Hello, I’ve just started Anastrazole and on reading the leaflet (as I always do) I saw that it said it shouldn’t be taken with any HRT products. I had been using Ovestin for over four years as I’m now 60 and am in a long-distance relationship. I rang my GP and she said I should stop using the Ovestin, so I did.
I’ve already noticed that my vagina is drier though I haven’t yet had the chance to have sex - not since March in fact - due to the exigencies of treatment and the distance factor. I’ve read the booklets and the advice all just seems to boil down to “use lashings of lube” which frankly I already do!
Is my GP right - that I can no longer use Ovestin? If so, it’s a blow. What else can I do? I’ve seen references to somthing called Replens on this site which I will look up but is there anything else that can help keep my lady bits in good order?
I use Replens. It’s a three times a week squirt into the vagina. Then also have Sylk, a lube. Both non- hormonal. Important not to use hormonal lubricant. There are loads out there that are safe.
Hi I used to use Replens then my pharmacy had trouble getting hold of it. Then I saw a thing with Davina and menopause and she spoke to Sam who started www.jodivine.co.uk she has a nursing background and has issued with vaginal dryness. Lots of articles on the website.she recommends Yes and Sutil products. So many prescribed by GP have things that can cause more issues such as thrush.
I have swapped to Yes moisturiser and lubricant, it’s not perfect. I had Vagifem (pessary) with HRT before but told to stop. DR Liz O’Riorden breast cancer surgeon with breast cancer does YouTube videos and recently research has suggested you can use vaginal oestrogen with ER+ breast cancer as it local.
My understanding of the hormone type of vaginal moisturisers/lubes is that it’s minimal risk if your cancer was hormone positive (mine was) but as my oncologist said, still a small risk. Plenty out there that are hormone free.
I am on Anastrozole which as you are probably aware it is a hormone suppressant so yes your gp is right you don’t want to be taking anything with hormones in or it will defeat the object. x
I asked about getting Replens on prescription and I was told I couldn’t and would have to buy it. It is interesting that your GP prescribed it thank you for the information.
I was on Anastrozole and was told to stop
Ovestin which I used for both vaginal atrophy and lichen sclerosis. Despite seeing a vaginal dermatologist and using emollient washes, yes VM and a steroid cream it was still sore and itchy. I had other issues with Anastrozole due to my arthritis and bone issues so they have recently swapped me to tamoxifen and allowed me to restart the Ovestin.early days but it’s improving. With Anastrozole they won’t let you take Ovestin, but with tamoxifen you can. My joint issues are improving too.
Hello all - a quick update from me, the OP. Thanks again for all your helpful replies. I was ill for a couple of weeks so I’ve only just been able to get started on this.
I managed to see a GP today - she is new to our practice and specialises in menopause. She said she has worked with gynecologists who are quite happy for Anastrazole patients to continue with Ovestin and is writing to my oncologist to ask him about it. Really helpful and she was so sympathetic.
She told me she couldn’t prescribe Replens or Hyalofemme or Yes but encouraged me to go and get some. I’ve asked for a free sample of Hyalofemme (which she strongly recommended btw) from their website and bought some Yes which I’ll try tonight.
So there you go, some progress, and I’ll let you know what happens.
I am being prescribed hyalofemme as I reckon it’s the only vaginal lubricant without hormones which has been found to work after randomised controlled trials in france I think… It does sting but it also seems to act against urinary tract infections so i trust it more.
Our surgery won’t prescribe any of the non-hormonal gels unfortunately - my GP says they would be penalised if they did. So I’m hoping the Ovestin thing works out.
I finally saw my oncologist this week after accidentally missing the first appointment they gave me last month dud to a diary mistake (facepalm!).
The Dr I saw was good and listened closely but said that I couldn’t continue with the Ovestin - the Prof who is head of the Cancer Centre has very strong views and says it’s a no-no, the risk is too great. Oh well, I tried.
I pointed out 2 things to him:
I had only found out I shouldn’t be taking it because I read the Anastrazole leaflet v thoroughly and followed up with my GP. Nobody at the Cancer Centre warned me about it, so I could have been running this far-too-great risk for the past three months.
I was not offered any help to find alternatives and had to do that all by myself too! With the help of this lovely forum and also my GP.
He took that on board and said he would feed it back. He is also referring me to a gynaecologist, which will be interesting as I’ve never been to one in all my 60 years.
I’m using Hyalofemme now and it seems ok, we’ll see how it goes.
I had an absolute crying meltdown in the corridor after the appointment (which also dealt with bad side effects from Zolendronic acid), and had to be scraped up off the floor and hustled into a side room and plied with tea. Talking to a male Dr about your dry vagina and the way Z acid has messed with your working life is quite hard, even for a tough old bird like me.
Recent study published Nov 23 with breast cancer and vaginal oestrogen. Might be worth a read and share with oncolgist.
Conclusions and Relevance Results of this study showed no evidence of increased early breast cancer–specific mortality in patients who used vaginal estrogen therapy compared with patients who did not use HRT. This finding may provide some reassurance to prescribing clinicians and support the guidelines suggesting that vaginal estrogen therapy can be considered in patients with breast cancer and genitourinary symptoms.
I spoke to a cancer nurse specialist who had an interest in vaginal dryness, moisturiser were the first point of call but if still persist Vagifem oestrogen suppository was listed to use as it’s localised and not systemic.
So I’m hoping the Ovestin thing works out.