Using estriol cream

[Estelle74uk]

Hi everyone.

I have just been given this cream cause of painful sex, obviously cause of this lovely thing we all goin through!

I tried my first one tonite, dunno if have done it wrong but pulling applicator back out had some cream on it! Have I done it wrong??

Also in Wales! There seems to be supply issues (or maybe just cost) I have been swapped from Ovestin to Estriol at 10 times the volume in the applicator. It does get messier but is equally effective so cracking on for now. At my last telephone review to renew the repeat I was asked by the practice pharmacist - are you remembering to take the break for four weeks? I replied no because it seems unlikely that the oestrogen dependent tissues would have become oestrogen independent. There was a short silence followed by I will authorise the repeat! 🤣 I mean they would ask you to stop your thyroxine to check you are still hypothyroid would they

The GP told me it was out of stock everywhere.

This was my second trip to the GP because the first Dr I saw said she had never heard of ovestin and looked it up on her computer and refused to prescribe it because she said I was already on HRT and couldn't have more oestrogen and it was only for women who had had a prolapse!! Ridiculous. Fortunately the second GP was more informed but I still didn't end up with ovestin and have this huge quantity of cream to deal with instead!!

It's possible your GPs are confused.

The brand name Ovestin has disappeared as the patent has come to an end. So 'Ovestin' is not around any more.

What IS available is Estriol cream 0.1% which is exactly the same but without the brand name.

There are a few threads on Ovestin going around here at the moment (many updated today) and someone has posted a photo of the new version (the same, but not called Ovestin.)

It beggars belief that GPs are not aware because they must have had information OR they could query it with the pharmacy. The new version has been around for weeks. All pharmacies will be provided with info on a change like this. When something is not available at all - ie out of stock- pharmacies are told via a weekly newsletter (you can also check drugs online yourself by searching, using the appropriate search words.)

Scroll down this thread to 23.00 yesterday and see the photo posted by @justasking111

@Wigglypasta @Twizzletoe

There are possibly several generic versions around with different coloured tubes but this shows the newer generic type replacing Ovestin.

Thank you. Am going to need a new tube soon so will try again to get the 0.1%.

Did anyone find they got thrush when they first started using it ?

"Estriol 0.01% Cream - 80g - Estriol - Vaginal Dryness | Pharmacy Online" https://www.pharmacyonline.co.uk/online-doctor/vaginal-dryness/estriol-cream/

The 15g one is out of stock. This works out cheaper

How much is a prescription charge in England now?

Is it cheaper to buy the 80g online at £45 than the 15g from the GP surgery?

That is the weaker sort where you need to use a lot more (10x more than Ovestin.)
So it won't be any cheaper.

Is this for you? Are you in England?
A prescription is around £9. You might get 3 tubes on 1 prescription.

The online sites are very expensive.

How does the pessary actually work? I'm thinking they would be more convenient than cream.

Ok I've researched and see they are bigger than I thought and take a lot longer to dissolve than I'd thought.

My hrt has a bleed, and I use a mooncup, what would happen there?

Which pessary are you looking at?
Online info for Vagifem (Gina- Over the Counter) says they are 6mm diameter.
That's quite small.

Using any form of vaginal estrogen when you have a bleed is difficult but depending how many days you bleed, you should still be able to use it one day in the week.

I live in Wales and have had no problem getting a prescription for Estriol. It was prescribed as I had had a couple of UTIs and it was thought vaginal atrophy could be a contributory cause. It has helped and I'm on maintenance dose of twice a week. No mention was made of how long I should stay on it. Does anyone know?

No mention was made of how long I should stay on it. Does anyone know?

Forever.

You won't start to produce estrogen again.