Vaginal estrogen on vulva

[DaphneeManners]

Hi all

I'd like to get a few opinions please oh wise ones!

I saw a dermatologist recently about vulval soreness and she said various things e.g. wash only with an emolient (fine) and also apply an emolient after showering (also fine with me). However, she also said to stop using estriol cream on my vulval region as it can irritate and she said there are hardly any estrogen receptors there anyway.

Well I have followed this advice and actually seem to be going downhill. So do people think estriol cream helps vulval issues or not? I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

Thanks!

XX

I was prescribed Ovestin by a Gynae to use externally on my vulva due to vulval dermatitis and dryness and it has helped a lot. This was in tandem with switching to emollient etc and being very careful that shampoo etc doesnt come in contact. I also initially was prescribed a steroid cream.
i have read, here on Mumsnet, that it can cause further irritation for some but mostly it seems to help most people.

Thanks @moderationincludingmoderation - interesting to know you come down on the use it side!

I'll tell you what helped me, and that was Replens vaginal moisturiser, which you insert deep into the vagina. The instructions suggest doing this weekly, but my doctor told me to do it daily for ten days, then to do it weekly.

It completely solved the problem.

Any more opinions either way???

Replens helped a lot. I was also prescribed Intrarosa which helped a great deal.

Thanks @Dilysthemilk !

I had got to the point where I was incredibly dry, to the point that the skin was splitting. It looked so fragile that my GP didn't even touch it. She prescribed a vaginal estrogen cream and I have never looked back. I'm not on HRT now but will not give up my estrogen cream!

Vaginal oestrogen and vulval oestrogen cream in combination worked a treat for me. If one cream irritates asks to try another they may have different other ideas

Not ideas - ingredients

@DaphneeManners While dermatologists are usually very good, yours doesn't sound it. There are most definitely estrogen receptors there which is why the labia shrink when your estrogen levels fall.

A gynaecologist would tell you it's fine to use estriol cream externally.
Thousands of women do. Sometimes you get some stinging to start with but it disappears once the skin is thickened and calms down.

As for Replens, I have never used it but have read some very distressing experiences of it online where women say it brings 'clumps' of tissue off their skin.

It's not one that is recommended by gynaecologists. If you want a moisturiser (which is all it is) they suggest YES brand, but used in conjunction with estriol creams.

I've been using 0.01% oestrogen cream for about 2 weeks or so? And I've now got UTI after not getting them at all for over a decade & possibly thrush? My urine does not smell v good. I was also given pessaries which gave me headaches / felt sick after just a few days so I'm starting to worry I'm not going to get along with anything to revive my poor old fanj. I've ordered some non hormonal lubricants & necking d mannose .... will get to GP again next week. Also about to start with some fanny flora probiotics. Will see if that helps

Jumping in on this thread as I was prescribed Estriol for vaginal burning although I have an excess of mucus and no dryness. I was also prescribed a Canesten pessary for thrush but the burning and mucus continues. Surely thrush is itchy right? I have had thrush on and off for years and it was never like this. I haven't used the Estriol yet as I don't have dryness. The nurse didn't say to use it externally but is it ok to try this?

Betty91
Have you had any relief from the non hormonal lubricant? ...also what is d mannose?

I’m finding Ovesse great. I have been using it 2 months (Hydromol ointment the other days) and haven’t had a flare up of LS since I started the Ovesse

FreshOutOfFucksToGive
Thanks. I'm still having regular periods so don't know if I can use Ovesse. Reluctant to try HRT. I might try Vagisil

Yes I found estriol 0.1% made soreness worse. I had the opposite experience to you - GPs kept pushing it on me (I'd just had a baby so they thought it was dryness due to low estrogen).

Wasn't until I saw a vulval dermatologist she said yes - sometimes it can make it worse and to discontinue.

Trouble is everyone is different and it's not always the same thing causing the soreness, so whilst some advice is generically true for everyone ( e.g. we should all wear 100% cotton underwear and not use soap), the same isn't true of estrogen cream.

I didn't get any better after starting the estriol, it gave me a burning feeling which stopped after I discontinued, so I guess it wasn't the solution for me. But if you did get worse after stopping then maybe it was part of the picture for you.

An easy way to find out if it was going to get worse whether you discontinued or not would just be to try using it again for a fixed period (2 weeks or something), then discontinue again.

Consultants are great, but ultimately you're the one with the greatest interest in getting it right, best to make your own informed decisions. We're all different. Vulval soreness is miserable, you have my sympathy x

@BooseysMom why the reluctance for HRT? It helps prevent osteoporosis, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly helps prevent Alzheimer’s etc etc.
you can use Ovesse if over 50, even if having periods. It doesn’t have the same protection as HRT though, as it’s localised, so not systemic.

That stuff burned me beyond belief so proceed with caution!

I don't using the gel but was told I could use it all over if necessary.

I can't use it either,same side effects ,cramps, nausea ,terrible headache and dizziness etc. I've tried several times and can't get past day 4. Stops as soon as I stop the gel.

Dermol to wash with and Yes vaginal moisturiser has helped.

I’m prescribed Estriol for internal and external use, have found it helpful. Particularly with itchiness and dryness.

Thanks all. So I tried the Estriol for the first time last night and it was like a miracle as the burning stopped instantly! It must be in my head though! I will continue with it every night for 2 weeks then it says to reduce it to twice a week. I might have to use it forever.

I have been on various HRT for a long time but had to stop as I had some nasty side effects when they upped my patches. I thought I'd try it without but my aching and burning has got worse again now

Thank you for this. I've been on anti biotics for 2 weeks for UTI and wonder if I just can't get along with the glycerin. I am intolerant of a lot of foods too (all since perimenopause) and so adding this to list of things I've tried but the side effects outweigh the benefits. Was also awful on pill and reluctant to even try HRT as have had PMDD in past thanks to progesterone....

Looks like I need to white knuckle it and hope libido comes back one day.

Yes,I'm now intolerant to lots of foods now too,I bore myself now having to keep chicken of everything 😭

**. CHECK not chicken 🙄🤣