Vaginal Atrophy solution that is working for me!

gb2115

Runner70, you are definitely not alone. I've been frustrated since a pelvic PT basically told me that for me all products except estrogen would be useless, and was dead set that estrogen was safe for me. She seemed surprised that I wouldn't embrace it. I was surprised that she still thought that after I explained how this cancer works. I broke down and used it out of desperation, but then had recurrence. Now on exemestane I'm quite wary of doing anything to raise levels. On tamoxifen, at least, there was the possibility of increasing estrogen being blocked at the receptor level. I don't think aromatase inhibitors work the same way. I think the idea is that the meds bring your estrogen down to nil.

So I suffer. I mean, is she right that nothing else will touch it? I use VMagic occasionally but it doesn't really helped. I've tried other things that didn't really help. Coconut oil was ok but ruined my underwear. I'm prone to rashing so I don't want to use pantyliners every day.

Nsbrown54

I use a vaginal lubricant every other night. My MO and GYN said no to any estrogen, so this is the best that I can do. Wish there were other options.

Jons_girl

There is another option. Testosterone cream. It may raise estrogen but mine hasn't gone up much at all. Some testosterone does converts to estrogen. It has helped my dryness a lot. I'm pretty much back to normal as far as moisture goes I think.

So that would be a option for those who don't want to go on estrogen. I don't use very much. Just use it three times a wk now.

I am going to talk to my gyn tho about estrogen cream too. I get a compounded testosterone cream. And I thought they could combine them. Just adding a little estrogen.

Runrcrb

Runr70 - I hadn't had sex in 6 years (husband was sicker than I was when I was diagnosed and died shortly thereafter). Having been in menopause pre-cancer I wasn't really thinking about vaginal atrophy. Met a man this spring and am having sex again. Initially painful but I found a caring man who did as much research as I had been doing. I talked to my doctor as well. PCP suggested estrogen cream if the oncologist was OK with it. My oncologist was OK but I did a little more looking around and have been using Replens vaginal moisturizer twice a week. Between Replens and frequent intercourse, the vagina is coming back and sex is pain free. Possibly the hormone free moisturizer will provide some relief for you.

KBL

Popping in to say I was just on a webinar with Dr. Gupta by Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and someone asked a question about sex. He said the old way of thinking was to not use an estrogen cream, but they are starting to realize that it is okay to use. I’ve been using estrodiol for at least four months, and it has not had any effect on my tumor markers or progression. I just wanted to let anyone who’s on the fence about using estrodiol know to talk with your doctor and gynecologist. It has helped me. I chose to use it because I felt it was more about quality of life than quantity.

Jons_girl

kbl:

Thanks for letting us know how things are going for you. I’ve added estrogen cream too. And I will have blood drawn in Oct. but I believe the data out there. My gyn is confident all will be fine with the studies showing this is ok for breast cancer survivors. My medical oncologist is ok with me using this cream too. I’m sure there are more than two of us here on this. I’m anxious to see how this goes. I think I’ve been on it less than a month

KBL

jons_girl, please keep me posted on your bloodwork. I hope it’s helping you. It definitely is helping me. I sometimes forget to use it. I try two times per week to make sure I use some.

Jons_girl

kbl:

I will definitely post here after my blood work results. The cream I have comes in a real cool container where the applicator fits tightly on top of the container. Then I turn the container for “4 clicks”. Studies show according to my gyn that I can use this dose three times a week safely. She told me she doesn’t want me on any higher of a dose. So three times I week I switched to. I had been using it twice a week. Will see how I do on this dose. I wasn’t noticing a ton of difference but I’ve only been using it a few wks now I think. October will be three months I think. So I’m hoping to definitely notice a difference by then. I’m slightly noticing a difference overall I think. It defines helps tho vaginally. No doubt about that!

KBL

I believe I used it every day for the first two weeks and then went to two times per week. I’ve never seen the container you’re talking about. Interesting.

Jons_girl

This is what the container looks like and applicator then attaches to top and you turn the bottom however many 'clicks' the doctor prescribes. It is a cool container and is way better than anything I have seen as far as disbursement of the cream. It is called Versacream (estrodiol). I think this container is a 60 or 90 day supply as I recall.

KBL

That’s really cool. Mine just comes in a tube. I will look for that next time.

gb2115

That looks like a Topi Click Perl! Those are cool because you know for sure how much you are getting, where a tube is less specific. I had compounded estrogen in that once. Didn't use the applicator since I was using a very small amount.

KBL

Thank you, gb2115.

trinigirl50

I use premarin cream. I use my fingers as I find the applicator irritates the entrance. I now use the premarin about once a week. The improvement has been amazing. I could barely insert one finger without pain. I could not have a pap smear without lidocaine, and two months of dilator usage (I had three separate attempts at the pap smear)

After just 3 months of sporadic use of the premarin (I was scared to use it as prescribed- 3 times a week - because I was so highly estrogen positive) I was able to tolerate a pap smear, and I can get 2 fingers inserted comfortably. I can even feel the difference inside.

My oncologist and gynecologist have no issues with me using it once I remain taking Letrozole.

It's a game changer.

Jons_girl

gb2115: Yes I think you must be right. The top/lid looks like a shell so sounds like pearl. lol. Yes it works great! You get exact amount you are supposed to use, whatever the medical provider states, the number of 'clicks'. It is pretty cool!

trinigirl50: That is good the premarin cream is helping you. I just wanted to share something with you that my gyn PA shared with me. She said premarin comes from pregnant horses urine. She told me I should not use it. The cream I use comes from a compound pharmacy. It is from wild yam as the source it comes from. So it is plant based estrogen. I just wanted to share that in case you didn't know there were other options for estrogen cream.

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! It is beautiful weather out here in the PNW!