The Amazing Estring that should be handed out like candy

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meistere
meistere Member Posts: 13
edited September 2017 in Sex & Relationship Matters

I just wanted to share something that I've found many oncologists don't even mention. After completing chemo, radiation and surgery you will be in the maintenance phase - taking tamoxifen or shutting down ovaries with Lupron and taking an Aromatase Inhibitor. During that time, I went from a normal gal to a gal with a dry vagina and pretty much dead inside (ha). I started using the Estring which is an estrogen ring that looks like the Nuvaring (if you've ever used that as birth control). It is replaced every 90 days and you don't feel it. It made everything go back to normal "down there". Here's the miracle part - it DOES NOT increase the level of estrogen in your blood stream so it's safe if you had ER/PR + breast cancer. They have done studies on it.  I have used it for a year and had my blood estrogen levels tested recently and they are still in post-menopausal ranges. My doctors told me it's safe to use for as many years as I need it. Girls! if you don't use SOMETHING you will get vaginal atrophy. Those creams and tablets are a pain in the butt - this is simple. Is it expensive? YES but so worth it. Pay the money, save your vagina and your sex life ;-)  

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  • Katjadvm
    Katjadvm Member Posts: 137
    edited June 2017

    Hi. Can you post any links to the studies done. I have been using the DHEA bezwecken cubes but would love info on Estring.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2017

    Sorry - I looked up Estring and it contains Estradiol. If you look that up, it is a form of estrogen. So all of my docs would have said definitely NOT.

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited June 2017

    My oncologist said vagifem or estring are fine, but the topical premarin cream, nope. Maybe some gals go overboard and use more than "allowed/recommended" so using the other 2 is dosed already.

    I'm still good with olive oil and coconut oil and though clinically, I have atrophy, I'm not feeling like I have it, which is the main thing.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2017

    My GYN said nothing that even had a hint of estrogen or estrace. And that's even though I'm ER/PR negative.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited June 2017

    So, I am always curious and looked up Estring, on the company's website. The front page has a whole list of warnings, among them that using an estrogen product can give you uterine cancer, strokes etc. It also says:

    "Do not use ESTRING if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, have or have had cancer of the breast or uterus, had a stroke or heart attack, have or have had blood clots or liver problems, have a bleeding disorder, are allergic to any of its ingredients, or think you may be pregnant."

    So surely that would mean the product is a no-no for BC patients, or am I missing something?

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  • brigid_TO
    brigid_TO Member Posts: 75
    edited June 2017

    There is a some support for a product like Estring to be prescribed for women with ER+ BC see link below

    https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/News-Releases/2016/ACOG-Supports-the-Use-of-Estrogen-for-Breast-Cancer-Survivors

    Also a clinical trial well underway

    Clinical Trial Estring


    Doesn't seem like there is enough for FDA to change the product label warnings though? Definitely something to keep watch.



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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited June 2017

    Thanks Brigid, particularly encouraging to see that they are doing a trial.

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  • booklover74
    booklover74 Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2017

    Tell me more about the olive and coconut oil.

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited September 2017

    the FDA is going to take the course that they know is the safest when they decide what the manufacturer can and cannot put in their package insert. So that warming is going to be there regardless if there is clinical evidence around it or not. The argument here is that the estrogen/progesterone are primarily localized vs systemic (like birth control pills are). Very low (typically not statistically significant) amounts of any at all can sometimes be detected in the bloodstream. To be 100% safe, don't use it. However if you and your dr decide that the slight potentialrisk is worth the benefit then that's a different story.

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