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Menopause

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Original poster

daft question about vaginal estrogen creams

36 replies

Stroopwaffels · 10/10/2023 15:28

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)?

OP posts:
Carriemac · 11/10/2023 13:27

my ( private) menopause doctor recommend then because they moisturize and well as deliver the drug. she says moisturize your vagina like you do your face , daily ( i use OTC water based one daily, pessary twice a week) . It was well worth a private consult, my NHS GP happily prescribes what she recommends and has in fact switched to imvaggis on her recommendation, so much better than the wasteful applicator and chalky dry vagifem.

AutumnWellyBootsandScarf · 11/10/2023 19:47

WhichOfThePickwickTripletsDidIt · 10/10/2023 23:36

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.

@WhichOfThePickwickTripletsDidIt

thank you for being so helpful That sounds like the way I'm heading, I'm not quite that friable yet, but not far off!! The Ovestin sounds great.

thank you so much 🤗

Original poster
Stroopwaffels · 12/10/2023 19:40

So I saw my gp today and she has given me Ovestin cream to try. Only thing is that the tube doesn’t seem very big if I’m using it every day.

and my cholesterol is high too so that’s the next battle. 🙄

OP posts:
User0000009 · 12/10/2023 19:45

I don’t use the applicator. I just use a bit on my finger around the outside and a bit inside too. Make sure you smear over your urethra. It’ll help so much with any bladder issues. Start tonight. Good luck! X

Original poster
Stroopwaffels · 12/10/2023 20:47

I’m really hoping it’ll work.

and I managed to get 3 months supply of estradot patches in the first chemist I went to!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stroopwaffels · 14/10/2023 21:38

After two days of using the cream I am feeling a difference already. Amazing stuff.

GP did examine me and declare me atrophic. I am assuming that now the estrogen is gone and the atrophy has started, this is going to be an ongoing thing for me? Not that it's a huge hardship to use a wee bit of cream every 3 days or so.

OP posts:
WhichOfThePickwickTripletsDidIt · 14/10/2023 22:12

So glad it's helping!

Yes, it'll be an ongoing thing as far as I know (in that, it's not like our bodies are ever going to go back towards the estrogen production levels of younger years).

I'm not in any way expert, but I've kind of been assuming I will always need something like this cream.

User0000009 · 15/10/2023 09:49

Yes we will all need it for life now. @Stroopwaffels So glad you’re noticing a difference already. I used it every night for about 4 weeks and now I use it alternate nights before bed. Honestly it has changed my life x

CampervanKween · 16/10/2023 17:35

The ovestin is a miracle worker. My vagina is back to feeling young and juicy 😅 might see if it works to plump up the rest of my body, my face, my boobs.....

JugglingJanuary · 20/10/2023 17:28

CampervanKween · 16/10/2023 17:35

The ovestin is a miracle worker. My vagina is back to feeling young and juicy 😅 might see if it works to plump up the rest of my body, my face, my boobs.....

@CampervanKween

Instead of as dry as the Sahara?
That would be a huge bonus. Must read the thread to see how to get it, how it's applied & how often!

CampervanKween · 20/10/2023 23:11

Yes, it was amazing how quickly it worked tbh. I was having terrible problems with tearing and then the pain when urinating was eye watering.

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