I have now been using Emerita Phytoestrogen cream for a week and my hot flashes are virtually gone. It is great stuff and I recommend it!
I checked with the pharmacy and asked if it would be ok to use it around outside of vagina as I cannot tolerate estriol. I am using Replens internally but it doesn't seem to fix the outside.
I was told as long as it doesn't irritate it would be fine. I have been using it every day around that area and I am totally fixed. It did sting a little at first but it doesn't any more. Everything looks and feels as it did in the good old days before surgery took all my hormones away! It seems to have all the effects of estriol without the side effects. It's great stuff and I would definitely recommend it!
It is actually recommended on this site by Bellevue so it would be easy to find info on it.

janet c

Glad you've found something that works for you Janet.

Phytoestrogens are meant to be many times weaker than oestrogen, so with your sensitivity to oestrogen, perhaps this is why phytoestrogens are effective?

Yes I think you are right about that! I had been trying for 3 months to build up my tolerance to estriol but it made me feel so ill!
I did quite a lot of searching around for ratings on this product before I bought it and virtually everyone who used it gave it a 5 star rating-they all said it reduced or stopped the hot flashes. So it is worth trying for anyone who can't or doesn't want to-take hormones. The vaginal thing was an afterthought for me and is an unexpected bonus! It works so well I just had to post about it!
janet c

Yes I think you are right about that! I had been trying for 3 months to build up my tolerance to estriol but it made me feel so ill!
I did quite a lot of searching around for ratings on this product before I bought it and virtually everyone who used it gave it a 5 star rating-they all said it reduced or stopped the hot flashes. So it is worth trying for anyone who can't or doesn't want to-take hormones. The vaginal thing was an afterthought for me and is an unexpected bonus! It works so well I just had to post about it!
janet c

Hi Janet

I've just started using a phytosoya gel, alternating with my usual Ovestin estrogen cream. Only used it three times so far but I feel it might be helping already. It's VERY messy, and it stings a little, but by the next day I feel pretty good.

I had to ease off on the Emerita because it was making me feel tearful and depressed. There are lots of different herbs in it and I think one of them doesn't suit me.
I am going to try to use it a couple of times a week but I am disappointed because it was doing a good job on outside of vagina and also was helping with hot flushes.

I use Replens internally and it works fine. I need something with phytoestrogens to treat the outside though and build up the tissues. I wonder whether the phytosoya could be used in that way and if it would work?
I have never had any problem with soy but are there any other herbs in it? I am spending a fortune on all these different things and I react badly to all of them!

janet c

Janet,
Maybe you just had reached a saturation point and you would do better cutting back to a couple times/week or something like that. I know when the doc Rx Estrace vag cream for me, I was to use it every night for a week and then cut back to once or twice/week.

So maybe it's a matter of too much.

Yes Sariah I think you are right although I was keeping a journal at the time and right from the start I was feeling tearful etc. I didn't think that Phytos would have such a strong effect! I cannot use estriol at all as it makes me so ill -so this stuff is really my only hope.

janet c

Janet,

As far as I can tell, Phyto Soya doesn't have anything else in it apart from the soya (plus all the usual stuff - glycerin and all those parabens)

It's made by Arkopharma and I bought mine in a health food shop. It's pretty expensive though - 12 quid for eight applications.

I know-I think I can get it on Ebay a bit cheaper though. I think I might give it a try. Thanks for the info

janet c