Hey girls,

I am on my second pump of Estrogel. I am using about 1/2 of a push instead of a full push of the pump So-instead of the .75 mg. per push--I am getting about .375 mg. I think I have that right? Anyhow--a few days after starting the second pump I got a bad yeast infection or vaginits--itching and burning. I am so discouraged. I thought only the progesterone did that and that is one of the many reasons why I don't take the P. NOW IT IS HAPPENING WITH THE E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DO I NEED MORE E--MAYBE HALF A PUSH IS NOT ENOUGH? I thought that estrogen helped prevent yeast infections? I eat a really healthy diet--no sugar--mosty homemade yougurt, raw nuts, vegies, fruits and poultry, fish and organic meats. How much better can I get than that. I do drink a glass of red wine each night with some dark chocolate--maybe that is the culprit. I AM SO FRUSTRATED. IF IT IS NOT ONE THING WITH THESE DARN HORMONES THEN IT IS ANOTHER. EGADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anyone experience similar problems?

Sorry I don't know anything about Estrogel. But I was wondering again if many of ladies out there have had problems with DHEA, I dropped my dose, but I think it makes me moody, and kind agressive feeling. Do you think it would be OK to stop taking it althogether. I am the progesterone, that should help to regulate all the other hormones ? I dont think I like the effects of that dhea at all
Jpie

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[quote name='avalina' date='Sep 28 2009, 03:55 PM' post='311750']
Hey girls,

I am on my second pump of Estrogel. I am using about 1/2 of a push instead of a full push of the pump So-instead of the .75 mg. per push--I am getting about .375 mg. I think I have that right? Anyhow--a few days after starting the second pump I got a bad yeast infection or vaginits--itching and burning. I am so discouraged. I thought only the progesterone did that and that is one of the many reasons why I don't take the P. NOW IT IS HAPPENING WITH THE E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DO I NEED MORE E--MAYBE HALF A PUSH IS NOT ENOUGH? I thought that estrogen helped prevent yeast infections? I eat a really healthy diet--no sugar--mosty homemade yougurt, raw nuts, vegies, fruits and poultry, fish and organic meats. How much better can I get than that. I do drink a glass of red wine each night with some dark chocolate--maybe that is the culprit. I AM SO FRUSTRATED. IF IT IS NOT ONE THING WITH THESE DARN HORMONES THEN IT IS ANOTHER. EGADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anyone experience similar problems?


I don't use Estrogel, I use Estrace vaginal cream myself. But here are some thoughts 1) are you sure the yeast/vaginitis was caused by the estrogel or is just a coincidence? 2) I know Estrace cream takes a while to do its magic--restore pH and lubrication. I used it for a few weeks before I saw benefit. 3) Estrogel is a skin patch, correct? If your problems are vaginal, would a more direct delivery system (like Estrace) work more efficiently? I know Estrace cream is considered better than the oral form for vaginal dryness.

You can buy over the counter vaginal Ph tests kits to help you determine whether you are dealing with yeast or some other kind of infection, by the way. I also found in my drugstore a probiotic taken orally that contains the same beneficial bacteria found in the vagina to help rebalance things.

Hope you get some good answers from Estrogel users!

Hi avalina,

I have only ever had this type of issue when I've been using TOO MUCH Estrogel and not enough P. Everything down there kind of gets overly lubricated and uncomfortable. Not sure whether it was yeast, but it sure felt like it. Once I reintroduced P, it stopped and I haven't had the problem since. This happened when I was on E and no P at all.
Actually, I had a few not so nice side effects when using only E and no P.

Hope this helps.

c

I believe both E and P can cause yeast infection, too much, too little, etc.
I had the same problem when I was on P alone, and then again on BHRT with E, P,and T, and since I could not figure out what messes me, among other nasty side effects of BHRT, I just stopped.
I did not have any yeast infection since, not even once. Having said this, I recall now I had yeast infection back when I was pregnant both times, I believe both high and low hormone activity can cause changes in vaginal pH.
I doubt that a glass of wine and dark chocolate are to blame, but to be safe, check your blood sugar, sometimes high blood glucose can cause yeast as well. If you certain, it has nothing to do with your blood glucose, then try to stop Estrogel and see if it clears the condition.
Unfortunately, it is trial and error, for the most part, hard to predict.
HTH,
Bets of luck.
I.

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Hi Avalina,
Is Estrogel a patch? It sounds like you are using a cream (pump) I had problems with cream accumulating in vag and thought I had an infection and made my doc test me. doc said it was the cream inside. so then I used it outside the vag. I put it on top of the pubic hair area. It worked without it being inside vag.
I think the cream contains oil that my vag did not like. it felt wet all the time.

hi ladies,\

Wow--this trial and error hormonal game can literally drive one crazy. Okay--so, today I did a full press of estrogel pump so I got the prescribed amount today. Some of you asked if it is a patch or cream? It is a gel that comes in a pump. I'm thinking that maybe more is better--hoping that .75 mg. will eradicate the yeasty feeling. I've had so many difficulties with the P that I only cycle it in every three months. Last time I used P was for 10 days from Aug. 1-10th. I'm not doe to cycle in until November 1. If this yeast infection and the itching and burning does not go away soon I may try adding some P. One thing I have noticed while being on the estrogel is that I am no longer dry downstair--in fact I am overly lubricated and moist--maybe too much so and this is what is causing the vaginitis. It is so uncomfortable with the burning and itching. Gosh--for fifty years of my life I never gave my vagina a minutes thought--now at 52 years of age it is giving me so much grief. Ahhhhhhhh--the joys of menopause. LOL

This is exactly what happened to me. I didn't want to go into great detail, but when I used unopposed E (no P), my nether regions became very messy....;-), lots of discharge then in turn, became uncomfortable.
It totally cleared up with the P.

I'm sorry I don't remember what type of P you use. Is it compounded cream? Is it transdermal? Even at 1/2 my prescribed dose, I felt better than without it.


c

hi many boys,

Yep--we are on the same page. Because the P seems to aggravate gastrointestinal problems (I have Crohns Disease-a.k.a Inflammatory Bowel Disease) my doc prescribed Vaginal P. It is a 3% cream and it comes in a 10 ML. syringe. I am suppose to insert 1 ml. for 10 days every two-three months. BUT--don't think I can handle this vaginal burning and itching nonsense so I just may try using the P constantly. Last night I was so uncomfortable at bedtime that I almost went to bed with ice cubes inserted inside of me to calm the itchy/burning feeling. LOL Anyhow, I don't know if 3% is too much--too little or middle of the road as far as dosing goes. I'm so glad that someone else has experienced the same problem. Thanks for sharing. What kind and strength of E and P do you use? I've heard from this site that vaginal or oral P is better at protecting the lining of the uterus then the transdermal cream. What are your thoughts? Thanks Avalina

Hi there,

I'm not completely sure what strength my new prescription is. The pharm told me, but I've since forgotten. It's strong, but I'm going to cut the dose in 1/2 and work my way up to what ever I can tolerate without side effects.....I'm also going to use a tiny bit of transdermal cream on my chest so I'll have some protection for my breasts. From what I understand, vaginal P is the best protection for the uterus, but you still need something more systemic for breasts, bones etc.

I'll look up the dosing in one of the books I'm reading to see if I can find the answer to your question about where your 3% stands in strength. I'll check back a little later with what I find.


c

thanks so much for responding. So--are you on both E and P? You mentioned that you are going to use a tiny bit of transdermal cream on your chest--will that be progesterone or estriol? When the 3% P is inserted vaginally isn't a tiny bit of the cream systemic--hopefully protecting breast tissue? Thanks avalina

Hey there,

I was taking both E and P, yes. Just under .75 mgs. of E with Estrogel and 30 mgs. of transdermal P cream. From what I've read and talking to my doctor, vag P does not give your breast and bones the protection that transdermal or oral forms do, so it's advised to use a bit of P cream transdermally on top of the vag P.
Way back when I was suffering terribly in peri, I used compounded P cream on my breast (I would apply it on my chest...close enough....;-) to get rid of the swelling and pain I had (I have fibrocystic breasts) and it works great.
But, vaginal P is excellent to protect the uterus. Much better than transdermal and oral.
My concern has always been more about breast cancer and supplementing E so I'll use both.

sorry, avalina.....meant to ask. how is your yeast infection? are you still suffering with those symptoms?

yep--it is still there a bit--yes. Thanks for asking. avalina