Have you tried Estrace vaginal cream? It is specifically used for this purpose, but doesn't have the systemic effects that taking estrogen orally would have. I know several women who considered this a lifesaver! Talk to you doctor about it.

hi Casey! Thanks so much for your post. I went to my dr. this morning and was prescribed this cream! I cannot wait to see the results. I have been miserable for so long. It's gotten to where even using the Replens applicator is irritating the snot out of me. My doctor wants me to use it for 2 weeks then go back in and let him know how it's working out. I will come back to the board and post the results. Thanks again! Hopefully I won't have to be sitting on a heating pad much longer..oh and the dr. didn't make me have an examination either. He was an angel!

So glad to read this! I’m a nurse practitioner and have recommended this cream to so many women! I don’t need it yet but I’m sure the time is coming. Hope it helps!

Wow, Estrace. Is it over the counter or is it prescription? I had those problems last summer and it took boxes of azo, an infection fighter and finally green tea to heal up the UTIs. I ended up with vaginosis and yeast so my doctor had me on antibiotics and diflucan (the best yeast med since sliced cheese). If only I can convince her to ptu me on HRT.....

Estrace or Estadiol are prescription meds. I've used Estrace for 2 years. Was working fantastically. On 3/2/18 I woke up with the worst burning pain during urination and was given a very powerful antibiotic (according to my Primary Dr. it was overkill) for a UTI. The choice of this antibiotic was through a urine sample. I was never examined. Now two months later, my entire "under carriage" is very sensitive to wearing underwear. I ride horses and you can only imagine the irritation that creates. Not sure what my next move should be. Tried applying topicals to soothe, but everything irritates my skin. Anyone experience any of these symptoms?

Estrace did not work for me. I ended up at my gyn's office for an exam. I have very dry vaginal walls, a UTI and a yeast infection all at the same time. She gave me antibiotics, medicine for yeast and Replens to use for feminine dryness. After about a month I am FINALLY symptom free. I was about to go crazy with the 3 things irritating each other. My doctor also prescribed me a steroid cream for the external dryness and itching..but I can't remember the name. I wish you luck!

I am really glad you are feeling better. I hope the physical symptoms are all you have to overcome. Some of us are are bungee cording mood swings.

Hi Lass,
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder long before I went into menopause, so I am fully aware of the mood swings. I am, however on medications that are very helpful for those. One is Seroquel and one is Prozac. I couldn't do without them. Also suffer from severe anxiety. I don't leave the house very much because of it. Take Care.

Not there yet but I was prescribed estradiol cream to use before an internal scan due to family history and all. It helps to reduce dryness and makes it bit more comfortable. I used it before test for about 3 days. Some of my friends use it twice weekly to help with dryness .

This was the main symptom that made me start Tibolone. I have been on it for ten years and never want to stop!

I have just started treating for this....I am at wits end....it is driving me crazy! Literally! Went to my GYN 9/10/2018 and she prescribed Premarin cream to be used topically at bedtime. I had a hysterectomy 20 years ago with one ovary left. I reached out to her via email today and haven't heard anything yet...no follow up for 11 days. I just don't know what to do anymore...I am tired of feeling so uncomfortable. Actually scared to be intimate with my husband. Any suggestions?

Hi. I completely relate to silentwhispr. I started having problems about a year 1/2 ago. It began with irritation and pain in the vaginal opening and labia. I was diagnosed with vaginal atrophy an BV. They tried 3 different anti biotic for the BV. The discharge would go away for a couple of weeks and then come back. My Gyn seemed unhelpful and non supportive. So I changed to another one. The new doctor explained things better and gave some good advise. Her suggestions helped but I’m still struggling. Every time I ask about the discharge I get a shoulder shrug, so again I feel lost. I can finally sit without feeling pain but I’m still itchy and irritated, and I still have the discharge. I have tried everything to get rid of this bacterial imbalance: medicine, essential oils, over the counter products… Estrace is one of the things I was given. I tried it 3 times and had to give up. It seems to swell the area and irritate everything. Has anybody been successful in getting rid of a bacterial imbalance. What worked for you? Should I worry if I can’t get rid of this?

Believe that any time you have something that makes living at your best (best varies by individual for many reasons), it could be very important to seek professional advice--even saying that gives me flashbacks of the multitude of physicians I've had experiences with over many years and ended up having nothing resolved. Fortunately for me, I lucked in to having a great neuro, who with the help of a great pain doc, didn't give up and I finally received the appropriate care. Gets tiring to feel as though you're nothing more than a guinea pig (who gets given up on, even without a referral for the next step); or, as a female, being told a line that too many have received, and then little or no resolve. So very sorry for what you've experienced. I've heard here of several that have used and using Estrace or its generic version; and, although I've never tried Estrace, for many years now I've had excellent results from script-only VagiFem. It's a tiny tablet, easy to insert (though I understand "easy" applies to me), and incredible effective. For me, when talking Vagifem my cronic uti issues became nearly non-existent. So much so, that I was able to treat them by using an over the counter treatment. It's been that I went from what felt like all the time to perhaps one uti a year. Big big difference in how I felt internally--my vag almost instantly natural again. Initial treatment is 14 days, then 3 a week. After an early-on hyst, I developed a DVT (blood clot) in my leg, so for about 30 years no doc would even chat with me about options. Lucky enough to find a great womens clinic that not only discussed the issue, but gave me a script for Vagifem, since I could use it without the problems I could have experienced from estrogen (which can't take due to the DVT). Personally I'm not a fan of creams, which I find a bit messy. It's a to-each-his-own kind of deal, but have recommended Vagifem (and my womans' doc) to many and each came back feeling heard, given options, and treated. Too often woman 'complaining' of any issues are told "It's normal" or "Women of your age..." or the dreaded "It's in your head (or the same meaning)." Most unfortunately, I personally know woman that were told those very things, did not receive a thorough work up or treatment, and are no longer with us. I'm not trying to scare anyone with that last sentence, but it's the sad truth and goes beyond "just" a woman's issue. It can be difficult, time consuming, exhaustive, and expensive, and wish you the best in finding what works for you. k

P.S. Realize that last post makes it sound like a Vagifem paid endorsement, which it isn't. After trying to find a doc that would listen, work with me, and provide treatment options, finding her and this 'med' made such a difference that many years later I'm still so pleased. Peace, k