Vagifem working partially

[Ladybird3355]

Hi all. I've been using vagifem for almost 2 months now. The pain and dryness is so much better but I'm still needing to wee a lot, some days better than others . The first week was great then it started again but I did the full 2 weeks now I'm on twice a werk. Is it possible things might change once I've used it fur the 3 months? Has anyone else been in a similar situation and it's taken the full 3 months? I'm going to persevere but I'm a bit disheartened as I thought this would help .

You need vaginal oestrogen. It's a form of HRT AND It's a miracle worker for all the symptoms you've described - including the urination issues. Your gp/menopause nurse at the gp should prescribe it, or you can get it from online pharmacies

This is what it is (obviously cheaper via GP Prescription)

www.chemist-4-u.com/consultations/hrt-estri

You also need to keep up with it a couple of times a week after the initial dosing period

Thank you. Is this different to the vaginal tablets then or do I use both? The Dr was very kean to give me the vagifem and I really thought it was helping but not for the weeing part.

@PieonaBarm Vagifem is vaginal estrogen. You can now buy it OTC and it's called Gina.

It's a pessary.

@Ladybird3355 The other option is cream (see link from another poster) but they are both the same , pretty much. Some women prefer one over the other. You insert the cream but you can also use it externally if you're sore.

OP- you just need to increase the number of times you use it.
Some women need to use it daily. Others, 3-4 days a week.

It's actually a lower dose than it was years ago (then it was 25mcgs) now it's just 10mcgs.

Just try using it more often.

Thanks, I think I will as twice a week isn't doing anything for that bit the pain and dryness has gone.
Thank you all for your advice.

I need vagifem plus ovestin (oestrogen) cream. Use the vagifem alternate days and other alternate days put the ovestin cream both on the inside and outside. I was advised to do this by Newson Health nurse. It's helped immensely although I still get symptoms, such as not being able to sit on a hard surface, and needing a wee far more often than other people. Coffee and alcohol affect my bladder badly and I'm trying to cut down. It's a lifelong condition now but the vagifem and ovestin really help.

Thank you. Will try those. I don't drink coffee and hardly drink so can't cut them out. Strange as sone days I feel it's worth them others it's like I have a UTI but haven't. Was hoping I was being impatient but I'll try what you suggested

Could I ask ask something please?
I started using Ovesse. For the first two weeks of daily use, it was like a miracle. No soreness, no urinary urgency. Then when I dropped the dose to a couple of times a week as per the instructions, it all got worse again ☹️. The leaflet says in big letters to not exceed the stated dose. Is it safe to ignore? I think I need it at least every other day.

Where on the leaflet does it say that? Just out of interest as I can't see it.
It may be that if you have OVESSE (which is an over the counter brand), the leaflet is a different one.

Did you buy it or was it prescribed?

Most of the leaflet is not applicable to vaginal estrogen.

There is almost 80% of info there which only applies to systemic HRT but because it's 'estrogen' all those warning etc have been listed. UK consultants have been trying for years to get those changed.

eg It says it's only for post menopausal women, which is untrue as many women use it in peri.

It also says your dr may ask you to stop for 4 weeks to see if you still need it. This is not correct as VA doesn't 'go away' so if you're using it, you need it for life.

It's got to be your choice what you do. All I know is that there are posters here who have been told by their consultants that they can use it more often. It's very weak- using 100 applications ( 2 a week for 52 weeks) is the same as 1 day on a low dose of HRT.

Your other option is to do a reload which is daily for 2 weeks then drop back to 2 x a week.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I bought the Ovesse over the counter, so perhaps the leaflet is slightly different. It has the warning at the end of the dosing instructions. I did think the whole of the leaflet seems more geared to systemic HRT, given the dose is so tiny.

My gynae told me to use it every other day if I needed to so that's what I do. I don't ever need to do the two weeks every night as I did this when I went on to it and now just have it as a repeat prescription.

Other things I should have mentioned that have helped me cut down the number of UTI's and periods of irritation are: no caffeine including in fizzy drinks, no citric fruit, keep an eye on consumption of acidic foods like tomatoes, eat plenty of food with ani inflammatory properties like salmon and almonds, no fizzy drinks at all if possible, not much alcohol particularly acidic white wines, drink at least a glass of cranberry a day, make sure I don't get dehydrated. I'm afraid it's a long term thing!

Yes, looks like it. I dint drink tea/coffee or alcohol but I do like fresh orange now and again so I'll cut that out and see . Hate the feeling of a UTI even though no infection has ever showed up. When it flares up it gets me so anxious as I am constantly worrying about being near a loo just in case. Thank you all for your advice.

Vagfem and the estriol creams didn't really work for me. Vagifem gave me side effects - very bad headaches and Ovestin cream made the whole situation worse, itching most of all, i think i was allergic to some of the ingredients. Estriol cream was much better but didnt work efficiently. The absolute best thing i tried and still using is the Estring. A small disc you insert every 3 months (although i change mine every 9-10 wks). You cannot feel it at all and it releases a small amount of estrogen every day. It's been truly amazing for me & i have no issues at all now. It might be worth discussing trialling with your GP. I cannot recommend it enough and i don't need to bother with creams / pessaries etc every day which in itself is a huge bonus.

I was prescribed vagifem for vaginal dryness about 3 months ago and told to use it every night for 3 weeks and then 3 times a week. It has definitely helped me.

I use Yes moisturiser in between using oestrogen cream - definitely helps with UTI feeling.

this sounds interesting - did you use it for urinary incontinence issues, or other things? I was hoping to find something for the urinary issues, as my GP won't consider HRT patches until I get other things checked out (for which the waiting list has been very long, and it's been over a year that I've been wanting to discuss it). But she might consider something local like the vaginal creams or pessaries, though they always sound so messy to me - I'd much prefer something like this sounds, if it would work for some of my issues in the meantime (in particular, the incontinence when exercising, despite all the pelvic floor exercises!).

Hi, I didnt have urinary issues although i was having numerous cystitis problems which were completely resolved. It does say online: "Estring is a vaginal ring that provides low-dose estrogen for postmenopausal women and can help with urinary incontinence, particularly stress incontinence and symptoms of the overactive bladder (OAB), due to its effects on urogenital atrophy".

I've tried HRT and this is the only thing that has helped with issues relating to the vagina. It was so easy to insert & take out too - that was the only thing that worried me before trying it but i needn't have.

Thanks, that sounds like it could be worth asking the GP about, though if it's not the first line recommendation, she probably will make me try all the others first!! I'd be a bit worried about inserting and removing it as well, as I tried using a moon cup once and it was hard to get a grip on (short fingers maybe, or never having had children, or retroverted cervix, not sure if that would matter). But if this is easier, that helps.

Actually i've got small hands/fingers and not had children either so wasnt sure how easy it would be but honestly, it was similar to putting a tampax in but pushing it further in & then it just flips into place without having to manhandle it - if you know what i mean :-). I did say to my GP that i wish she'd mentioned it at first when i started having issues and she said it wasn't something that many women want to try or are aware of so we initially suggest pessaries or cream. What a shame, i had months of problems trying those out. Be worth having the chat with your doctor to at least trial it.

The Estring is an option but it can have some drawbacks. It is supposed to fit around the cervix. If women have any degree of prolapse, it may be uncomfortable as it can't be placed high enough or may fall down. It can also 'rub' against the bladder. It's great you have found it helps @Gemma5678 but just saying that there may be some issues for some women.

hmm, pressing against the bladder probably wouldn't be ideal, but then again, if it does say it helps incontinence, it might be worth trying. Does a tilted cervix cause a problem? I don't think I've ever been able to feel my cervix so I've no idea if I'd know if the ring was in the right place. Can you feel that it's in properly?

Hi there, i just push it in as far as it will go and it right's itself each time. I cannot feel it at all - you would not know it was in there. To be honest, i don't know how the Estring fits around the cervix, i've never considered it at all but i guess for some people it may not work, my GP never mentioned anything to consider.

Agree with @JinglingSpringbells that you can use the Vagifem more often. Until recently I was using it every day and had been for years but gradually getting symptoms back. I’m now on a bespoke cream of estriol and a little testosterone which is working wonders.

So many things to consider but will definitely ask her at my next appointment. I have used it more often the last 5 days and today I've hardly been so I think twice a week isn't enough. Thanks again for your advice 😊