daft question about vaginal estrogen creams

[Stroopwaffels]

Seeing the GP on Thursday and formulating my plan for what to ask for. I am thinking about pushing for a vaginal estrogen cream in addition to upping my HRT patch as bladder issues / vaginal atrophy are an issue for me. A previous GP said that adding in cream along with patches is fine so I am hoping the GP will go for it.

Stupid question though... I have had a hysterectomy and don't have a uterus (obviously) or a cervix. Is the estrogen absorbed through the skin? Do you smear it around externally or insert (like a pessary)?

Vaginal estrogen is absorbed where it's put. It doesn't go through the cervix.
it's absorbed by the vaginal walls.

You insert it with an applicator that is like a narrow tampon applicator (but it's plastic.)

Gotcha. Thank you, will speak to gp about it.

Game changer for me, can recommend

Definitely ask for it, it's fantastic stuff. I had atrophy for a good while before I figured out that was what my issue was, and the cream has been transformative: no more pain or extreme fragility.

I have just finished a course of antibiotics for a urinary infection - and I don't think I had a urinary infection. I have pelvic pain in my bladder and I think this is all connected with the atrophy.

Wishing you luck with this, I have found it to be excellent. No more UTIs or discomfort.
Except mine's called 'Vagifem' which I do find.....off-putting....

Imvaggis is better than vagifem , it's a
pessary with a moisturising solid gel

its transformative -

I'll take anything. Gel, pessary, cream. I have heard so many positives about it, and my GP seemed fairly inclined to prescribe which makes a change as other HRT related things have been such a battle. I know as well that if the GP refuses I can get Gina estrogen tablets over the counter.

Ive just been prescribed a tiny little pessary tablet. Tonight is day number 4 of the first 2 weeks

I thought it would be a cream or a great big pessary of gel or something

Dont know when I will see an effect

@Carriemac
@WhichOfThePickwickTripletsDidIt

Would you mind telling me in what way is it is transformative.

is it available over the counter?

i think I have a prolapse.
(tmi) I'm dry & that sometimes hurts.

i also need a lube that's functional not strawberry flavoured because sex had become dry & very uncomfortable which is weird from me because I've always been too wet.

why did no one ever tell me that the reason people stop having as much sex in later life is more to do with all of this, than just being bored/mentally just not interested?

My libido seems to have vanished, unsurprisingly.

A prolapse I think is a different matter which does need medical attention.

Vaginal atrophy is that feeling you get in menopause of being sore, dry, sex is uncomfortable, you get more frequent UTIs, you feel itchy. It's all down to lack of estrogen and many people seem to find that using an estrogen cream/gel/pessary put directly into the vagina is more effective than getting your estrogen though a patch or gel on your bum.

I use Ovestin. Prescription only. I am also on patches but I need the cream too, otherwise my symptoms occasionally creep back.

@AutumnWellyBootsandScarf
— it’s been transformative in that the skin around that whole area had become very easily injured, sore and fragile, so I would get tiny splits, cracks or tears from normal contact with clothes or careful, normal use of loo roll; or during sex. I even felt my labia tear as the GP was gently examining me, and her glove hardly touched me. Bloody agony! The word she used about the skin was ‘friable’.

It was so painful all the time and I kept having outbreaks of what I thought was thrush. It wasn’t, though. I’d had no history of thrush throughout my life, and I haven’t had it a single time since starting the cream.

I now never feel sore or get injured. It all feels soft and healthy and sort of (within reason) plumped up and functionally robust, as it was when I was younger. We can have sex again without anxiety. I am fifty, btw.

Strong thumbs up from me, in short.

those of you who are using Vagifem or similar products - how quickly did you see results? I am so sore and itchy this morning.

I took my 4 tablet/pessary last night but not sure I have noticed anything different yet.

I am really bad for wanting instant gratification - I know these things take time. Fingers crossed for a positive consultation with the GP tomorrow.

It's a game changer OP. It is a minuscule amount of oestrogen which is absorbed locally. Don't take no for an answer (but I can't think that they will give you a hard time about it whatsoever as it is commonly prescribed in conjunction with oral or transdermic HRT).

PS. Results in a few weeks

It's very encouraging to hear that so many of you have had positive experiences with this. Definitely going to ask GP. (And if she says no, buy it myself).

I went on Ovestin 18 months ago for feeling really uncomfortable and getting UTI frequently and the results were actually very quick. It was soothed immediately and symptoms totally gone within a few days.
Mine's on prescription but the Independent Pharmacy UK sell it for £25

When I started HRT patches I found an almost instant improvement so hoping this will be the same.

Menopause is rubbish, isn't it.

The GP really shouldn’t say no - there’s plenty of evidence about it being safe to use - even for those of us who’ve had hormone dependent cancers.

I use ovestin cream which you insert with an applicator but can also apply externally which is a bonus.

If it might be helpful you can get vaginal moisturiser prescribed by the GP too.

I wished I'd known what was happening to me when it started - I thought I was losing the plot and that my body was falling apart.

Then again, if I'd known how bad it was going to be (before HRT which has put me back to normal again) I would have been worrying about it for years.

Thank the lord for restorative medicine!

Can identify Ruby. I had probably three years of bad symptoms on and off, anxiety like i've never experienced in my life and the whole range of other menopause issues. GP didn't join the dots about what was going on with me, despite my age and the fact i'd had a hysterectomy. It's been a struggle to be honest, the GPs are all nice enough buy not informed at all about menopause so every consultation feels like a battle to get what I want, hence this post to try to gather as much info as I can before the appointment.

It's been 7 years since my hysterectomy and 5 since I started having meno symptoms so I'm really hoping I will be starting to come out of the worst of it soon.

My tactic with the docs was just to come straight out and ask for it.

Hi, I need HRT please.
Hi, I need Ovestin please.

They were just happy to have a quick appointment and prescribe it once I'd quickly run through my long list of symptoms. reasons/symptoms.

Exactly the same as you. Took years to work out it was atrophy. Endless urine infections, stinging, burning, constant need to wee. Could barely leave the house. Ovestin cream has changed everything. It’s been like a miracle for me x