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[CLKD]

I think you need to see I think: a tricologist? : someone who deals with hair loss.  Alopecia is a difficult medical condition which can be caused by many things.  Certainly hormones may contribute.

[Tc]

Hiya ladies. I've got my 3rd bout of thrush in as many months and I'm beginning to think its vagifem.
Ovestin cream is working to keep outside moist but I'm  dry inside and dont know whether that's the thrush or just that the vagifem not working. I cant see any thrush on the outside although it's weird that despite the vulva being moist its started itching at night which is new.

I cant keep taking a one off thrush tablet every few weeks can I?

[Joaniepat]

Tc, is the Vagifem dissolving OK? I have to use Yes VM internally to get it to dissolve, otherwise the pessary emerges in clumps the next day. I am using Yes one night, Vagifem the next (also have an Estring). The Yes is inserted up inside the vagina using one of the single use vials, or if you don't like those, transfered from a tube to one of the round ended applicators from Stressnomore. Just a thought.

This VA is a right pain. (Are you on Jane Lewis's VA Facebook group? Plenty of good ideas there.)

JP x

[jaycee]

Vagifem can  cause thrush it says on the leaflet, or on their website.not sure on which i read it or on both but it can

[Tc]

Thanks ladies.
joanie.  Interesting as the last two times it was diagnosed by my womens physio upon examination because TMI warning she had white bits on gloves after.and could see iinside entrance. I wasnt itchy and had no discharge so I was surprised. Maybe it was the breakdown of the vagifem.
I'm assuming its thrush this time as I've been so itchy but maybe the vagifem is irritating me. I . would be happy to use ovestin internally but they will only give me one tube at a time . . I swear before I used it things were shrinking and felt sort of stuck together and still do if I dont use it for a couple of days. sorry if thats a bit graphic. It's horrible and keeping it to myself makes me feel even worse. I dont know why but I almost feel ashamed.
I've got some yes VM  from superdrug but didnt get applicator with it  I will look online. I know it's not eco friendly but I prefer disposable applicators.
I have read other ladies use acti gyn to keep the ph balanced to avoid thrush.  But at this point I dont know if I should add anything else into the mix.
Ii would like to go to a GUM clinic. I know fore certain I dont have an STI but I wonder if they might confirm or dismiss thrush.and  check for LS,  . But dont know if they will see me for that.

Thanks for your helpful reply.xxx

[CLKD]

Is it Thrush?  VA mimics that itchiness, 4 me thrush irritation is too high up to scratch  and VA is like razor blades up there 

Use YES on the end of your finger, inserting gently?  Lay quietly with a good book for 20 mins. ;-).  I don't worry about disposal, it's how things are burnt or recycled that is the important issue in the UK.  I put my applicators into plastic waste, washed thoroughly of course. 

Maybe buy some LIVE yoghurt, eaten and applied.  It cleanses the whole digestive tract and will encourage good bacteria.  Thrush/candida lives in the back passage so toilet hygiene is important.  It likes warm areas in which to grow.  Applied: lots of yoghurt on the finger or on a tampon, as high as possible to ease that itch.  Keeping tubs separate of course ;-).

[Tc]

Not sure it is CLKD. That's why I'm reluctant to take the one off thrush tablet. I only took it 2 weeks ago.. I am a bit worried about LS so I think if I cant get rid of it I will get checked out.
Thanks so much for all your helpful advice. I will give it a go xxxx

[CLKD]

Take pain relief too.

How likely is it to be LS?  Once that's checked out, if you haven't already, [you may have said] maybe try 'ovestin' instead of 'vagifem'?   The applicators can be washed and rinsed ;-)

[Sammiejane]

Hi guys

So just to update you my hairdresser came and did my hair and she noticed that since her last visit 6weeks ago my hair is noticeably thinner.

I am on EstroGel 2 pumps and Ovestin 2 times a week , I do believe the EstroGel is causing my hair loss it's like it given me alopecia !! I had ovary removed and hysterectomy in 2014 and up Intill sept 2018 I never used HrT and did have hair loss !

I don't know if it's the Estrogen itself or imbalance because I don't take progesterone although I can Utrogestan 100mg and my menopause specialist said would do me know harm but then there are side effects to this.

I remember when I was on the pill had no hair loss or acne or problems so think I may go back on this instead anyone experienced hair loss on EstroGel or Utrogestan or the contraceptive pill ?

Thanks
Sam

[CLKD]

What did the hairdresser suggest?

[Tc]

I've had sight of my gyna letter to gp thought it might be interesting regarding VA and vagifem dose.

Earlier in the year my notes read "vaginal atrophy/vulval atrophy " (despite using estriol 0.01)

I have since been using vagifem every night and ovestin outside and just inside entrance nightly.
although gynae has put in my notes I can use vagifem 3 times a week, nobody knows ive been using it every night for close to 10 weeks.  I have to be very sneaky with getting it.

My recent letter read "no signs of atrophy"!!

I know ive still got it and that it's a problem that doesnt go away and can flare but the fact that she didnt see evidence of it on that particular day must mean I've got it under control.at least at the moment.

I'm convinced switching from estriol to ovestin made the difference on the outside. I could tell myself within a week of making the switch.

but as far as vagifem goes ...my little experiment with nightly dose seems to have worked.. .I guess to be balanced I might have improved on every other night too in the last 10 weeks but before that I was using it every other night for weeks on end with no improvement. So I think it has made the difference.

 Now it's a bit more under control I should probably go to every other night  i dont want to but getting enough for every night on prescription is becoming stressful and i dread them refusing to repeat and running out!!

So reluctantly I will reduce and see If symptoms come back. If they do  then I guess I'm living proof that some ladies need vagifem nightly. But I doubt I will convince my GPs of that!!
Xx

[Katejo]

I've had sight of my gyna letter to gp thought it might be interesting regarding VA and vagifem dose.

Earlier in the year my notes read "vaginal atrophy/vulval atrophy " (despite using estriol 0.01)

I have since been using vagifem every night and ovestin outside and just inside entrance nightly.
although gynae has put in my notes I can use vagifem 3 times a week, nobody knows ive been using it every night for close to 10 weeks.  I have to be very sneaky with getting it.

My recent letter read "no signs of atrophy"!!

I know ive still got it and that it's a problem that doesnt go away and can flare but the fact that she didnt see evidence of it on that particular day must mean I've got it under control.at least at the moment.

I'm convinced switching from estriol to ovestin made the difference on the outside. I could tell myself within a week of making the switch.

but as far as vagifem goes ...my little experiment with nightly dose seems to have worked.. .I guess to be balanced I might have improved on every other night too in the last 10 weeks but before that I was using it every other night for weeks on end with no improvement. So I think it has made the difference.

 Now it's a bit more under control I should probably go to every other night  i dont want to but getting enough for every night on prescription is becoming stressful and i dread them refusing to repeat and running out!!

So reluctantly I will reduce and see If symptoms come back. If they do  then I guess I'm living proof that some ladies need vagifem nightly. But I doubt I will convince my GPs of that!!
Xx

In which way was Ovestin better than estriol please? I have a meno clinic appt. next week and want to ask about trying Ovestin (externally to prevent itching). The GP didn't even want to give me more Estriol because I am using Vagifem.  I am also using Vagifem most nights and have the stress of possibly being refused

[Tc]

Kate.
We shouldnt have to go through all this stress over this. . I only know from one scrip to the next if I will get enough or if they will try to stop the ovestin. Each time I get my scrip I  breathe a sigh of relief.  Until the next time   It shouldn't happen.

I think the fact that ovestin is stronger is what made the difference. Its 10 times stronger so if you use it inside the applicator dose is smaller so it works out the same.
But for the outside its thicker and seems to rub in and absorb better. Also because its stronger i dont have to use much. . To get the same amount  of E from estriol I wouldve had to use loads of it. So I  might not have been using enough estriol to get the benefit but it's pretty difficult to use that much cream it doesnt rub in and its messy. When I used a lot of it I felt uncomfortable.
So in short, a little ovestin goes a long way.

I looked it up and ovestin is actually cheaper than estriol!!!

I think docs see that its 10 times the strength and panic so explain that you know you have to use a lot less.

I hope you get on o.k. xxx

[Katejo]

Kate.
We shouldnt have to go through all this stress over this. . I only know from one scrip to the next if I will get enough or if they will try to stop the ovestin. Each time I get my scrip I  breathe a sigh of relief.  Until the next time   It shouldn't happen.

I think the fact that ovestin is stronger is what made the difference. Its 10 times stronger so if you use it inside the applicator dose is smaller so it works out the same.
But for the outside its thicker and seems to rub in and absorb better. Also because its stronger i dont have to use much. . To get the same amount  of E from estriol I wouldve had to use loads of it. So I  might not have been using enough estriol to get the benefit but it's pretty difficult to use that much cream it doesnt rub in and its messy. When I used a lot of it I felt uncomfortable.
So in short, a little ovestin goes a long way.

I looked it up and ovestin is actually cheaper than estriol!!!

I think docs see that its 10 times the strength and panic so explain that you know you have to use a lot less.

I hope you get on o.k. xxx

Yes I breathe a sigh of relief in the same way. I have just got a new box ov Vagifem. Yes I think Ovestin is also cheaper than Vagifem. At the hospital where i go for the meno clinic the pharmacy is not allowed to provide Vagifem but can Ovestin.

[Tc]

Kate. There is no consistency.

Do you think the vagifem is helping you?
What do you think of the estriol 0.01?

X