Can you have estrogen cream for vagina as well as patches?

[Mustardfan]

I’m on HRT. I have a prolapse (anterior) and need to build up my pelvic floor. I was wondering if vaginal estrogen cream would help, and whether I can have that at the same time as HRT. My patches are 50

I use gel/utrogestan and not patches, but I'm also prescribed Blissel vaginal oestrogen gel so I'd imagine you can have it with patches.

Yes. I saw a uro-gynae for my cystocele and rectocele and he said I needed to go straight on ovestin.

That said I don't think it makes it any better, but probably stopping it getting any worse.

Am on 100 patches.

Thanks. Now I’m annoyed that my gp who is a menopause specialist didn’t suggest it to me.

I'm on both for similar but my GP decided to take me off the vaginal oestrogen as 'HRT should be enough'. It really wasn't and my colorectal nurse asked for them to be reinstated swiftly.

Yes you can have both. Just ask, your GP isn’t psychic!

Hi OP you should listen to this week's Newson podcast. All about vaginal oestrogen.

i don’t know what your comment about my GP being psychic means? It sounds offensive. My GP is, I hope, a skilled medical practitioner with up to date knowledge about pelvic floor problems, as she is a specialist in women’s health. She has omitted to tell me about a medication that could help me, and it’s only because I remember reading about vaginal estrogen cream that I know about it. I think she should have told me about it.

Thanks

Sorry, I’m confused. Can vaginal oestrogen cream help with pelvic floor strength?

Yes, that’s my understanding.

I was recently given vagifem and my stress incontinence stopped after the first dose. It's been life altering.

Wow! Thanks!

Wow that's great! Mine isn't any better at all, but I do sleep all night now and wee a lot less during the day.

I only mentioned the vaginal oestrogen after reading it on here and she prescribed it due to things looking a bit pink down there in her words. It's been miraculous though. Sadly it's aggravated my endometriosis but I'd rather have more pain than pee myself several times a day.

‘Your GP isn’t psychic’ is a very weird thing to say. As if the onus should be on the patient to be fully knowledgable about all relevant treatments rather than the other way around.

Vaginal estrogen won't 'cure' a prolapse if it's moderate or severe. It can't take up the 'slack' of vaginal walls and muscles that have gone beyond a certain point.

What it can do is plump up the tissues around the urethra and bladder and help to keep it closed under pressure. It can also help with the urge to wee and stop the bladder being so irritated by tiny amounts of wee.

@Mustardfan I don't think your GP omitted to prescribe this because the likelihood is that if you have a moderate amount of 'slack' it won't change that. It depends on how bad the prolapse is. It's prescribed more for dryness, soreness (internal and external) atrophy, bladder pain and irritation.

Have you been referred to a women's physio for help with pelvic floor exercises and other ways they can help?