I am experienceing vaginal dryness for the first time and am looking into products that will  provide relief.

I have read up about Replens, an OTC product, which has no estrogen, and I am also being advised by others to use an estrogen based cream.

Can anyone tell me why I would make one choice over the other.  If Replens replaces the moisure without estrogen, when why would one need a cream with estrogen?

I hope I get some quick feedback on this - I want to make a decision about which way to go today.

Thank you!Lucy

Lucy,

I have had the vaginal dryness and severe burning for about 4 yrs. now. I am on HRT and also have tried just about every OTC items for vaginal dryness that they make. It seems like they only give temporary relief and some of them made me worse. I have tried Premarin Vaginal cream which really did not help although maybe I did not use it enough and gave up too fast. Also I tried Ogen Vaginal cream which cause a severe reaction of itching and burning. I had to jump into the shower immediately and try to wash it out. Never tried that again. The past 3 days I have been using Estrace Vaginal cream . I started out using it only on the outside because I was afraid of another reaction, but last night I used 1/2 gram vaginally (dr. recommended 1 gram nightly, but I am being careful). It does feel better ...less burning. I have also used Replens, but not inside...only on the outside. As far as the estrogen cream versus Replens I don't really have an answer except that from what I have read and heard that the estrogen cream may increase blood flow to that area and possibly heal the tissue, but then again I am not sure. That is why I started the cream a few days ago. I would suggest asking a pharmacist about this. I have found that they are actually more knowledgeable than the doctors about the drugs and what they are suppose to do. I don't know how old you are but I am 52. For the past 3 months I have not had a period and I am hoping they are stopping. Hopefully I will feel better and the burning will get better. Please let me know if you find out anything.

Lucy,

Do you think you have low estrogen levels in general causing this?   If so I would think a general estrogen cream would help but not necessarily a vaginal one.

For me I had an ulceration inside when I used an estrogen (estriol)  cream so I won't  try that again.  

I would try the Replens first if it were me and use estrogen only if needed for other symptoms if they come along too like hot flashes etc.

I am using an estrogen cream that is not vaginal and have no vaginal dryness for now anyway.   It is only 2 l/2 mg of estrogen which is mostly estriol and seems to be preventing the dryness I think.

NancyV,

Which estrogen cream do you use? I have been using the Estrace cream for only a couple of nights and it seems to be helping me. In the mornings I only use it on the outside and this is helping. In fact if it continues helping the burning and dryness I am going to stop using it vaginally which I have only done for 2 nights. Appreciate your comments.  I guess this is a trial and error time for all of us, but I sure wish it would come to an end.

Gail,

It is a compounded estrogen cream from Women's International Pharmacy.  

You are so right about trial and error.  

Take care...

Hi Nancy - I only began taking natural hormones two months ago after being on the pill for 8 years.  I am only noticing the vaginal dryness for the first time this month.  I have talked with the pharmacist and my estrogen will be increased - it may take up to two weeks to see if this will help.  In the mean time, I was told that I can try Replens first to see if this helps.  I hope so.  

Taking the BC pill used to make all of this so simple, only have to remember taking it every morning, but it was not working for me anymore - and my sympoms were so bad and I had so many of them.   I hope it's doesn't take too long to find the right dose.

Thank you everyone for responding.

Lucy

I just now got back from the dr. and the first place I headed was here to see if I could find some info on Replens (vaginal moisturizer), Estrace Vaginal Cream, and Estring (a vaginal insert that puts out small doses of estrogen over, I think,  a 3-mo. period).  Because I didn't know which way to go (the dr. gave me RXs for the Estrace and Estring), I consulted with the Kaiser pharmacist.  He suggested I start with the Replens because it is less invasive.  Then, if that doesn't help my problem, I can always fill one of the prescriptions for Estrace or Estring.  I learned tday  that the vaginal discharge that I've been having ever since I went off HRT is caused from Atrophic Vaginitis.

Gosh, I'm drying out all over.  For the last couple of years, I've had to use Refresh eye drops for dry eyes and now this!  I guess when your body parts dry out, the parts react by producing too much fluid, hence Refresh for weeping eyes and now, Replens for vaginal discharge.

Now I know what Art Linkletter meant when he used to say, "Growing old isn't for sissies."

I forgot to ask Lucy2 where she went to read up on Replens.

About a month ago I experienced this problem for the first time - horrible burning inside and out.  At first I thought it was a vaginal infection and tried Monistat, which made everything much, much worse.  A trip to the doctors showed no infection - yeast or bacterial, so I was prescribed the hormone cream.  I had decided a long time ago not to use hormones, so I began to experiment a bit.  I tried Replens, but it really didn't seem to do much.  I had read about Vitamin E and decided to try that.  All you need to do is puncture the Vitamin E capsule and rub a little on the exterior, and then insert the remainder.  Your body will naturally break down the outside of the capsule.  It was almost immediately soothing and healing.  It worked wonders, can be used as often as you like, and is certainly a natural alternative.  I have read on Dr. Weil's website that some women can experience a reaction to Vitamin E, but as you said, we all seem to need to experiment, so it is definitely worth a try.  It has certainly worked for me!  Good Luck!

Thanks for the reminder, Dor - I've read that about Vitamin E before, here on Power Surge.  

I've actually tried it and it works very well, too.  I think it's time for me to start using this again.

About a year and a half ago I had a hysterectomy for fibroids. They did not remove the ovaries. Recently I have had a problem with vaginal dryness, burning and itching. I started using Replens. The moisture has increased somewhat but I am having a discharge of white clumps. It almost looks like pellets of wet tissue paper. Is this normal and will it stop? Prior to this dryness I had no problem with lubrication. I was one of those women that "over lubricated" What can I do to get this back? A new man has just entered my life and I am embarrassed to have sex with him because I am having this discharge and I'm "all dried up" Can someone please help?

I don't know how old you are, frustrated, but even with your ovaries intact, you might be experiencing menopause. I also was one of those women who always "over-lubricated". It used to be embarrassing to me when I was very young, then I got used to it, then I actually enjoyed that aspect of myself. It was such a surprise to me to lose that lubrication! When I had gone a year without a period, my doctor said I was starting to experience vaginal atrophy. With vaginal atrophy, even if you use lubricants like astroglide or replens, sex can hurt, because the tissues are thinner and more delicate, and the vagina actually shortens. ONLY some type of estrogen is proven to reverse this (although some studies have shown DHEA will reverse it, and possibly soy products also help some women.) My doctor recommended vagifem, which is a tiny, low dose estrogen tablet that can be inserted directly into the vagina. After a year of the vagifem, my exam showed normal, moist tissue. There was no more atrophy. However, although I lubricate quite sufficiently when aroused, I no longer "over lubricate". That aspect of myself is gone... just another thing I assumed all my life was part of "who I am", and it's turned out it was just my hormones, not ME...

I have recently started using Estrace cream (which is estrogen) twice a week and it has helped tremendously. Not only with vaginal dryness, but I was experiencing recurrent bladder infections. I have found that when I get a burning feeling in my urethra I can use the Estrace cream and nine times out of ten, the next day the burning is gone. My urologist told me that when we go through menopause, the lack of estrogen will cause all of the surrounding tissues to dry out as well as the vaginal area. So we suffer from urinary tract issues, incontinence, and many times hemorrhoids and scratching during bowel movements because of low estrogen levels. I have noticed that I have improved skin quality as well since starting on estrogen cream. I have been on a patch (estrogen only) for 3 years and still suffered with dry skin (dry everything) and everything that went along with menopause (including weight gain and hypothyroid). While I'm still on Synthroid for the thyroid, I have begun to finally lose weight since starting on estrogen cream. Coincidence? Maybe. But I'll take what I can get. Hope this helps

I've been using Estrace cream topically one time a day for about a week, but I forgot to ask the dr. exactly how MUCH to use. What is the standard dose you all use for vaginal tissue thinning? About halfway up to your first knuckle on your fingertip? And anyone get a headache from using the cream? I was prescribed the Estrace due to thinning tissue (never felt dry however), AND to help replace estrogen in surrounding tissues. ( I have bladder spasms that can last for hours after having sex, and dr. said the cream would help with that as well. ) Dr. also claimed there was no cancer risk factor with the Estrace, as I was not inserting it. Of note: got my Pap test results back today, and dr's note said would have to be repeated, as there "weren't enough cells" to test. Common after menopause, she wrote. Said to get another Pap in 3 months after using the cream. Thanks for any insight.

I get a headache from almost any medication that enters my body, so I don't see that as impossible even though it's a cream. I don't know why that is, but it seems to be my physiology. I recommend you Ask The Pharmacist, Pete Hueseman, R.Ph, P.D. who can give you the exact answers to your questions. I would also recommend reading the transcript of Power Surge guest, Harvard Vulvovaginal expert, Elizabeth Stewart, M.D. Dearest