vaginal estrogen and vag valium question

[sungirl55]

I was wondering if any of you lovely ladies are using both vaginal estrogen cream and vaginal valium suppositories. I'm supposed to insert a valium suppository every night (10mg) and I also insert 1 gram of estradiol cream three nights a week. I'm worried that the valium will keep the estrogen cream from absorbing in my outer tissues because I insert the suppository after I put the cream in. I'm so confused by all this and need some advice. I thought about just skipping the valium suppositories on the nights I use my estrogen cream. I have a huge fear that the atrophy and burning will return if the estrogen is not getting absorbed. That was a nightmare. I need the valium because I'm being treated for tight pelvic muscles because of all the vaginal pain from atrophy.

Man, the valium seems to be helping me with the pain in the vagina from the tight muscles but it makes me really sleepy. Also, I heard on you-tube (Heather Hirsch, a menopause specialist) that you can take as much of the vaginal estrogen as you want. So I've increased my estrogen a little bit to see if I can get things a little more moist down there because even with 1 gram 3 times a week, it's still dry and the outer parts aren't very moist either. Any advice would be great because when I ask the doctors, they don't give much reassurance. Thanks!

[SouthernSally]

I've used them separately but not together. I used estradiol only before bed to minimize it seeping out. The suppository doesn't do that if you insert it deep. Could you try the suppository earlier in the evening on the nights you use the estradiol?

[sungirl55 in reply to SouthernSally]

Thanks Sally for the reply. I could try that but I'm headed back to PT tomorrow and I think I'll just ask the nurses there what they think. I thought about doing it the other way around. Like insert the estrogen earlier in the evening and then the suppository at bed time. I don't know.

[lucikam]

Why someone get vaginal estrogen cream? I got one prescription and no idea why.

[sungirl55 in reply to lucikam]

The reason doctors prescribe vaginal estrogen cream is because as women reach menopause sometimes they have major vaginal problems like itching and burning after urinations or after periods, and UTI's usually brought on by physical intimacy, but not always. Women can also have a lot of urinary tract infections whereas they didn't have them all the time in their younger years. As women reach menopause, their vaginas lose estrogen and this is what causes all the painful symptoms. So, doctors give vaginal cream to insert into the vagina to get the estrogen back into the vaginal tissues and reverse the damage that was caused by perimenopause or menopause.

[ebclarkey]

I’ve have tried Vagifem but I suffered with UTIs every time so I have stopped using them.

[sungirl55 in reply to ebclarkey]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I know they do have an oral form of medication for vaginal atrophy called Osphena??? Maybe you could try that or you could try estrogen systemically, like a patch or pill. I'm in the U.S.

[bantam12 in reply to sungirl55]

I think you probably mean Ospemifene oral tablet ? I’ve used it for years and it’s amazing, way more effective than topical treatments.

[sungirl55 in reply to bantam12]

Bantam, please tell me more! Because I hate always having to put something in my vagina all the time. I have PTSD about it from all the pain from atrophy and pelvic floor dysfunction. Are you in the U.S.? I've often wondered about Ospemifene. I think the brand name is Osphena. Is that right?

[bantam12 in reply to sungirl55]

Im in UK and my tabs are Senshio 60mg. My Gynae prescribed them around 5 years ago, tried all the topicals and nothing really worked, I’m very sensitive to preservatives so couldn’t even use most on offer, Vagifem for a few years was ok but then it stopped working.

The Senshio has reversed the severe atrophy and I have stopped taking them regularly as I can now manage just using Yes moisturiser occasionally, if I do get a flare up I just go back on the tablets for a short while and it’s all sorted again.

Definitely worth a try if you don’t like the topicals.

[sungirl55 in reply to bantam12]

Oh, thank you for the info. This is very interesting. So I guess it's called Senshio there and Osphena here. I was under the impression that vaginal atrophy was lifelong and that it never improves. That's encouraging to know that I might not have to deal with this until I die. All the literature here online says it's a lifelong problem and you have to stay on the estrogen or it will come right back. My atrophy just kept getting worse and worse over four years until I figured out that I needed estrogen down there. The first couple of months the medicine burned me terrible but I stuck with it and now it no longer burns. The doctors say it can burn if the atrophy is bad so I guess that's why it burned. I'd just rather take a pill and be done with all the trauma. I see my urogynecologist Friday and I'll ask her about it. Thanks!

[bantam12 in reply to sungirl55]

It is lifelong but with treatment can go into remission, as I said I can get away with not taking the tablets for many months just using a moisturiser but if it flares up then I go back on the tablets for a few weeks and get back into remission again. I also have a lot of vaginal adhesions which complicates things even more !

[sungirl55 in reply to bantam12]

Okay, thanks for the additional info. Do your flare ups include UTIs because I don't think I could take that chance because they're so painful. Or do you mean itching as a flare up? I'm so glad you've figured out a solution that works for you. Gives me hope.

[bantam12 in reply to sungirl55]

Flare up means pain for me, no itching just local and pelvic pain. I did have constant uti’s but went on low dose antibiotics for 2 years and not had any problem since so maybe the tablets cured that as well.

[Aryah]

I use them together and was told it wouldn't be a problem. the suppositories work more internally, and the estrogen more around the edges.

[AgonyAnn]

I use vagifem every other day that helps the pain I get from mesh removal and the scar tissue from three ops to help me and haven’t. That’s oestrogen based

[glenbanchor]

I have changed my diet to a FODMAP diet suggested by dietician really helps much more comfortable. Also take estrogen sometimes but not dry. I take D-Mannose to neutralize urine. I've cut out WHEAT altogether and lost a stone in weight. I've had lots of ultra sounds since 2017. Nothing found but have had lots of painful urine retention and Uti's in the past.

Definately feeling a lot better now but still get some pain. Doctor thought I might have thrush and I apply canestan at times. Don't really know what's wrong but new diet certainly helping.

[sungirl55]

I wonder if you had pelvic muscle dysfunction like I have. Tight pelvic muscles cause the urine stream to be light. I've not thought about changing my diet. I'm glad the diet is working for you. Thanks for the advice.

[arojas25]

Have you try vaginal laser. It helps with the dryness. Also biological hormones.

[sungirl55 in reply to arojas25]

Hi Arojas! Thanks for the reply. In the book "My Menopausal Vagina", the lady who wrote that book talked about her problems with vaginal atrophy. She goes to get the vaginal laser too but she said the first time was very painful with lots of burning, so I'm a little scared about it. What was your experience with it? Do you take the vaginal estrogen cream plus bio-identical hormones either in a patch form or oral pill? I still have my periods so I don't know if I can have oral hormones.

[arojas25 in reply to sungirl55]

I am over the menopause, I am much older than you. I did the laser called Monalisa and it was not really bad. They start you with a low amount of laser. I do it every year and it is uncomfortable for a day or two but it is worth it. I do not do any cream only the bio-identical hormone and laser once a year. When you do the bio-identical hormones they check your hormone levels and give you what you need. The combination of both save my sexual life and dryness. Its worth it.

[sungirl55]

Thank you Arojas! That's helpful information. My dryness/atrophy is so severe. I'd love to be able to take hormones and not have to use vaginal estrogen cream. Was your atrophy severe and causing you pain and burning? That was my situation. Now I have a condition where my pelvic muscles are so tight and won't relax because of the pain of the vaginal atrophy. I just let it go on too long, thinking it would get better. Are you in the U.S.?

[arojas25]

Yes, I am in the US, Florida. I was diagnosed with severe atrophy, pain and burning. I immediately research it and decided to take the hormones and do the laser. It has worked for me. The laser, the first time, you have to go three times because they start at a low dosage. Then I just go once a year. Here in the US the insurance does not pay for it. The pellets(hormones) are around $1,800.00 a year and the laser is $500.00. The first time I did the laser was $2,500.00 then it went down to $500.00 a year.

[sungirl55 in reply to arojas25]

Oh wow. Okay, thank you so much for sharing this information. I guess I should consider the laser treatments. It's interesting that you don't have to use vaginal estrogen cream. I would much rather have oral estrogen or the patch estrogen. I know some friends who have had the pellet hormones but it seems like that method would be hard to get the dosage right. I was always told by doctors that the systemic hormone method (like what you're taking) wouldn't correct vaginal atrophy as effectively, but it sounds like it's working just fine for you. I'm so glad you've figured out how to reverse this horrible condition. It gives me hope to know I have other options out there. Thank you.