Anyone hate the applicators?

Hi sisters, I'm using the Estrace vaginal cream and although the medicine seems okay, I tend not to use it as often as I should because I really, really hate the applicator. It's difficult to clean since the med doesn't wash off with hot water, etc.
Q1 : Are there different applicators that could be used that might be disposable?

Q2: Any other product that does the same job with less mess? I'm wondering if the Femring offers the same results? Anybody know?

Thanks

Hi

I have had problems washing the applicators, too! I've found what seems to work best is to wash them immediately after use before the cream has time to dry. I use a bit of liquid hand soap which I put right inside the applicator, then I fill it with a bit of hot water and work the plunger a few times. Then I take it apart and rinse both pieces.

I know that Vagifem comes with disposable applicators but that product is in the form of a tiny tablet--not a cream. If you want to use a vaginal ring you would want Estring, not Femring. The estrogen in Estring stays in the immediate tissues while the estrogen in Femring is systemic and would be used in place of whatever other estrogen you are using.

You can read about other products used to treat vaginal dryness in this article.

I hope this helps!

s

Hi AprilDawn,
Thanks for your helpful reply and setting me straight on the rings. I was wondering... One of the reasons I use the Estrace, is to help with stress incontinence. Do the Estring or the Vagifem tabs offer benefit to the urethral area too or mostly just the vaginal tissues? Thanks for your help.
Sistabeth

(((Sistabeth))), any vaginal estrogen should help with the urethral tissues. I've personally used Vagifem and a compounded vaginal estrogen cream. I don't think I was on the Vagifem long enough to know if it would have worked long-term for me. I have been very pleased with the vaginal cream but did at one point consider changing to Estring. One thing appealing about Estring is that it is designed to last for up to 3 months and it can be left in place that entire time.

Why not give your doctor a call? S/he might have samples of products you could try!

s

I use Premarin vaginal cream...same clean up problem. Here is what I do.
Right after using I have a pump bottle of antibactierial soap that pump into the appilcator tube. Then I use the pulnger a few times. Then I rinse it all well and use a cotton swab to get the medication out of the threads where the tube screws in.

Blessings,
Kathy