Does anyone use Estrace cream AND Vagifem? - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

systitis · 09-10-2009, 08:50 AM

Estrace has helped my pain/discomfort but frequency not so much. I'm wondering if adding Vagifem inserts to the Estrace might help? Does anyone know? Has anyone tried a combination of the two?

Skynard · 09-10-2009, 09:32 AM

What is Estrace? Is it for people who are going thru menopause?

purpletomorrow · 09-10-2009, 10:48 AM

Estrace is topical estrogen cream.

It's applied to the inside of the vagina with an applicator.

It's not systemic, meaning it doesn't pour estrogen into your whole body like a birth control pill.

It just soaks the immediate area in estrogen.

Vaginas need estrogen. Lacking estrogen, the ph changes and the area becomes more hospitable to the bacteria that cause UTI's. This is one reason old women are so prone to UTI's.

The bladder needs estrogen too, in order to function well. Estrogen in the vagina soaks through to the bladder and the bladder's estrogen receptors.

My IC symptoms reduced considerably when I added Vagifem inserts to my regime.

systitis · 09-10-2009, 10:58 AM

Hi Laura...thanks for your reply. So you use both Estrace and Vagifem? Can you tell me what specific symptoms have improved since using both? How often do you use them?

I find I'm using Estrace almost every day & it's been really helpful for vulvar pain/discomfort...but I feel I could use a little more oomph to get my symptoms (specifically frequency & miserable nocturia -- I was up 10 times last night!) more under control. The question is: would Vagifem be the appropriate extra oomph?

purpletomorrow · 09-10-2009, 11:04 AM

I don't use Estrace. I can't. It causes horrible dermatological distress down there.

I use Vagifem.

Directions say to use one every three to four days.

But I need to use it more often; I need one every other day, and my OBGYN is fine with that, she says it's not uncommon.

purpletomorrow · 09-10-2009, 11:07 AM

The estrogen was very helpful to me at relieving a lot of the burning, stinging, irritation, and thinning of the skin that accompanies menopause.

It helped relieve some of my frequency and urgency, too.

But I got real, serious relief when I went on the IC diet and started CystoProtek.

Loved that, so I added Desert Harvest Aloe Vera, which improved things even more.

Then I went to a new IC doc, who told me to start taking the Elmiron again. He said to take it out of the capsules, and that the itching was not enough reason to stop taking it.

SO I'm hoping that will help heal my angry bladder lining as well.

sami4 · 09-21-2009, 06:02 PM

Vagifem and Estrace essentially do the same thing, they are both estradiol, one in a cream one in a tablet. I have used them both but found I liked the messiness of the cream better as it dripped all over the whole vulvar area, I felt that Vagifem irritated me slightly, perhaps the fillers in it. I also could adjust the Estrace dose upward or downward if I needed to. I do not use Vagifem and Estrace together. If you think you need more vaginal estrogen just up your Estrace dose from 0.1 mg to 0.2, check with your doctor so he/she knows you may need more.

DonnaA · 10-04-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpletomorrow

Estrace ...

It's not systemic, meaning it doesn't pour estrogen into your whole body like a birth control pill.

My doctor gave me a prescription for Premarin but I've been hesitant to have it filled. I was wondering: do you have to get more frequent cancer screenings if you take this estrogen, like uterine biopsies? Did you experience any side effects?
Thanks so much.