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Original poster

Any vagifem experts? Need advice

90 replies

AriadnesPiglet · 11/10/2018 16:15

Just been prescribed vagifem following an apparent uti, symptoms of which did not clear up with antibiotics. Going on for months.
Went from feeling like I needed to wee all the time and then also started to feel sore and uncomfotable in the vagina.
Tried some over the counter stuff, multi gyn actigel from boots, but that made me sting and hurt more.

So I've just started vagifem, day 2 and it's not going well so far. I feel sore and not sure if its coming from my bladder, inside where I inserted the tablet or the uretha. Maybe its all 3. It's so long since I had a period I'm not sure if its cramping I'm feeling

I feel like packing it in but is this normal to start with? Is it worth carrying on because at the moment I feel worse than I did before. I'm miserable because I thought this was the answer to my problems.

OP posts:

QueenoftheNights · 22/10/2018 17:24

I just assumed it was- like Ovestin.
With Ovestin, if you use it during the day it just leaks out before it's had a chance to be absorbed. It says on the instructions, use at bedtime.
Does it not say the same for Vagifem?

QueenoftheNights · 22/10/2018 17:29

On the Vagifem website, it says allow 12 weeks for the full effect. Bear in mind too that until not that long ago , the pessaries were 25mcgs not 10 as they are now. You really need to give it time.
You say you 'ordered' some Ovestin- was this not prescribed at the same time? Or is the pharmacy getting it in stock for you?

Olivesandwine · 22/10/2018 18:55

It says you can use it any time of the day. It sticks to the walls of the vagina. I will go back to night times once I get it into my system.
I really have to give this a chance, I know.

FlamingJuno · 22/10/2018 22:14

I only use it at night, that's the way it's prescribed, although I can't imagine that it matters. I suppose it's a bit like, say, a canesten pessary in that it dissolves overnight.

Enigmam · 23/10/2018 10:38

I'm so glad you've finally got an answer Olives. I'm not too bad tried the treatment the Dr gave me and I'm seeing some improvement I'm not convinced it's right though. I'm awaiting results of the swab so will go from there.

Enigmam · 23/10/2018 11:15

Got my results, it's thrush probably as a result of the 3 different antibiotics I had for the UTI. So now I wait and see.

QueenoftheNights · 23/10/2018 12:15

you can still have VA and thrush! the 2 often go hand in hand as VA upsets the acid balance of the vagina in the same way that thrush does. treat both.

Enigmam · 23/10/2018 15:11

That's what I'm thinking Queen VA first, caused UTI and antibiotics caused thrush. I'll treat it myself with the Yes moisturiser & stopping breastfeeding. I've been back and forth so many times, been ignored, offered antidepressants at one point, when all it would have taken is for one Dr to actually listen to me.

Olivesandwine · 27/10/2018 07:49

I’m on day 6 of my second attempt at the vagifem. Been using it mornings, an hour or two before I get up, I’m an early riser.
I’m determined to give this a chance to work this time but I’m struggling again.

This morning when I inserted it there was some residue of the last one on the applicator, sort of gloopy stuff, but the new tablet did dispense as normal. I don’t understand why this should be because I thought the tablet would have dissolved by then. Yesterday I noticed I felt as if I was sticking together as well, used a bit of sylk moisturiser but then felt sore all day and I’m still sore.

I did go back to gp on Wednesday, after my visit to the gum clinic, and the new gp just confirmed that it would be a while, maybe months before I felt any benefit. Tbh I was very upset and flustered so didn’t have the best appointment as I was struggling to hold it together and didn’t ask all the questions I should have.

Is this likely to settle down?

QueenoftheNights · 27/10/2018 08:20

There are so many posters here now on this- OP and 2 others?- that I've lost track of who's tried what and when :)

The online info on Vagifem from the producers of it, says that in their research women saw improvement after 12 weeks, some within 8 weeks. Obviously this was a survey and other women might responds faster than that.

You have to give it time. I'd not worry about one tablet not dissolving properly or anything like that- it's not important in the scheme of things.

I might have said this before upthread to someone, but if Vagifem seems to be irritating you can change to Ovestin which is a cream. Obviously it's hard to know if any irritation is the condition itself or the products.

You have to be patient- you can't expect something to reverse changes that have taken months and years to take hold (dry vagina) in a few days.

There is a new book out which you may have seen - me and My Menopausal Vagina- by a woman called Jane. Just an ordinary woman like all of us, who had terrible VA and has written a book about her experience and treatment- on Amazon. Might help!

Olivesandwine · 27/10/2018 08:32

Thanks Queen. I’ve posted a lot on this thread.

I’m sorry I’m just in a bit of a bad way at the moment. I know I have to have patience and give it time without abandoning things like I did the last time. My own gp said it might take months so I at least have to do the 14 day start up again before running back and saying it’s not working. Tbh I’m not even sure if it’s the vagifem irritating me because when I stopped it I still felt bad.

Don’t blame you if you just want to tell me to off. It’s a nightmare.

QueenoftheNights · 27/10/2018 08:58

maybe try 2 tabs a day? The old version of Vagifem was 25mcgs and this one now is only 10. (Not sure why.)

Some other women on forums say they use it far more than 2 x a week as it's weaker than before (some use it daily) but maybe you could try doubling the dose to 2 a day ( am and pm) to see if that helps- for maybe a week or so?

Also try using YES moisturiser which UK consultants say is the best for this issue as well.

Olivesandwine · 27/10/2018 09:13

Yes my gp said i could use 2 twice a week when I’d finished the 2 week start up. I darent use any more at the moment in case it makes things worse.

onedayiwillmissthis · 27/10/2018 11:34

I came off HRT and was doing ok...apart from frequent UTI's. GP prescribed Vagifem...to be used at NIGHT. Told to start on 1 per day for 14 days...then twice a week. Found it very easy to use. No negatives and no more UTI's...huzzah.

Been using now for nearly 3 months. Have it programmed into repeating reminder on phone for every 3rd day.

Only thing that causes me a problem is the twinge of guilt at the thought of all those plastic applicators going in to landfill...cos don't feel right putting in recycling😳

QueenoftheNights · 27/10/2018 13:12

To be fair, the instructions on the maker's website say it can be used at any time ( day or night).

Ovestin is better used at night because it's a cream and tbh it just works its way out if you use it during the day.

A lot of GPs are a bit uneducated about VA and the treatment. As I said, the current dose of Vagifem is less than half strength of the older version. Many women with really bad VA who see experts (not a GP) are told to increase the dose or number of times use per week. There are also plenty of us who need BOTH full, systemic HRT and vaginal treatment.

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