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Menopause

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Original poster

Gina pessaries any good?

55 replies

justasking111 · 01/02/2023 12:20

I'm a bit desperate ten years since last period. The itching at night is miserable. I'm slapping on sudocreme or caneston cream. It does come and go. I don't use soap at all just water.

OP posts:

cleowasmycat · 15/02/2023 22:57

Crikeyisthatthetime · 15/02/2023 22:40

I'll just add, the first doctor I consulted prescribed a variety of creams and potions for my various itches and rashes. No mention of estrogen (or menopause). I saw another doctor who prescribed different creams and potions. The third doctor finally (after two or three years) suggested estrogen, and explained (as people here have) that all my symptoms were connected. I'm a survivor of breast cancer so I questioned her about the safety, but she explained that topical treatment is completely different to hrt, the quantity is tiny in comparison and there is no risk. It is depressing that so many doctors haven't caught up with the latest research, despite the publicity.

Most HRT is topical/transdermal. Over the counter may help a bit but it won't protect bone density or brain health. Plus the many many other symptoms.

JinglingSpringbells · 16/02/2023 07:43

Daffodilseverywhere · 15/02/2023 22:52

I don’t want to hijack the thread but I could do with some clarification.
I am on vagifem for VA but still suffer from itching , urge incontinence and occasional UTI’s.
I had thrush continuously for two years or so and kept going to the Gp who referred me to a sexual health clinic! They didn’t even do a test for thrush , just prescribed Damacort . This does help as canesten just seems to irritate me.

The thrush has been better in the past few months as I have been taking probiotics but if I drink wine or have anything sugary it all starts up again.

I have asked the doctor for Ovestin cream as I wonder if the itching is not thrush at all and want to try it. The doctor has said I can have Ovestin or vagifem but not both.
I get free prescriptions as I am hypothyroid so don’t want to buy it if I can avoid it. What advice can you wise women offer?

Why not swap to Ovestin then? That way you can use it internally and externally.

Crikeyisthatthetime · 16/02/2023 09:39

cleowasmycat · 15/02/2023 22:57

Most HRT is topical/transdermal. Over the counter may help a bit but it won't protect bone density or brain health. Plus the many many other symptoms.

Show quote history

I don't disagree but I was talking about estrogen cream as a treatment for vaginal atrophy not as general hrt, preventative for bone loss and all your other etceteras?

Carol2506 · 05/03/2023 11:42

I can relate to this post completely, I had such awful itching that I wanted to tear my nether-regions skin off, I went to GP who automatically prescribed vagifem without even doing an examination, the itching didn’t stop so I started doing my own research and after changing GP…it was discovered I had lichen sclerosis, I was prescribed steroid cream (dermovate) and within days it had cleared up. I stopped the vagifem as my issue didn’t seem to be internal. However, I have just this week bought Gina to help keep my vaginal area healthy and strong, inserted pessary last night in bed, but when I went to toilet this morning I noticed what looked like the pessary floating in the toilet…so not sure what happened, whether I’ve absorbed any of it or not. I’ll see what happens tonight, maybe I need to push it in further although I thought I’d put it in as prescribed. Has anyone else had the pessary come out?

Crumpleton · 05/03/2023 12:44

@Carol2506

Regarding the pessary they need to stick to the inside of you rather than just be inserted, so maybe tilt the applicator once inserted so it touches the side of your vaginal wall or bladder.

Another reason it may fall out is you could be so dry inside that the pessary won't stick, some people add a bit of lube/vaginal moisturiser to the applicator before inserting.

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