Estriol

[BooseysMom]

Has anyone experienced extreme mood swings, crying, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts from using Estriol cream? I have only just started it 4 days ago so can't believe it's that as it's only a low dose cream, but maybe it is, although I have alot of life stress atm and the heat isn't helping. I was prescribed the cream for burning down below which I am still getting. Should I stop?

Using it twice a week for a year is the equivalent of one day on HRT. It's is 100th of the dose of a 1mg dose of estrogen and is only absorbed locally.

It's more likely that you're experiencing loss of estrogen which is giving you these symptoms.

Whereabouts are you in terms of periods - are you in peri or post menopause?

JinglingSpringbells
Thanks for replying. I haven't had a period for about 2 months. I tried HRT for aching but am sensitive to the oestrogen in it as I had swollen painful breasts. I told the doctor and they increased the patch which made it horrendous so I came off it all. There seemed to be nothing that would help. Then the burning sensation down below got too bad to cope with any longer so I tried the Estriol but came off it when it didn't work, then tried again as felt I didn't allow long enough but here I am with even worse burning! Am at my wits end! I suppose everyone will say I haven't given it long enough.

I tried HRT for aching but am sensitive to the oestrogen in it as I had swollen painful breasts. I told the doctor and they increased the patch which made it horrendous so I came off it all.

Why on earth did your dr increase the dose ? Madness!

That side effect with your breasts is dose-related, not simply estrogen- related, as it's the same estrogen we have. Sore breasts can also be caused by the type of progesterone so it's worth considering that as the patch would contain both hormones for the 2nd part of the month.

You should try estrogen gel- you can start on 1/2 a pump and work upwards. The normal dose is 2 pumps but some women get on fine with less (or more.)

I remember your other thread about vaginal estrogen and the advice was to carry on as you'd only used it for a few days / 2 weeks?

There are many other types you can try and some are weaker.
https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/vaginal-hormones-what-you-need-to-know

It is true that the cream can cause a burning feeling at first as the skin is so thin and tender. This will improve.

But if you don't want to persevere, maybe try one of the other types- see the link.

Why on earth did your dr increase the dose ? Madness!

I know! It was a so-called menopause specialist nurse who was about 30. Sorry, not meaning to be ageist but how can someone that young be a menopause specialist?! 😆

I think I was on Evorel Sequi patches which changed half-way through the month plus Utrogesten pills. In the beginning I tried Estrogel. I was on the max pumps for this and it didn't touch the aching and I still had insomnia. I didn't really get hot flushes.
When I stopped it all, I felt much better for a while. But of course it was most likely psychological and the symptoms returned. Hence where I am now.

Thanks for finding my previous thread on the cream. I couldn't remember why I stopped it. I will persevere.

Thank you for the link and for this advice. It's really good of you. 😊

You're welcome.
If the cream doesn't work try Blissel gel or maybe the pessaries like Vagifem?

Vagigem has literally saved my vagina !
I couldn't get relief with cream it made it burn and so sore itchy !!I'm on low dose femistone conti and it's the best hrt !!! I've been in patches gels pessaries u name it I've tried it !!

I had terrible atrophy which crept up on me, staring with cystitis, like symptoms, soreness, thrush, until I was experiencing pain in my whole vaginal, vulval and perineal areas. Vagifem worked for me, and you must continue with it after you feel better. I now, 4 years on, use 4 times a week, after an initial burst of every day. The atrophy happened despite me being on systemic HRT for several years before that.
Recently I also started using oestriol cream around the clitoris at the recommendation of a menopause specialist and that has, after a couple of months, reversed the clitoral shrinkage I had. It might be worth trying a pessary first if the cream is stinging.
I am a lurker here and it pisses me off how much misinformation and poor treatment women get from healthcare providers. I am particularly keen to encourage the use of topical oestrogen (pessaries and cream) even if you don't want to take Systemic HRT - my friend who is a GP put me on to this. She tells me of so many elderly women with urogenital symptoms they simply would not be having if they were on it - and it's too late for them.

I know! It was a so-called menopause specialist nurse who was about 30. Sorry, not meaning to be ageist but how can someone that young be a menopause specialist?! 😆

Why not?
I do get what you mean but they might have the most current research based information rather than framing it around their own experiences which can be biased or looking at it from one lens.

So I'm perservering with the Estriol cream as I can get it on prescription. I realise the symptoms I get on and off are menopause related caused by the drop in oestrogen and not caused by the cream. So I used it every night for 2 weeks as prescribed then had a very bad period then restarted it when the burning returned and am now using it twice a week. Does anyone know whether it can be used more than twice per week for if the burning flares up days before the next dose?
Thanks x

Yes, I think you can. I'm only four weeks in and am doing every other day/every third day.

I find it a bit too irritating to use every day but I'm reluctant to switch to Vagifem because most of my symptoms are external or just at the vaginal entrance.

Hope it's starting to work well for you.

FergoMcFergFace
Thanks for replying. My burning is in exactly the same place as yours. I still get tonnes of mucus, sorry tmi. It is definitely working as it doesn't seem as bad as it used to be. How's it going for you? Are you on anything else hrt wise? I get bad insomnia and night sweats which is a new thing. I always wake at about 3am and think omg here we go! I have to read a book for an hour before I can fall asleep again.

Don't worry about TMI with me! Glad it's helping you. It's been slow progress with me. Everything looks so much better - pinker, plumper, all the red rawness has gone. But it doesn't feel as good as it looks. It must be better because I'm no longer using ice packs or having pelvic floor spasms. But the chafing is still an issue - even with a coat of hydromol I get sore if I do a lot of walking. And I'm itchy too, which was never an issue before. I'm hoping that's just from the tissue healing and it'll all start improving in the next few weeks.

I don't take HRT. I have a strong family history of breast cancer so I've decided against it for now. I sleep pretty well although I do wake up with hot flushes and have to kick the covers off, then wake up cold. I definitely haven't taken it off the table though.

Funny you should mention the dreaded hot flushes, I'm awake now because of it. It's horrible. We've got no heating or hot water either so I can't even shower in the morning before work. I can't see the point of restarting the hrt. My DM had breast cancer although she didn't have hrt, so I get that you don't want to go on it to it too. With a strong family history of it, It's not worth the risk.

I actually think the risk is very small, particularly of you don't have a gene mutation. I definitely think there's a case for taking it if you're really struggling with hot flushes and sleep - sleep is so important to our general wellbeing.

Personally, I'm more concerned about progesterone bringing back my reflux/stomach pain that I've been managing for the past 10 years. It's the one thing that has improved since going through menopause and it always flared up before a period. And I don't fancy having a coil fitted - especially with the state my nethers are in at the moment.

Hope you got back to sleep and you can sort your hot water out!

Thanks ever so much! ☺️
I was going for a coil but cancelled it as I only get periods every 2 months and they are awful but don't last long thank god! So couldn't see the point of a coil.
Interesting about reflux. I get it every day and am prescribed omeprazole. It's funny that the symptoms have flared up since the peri as the last time it was this bad was when I was pregnant at 40!
I hope things improve for your nether regions. It sounds very painful. 😔

Thank you! I'll keep plodding on with the Estriol.

Honestly - as soon as my periods stopped my whole digestive system calmed right down and I can eat things (in moderation) I've been avoiding for years. Weird - many women say the opposite.