I had an early menopause at 45 and suffered with vaginal atrophy and extreme pain during sex to the point I couldn’t bear to have sex. GP prescribed vagifem which helped immensely and have been using yes products as well. It’s still not perfect but not so painful! I was diagnosed with breast cancer last April which was hormone positive. After lumpectomy, SNB and four weeks radiotherapy I was put on tamoxifen but couldn’t tolerate it so have since switched to Letrozole. I’m getting conflicting advice on how safe Vagifem is to use, one GP told me it was fine as the estrogen is a very small dose but after seeing a different GP this week he told me I shouldn’t really be using it. I just wondered if anyone else had any advice on this. I don’t know whether to stop using it and see how I get on or who to speak to. There is so much conflicting advice on this online!. Any advice welcome!
Poor you that sounds grim. I think the reason that you get different opinions is because it is a controversial subject. In an ideal world we should not use any oestrogen containing products if we have been diagnosed with a hormone sensitive cancer. However many doctors take the view that quality of life needs to be weighed up against the small doses involved and very limited absorption of drugs through the wall of the vagina. That said the best advice I would give would be to have a chat to your oncologist about this as they are the experts. The other thing that would be really useful would be to go and see a local menopause specialist. They are often very helpful with these decisions. You can get a list of where to find these people if you google the Menopause Society and speak to them. I think often this may be out with what the NHS can provide so you may have to pay for that consultation. It is probably worth it to get the most expert help you can though.
You have my deep sympathy though as I have similar issues myself and it is no joke?. Just remember that there are things they can do to help so hopefully things will improve with time. Keep your chin up and be proactive about getting the best advice available to turn things round quickly. Wishing you lots of luck and hugs.??Kate xxx
Hi Sharnie, I am suffering the same problem; it makes you feel so fed up. I was hormone positive and had chemo and rads finishing December 2015. The GP asked me to check with my BCN if I could use Vagifem and she said yes. Like Kate said I was also told a minimal amount is absorbed through the vaginal wall. I am seeing the GP about this next week but like you I have my concerns.
Hi, I am in a similar predicament regarding Vagifem, I was prescribed it by my GP quite a few years ago after trying other products that I was not able to tolerate and was desperately sore and uncomfortable. My GP did ask my then oncologist advice on the matter and he gave the go ahead as he felt the risk was very small compared to quality of life. I was first dx with BC at 49 ER + and chemo completely stopped my periods. I am now 63 and recently dx with sbc pleura,lung and bones. I have stopped using Vagifem since this dx and the pain and discomfort has returned. Currently using Yes water based lubricant applicators nightly for the past week and although it is a little more comfortable I am constantly aware of the soreness and discomfort. I am seriously now considering whether to go back on Vagifem as it seems that it was the only product that worked for me. I will obviously have to discuss this with my oncologist as I am now also on Exemestane hormone therapy to treat the cancer. If she says that she will not prescribe or advise, I don’t know where to go or what to try next, with this very uncomfortable problem. Any advice gratefully received. Xx Ann xx
I agree with Kate Need to weigh up quality of life. I didn’t realise the effect Letrazole would have on my vagina. I am 66 but still sexually active and I literally dried up!!! These ladies,an understanding GP and my breast cancer nurse have sorted me out. I use vagifem,sometmes YES products especially the foam wash, and moisturise externally. As somebody said to me we moisturise our faces religiously why not our labia. Everything much improved. xxx
I’ve posted on here a few times and have found that some of the things suggested have helped. I’ve been using the Yes water-based lubricants and find these pretty effective but, like a lot of us on here, driness is not the real problem. It’s the soreness and tenderness that seem the most difficult symtpoms to relieve. I’ve recently self-referred to a gynaecologist and she has come up with a number of options, many of which are mentioned on here. She told me that the most recent research suggests that low-dose oestrogen replacement treatments are not absorbed into the blood stream - although I think medical opinion does vary (my cancer was ER+). Anyway, she recommended that I try an Estring to start with and then Vagifem pessaries combined with the use of vaginal dilators. If none of these work (or I can’t get on with any of them) apparently there is a new, laser treatment called Mona Lisa (!) which is meant to be very effective. It’s not cheap but if you have health insurance, some companies will consider covering the cost. She’s also trialling a new, natural range of skincare products so I’m going to give those a go as well! I am a bit nervous about using the oestrogen-based products but they are very low-dosage and my onc. did say that he considered that any risks attached to them were very low. I’m hoping that a few months of these won’t do any harm and if they help my quality of life, it’s got to be worth a try. I probably will give the laser treatment a go because this isn’t continuous and obviously isn’t hormone-based. No-one tells you about all this when you’re diagnosed, do they?!