Well, ladies, I am new here. I am 53 years old and not sure if in menopause or not. I had real heavy periods and when doc checked she found a polyp with slight hyperplasia in it alone,not in uterius. She removed that and did an edometrial ablation. Everything seemed fine...... went back in 6 months all looked good, she did a biopsy of endometrial tissue in uterius (upon my request) to check for hyperplasia...NONE. Skip ahead a year...all the time having regular periods only much lighter. Just started to skip a couple months...maybe due to menopause, maybe due to ablation also. Went in for anual pap...o.k. A issue has come up....dryness!!! Vaginal atrophy she calls it... Puts me on Vagifem. 2 per day for 2 weeks and then one a day. In the mean time I schedule my mamogram. Canceled once because breast hurt...thought I might be getting ready for period...NOT. Finally when for mamogram because I was alittle worried. VERY PAINFUL...... then called back for redo...tissue they had just been keeping and eye on had thickened. Scared the crap out of me. When in for redo.....at least 6 slides were taken of left breast and then went on for ULTRASOUND..... He was a really nice man and said that my breast was "Boring" nothing there but very, very, dense tissue....no type of mass....o.k. RELIEF.. Then it hit me....THE VAGIFEM..... stopped using it and within days my breast were almost back to normal.

Now, ladies, doc had said this would not be absorbed into the system enough to bother other areas of the body , it did help the vaginal atrophy, she said she uses this on her breast cancer patients.....

Bottom line, I am upset again, obviously it effected me and am concerned of long term effect as far as the breast are concerned although I was only on it for about 5 or 6 weeks at the most. Also, if this is not gonna be usable, now what???? The vaginal atrophy will come back and then what...... besides the obvious other issues with it, there is the sex side... I am engaged to a younger man (10 years younger) we have been together and had a great sex life for the last 16 years. I finally decided I would marry him and now this. There are few men that will stick around forever when sex is miserable. Astroglide is good at first but it does not last hardly anytime and I am kinda afraid of the silicone lubes....lets not forget what silicone has done to the bodies of hundreds of women who had the breast implants.

HAS ANYONE USED VAGIFEM for any amount of time without major issues? I personally think she gave me a dosage for a women that is already through menopause........I still make my own, I am sure, just lower. Of course after my last appointment my doc stopped seeing patients since she took a job as director of hysterscopy...she may still do that, I am not sure. So now I have to make an appointment with someone else and wait the couple of months it takes to get an appointment with a good gyn and start from jump street. I am so upset at this moment.

and get this: NO ONE EVER FEELS THE NEED TO TEST MY HORMONES TO JUST SEE WHERE I AM....I REALIZE THE FLUCTUATE...BUT THEY COULD SEE IF I AM EVEN IN THE BALLPARK BEFORE GIVING THEM TO ME!!!
Vaginal Dryness is my ONLY SYMPTOM....other than missing a couple periods. I HAVE NO NIGHT SWEATS, I HAVE NO HOT FLASHS, I may be alittle moody, not sure, have always been alittle of a (w) itch.

Thought of using the vitamin E.....but it is oil based and dont they say not to use an oil in that area, it might clogg up the little glands that produce the small amount of natural lube we still have? Does it help with the sex part?

Thanks for listening, I know this is long, but figured I would try to cover the basis so that you would get the full picture.

Thanks again ladies
Vicki

Vicki, that is a lot of Vagifem. When I was on it, I was only using one dose twice a week, and even then, my doctor wanted me to use progesterone after three months to clear out the lining, if it was needed. They say it isn't systemic, but my internist told me not to use it if I really didn't need it, so I'm sure she's a bit wary of it. I'm not using it right now as it gave me an uncomfortable discharge. I may use it from time to time, but not with any regularity. I think that's a large dose. I would do some research on that.

I think I agree....but that was my dose (one twice a week) after the initial 2 week start up. Are you post menopause? I am not yet.

Thanks
Vicki

OPPS........ ........SORRY. JUST RE-READ MY POST.... I MEANT SHE STARTED ME ON "ONE" A DAY FOR 14 DAYS AND THEN ONE TWICE A WEEK.

SO SORRY!!!!!

Vicki

Sweetpoison, I dont think the vitamin E will help with the sex because it is a lil sticky. I use a salve that has vit. E in it but mixed with alot of other things like organic olive oil, and some others. Its kind of sometimes just tral and error, Sorry to hear about the dryness trust me I know I have had it. Infact I just went thru an episode but only lasted a day. God bless you, Tinkybug

Hi sweetpoison just read your first post with much interest. Hope I can help you with this. I have first hand knowledge.
Dont believe what the doctors say about vagifem not entering your system. I used it for some time last year and within a day of starting it, my boobs were agony.It also gave me terrible palpitations. The upside was that it got rid of my hot flushes.
My doctor gave me 13 weeks -1 every day for 2 weeks and then twice a week from February. I had another lot in October.
If I knew then what I know now I would have insisted on the doc giving me progesterone because all that unapposed oestrogen is very bad for you.
As it happens I have just had a full hysterectomy to cure endo cancer.
I am not allowed to use vagifem or even take soy to help with vaginal dryness because my cancer was fuelled by too much oestrogen.
I am not saying that a small amount of vagifem used over a small amount of time could in any way be dangerous but its better to be safe than sorry.
I have sorted my vaginal dryness quite nicely, even though I now have no ovaries!
I use replens 3 times a week and also insert vitamin E oil capsules every day. I also use the oil around my vagina. We use astroglide when neccessary and are managing quite nicely. The more often you have intercourse the more supple your tissues become-a case of-if you don't use it you lose it! I would keep away from unapposed oestrogen if you possibly can.
I hope this is helpful to you
Janet c

So, it is true...if you use it, things get better???

I might post to see if anyone knows much about the safty of the Silicon Lubes..... they say they last longer than the water based....we kinda need that.

Vicki

Yes vitamin E oil is a recognised treatment for v. dryness. It really works. the replens does too. If you keep everything moisturised you wont dry up.
I dont know about the silicone-Ive not heard of it.

Vagifem causes breast swelling and soreness (also sensitivity which can be a nice plus) for me too--within a few days. The dr says it doesn't enter the bloodstream but obviously it *does*. After the Sahara effect since last March ( when I also had my last period so far), & no sex without pain, I'm willing to take a chance w/the Vagifem--but my mother died of breast cancer, so it's a risk I'm not crazy about.
Sweetpoison, my BF is a young one too--he's 25, I'm 53--and I'm just so cranky & sad when I can't make love that it's really very hard for both of us. The hot flashes I can deal with--but no sex? Uh-uh.
I'm going to try the Vit E capsules. I have had some relief w/Replens, but here's a weird one: am I the only person who gets a thick white discharge (EWWW), like the paste that came in big jars when we were in kindergarten, when using Replens? It isn't a yeast, though it looks as if it might be--my doc says not--but it is sure weird, and it tastes awful Am I weird (probably) or waht? Katie of the Sahara

Katiescarlett-hi
I have the Replens leaflet in front of me and I quote-"A few days after first using Replens you may notice an off- white residue which may be dry and bitty. This is natural and is the result of Replens cleansing the vaginal passage. The vagina is normally self cleansing but when you have been dry for some time, discarded cells tend to accumulate. Replens simply clings to these cells and flushes them away. If you continue to use it, the amount of residue will gradually get less and less as the v. environment returns to normal."
I hope that helps.
I am continuing to get the white residue even after several weeks of use. I prefer the vitamin E oil. It does tend to come out a bit so I wear a panty liner but it is not unpleasant in any way.

Hello,

I have been on Vagifem for two weeks and it just started helping me. I was so desparate I would have done anything. Now I have to use it twice a week for as long as my Gyno says. I have not noticed any side effects. I also started Replens which I love, no problems. When I get my period, I get really dry and even pads hurt and Replens says not to use it during this time. Luckily I skip some months. Dryness has been my worst symptom so far and then the anxiety. Thank goodness for this site!

Hello.
I am so glad to have found this site, I have been suffering with dryness ever since menopause, It has been a year since I had a period. I have tryed replends but will continue to us it and the vitamine E never hurde of before but willing to try, any vitamine E or do I need a special kind?. My girl friend and I have talked about this problem and why nobody talks about it, we have said there has to be something out there because what are the older women doing who are with these younger men, they have to have the same problem. I will not us estrogen of any form, had best friend dye from breast cancer because of estrogen, so we are really affraid of it. Thanks for the information, I will be passing it along.

Joe

Hi joe- welcome to the site. I have given up with Replens. I find it stings .
I have found wonderful results with just vitamin e oil. I use 400iu capsules. If you have a Replens applicator you can push one into the end and then insert it. I also pierce another one with a needle, squeeze the oil out and apply all around the outside . I do this every night at bedtime. I find this best as the oil does tend to work its way out during the night, so there is not too much residue during the day.
I would highly recommend it!

Hi Janet c'
Thanks for the information on the vitamin e, I am going to try it and I passed the info on to my friends, we are really tired of all this mess that comes with menopause.
Joe

I've been on the Vagifem for a short time as you can see by my other posts. They say that the estrogen doesn't enter the bloodstream. Gathering info from this site I have been estrogen deficient for a long time. I am starting to feel much, much better! I insert it two times a week and on the days that I use it my breasts feel a slight tenderness and I feel a little crampy, otherwise no bad symptoms. Is this to good to be true? I almost feel cheated that for years of feeling HORRIBLE all I needed was a little estrogen?

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About six weeks ago I felt as though I had a tampax in. I went to my gyno and she said I had a hypermobile urethra, so she sent me to a urologist.

He doesn't think so. I had a lot of redness going way up into my vagina. He put me on a vaginal anitbiotic for five days and told me to start the Vagifem. In the meantime the "tampax feeling" comes and goes. Also, I just went to my Internist for my annual physical and he said not to take the Vagifem. Now I am REALLY confused. I don't know what to do.....listen to my urologist or internist?

Has anyone else ever had this "tampax feeling?

As I have said before-I am certain that vagifem does go into the system. My boobs got relly sore within days of using it and it got rid of all my hot flushes. It also gave me PMS!
If you are taking it for more than a couple of months ensure you get some progesterone from your doc to clear you out!
Janet c

Vicki,

Am going to echo others here, that sounds like a lot of Vagifem! My GYN put me on 1 tab a week [am 49, still menstruating but had gotten so dry that sex was really unpleasant]. GYN said to wait about 3 weeks before noticing relief, which I did and it happened as she said.

Am now still only inserting once a week and if I forget I'll notice before the week is up.

I bought the line about such a small dose not penetrating into my system - if it is, I don't notice breast tenderness.

I'd be concerned that you were told to use so much, but others have said they were given similar...

Am very sorry you're not having a good experience here,
new

Yes, ladies this is a frequently not talked about, unpleasant side effect of menopause! I have not had a period for 5 yrs., which I welcomed since I am totally free of tampons, cramps, etc. By far, vaginal dryness now is my worst symptom of menopause.

Went to gyno this week who prescribed vagifem for me, but after reading all the literature I could find on estradiol ( I think that is the active ingredient) I chose to just stick it out with the natural lubricants and good old Vit. E. Side effects of vagifem just aren't worth it to me..... I have a very supportive husband of 30 yrs. and he agreed.

Until they find something that is proven NOT to enter the system and NOT possibly cause breast and uterine problems, I will remain with the topical applications of natural ingredients.

Jaycee, I totally agree its sometimes hard to know what to do.
I am still in peri havent a clue when I will even start meno I am 53 and still have regular periods but I have and do get the dryness, and pain and discomfort its the pits I say.
I use A salve that has all natural oils too, one of them does have a lil wild yam in it and that is the one that gets me thru the bad days like right before a period or after , The vit E I agree is very helpful, take care, Tinks

I'm one of the few here who love my vagifem. I still get my periods although they are irregular. Do I still need to consider pregesterone? Sometimes, like today, I feel like I need to up my estrogen as I am more dry than normal and I have a rip roaring migraine. I take it twice a week.

I had never heard of vaginal dryness until I visited the ER for the third time in as many weeks and this last Dr. told me vaginal dryness was common. Even my peri and meno friends look at me weird when I tell them about this symptom.

In some ways I wish that I could tolerate the natural route through this but my symptoms are so greatly relieved with vagifem that I choose to use it for now along with your great advice and natural things like vit E etc. You ladies have saved my life and sanity! Thank you a million times over!

If you are using vagifem twice a week-please consider progesterone!
I have had uterine cancer and it started after using vagifem on and off last year without any progesterone to balance it.
I had definite side effects whilst using it and now I just wish that I had known how risky it is to use unapposed oestrogen. I cannot have any treatment for my vaginal dryness now. I get by with vitamin e etc. I wish I could have a little estrogen but I cannot have any at all now!

I made a decision today to stop the vagifem. I did feel much better on it and the dryness, hotflashes etc really subsided but after weighing out the risks I will try some alternatives. I just have to listen to the little voice that has been nagging me. Since I visit PS regularly I have become more educated and therefore more confident with my transition through peri. Thank you, ladies for your bravery and honesty, you would not believe how much you have helped me. Love to all of you.

Good luck Shaki !
I have been to the doc again because I had spotting. As I had a hyst for cancer, every time I spot I think that it has come back!
Basically I have atrophic vaginitis, so the skin in that area is so thin that it doesn't take much to set off the spotting. I asked the doc about the vagifem again and whether it could have started the cancer off. She agreed that it does go into the system in very small amounts, and can help with hot flushes etc. She also said that the very small amount used for the time I did would not have caused the cancer.
Therefore I would say to you-if you find that you start getting very dry and sore, you could consider using vagifem again for a short time and maybe just ask if you could have some progesterone to balance it out.
I do not have a choice at present. So I have to rely on the other options.
Hope all goes well for you though. Its definitely better to go the natural way if you can
janet c

Hi Janet C,

Thank goodness that you're okay. You seem to have had a bad go of things and I'm sorry for that. I appreciate your feed back and I am determined to go the natural way. Like I said in the last post I am listening to that inner voice, and it says stop! I'm having trouble getting my doctor to phone back to see if I can go cold turkey off the Vagifem or if I have to wean off slowly. I haven't been on it for very long. One pharmacist said yes and another said to wean off, but she thought I was talking about a cream.

My thoughts are with you

Shakti

Hi again Shakti
You are sooo right to listen to that inner voice!
I did and it told me I had something wrong even when all the doctors were telling me I didn't.
I would go with gut insinct every time.
you dont have to wean yourself off of vagifem. you can stop using it at any time
Janet c