who find side effects too much, the next way to try is using the capsules vaginally.

You may be one of the women who just don't get on with it though. There are plenty of other options.
There are 4 types of progestins. The Mirena is not the same sort as Utrogestan, and then there is a yet another type in Femoston, or a patch (which has Norethisterone as the progestin.)

It's trial and error really, but if you can push on beyond 2 days, it might be a good idea. it's unusual to feel so bad so quickly after such a small dose.[/quote]
Thanks will investigate the alternatives.

It was definitely the tablets. Has gone away after not taking anything last night.

Will speak to a Dr. when I can.
Getting on with 1/2 term now

Thanks all, I’m going to use the estradiol pessaries every other day for a bit to see if it stops being sore. It was so wonderful to not be itchy or sore when I was using them every day for the first 2 weeks it’s so crap to be back to the same level of pain now I’m only on em twice a week.

The GP was fine with prescribing. He asked that I book a follow up in month to see how things are going.

Can I ask which prep you were prescribed OP?

I'm trying ovestin pessaries but they have gone beyond causing local irritation as a side-effect and are more red hot poker on a regular basis now.

I've had the prescription sent to an online pharmacy so I'll update as soon as it arrives as I'm not sure which he has given me.

@SameOldStuff
I now have my prescription and its the Ovestin cream. I'm going to use it nightly for a couple of weeks then switch to 2 or 3 times a week. No reaction after the first use so no immediate problems.

Also look at your diet to build up natural eastrogen, and see a pelvic floor physio

I started a thread about Ovestin a couple of weeks ago. I have been using it since then and - OMG - I cannot believe the change! DH and I had only had sex a few times over the past few years because my vagina was so dry it hurt. Also my labia would tear.

About 4 days after starting Ovestin, DH and I were intimate and it was amazing! No pain! I actually felt quite aroused which I haven't for many MANY years.

I cannot recommend it enough. Go for it, OP - you won't regret it.

Thanks OP for updating with the oestrogen prep. I also have the cream so maybe I will just use that on its own and see if that is sufficient to make a difference.

Quick update
Definitely the right decision. I am a lot more comfortable than I was just relying on moisturisers.