Estradiol topical for Atrophic Vaginitis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Lea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 13, 2020

"I have been taking Imvexxy 10mg twice a week for about 10 months now. I had dryness on the outside of my personal area, more so than the inside dryness. I'm 64 with a healthy sex life. My husband thought it made me too lubricated and he didn't care for it. After two months, I noticed night sweats and some hair loss along with slight headaches. Mostly the night sweats were my big problem. I adjusted to 1 time a week of the 10mcg for a month, but still had night sweats. Now, I have been totally off Imvexxy for two weeks and noticed the night sweats have lightened up a bit. I am going to continue to stay off for 6 weeks to see if there is a big difference with the night sweats, hoping they disappear completely. I did not have this problem before I was on Imvexxy. The reason I was checking out these reviews was to see if anyone else had these same side effects. Please let me know if you do."

• bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2019

"Beware, ladies! I was reassured by my GP that topical estrogen like Vagifem is so weak and mild it rarely causes side effects. But after taking Vagifem nightly for two weeks, I started having dizzy spells. I took my own blood pressure, and it was 153/85. Normally, it is 121/74! I stopped taking the pills immediately, but 6 days later, my blood pressure is still high, and I am just hoping it goes down soon. This may be an uncommon side effect, I don't know, but the warning about strokes got me worried."

• S J...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 18, 2016

"I had been using Vagifem for about 8 years, and now I have uterine cancer. I am having a hysterectomy next week as a result. When my cancer surgeon found out I was using Vagifem tablets, he immediately had me stop it."

• Blo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 2, 2019

"Got prescribed Vagifem about 18 months ago and original hair loss was minimal. Had used this on and off in that time. More hair loss. Ouch. Used or started again a month ago. Experienced major hair loss and now have half as much as I used to. Scalp is visible in lots of areas. Will never use again and can only hope that hair will return."

• His...
• November 15, 2015

"I was experiencing very painful intercourse with tearing. I have used this medication exactly 3 times. It has improved sex 99% already. Some pain on insertion, but none during intercourse for the first time in years! I have no doubt it will get better as my body's estrogen levels improve. So thankful. I am 55 years old."

• Obs...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 17, 2020

"Rectal wall bulging problem. Used Vagifem for many years and a couple of years in, started to suffer from repeated internal rectal wall bulges that caused major discomfort and required ligation via rubber banding by a Colorectal doctor every time - around 10 times. The rectal wall bulges kept recurring, and I also experienced pressure in the lower abdomen when pressing down to pee. Stopped Vagifem over a year ago - have not had one single rectal wall bulge since!! I believe that Vagifem caused tissue, muscle, and structural changes where it should not have."

• Wes...
• November 7, 2018

"I am a post-menopausal physician who began using Vagifem in 2011 after a total hysterectomy. I had absolutely no problems with Vagifem. It helped with my urogenital symptoms, such as dryness and urinary frequency. When Yuvafem came out, I was also changed to it via my mail-in pharmacy. I started experiencing a significant increase in vaginal irritation, vulvar dryness, and urinary frequency. I had been having vaginal discharge the day after I inserted the tablet with increased irritation and itching. I never had any significant discharge or irritation when using Vagifem. My symptoms got so bad that at the end of September I went back on brand-name Vagifem. My symptoms have been gradually improving. Given my experience, and the fact that so many others on this site and elsewhere have had similar issues, I contacted the FDA. I also complained to them regarding the poor packaging. I feel Yuvafem needs further investigation."

• GoG...
• February 17, 2014

"No side effects and saw an immediate improvement, as well as a more peaceful state of mind, which may or may not be in my head, but I don't care. I felt great taking this medication, and it helped with the painful entry/sex that I was experiencing. Now, no problems!"

• InP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2019

"I am 53 and had a complete hysterectomy 27 years ago and have been taking oral Premarin. Dr. Put me on the Estradiol patch which gave me headaches, so we just stopped all HRT. A few weeks later, I developed a UTI and had extreme vaginal and urethra pain. I was put on Estradiol Cream which irritated all of my skin, so they switched me to Estradiol vaginal tablets. I have been using it for 10 days and I am burning, aching, and it feels like something is stuck in me. I do not like this cream and am wondering if the Premarin cream would work better. I keep wondering if this pain will ever go away. Has anyone had symptoms for over 10 days while using the cream?"

• Rel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

"I can't believe how quickly this worked for me. I am using the 10mcg, and I noticed a big difference after one use. I never realized how bad my situation was until I realized I was moist and comfortable down there the morning after the first dose. (Sorry if that is TMI!) I was having terrible burning, itching, painful intercourse, and a feeling that I always had to urinate. I'm 47 and still menstruating, but my gynecologist recommended this drug. I haven't been using it for very long, but so far so good. I read the full insert and read two books (Estrogen Matters and The Estrogen Window) before deciding to take the plunge. I am still worried about the possibility of hair loss. Some users mentioned that side effect. For the record, I also have RA and secondary Sjogren's Syndrome. I take a lot of immunosuppressant drugs. I hate to add to the medication list, but I was absolutely miserable and getting frequent UTIs from the dryness."

• Gal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 18, 2020

"I am in my late 60s and for the past few years have suffered at least 6-7 urinary tract infections a year. The urologist suggested using Vagifem as directed and apart from headaches and nausea for the first few days, I have not had any problems. My urinary tract infections have dropped significantly to 1-2 a year. I now only use it once a week and find this sufficient for keeping everything comfortable. I live in the UK, so my prescriptions are free. I will continue using it for as long as my general practitioner is happy to prescribe it."

• Msa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2020

"I’m 60 years old and have had multiple urinary tract infections over the years. My doctor just started me on Vagifem 3 weeks ago, as well as progesterone oral tablets. In the last week, the burning, itching, and irritation are driving me crazy. I’m trying to deal with it and applying topical OTC creams as well as natural balms to try and calm my vaginal area down. I’m going back to the doctor tomorrow as I can’t stand this anymore. I was really hoping this medication would work for me, I wonder what the next step will be?"

• Ten...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2014

"I'm 48 years old, and my doctor has recently prescribed me Estrace Vaginal Cream because intercourse was becoming unbearable. Very painful, and I was tearing! Geez! So far, the vaginal pain and dryness seem to be decreasing, as I've only been using the cream for the past month. I have no side effects at all so far. That's a good thing! However, I do find the cream very expensive!"

• Ley...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2014

"At 46, I began having UTIs, urinary frequency/urgency, and burning vaginal dryness. I was prescribed Estrace, but the standard formula caused me burning as well. However, a compounded version of estradiol in a hypoallergenic formula has been very helpful. My vaginal burning has stopped, and the urinary urgency/frequency has improved dramatically over the last 2+ months. I think Estrace can be very helpful, and if you're sensitive to it (the propylene glycol can be an irritant), a compounded version can be extremely helpful."

• Lin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 30, 2019

"For those who may not be aware, you can purchase a 3-month supply of Vagifem through Canadian pharmacies for approximately $55. I have been using this approach for years and have never had a problem. If the cost of Vagifem is an issue for you, do yourself a favor and explore this alternative."

• Dca...
• March 22, 2021

"I felt like I had a UTI for several months and was losing sleep due to the sensation of needing to urinate constantly. There were also lots of BV and yeast infections, so it was frustrating. I found an official OBGYN who was a godsend. I’m replying early on with this medicine because after a few days, all of the old symptoms were gone. I’m into it a bit over a week and feel normal again. When I started it, I think I was so dried out that my skin could not even absorb this internally as I’d see it the next morning (I assume it was the cream), but even with that, it has helped and I hope they don’t stop prescribing. Quality of life and comfort are important for mood stabilization, etc. No point in living to be 100 if it’s painful every day. Love this cream."

• Mom...
• December 2, 2019

"It works well, EXCEPT -- my 'vaginal vault' is NOT that deep. It will NOT insert any further. (It flips if I try.) The device hangs out and irritates my genitalia -- leading to poking & incontinence!!! Make it a little SMALLER, please."

• men...
• August 10, 2018

"This cream has been a miracle. I had a hysterectomy 20 years ago and have been off estrogens for at least 15 years. About five years ago started having all kinds of vaginal discomfort. I think I was also battling a bacterial infection. Tried everything for that too. Finally settled on using boric acid capsules once a week for quite some time and the Estrace three times a week. I used about 1 gram. After several months, finally I was able to stop the boric acid. I also was able to cut my Estrace back to once a week 1 gram. Before using this, I was so sensitive that I would be burning and itching just from wiping with toilet paper. The tissue was so thin it looked shriveled up down there. I noticed I had what appeared to be blood blisters on my labia, which have gone away. The skin has plumped up too and is so much healthier. I would give this a ten except the cost is ridiculous."

• Coc...
• January 21, 2018

"I am a healthcare provider in women's health and I prescribe this like crazy. Vaginal atrophy is no joke. Some people are allergic to whatever else that is in the cream, but for the most part, it is well-tolerated. It is estradiol, which is identical to the estrogen in your body."

• Kim...
• September 16, 2020

"After dealing with atrophy following a total hysterectomy, my doc suggested Imvexxy. Let's start with the positives: It DID what it was supposed to do, painful sex vanished after using it only a week and a half and I felt better in the nether regions. Now for the 'not so' positives: I noticed my hair thinning and had a slight headache. In the second week, I noticed a rash on my arms (elbow down) and legs. My family doc treated me with steroids, but it started right back following treatment. I decided to stop Imvexxy on a hunch, and after nearly two weeks, the rash began to fade. When I mentioned this to my gyn, she said you must be allergic to coconut oil... I use coconut oil every day with no issues. The ONLY thing different before all this mess was starting Imvexxy. Bottom line, if anyone did have a rash after this medication and was told 'That's not the cause.' by their doc, you are not alone. I am trying another (non-hormonal) product as it had some good reviews... just to see."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 6, 2012

"At first I didn't have any side effects, but the longer I have taken this medication, I have been experiencing headaches. I never used to get headaches before, and I have had bloating in my abdominal area."

• deb...
• December 15, 2008

"I'm a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman. I've been postmenopausal for 4 years and have been using Estrace for the last 2 years. I use a minimal amount (2 mg once a week). This has greatly helped with my vaginal dryness, as well as keeping the hot flashes in check (a surprising, yet unexpected side benefit). I have had no bad side effects I am aware of. Prior to using Estrace, I was taking 2 or 3 oral hormones (with some side effects), plus I was paranoid about the cancer risk with those. I discontinued the oral hormones and tried using NO hormones for about 6 weeks and couldn't stand it, so my doctor prescribed Estrace."

• Pob...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 16, 2020

"I have been on a low dose (10 mg) Vagifem for the past 9 years at least. I have always tolerated it well, but recently, I have experienced feelings of discomfort, and I wonder if the manufacturing process of the pessary has changed?"

• Cre...
• November 28, 2014

"I have been using Vagifem 10 mcg for 8-9 months, and I just switched to Estrace vaginal cream 1g. Vagifem kept my vagina healthy, but the estrogen doesn't reach the external genital area, which remains dry. With the cream, I'm able to use it in the vagina, but I spread a little extra on the outside."

• Wes...
• March 14, 2019

"Update from my review dated November 7, 2018. I formally contacted the FDA in regards to what I felt was questionable efficacy of Yuvafem and its poor packaging (as compared to the brand-name Vagifem). The FDA contacted Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Amneal agreed to look into my complaint about Yuvafem's efficacy and its packaging. Amneal wanted me to provide them with the Yuvafem that I had leftover, which I did. It was to be sent back to them anonymously with just a brief history of my experience while on the medication. Since it was done anonymously, I won't have follow-up in regards to my complaint, but at least the FDA responded to it and contacted them. I hope this helps others who have noticed a difference after being changed to Yuvafem, or who were started on it initially and continue to have symptoms consistent with atrophic vaginitis. If you feel the drug is not therapeutically beneficial to you, please contact the FDA to let them know. It can be done online."