Hi everyone,

I went to the gyn this week (twice) to see if I might have the vulvodynia or vestibulitis. The nurse practionier I see is so sweet but she admitted she knew little about those problems and sent me to the female doctor on staff. She feels I am in full blow menopause (even though I'm only 46 due to two different fsh levels tests that showed high levels of something or other. Anyway, she thinks I just have vaginal atrophy and gave me some samples and a script for estrace vaginal cream 0.1%.  I am scared to try it for fear of side affects (and all the nasty stuff in the insert literature). She told me hardly any is absorbed systemically but I've read things on the net to the contrary. I see a few of you use it or have used it..any real problems? I'm more worried than anything about a blood clot or something. I have severe fibroymyalgia so I have weird sensations in my body anyway. I'm thinking maybe it's not worth trying it..what should I do? Please respond asap...I really obsess about these types of things. Thank you so much...and God bless..

Hi,

I am not familiar with estrace cream (is it natural?)

I found that estriol compounded cream irritated the vestibulitis I already had.   I used it two weeks and it put ulcers on the vaginal skin which was painful.

I would not think the estrace would really hurt you as far as the amount being absorbed, but you would want to watch to see if it irritates the vestibulitis condition if you have that.

I think it would be helpful to find a doctor who can diagnose vestibulitis...easier said than done though.  

Or you could just try half the amount to start.   I usually do that with everything as my body is so sensitive.

Carol Ann,

Regarding estrace vaginal cream . . . I love the stuff!I'm allergic to Premarin and the other estradiol products are too strong for my system.  This is a goodchoice as it's about the lowest dose you can get.  Startwith only one gram per day and give it about two weeks to see how you do.  I had a little "burning" sensaation at first but it was gone after that initial time.

P.S. from my last message:The insert in the package is the generic insertfor all Estrace, both the pills and the cream.  Thecream is a much lower dose, and I actually sawa study that very, very little gets in your body tissues.I react badly to most drugs and I've had absolutelyno side effects with Estrace._________________________________

Kimber

Kimber, I use the estrace cream too, but my Dr. told me that I could only use 3 grams a week.  This is definately not enough.  How much do you use?  She said that if I used more it would effect my uterus.  So I use more of it with the worry of absorbing too much.  Any info that you could give me on what you know about it and the study you mentioned would be helpful to me.  The premarin cream and oral estrogens  are too strong for me also, so it sounds like we are somewhat in the same boat.  I have even tried the estring.  This works great for some women, but I found that it doesn't last the whole 3 months for me that it is suppose to.   I am so frustrated with the doctors that I have been too.  I have also been told that I could not be in that much pain due to the fact I was only 45!! and that atrophy takes years to develop.  I am not happy that you all are suffering with this aspect of menopause too, however I am comforted knowing that I am not the only one.

Cali

Cali,

Sorry about the delay is reponding -- my e-mail is at work!  I've been using the Estrace almost every day,but have tried to cut it down to about 3/4 of a gram.  My doctor said I should keep it at that dose for now.  (Maybe she'll say cut it back later, but I agree, I'll fight it!)She also told me she has women in their 70's using Premarin, so since this is a lower dose, I can use it forever.

The study I saw talks about all kinds of other options than HRT for menopause and is actually from an oral presentation from the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison.   The website has all the slides and references and the is URL is www.cme.wisc.edu/online/menopause.  If you want to go straight to the chart on absorption, go to slide 96.  (And, that estradiol is .2 mg and Estrace is .1 mg)

Hope this helps.  This is my worst symptom from menopause and I'm 48.   It was wreaking havoc with my mental state, not to mention sex life, until I could get it under contol.  My first doctor was all Premarin, Premarin, Premarin and the stuff just gives me major side effects.  What's up with the bias towards Premarin?

Hang in there.  You can actually start to feel normal again.

Kimber  

Kimberly, there are also lots of other menopause options listed right here on Power Surge.  Dearest has compiled a list of helpful solutions for menopause at Power Surge Recommendations

Best of luck to you!

Kimber,Thank you for your response.  This does make me feel better.  

Cali

Kimber,I forgot to ask.  Do you use any progesterone?  I did go to the web site and from what I figure I am ok for now with this dose.  Actually I have been using about the same as what you use a day.  Thanks for your resonse.

Cali

Cali,

Nope, no progesterone.  (Again, tried that with the original HRT and it drove me crazy. . . literally . . .I went into an incredible depression.)  

I have a check-up appt. with my doctor next week so if Iget any other responses from her I'll let you know.  Right now, I'm drilling into her that I want the lowest possible dose of anything!

Kimber

Hi I am from the U.K. nobody here seems to have heard of Estrace I know it is oestrodial  . I have been using Premarin but it irritates sometimes. Thanks for any help you can give me. Also is there anybody else from the U.K. using this site. Would love to chat to someone over here. Lots of love Mo.

Dear Mo,

Estrace is 0.01% estradiol (think your side of the Atlantic spells it oestradiol!) in a cream.  It's produced here by Warner Chilcott Laboratories, but their parent company is Galen PLC in Ireland and the UK.  I don't know if it's distributed there, though.    Estradiol is also contained in Vagifem vaginal tablets and the E-string (or Femring) vaginal rings, but I've heard these can cause side effects if you're particularly sensitive to drugs.

Hope this helps.

Kimber

Hi - I'm new to this site and am hoping someone here can help me. For the past 2 years I've been experiencing terrible burning and itching  in the outer labial area. When I first went to the Dr. I thought I had some sort of vaginal infection, but 2 years and 4 M.D.'s later I'm thinking maybe I'm having perimenopause symptoms. (I've been tested for every kind of bacteria and yeast under the sun, and all the tests came back negative.) If this is my problem, why couldn't any of these Dr.'s figure this out? I'm 42 years old so maybe it is perimenopause? I have been given Estrace cream to try putting on the outer area but the Dr. told me to wait until I have the needle biopsy on my breast which is scheduled for later this week. I'm really depressed over this whole situation and trying to deal with the pain from the burning for the past 2 years has really taken a toll on me. (Not to mention what it has done to my sex life with my husband.) I have 2 children and the youngest is 6. I want to feel better so I can have my life back. This problem has really consumed me. Can anyone help please?

Fancy,

Something external that you use may be irritating the skin.

You could try unbleached and unscented toilet paper, unscented detergents to wash your clothes, unscented Dove or Kiss Your Face Soap for baths, and cotton underwear.   I think these things might help the skin if something is going on with some type of allergic reaction.

Also watch Nutra-sweet since it is toxic and toxic things may affect the skin according to my gyn.

Anyway something to think about.  

These are some of the things I did for vestibulitis and this might help with your problem as well.

I think the skin at meno becomes more fragile and toxic irritating substances make it worse.   I was using those panty liners when I had such problems and think they were bad because they were bleached and not breatheable.

You could even try the ole' triple oil and see if that helps which is posted under the vestibulitis posts.  These oils are protective of the skin also or seemed to help me when I did the other things I mentioned above as well.

Take care.

Fancy,

What happened with the needle biopsy on your breast?  Any word?  I know some cysts are estrogen sensitive (I got tons even with phytoestrogens) buthaven't had any problems with the Estrace cream.

Just wanted to check in.

Kimber

hi
I am new to this site and I am finding it very imformative. My concern is that.... my Dr put me on Estrace.. I have an older sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 54 and a daughter who was diagnosed @ 40 with breast cancer......I am concerned about using a hormone cream because it could increase my risk. In the mean time I am experiencing vaginal dryness and and sex is painful. I have tried otc vaginal creams but they do not help very much......the Dr told me that only 5% of this Estrace goes through your system most stays in the vaginal area. Can anyone tell me if they are using this...... that is in a high risk group for breast cancer or should I try to use something other than hormone creams...Im really confused as to what I should do.