Hi oldsheep
As discussed elsewhere recently vagifem should be used reguarly to be effective in preventing VA and to prevent unwanted (but very limited) systemic absorption (unless you don't mind this!).
There are other vaginal oestrogen preparations (described in green menu on left - click on HRT preparations). Keep up with the vagifem but you can also use Gynest cream on the genital areas. Alternatively instead of Vagifem you could use Orthgynest pessaries. All the other preparations are estriol, not estradiol, which is equally effective at the doses recommended - it's just a matter of preference and in some cases, sensitivity to one or the other. I would have thought you would be unlikely to get any brown discharge with the pessaries.
I have used the pessaries and prefer them. Currently using vagifem, and occasional gynest cream for genital areas, but will go back to orthgynest pessaries at next appt, for normal use, except when I am using the vaginal utrogestan (need Vagifem for these occasions cos they stay in better when inserted in the morning!).
Hurdity x