Vaginal moisturizer for life????

[MissMurgatroyd]

Hello all

For anyone who had and then treated vaginal atrophy with topical estrogen - did you find in the end you could stop using vaginal moisturisers like YES, Sulk or Replens completely? As in after treatment kicked in, did you provide enough of own lubrication to be comfortable? I'm thinking in day to day life more than sex.

I'm just wondering whether I'll be using these products for life which I find rather depressing. I realise the topical estrogen is for ever though

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Xxx

Personally, I'm more comfortable day to day using Yes as well as oestrogen pessaries twice a week. I just think of it as using facial moisturiser or body lotion or lip balm - one of those things.

I also have to use daily eye drops post-illness, and that's more of a drag for me...

🙂

I haven't used the moisturiser. Well, I did try the Yes stuff before oestrogen cream, but it was absolutely revolting as it was a gel. Cream is much better for me.

I use vaginal oestrogen way more than the recommended amount and it works fine. Smear it all over labia too.

Moisturiser never made a difference I just use the pessaries every day

If topical estrogen isn't working, you probably need to increase how often you use it @MissMurgatroyd . The twice a week is very 'conservative' and many specialists say it's fine to use it more often. There are posters here who use it daily.

You can also use the cream version externally, not just internally, if you're feeling sore.

How often have you been using it? And is it vagifem or the cream (use to be called Ovestin.)

I would think that if your body has stopped producing enough oestrogen and you need a topical supplement then it’s not going to start producing more just because you’re using the supplement.

OP, I love the idea of a vaginal moisturiser called Sulk..seems apt.

I just take Femoston Conti and that has improved things, nothing topical.

Both the urogynaecologist and gynaecologist I saw said daily and were completely unphased about this, but obv you may have medical reasons not to use daily - maybe see if you can find the money to pay for a one off with a menopause specialist if you are struggling, I think it cost me £150. More for the urogynaecologist. I have found the nhs so hit and miss and the associated bladder problems are an ongoing issue.

@TofuTuesday yep, my uro-gynae told me to use it daily too.

I used it for about a year along with HRT. after a while I stopped and 2 years on have no problems at all.

Are you still on HRT?
If not, be careful it doesn't creep back up on you.

Some women need HRT as well, others just topical vaginal, some both.

If you're not on HRT now, you will probably need vaginal estrogen again as it can creep up on you slowly before you notice the symptoms.

It's worth knowing that using it twice a week FOR A YEAR is the equivalent dose of ONE DAY OF HRT.

So 5 times a week is roughly 2 days of systemic HRT in a year.

It's a no-brainer if you need more to be comfortable.

Yes I'm on hrt still so hopefully keeps it at bay.

1 in 4 women use/need both.

Ha @pompomtiddly . Well spotted. That is a very appropriate typo! I am in a sulk about my failing lady bits for sure.

I use the Vagifem pessary 4 days a week - still after several years. 2 days/week is not enough.

I am also on systemic HRT and had been for around 5 years when atrophy crept up on me so I went the topical hrt as well. Also advised to use topical oestrogen cream on the clitoris and labia and that has plumped it all back to a large extent.

Thanks @SodThisHeadache . Glad it is working for you now. It does make me kind of cross that the dosage of these products is wrong for a lot of people yet no proper studies have been done.

There have been some studies and the outcome was it was safe at the suggested dose for 2 years. There used to be guidance that women might need to take progesterone now and then to thin the womb lining if the treatment was long term. This has now been discounted as it's thought the absorption is negligible/nil. However, if you're not on HRT as well (and using progesterone with that) it's important to note any unusual spotting etc and have it checked out.

They have also not altered the packaging insert to reflect the fact that topical oestrogen is a much much much lower dose of oestrogen than in systemic HRT, and therefore unlikely to cause side effects. As it is the package instructions are unduly alarming.

That's right.

UK consultants have been asking for years for the leaflet to be changed.

It's alarming for women to read as it only relates to systemic hrt, not topical estrogen.