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question about estrace cream
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Posted by cindy_pond (My Page) on Thu, May 28, 09 at 11:00
Is estrace cream a bio-identical hormone? Is it safe when used alone without progesterone? My gynecologist prescribed
this to me for atrophic vaginitis and said that she had never seen any harsh side effects other then some slight burning as very little of the hormone enters the blood stream...does anyone have experience with this? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: question about estrace cream
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Cindy,,
Yes my Doctor told me the same thing when I was prescribed Estrace Cream. Without this medicne I think I would have killed myself by now. I liked the idea of not having to take HRT orally but yet still replenish the hormones I was lacking in my Vagina. I'm surprised to see this message on the forum. About a year and a half ago I wrote in about it and not too many women even knew what I was talking about. Vaginal Atrophy seems to be a subject not too many talk about. I went to three doctors over a years time before I figured out what was wrong with me. Cindy |
RE: question about estrace cream
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cindy,
oh I feel so much better that I'm not the only one who is suffering like this. Isn't it amazing what just a little estrogen will do..I used it one time and not only is the sex better but so are the horrible hot flashes.
thank you for for responding. I needed the uplift
Cindy |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Thanks Cindy. I use Estroven for the hot flashes "regular strength" and Estrace Cream for Vaginal Atrophy. The Estroven seems to manage my hot flashes during the day (I have a little fan on my desk at work when I need a little bit of air) At night I sleep with the ceiling fan on. I try any way I can to stay away from taking prescription HRT. About the sex, you're so right about that, even my husband notices a big difference (it seems to help with the libido too). My doctor said I would probably have to use Estrace Cream for the rest of my life. That's ok with me. What dosage are you taking? I use about 2gm every other night or so. I can make a tube last for almost 2 months now. (saves on money and the risk of using it). Cindy |
RE: question about estrace cream
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Hi Cindy,
My doctor prescribed 4 grams twice in one week initially...and then 2-4 grams weekly thereafter. But I only used 4 grams initially and will try to use 2 grams weekly and will increase to 4 if that doesn't do the trick.
I am surprised at how one single dose helped with my hot flashes which were very intense all night long...I have a little fan by my bed and also sleep with the ceiling fan on all night. I never thought menopause would be like this...but maybe its the whole idea of aging and what it represents that adds insult to injury. One thing I can say is that its a transition which takes its toll physically and mentally. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Cindy, The great thing about this medicine is that because it's cream you can regulate what you need. Some weeks you may need more and some weeks you may need less. 1 to 1 1/2 gram every other day works great for me but sometimes I even go every two days, and sometimes I use 2 or 3 grams depending on how I'm feeling. Are you taking anything else for hot flashes? I thought the estrace cream helped mine at first too but when I experimented and took away the Estroven I found it was really the estroven helping me with the flashes. Just wondering. Cindy |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| I was taking estroven and anything else I could get my hands on with NO relief...it's only since the estrace cream do I feel "normal". I was having intense hot flashes all night mostly..it would start the same way a contraction would start.. building slowly until I was sizzling and then ease up... that would go on all night long every hour. So thank god for estrace cream..so far so good. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| You know Cindy there may be something to it. All I know is that my hot flashes and vaginal dryness are manageable now with the cream and estroven and I finally feel normal again. I'm not going to do anything to mess it up. Thanks for writing back to me Cindy. As you can see no one but me has responded to your question there just doesn't seem to be a lot of gals out there that know about Estrace Cream or else this topic has already been talked about to death he he he. Or a lot of them are on HRT orally and that helps the dryness and they don't need the cream. Either way it's good to know I am not the lone user. Cindy |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Is the Estrace cream messy? Does it get in the way of intimacy? |
RE: question about estrace cream
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carol,
I usually use 2 grams per week..actually, less than that because the atrophy and hot flashes are gone at this point.
I wait a couple of days before any sexual contact. So for me, it doesn't get in the way of intimacy at all. I think if I used the 4 grams per week that the doctor prescribed, I might have some leakage. If you use lets say, monostat cream as an example, it's much less messy than that. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Does anyone notice any other side effects with Estrace cream, like weight gain, etc.? |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| susie..unfortunately I have noticed that after the third week of my using it, I felt a little thick around the middle...when I got on the scale I was surprised to see that I had gained 5 pounds...so I stopped using the cream and only plan on using it if my symptoms return...which I'm sure they will eventually. I just don't see the need to use something continuously if I'm not suffering. I only had to use the cream three times and have wonderful results..no painful sex and not one hot flash...weight gain and tender breasts were my only side effect...I'll be 53 next month and haven't had a period now for 6 months...keep your fingers crossed that it won't come back!!! |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| The Estrace Cream is messy (I wear a panty liner the next day). But for me it works much better than Vagifem. I have used the cream the night before sex and that night after sex, no side effects noticed. It actually helps with lubrication for both partners. I didn't notice any weight gain from taking it. I use Estrace Cream every other night or every 2nd night depending on how I'm feeling. After going through hell for a year with six months of it barely having sex at all, I wouldn't give it up for a million bucks now. Actually sex with my husband is even more enjoyable now then when it was before menopause. I wouldn't be able to say that if I wasn't using Estrace cream. I still have hot flashes though and was told in the begining by GYN Doc that it wouldn't help hot flashes so if Cindy is not experiencing hot flashes now after using estrace Cream, she is one lucky lady. Cindy57 |
RE: another question about estrace cream
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Cindy57,
I stopped using the estrace as I said in my above post because of the weight gain and sore breasts..then this week, I had my first period in six months...ugh!!! I don't think its a coincidence, I think it has to do with the cream..because all the symptoms started with the use of the estrace...what do you think?...I still haven't had another hot flash yet and its been a week since I stopped using it.
and by the way...sex is better because of the cream!!!! It totally irradicated my atrophy (what a horrible word to relate to a vagina) |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| I would love more info on estrace cream. What systems are you using this for. I had an vulvectomy 10 years ago and recently started having more problems. biopsy have been negative but there is a burning and raw fealing around scar area. Estrace is prescribed and i just wanted to know if anyone else out there has this problem. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Is Estrace Cream better and easier to use for extreme vaginal dryness, or is Vagifem? I've been to two doctors--one prescribes Estrace in very minimal dosage--and the other Vagifem. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Estrace Cream works much better. I and several of my friends have tried the Vagifem tablets and although less messy, they did nothing. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| I've never posted here, but am surprised to read that you ladies adjust your Estrace dose to suit yourselves. My GYN told me to take 1 gram every day for 2 weeks to start (this was last October) and then, 1 gram twice a week. NO MORE than that! He said I have to be careful with the cream because of the risks and that if I slipped up and used more than a gram of cream, I could get bleeding and other problems over time. I did slip up once and did get bleeding which was upsetting to me, so now I'm very careful to measure out the gram of cream. I do not have vaginal atrophy, but did have some vaginal tissue that had 'fallen' and was in the way of my vaginal opening. Sex with my husband (20 yrs married, GREAT sex life) was very painful. GYN said the tissue might always be there, but one day it wasn't anymore. I don't know why. Anyway, sex is better than ever. I've always had a high sex drive and cutting back on sex due to the blockage was upsetting to me. Now things are back to normal. I LOVE this Estrace and hope I can use it for the rest of my life. I do not take any oral hormones and hope I never do. So far, I have not had any hot flashes, just weight gain and dry vagina but the Estrace has helped with lubrication. In all, I'm very happy with the Estrace. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| go for it ladies it is a god sent and works, you get wet, have great sex and the positive outweight the side effects, which I have had none...find a doctor that will prescribe for you,,, it has changed my life |
RE: question about estrace cream
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I have used premerin cream for a year because of vaginal dryness. The cream caused an odor that was embrassing.
My doctor just put me on Estrace. Does anyone have an odor with this cream? I love sex and oral sex is important. I am between a rock and a hard place because. I don't know when to use the cream and for severe dryness I have too. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| I was just prescribed this cream and not sure if and when I can have sex while using it?? What about oal sex? |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| I had one of my ovaries removed due to a cyst and my remaining ovary seems to be on strike, so I am having severe burning due to lack of estrogen ( well, that is what the dr said!). I was prescribed 1/2 gram once a week of estrace cream and I really do not think it is enough as all my burning symptoms, which are miserable, come right back. Is it ok to play with the dose a. It to see what works? I'm 38 and do not plan to live a miserable life so I am looking for advice and ideas. I appreciate any wisdom you can send my way! |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| It may not be atrophy and you may be using a serious med and you don't have to. I have been to several gyns since my hysterectomy and they all said atrophy, but it wasn't. The last gyn I went made a correct diagnosis of Lichen Sclerosis. A small pea size dab of Clobetasol twice a week, takes care the discomfort. If you have my problem you would probably know it, because you could never have sex again. After it advances you can diagnose yourself with a mirror. There is no cure for it. |
RE: question about estrace cream
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Oh wow, thanks for scaring the hell out of me! No, I definitely do not have what you have and I am so sorry to hear what you must be going through. After doing some research it sounds like a horrible disease and my heart goes out to you.
I've been playing with my Estrace doses the last few days and seem to be doing much better with a bit higher dose, thankfully. Does anyone need progesterone cream towards the last half of their cycle? I'm trying to get this all correct. Thanks! |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| It doesn't bother me anymore. The clobetasol takes care of the discomfort and I am single so no problem at all. If I go to the hospital and need a catheter, I might have a bit of a problem. LOL |
RE: question about estrace cream
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| Just started estrace last week and am having some burning. Not sure if it is a UTI or just my body getting used to the cream. Has anyone had any of this? My GYN prescribed to me for dryness. I'm post hyst 7 months and the dryness was killing my sexlife, so I'm really hoping this is the answer, but I'm afraid I might be having a reaction or maybe the symptoms are just coincidence. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. |
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